The Long Road [ONAS]

[M'koteg Tombclub]

The Rift was probably one of the few warmer places in Skyrim. Not to say all of it was necessarily cold, of course. It was just that, being the majority of it was a more northern landscape, much of the land was frozen and barren, if not cold or even chilly most of the year. Places further down south, such as a greater part of the Rift and Falkreath Hold, were commonly more warmer than the regions that held Winterhold and Solitude. That was why he liked coming to venture through this area; it was nicer, there was usually enough game to go around, and the wilderness gave him enough protection from people when he needed it. He had just been heading from the city of Riften itself, looking for someplace to camp out rather than have to pay some sort of inn fee.

For such a big man, the Orc moved quietly, the Orsimer Battleaxe barely making a clinking sound as it jingled on his back, mainly from rough jerking movements such as jumping. His shoulders were rather slumped this evening as he moved through the forest, aiming to get further away from the road so bandits wouldn't possibly try to mug him - he could take on a bear or sabrecat if the need be, he was sure of it - and so he would have some peace. The sun had moved from it's earlier position at noon, now slowly shifting downwards as the day got later. The crisp air was cool and rather refreshing, and for once, it wasn't too cold out for him, nor too hot. Kind of like in the fall, when the temperature was just right for someone not to complain.

Miscellaneous sticks, old and rotted pieces of wagons and what not, and other discarded objects crushed under his gargantuan looking weight, his steel heavy armor not helping that fact too well. Most of his belongings usually kept quiet, and he had assumed that it was because he both knew how to weld armor, and knew how to carry his load to where he wouldn't make much noise. He wasn't a very good sneak to begin with, so might as well make sure your items were tied down to keep quiet instead, right? Although, seeing as how he was stomping through broken trees and other objects, he wasn't even trying to hide right now. Like he could really care, of course.

Up above, a small robin whistled and twittered as it perched itself on a branch ahead of the Orc, hopping from side to side. The big lug, seeming to gain a small curiosity in it, stopped in his tracks, trying to stay quiet as not to chase it off. It hobbled from side to side, cocking it's head one way and another as it seemed to give him strange looks from it's perch. The Orc really couldn't help but do the same for a moment as well; if it saw him, why wasn't it moving? Most birds would usually flew off when they realized that a human was nearby, weather they were higher up or not. Well, aside from a few hawks or buzzards of course. The Orc was just about ready to see if he could whistle and get it to respond, when a cracking twig from somewhere off of his path snapped, and the bird instantly took flight, pitching a warning/distress call as it left.

The brute instinctively turned his head to search for any danger, however, after seeing nor hearing nothing after a moment or two, merely grunted shrugged it off, before he resumed walking. Had some of that to do if he was going to find somewhere to sleep, now wasn't he?

[Opinicus]

Opinicus was long since tired of his... journey, to this pitiful realm. There was little to no civilization this far away from the Tamriel's jewel, The Imperial City of Cyrodiil. He had little care for venturing into this, Skyrim, it had more problems than the entire empire combined. He'd heard wild tales from his lady, who had spent time here during her Thalmor pilgrimage, giants that would roam the flat plains, while hearding great mammoths. Wild fearsome men who still adorned skins and babaric horns. Bandits who lye in wait, falling on any whom travel the roads. Ancient undead carcuses milling about freely in caves and ruins all over the countryside. Warlordish Jarls who lived to drink and feast. Towering monuments to the gods, and cities cascading down the slopes of the mountains. Dragons swiming through the air, and pouring fire apon the earth...

Wars and wonders. The untamed Tamriel. Skyrim.

Thus far it did not bequeath said embellishments, were it much more than thick forrests, nats, and game, Opinicus might otherwise bare his four week trip with some good memory. At length, all there was to say, was a cramped back and poorly padded seat in the rear of this unbearably small carriage. His mother gave Opinicus her slave to drive him, Falean, an old whiny wood elf, who if he were allowed, would complain without ending. The elf was a poor attendant, Nicus had eatin salted meats, and drank of the same wine for most of his journey, on the one occasion the old fool could be pushed out to gather fresh game, he returned only with a small coney. The rabbit hardley had enough meat on it for just Opinicus to eat, and after a scolding, Falean was made to dine from the preserves.

In point of fact, Opinicus may well have had it a better experiance all around if he had made this expidition without aid. Certianly, the young lord would stink of animal by now, and his attire would be in disreproach. His meals would have come from his own lordly hands, but all would lament a faster affair. Nicus only sufficed in this itinerary, this... migration, at the will of his seductive mistress. She urged him to go ahead of her arrival and prepare thier way. He would do so, if for her sake alone.

Opinicus rested himself against his cushions and thought of her sweet face. The young nobleman sang out into the satisfyingly cool air;

"Alone she sleeps,
In the shirt of man,
With my three wishes,
Clutched in her hand.

The first that she,
Be spared the pain,
That comes from a dark,
And laughing rain.

When she finds love,
May it always stay true,
This I beg,
For the second wish...

I may too......"

"A lovely song my lord," Falean called from the front. It was one of the rare happinings, that Opinicus agreed with the elf compleatly. Encouraged, Nicus lifted his lute, and strumed lightly to his song as he continued;

"But wish no more,
My life you can take,
To have her please,
Just one day 'wake,

To have her please...
Just one day 'wake,
to have her please,
Just one.. day.. awake..."

Nicus strumed his lute for a while, retaining the music's melody. It was played in a slow pace, and the second verse was the same again. When he began it, Falean joined him, executing a rather firm, and somber voice. It was a serene joining to his own voice, and together, they rode on the drab dirt road singing of bueatiful wemon, and warm winter nights.


Later that afternoon, Falean reared the horses in to give them a breather. The cart jerked only slightly as the old elf climbed down, and got himself streched from his day's charge. Opinicus could hear him step to the door and when he opened it, bright setting sunlight poured into the carriage in a ray of particals and dust, though in the fair forrest evening, it seemed to be the light of fantasy.

"Pardon me ma'lord, I thought you might stretch a bit, while the beast's recuperated," His elf offered.

"I say Falean, this is no humble forrest. Tis' of noble herth and wide strong timber."

"Aye my lord, the forrests of The Rift. It's well laiden with game, and shade."

"Is it... is it? Why man, let's go for a hounding. What's say?" Nicus asked, as he streached out his back.

"Who is to be the hound sire?"

"Must you ruin every moment boy?" Opinicus sighed, "Here now, gather thy bow, and fetch some missles." They set out into the wood, leaving the horses some oats, and following a easternly way. After some time past, the two happened across more noise than game could generate. A great shattering reverbarated against the wide oak tree not twelve paces ahead. It sounded as though some great branch had exploded. Opinicus motioned for Falean to crouch, and crouch he did, the poor old slave's knees trembling.

Wispering, with a shaking quiver overtaking his voice, Falean pleaded, "Please sire, lets us away, it might be anything, a bear by the sound of it. Come ma'lord, let's away."

"A bear?" Opinicus whispered back, "Nay good fellow, let us fall apon it... Now, now boy, sort yourself... An arrow on your string man and be ready... We will bring this mighty beast down, why your fretting like an old woman Falean, are you not amongst a powerful mage of Cyrodiil? We will have this beast for boasting and banquent." Nicus' words of encouragement fell on deaf ears, Falean had stiffened to a statue, his fear robbed him of his courage. Opinicus, determined to have some sport and adventure would not be swayed. He pressed into the small clearing and stood to his fullest imposing height, and growled;

"We Are Here Fowl Beast! Turn And Come At M..." Opinicus stopped at what was before him, "I... I am sorry sir, we mistook you for a great bear."

[M'koteg Tombclub]

Ko was never the one take long from a journey, nor to make habit of trying to be in the way of anyone, but then again, he had never heard anyonesinging out in the open before. At least, not a man doing so. He was sure he had been hearing things at first; that seemed to be a common thing as of late. However, as he trekked farther into the vastness that was the Rift, he was sure that he had started to hear someone singing. Part of him told him to keep moving and to ignore it, that it didn't trouble him, but the other half told him to investigate it, due to the fact that he hadn't ran into anyone for some time, nor had he ever had such the amusement of someone singing aloud to themselves, possibly without them even knowing he was there. He had found people talking to him on the occasion when he was traveling off roads, however he had simply dismissed them as crazy or the sorts.

The singing had abruptly ended t some point in time, of which Ko really couldn't figure out; nor was he keeping track, of course. He found himself a little closer to the paths than he expected, but no worries; he could just as quickly get himself away just as quickly as he needed to. That was before he thought he was going crazy again.

He was sure he had managed to elude more of the road by scouting farther into the woods, making him a bit suspicious as to who would make it in this far without him noticing. But then again, sound traveled rather well in some places, and he was sure that, due to the fading light, he had began to misjudge his distance from the inner woods to the road. He had been so caught up trying to figure such a thing out - as he was normally good as making sure he was not caught by anyone, least anything happened and what not - that, as he stepped down, he was met briskly with something hard. Thinking it to be a mere branch of the sorts, the Orc pressed on it lightly to break it; not taking in account the actual amount of force he was using, nor the actual size of the branch.

The screaming caws of birds alike reverberated through the air as they jetted from their nearby perches, startled by the sound the Orc had managed to make due to the branch. A fox leap out of a nearby fox hole as well, maneuvering around the underbrush as it easily scampered to get away. The Orc didn't think twice about actually trying to chase it, of course, more worried about if he had attached any attention more. After a moment of standing completely still and in utter silence, the Orc was sure that he couldn't hear anything else nearby. Then again, due to working in the forge and mines, his hearing was sometimes rendered useless. The Orc than turned to leave, however the next bout surprised him very much so.

"We Are Here Fowl Beast! Turn And Come At M..."

Instinctively, the Orc grabbed at the handle of his battleaxe, lifting it part of the way out of it's sheath as the first thing that came to his mind was a bandit attacking him, something he was not too fond of. He stopped mid way from pulling out his weapon, however, when he noticed what he saw before him. Rather than well fit bandits standing before him, there was a young man in rather nice clothing with a hunt bow, as well as an elderly seeming elf alongside him. The confusion was sketched across the Orc's face upon looking at the sight, his head tilting to the side as he debated weather or not to put his battleaxe back where it belonged. He was rather glad that the young man - although looking no younger than he, really - spoke up.

"I... I am sorry sir, we mistook you for a great bear."

"Um," the Orc manged to rumble, confusion obvious in his voice as he slowly put his weapon away, returning his posture from a defensive to relaxed one. "Erm, okay, I guess," the Orc went on, blinking as he tried to comprehend why the odd pair were out in the wilderness in the first place. "Uh, I hate t' ask," he said, rather slowly, "But, uhm, what's a couple of odd guys like yourselves doin' out here mistakin' me for a bear anyway? I mean, I usually don't get that often, or, ya know, people huntin' fer bears at all, really....."

The Orc ended up trailing off, now trying to understand what was going on. These two obviously - at least to him - didn't seem like experienced hunters, or hunters at all, really, and he couldn't say he remembered the last time he was mistaken for a bear, if at all. Alright, so he could understand their fright, probably for the ruckus he had given them a few moments ago, but still, that seemed kind of strange.

[Opinicus]

(((OOC, the elf had the bow, Nicus is a mage, he had nothing. For our purposes, we'll pretend you said that instead, right on though)))


Opinicus faced an Ork of considerable width and breath. It might well have been a bear. Though it had spoke in the common tounge with his proper dialect. Nicus' cheeks burned with embarresment, he tried to push past it, as the Ork excused the insults he'd burdened simply and civily.

"We were traveling to the region of Winterhold for our way. My.." Nicus turned to Falean who was shaken still, "Boy, here, wondered this wood full of fanciful game. We had a mind to catch a fine prize under the dusk. Your crashing mere moments ago, had us to think of a large bear. I... do apoligise Sir."

At this, Nicus turned to his elf, shaking his head with stares of frustration. Falean's feeble nature had overexcited the young lord, that was this tales beggining. Falean would repay his mistake, it would not be delayed long. But at present it would have to be waited out. Twas not a proper thing to disipline one's property under the company of an outsider.

Opinicus got his wits gathered and asked in a less tensed tone, "But, why Sir, are you busteling through this verge? Is there no foul game here?"

[M'koteg Tombclub]

"We were traveling to the region of Winterhold for our way. My.. Boy, here, wondered this wood full of fanciful game. We had a mind to catch a fine prize under the dusk. Your crashing mere moments ago, had us to think of a large bear. I... do apoligise Sir."

Well, that kinda made sense. He usually went hunting on the occasion, although that was if he had the opportunity to, or if he was short on coin. He was good with just buying his own food and making it himself, although there was the occasional Sabercat or Bear that he would run into and thus fight. The meat on them was not very good, mostly because they weren't common game as rabbits and deer were, however their pelts usually sold for a good amount of coin, and made a lot of leather in one sitting if you needed some. That, and he was kind of big and bulky, and the branch he stepped on made a rather loud noise as he walked. It probably was the first time that he could remember that he had gotten mistaken as a bear, however he probably would have mistook himself as a bear if he were in their position.

"Heh, it's no problem," the Orc shrugged, albeit a bit awkwardly.

Again, it wasn't very often that someone mistook him for a bear, but he really couldn't blame them. Though he still kind of had to wonder what a couple people looking like them - they seemed rather well to do in his eyes, although he could have been wrong - were doing out hunting. Usually only hunters, or those unable to afford meat on a regular basis, were the ones who hunted. Not like Ko was ever the one to question others whenever he ran into an odd indecent like this. Who was he to judge, right? But then again, no one said that he couldn't think about it, right? Right.

"But, why Sir, are you busteling through this verge? Is there no foul game here?"

"Uh, well as far as I know, there is," said the Orc, before admitting,"Though I ain't really lookin' fer game. Usually take the back paths - or rather, just the wilderness in general - along side the paths in order to avoid bandits and stuff. I run into a few wild animals sometimes, but, ya know, don't really attack 'em unless they attack me."

He doubted that they might believe that a big guy such as himself was lurking just off the road and trying not to be seen simply because he was trying to steer clear of bandits, but then again, he wasn't lying. Besides, if he was trying to steal something from them, he probably would have bashed their skulls in and taken it from them by now, right?

[Opinicus]

Opinicus considered the orks final statement of only attacking a wild animal in defense with only some concern. Was this not the point of wild game, to be good sport? Of course it was, this was the very nature of the world, hunt or be hunted. It was so in all walks of life, the wilds, in industry, even politics and art. If you were not honing your right of passage, then you have become a target. One would nary rest at the top of the pyrimid, all must defend thier power, lest it be striped from them. That was the simple nature of life.

Yet here in the wild, an Ork of all creations, challanged this philosophy? Opinicus' brow laid against his eyes as he thought. This must merit further counsil, Nicus would examine this Ork far more thoroughly on his way, he asked the Ork quite as though he expected him only to agree;

"Well said sir, well said... We have seen no bandits throughout our entire transition. In point of fact, we have happoned apon no one thus far, save yourself. I say, I have a ric with an empty seat on the road. How would it be sir, if you traveled with us for a time? For my part, I have yet to speak with an Ork who did not prefer contest for passing. I would much enjoy hearing your politics on this, should you riding over walking."

Opinicus offered with his hand back in the direction of his carriage, freely, and with an friendly optimisim.


[[[OOC: I didn't want to god mod M'koteg to the carriage, but I assumed he'd come along. Once they get there, bandits will be plundering it, and Nicus an M'koteg can have a lil fun. If you approve, jus go ahead an post up on those lines. Just... leave some for me, lol]]]

[M'koteg Tombclub]

Was this man really asking him to come back and walk and talk with him? Well, he'd been mainly trying to get to the next town in order to get a new job, and he kinda of needed the coin. But then again, perhaps this man and his companion were heading to the same place he was? It was a possibility, and it wasn't as if talking with someone would make everything on him worse. If anything, it would give him some entertainment until he got to the next town, or whenever they had to part ways, and he probably needed to be more social anyhow. Plus, if these could tried anything on him, he was sure that he could take them on. Or put up a good fight, at least. They didn't seem strong, although Ko learned quickly never to underestimate others.

"Um, sure, alright," he shrugged, and quietly followed them back towards the road.

Everything suddenly seemed quieter around them, although he couldn't be too sure; maybe it was because they were making so much noise, and spooked the surrounding wildlife to scatter until they left. It was rather strange, though; he was sure that he could hear more footsteps from somewhere off, however he was sure it was just theirs echoing around them, or a deer trying to flee from them in fright. Nothing he couldn't handle, honestly.

"Oh, erm, the name's M'koteg, by the way," the Orc managed to grumbled out as they walked. "Can call me Ko, though," he informed. "Most people can't get my full name right, usually, and Ko is easier to say, anyway."