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 Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:21 pm
This is a private RP between my Thorin Oakenshield and Sabin Duvert's Thranduil. No posting without invite please and thank you.
((My keyboard is being a pain in the a** so please pardon any strange typos. I seem to miss a few here and there.))   Featuring Sabin Duvert's Hashashad. 
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Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:37 pm
The news of a strange presence not more than a weeks journey from the (temporary) dwarven settlement in the western mountains had arrived nearly six weeks ago. As expected a small team of scouts had been dispatched to investigate what was lurking about. They had never been seen again. The second party of volunteers had met a similar fate. Altogether eleven good strong scouts and warriors had vanished without a trace. Fear of an unknown threat led to panic among the dwarves as news quickly spread through the colony. Talks of monsters and dragons spread like wildfire as did whispers of relocating all the dwarves to a newer and safer place. To this Thorin had put his foot down firmly. They had already suffered the loss of one homeland and he would not see them lose another.
Against his councils advice and the protests of his siblings (that stopped just short of them actually coming to blows) Thorin Oakenshield, the king himself, had decided to lead a carefully selected team to go and investigate. After six days and nights of travel they had come close and by mid-morning on the seventh day they had reached the last known location of any of their kin. The signs of the separate stays were clear enough to the trackers in their company but anything that had happened after that was all but unknown. All that could be seen was that they had all gone into the trees.
"Spread out but do not stray far." Came Thorin's orders carrying clearly to each and every member of the group. Once he was certain that they had heard he led the march into the forest well aware of what dangers might be awaiting them.
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Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 6:45 pm
 It was already shaping up to be an irritating, stressful summer. The season that usually promised bounty and ease, plentiful food and time for merriment, music, and plenty of treasures of the forest to trade for firewater this year was bringing nothing but aggravation to the elvenking. Granted, it had started out well enough. Like any other summer over the many years. But there was a rumbling of malcontent and something... wrong.. whispered through the woods. A dark presence, a predator or predators, but not a normal one it seemed, was leaving a swath of destruction in its wake. However, it was not in his territory - just close enought to hear whisperings - piping between songbirds, scufflings of raccoons and mice. An influx of small animals, and even some deer to the safety of his land. He had held back, waiting. Maybe it would go away, leave his forest alone. Leave his herd - his people alone. It was someone else's business and someone else's problem. Why risk a confrontation when the threat might just leave on its own.
Thranduil was not so lucky. Always keeping an ear to the heartbeat of the forest, it seemed that it - whatever it was - was on the move, and headed their way. It wasn't within his borders, not yet, but it was encroaching on his forest. It would not do. While he wouldn't make a reckless move to go out of his way to launch an attack on something that might very well bypass him, Thranduil would be damned before he ignored a potential threat to his kingdom.
Never realizing the parity between his actions and the actions of another proud king, Thranduil gathered a group of some of his finest warriors, and set off to find the source of the issue.
They moved through his woods like ghosts, silently and deftly. There was not a single one of his people not graceful and skilled at traveling through the woods, especially Mirkwood. But as they reached the border of his territory, he gave hushed instructions, to put some distance between themselves, to remain unseen, but to give the call if a threat was spotted.
Thranduil proceeded seemingly alone, moving surprisingly competently through the woods despite his impressive rack. The rumors seemed accurate - there was an eerie silence to the woods. Birdsong was nigh absent.
But then.... there. Heavy stomping in the underbrush from a distance. Thranduil frowned, minded his hoofsteps, and set off in that direction, keeping to thick brush.
His eyes narrowed as he saw a squat, dark shape lumbering through the woods. Icewater ran through his veins. Dwarves. His ears flattened.
Was that the source of the problem?? Surely, it had to be.
"No good... good for nothing... dwarf." Thranduil raised his voice and lowered his head, angling his antlers towards the intruder as he made himself visible. He didn't need his back-up. Not yet.
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Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 7:31 pm
Traveling through the trees was no easy feat. They were mountain dwellers used to stone and flat places. Their hooves were sturdy and heavy, not good for moving over roots and logs. Before long Thorin could see that his company were growing further and further apart. He could still hear his fellows crunching about through the underbrush snapping twigs and crushing roots as they went. It was a comforting sound that let him know they were still safe. Still, the could not separate like this. It would do no good to the others that had disappeared before if they started losing each other this time. He turned slightly to call for them to return to his side but not before a familiar but unwanted voice sounded from nearby.
Shocked. Startled. Taken aback. All were accurate words to describe how the dwarf king felt as the cerynei appeared. Thorin immediately took a fighting stance but it was clear enough that he was already at a disadvantage. Dwarves, while a mighty race, were not quite as vertically endowed as other beings. The cerynei towered over him and he had already made it perfectly clear the he was ready to attack. Thorin was not, not yet. He knew this stallion, it was unlikely that he traveled alone and Thorin could no longer hear his men. He would not risk them.
"Thranduil." Thorin growled while somehow still managing to sound dignified. He could not attack but there was no reason to cower. He settled for glowering at the elf taking on a proud and kingly stance. "So you are the one behind all this?" It made sense. He had seen Thorin's people and decided to take them captive. No traces could be found and his people seldom left signs of their presence in their native woods. The only problem was these were not Thranduil's woods. If his reach had extended this far Thorin never would have settled his people where they had. Now he wanted his people back and to know that those he had brought along were still unharmed.
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:48 am
Thranduil held his ground, not taking his eyes from the dwarf, or raising his head from his threatening posture as Thorin took on a defensive stance.
"Me?" Thranduil seethed, "You dare try to pass accusations of harm to the forest upon our proud people? It only stands to reason that you have raped and stripped your land of all of its life for the wealth it could offer, so you then turn on mine?" He stamped a hoof, though it made little sound even compared to the sound a dwarf made when casually strolling through the woods. "How dare you bring your ravenous greed into these woods?!"
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Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 11:27 am
"I did not know these were your woods to claim." Thorin countered in such a way that it could only be taken as a challenge. A wiser dwarf would have sought to pacify the other king. He would have noticed that he was still in very real danger of getting clobbered by the very large set of antlers resting frighteningly close to his head. Thorin Oakenshield was stubborn before he was wise and proud before he was stubborn and he would not be questioned and accused by the one that had left his kin to the wroth of the dragons.
"We come to find our kin lost to us. Instead we find you and you think to worry over a few trees. I would burn them all to the ground if it meant returning them to my side! So I ask you, what have you done with my people all of these times?" Thorin did not stamp or snort, that was childish behavior, but his determined bearing and fierce eyes spoke volumes. The elf refused to take responsibility where it was due and chose to pass the blame. Thorin would not stand by and take the blame for a crime neither he nor his people had committed. If he had to fight now, then so be it.
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Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:33 pm
=
"I will not abide by any woods to be pillaged by your kind." Thranduil seethed. "Particularly ones so very close to my kingdom. And you may belittle the devastation that your kind wreaks upon the land you occupy, but perhaps it was a result of such greed to plunder before you learned some respect for the earth that you called home that drew the dragon problems to you to begin with. Threats of temper tantrums and burning the forest will get you nothing but my ire. But I know not of your kin. You are he first dwarvenkind that has been seen this close to my territory in years."
Thranduil's eyes narrowed. What was the damndable dwarf going on about? "But I ask of you, Thorin, king of no kingdom, why are you here? Are you seeking to plunder these lands? Is it the work of you dwarves that has been bringing a darkness to these woods? Speak the truth to me or it may be the last words you utter."
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:23 am
Thorin could feel his blood begin to burn. So, he was to be blamed for the dragons of all things now. It was unclear what had stopped Thorin from lunging forward in attack at that particular instance but later he would decide that the rage he felt had simply rooted him to the spot. It was for the best because although his blood roared in his ears he still managed to hear Thranduil say that the dwarf king was the first that had been seen.
The very next words out of the deer's mouth undid whatever spell of stillness Thorin was trapped in. He snarled in a less than kingly fashion and drew himself up as high as he could. "I have a kingdom!" He roared. "It awaits me in the east and it will be mine once more!" He took a single step forward fixing his eyes on the other king in a way that would make lesser individuals cower away to hide in their holes. "I told you why we came, to find our kin. To discover what manner of creature claimed them." Although his voice had lowered from his earlier thundering it was still loud enough to make his chest rattle when he spoke.
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:35 pm
The ghost of a smug smile crossed Thranduil's face as he saw his words hit the mark. The dwarf's blood was boiling and he seemed moments from charging with all the savage fury that seemed to define his kind.
"Watch your step, dwarf," Thranduil threatened with no amount of ambiguity as Thorin advanced. "If it is a battle you seek here with me and my kind then you will not be disappointed if you continue in this fashion. But if it truly is your kind that you seek then a battle with the elves will only succeed in your failure: both in this mission as well as your... loftier one." Thranduil ended, implying Thorin's intention of reclaiming his homeland.
Was the dwarf and his ilk really not the ones responsible for the troubles in these lands? Surely, while dwarves could decimate nature and land that got between them and their precious ores, the word he had been hearing... granted... didn't seem to indicate their style. THe animals would not have been nearly this terrified by a group of stomping dwarves.
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 2:45 pm
Thorin stopped though he did so grudgingly. Elves. They thought themselves so much better than the other folk and Thranduil thought himself better than the rest of the elves. One was much the same as another to Thorin though this one was severely trying his patience. He found himself torn between his pride fueled fury and his duty to his people. They had not come to the forest to wage war with the elves. They had come to find the others and discover whatever it may be that was causing the disappearances. The elves were simply an unpleasant surprise, as usual.
Thorin's eyes did what they could to bore holes into Thranduil's skull but for all points and purposes he was pacified. At least for the moment. The elf would get what was coming to him one day even if it was not this day. "We did not seek you out at all." He growled though not as menacingly as before. "We only search for our people. We want nothing to do with you...or the forest." The elf was simply hindering their progress. All Thorin wanted at that particular moment was for him to leave.
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 3:52 pm
Thranduil frowned. He was almost disappointed. He would have lost no sleep over having to face the dwarf in combat, and a part of him did hope that the dwarf was to blame for the troubles of the forest. It would relinquish him of any moral ambiguity if so. However... Thranduil was a soquili of honor, even if that honor might be a bit different than the dwarf's.
Finally, begrudgingly, Thranduil lifted his head, no longer angling the pointed tips of his antlers towards the dwarf.
"Tell me, then, dwarf..." He began, a scowl plastered on his face, "When did you send your kin to these woods? Under what orders did they come? And how many never returned?"
Meanwhile, while the two kings were butting heads, a shadow stirred deep in the forest. The creature known as Hashashad had been moving steadily through these foreign lands with the deliberate pace of one who was in no hurry, savoring the different flavors, different ebbing of fear in each new territory that it crossed. He had a purpose here, certainly, but it was one that was not going any where. He had been at sleep, slumbering in the depths of his own lands, but slowly, wakefulness had returned to him: one of his own was gone, having escaped. But in his passing he had left a way for Hashashad to follow... and discover these new lands on his own. He would find him... but in the mean time... the creatures of this land were so soft... so ... delicious, and none of them had yet come across something like him.
His travels had led him here, to what was a bountiful woodland, brimming with small animals, deer, boar... plenty for him to feed upon while he explored the forest that was so unlike those where he came from. And then, new playthings arrived. Ones that were larger... ones that had the odacity to attempt to stand up to him. Thick soquili with strong wills... but not quite strong enough. Hashashad had delighted in playing with them... trapping some... outright killing others... moving silently behind the loud soquili and plotting each and every demise - intending on sending them spirialing into fear-fed madness before deliving the final blow whenever possible... especially as their numbers dwindled and it afforded him to spend longer with the remaining. Unlike many of the simpler woodland creatures, they understood fear... understood what he was doing to them... and felt the pain of loss of their bretheren.
It had been some time since he finally finished the last, and he was begining to move again when the sounds of movement and heavy hoofsteps carried to his ears on the wind once more.
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 4:28 pm
Despite the fact that Thorin was no longer under immediate threat from Thranduil's rack of antlers the dwarf king did not relax. He maintained his rigid posture and continued to watch Thranduil with narrowed eyes. The odds of Thorin ever relaxing near the elf were up there with the odds of Thranduil getting hit with a lightning bolt and ridding the world of his presence.
"Six weeks ago four scouts were dispatched to find the source of a disturbance. Two weeks later seven more went out for the same purpose and to find the others. None returned." Although he did well to keep his voice calm and practical Thorin still spoke with a heavy heart. It was true that his folk had gone away for longer stretches of time than this before but never quite like this. "There were tracks at the edge of the wood leading into the trees, from my men." They had come into the forest. Thorin knew they had and he would not give the elf any room to claim that they had just gone somewhere else. Thorin knew his people. They were loyal and true. If they had orders they would follow them.
Not long after Thorin finished explaining a frightened shout followed quickly by a bellowing war cry carried throughout the trees. Thorin turned sharply to face the sound all but forgetting about the useless elf. Such a cry could only belong to one of his men. They had found something. Urgently Thorin hurried toward the sound calling out to any of his kin that may be nearby to gather.Sabin Duvert I took some liberties here with what was happening. If you don't like it I'd be happy to change it! =)
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Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:07 am
Nisshou H That's perfectly fine smile I don't mind if you do a bit of setting/modding Hashashad from your side ^^
Thranduil was mildly surprised that Thorin had taken such an interest in the goings on in these woods. Had he set up that closely to his kingdom, or was he sticking his nose into other soquili's business? An ear flicked back, signaling his irritation, but nothing more than that.
And as much as Thranduil loathed to admit it, seven dwarves in one group was not an inconsequential force. He had no reason to doubt that they had not fled and moved elsewhere - dwarves were a stubborn lot. Whatever they had run into in these woods had dealt with them and either killed them, or still had them trapped.
"They never entered my kingdom." Thranduil said honestly. "We had not heard of their presence until now." Thranduil was about to continue when the cry reached his ears as well. He quckly turned, elven ears swiveling and pricking in the direction of the sound. "Use caution!" Thranduil hissed to Thorin as he set off at a run (or at least the closest his stubby dwarven legs could manage), not expecting the dwarven king to heed his suggestion.
Whatever enemy was in these woods, it was formidible. Thranduil opened his throat and bellowed, a horn-like trumpet that rallied his fellows, and bounded off in the direction, intending on haning back when whatever it was became visible.
More! More of the delicious creatures had returned! THe shadowy soquili slipped from shadow to shadow, trying to gauge the numbers that had come to him this time. Each time he dealt with some, more came - it was some sort of delightful buffet. He was unawares just yet of the other force gathering in the woods - creatures that slipped between the trees just as silently as the shadow. Eventually, however, the creature grew impatient of counting. There was one - a particularly squat and slow fellow - farther from the rest of the herd. Let his cries spread fear to the others - let them know that their death awaited them! He attacked, sinking in teeth deep into the flank of the horse, savoring its cry of pain and and fear.
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Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2013 10:43 am
Thorin could not heed Thranduil's advice, he had not heard it. Even if he had Thorin would not have listened. Caution was something to be thrown to the wind when you were actively staring down a threat and judging by the painful screams that tore through the air one of his men was currently doing just that. Knowing his brethren were facing down some nameless danger propelled Thorin forward even faster than he had moved to face down the dragons. They had lost that battle, Thorin would not lose this one. The crashing sounds in the underbrush behind and beside him let Thorin know that the others were coming to his aid.
By the time he reached the stallion that had been caught is was clear that it was too late. Thorin came to a sudden stop to stare at the sight before him. The dwarf with the mangled flesh that would not live much longer if he were not dead already. He had begged to come along with the others and he had fallen victim to the strangest creature Thorin had yet seen.
It was a dragon but it looked to be made out of the darkest of smoke. It's eyes were red as blood and they peered at Thorin from all over the creatures body. Thorin knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was what had taken his men, that this creature had killed them, and for several prolonged moments all he could do was stare in disbelief.
And then, like a summer storm cloud bursting, Thorin surged forward with an enraged bellow, not thinking, just acting.
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Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:14 pm
Hashashad's teeth sunk in deeply to the fat fellow. Such a scrumptious taste filled his mouth - this one had eaten well, and now so would Hashashad. But his impulsiveness he knew would bring forth his fellows, and he didn't have long to savor the taste... yet.
He shook his head violently, sending the first to the ground, leaving a savory chunk behind in Hashashad's maw just as the calvalry arrived. His mouth spread wide in a grin full of needle-like teeth as his eyes swiveled to see the reinforcements, letting them see him, letting them FEAR him. Four or five of the stocky delicious-things burst onto the scene - one in particular, a coal-black stallion seemed to summon a commanding air - an air of anger - and stunk less of fear than the rest. Anger was good... he could deal with anger.
An eye on his flank swiveled behind him as one of the other dwarves was approaching from behind. But there was no such thing as sneaking up on a creature that could see from all directions. He held his ground for one second, two, and then like a matador, dashed to the side as Thorin nearly reached him, his nearly immaterial shadowy tail remaining in his stead, obscuring the closing distance between the dwarven king and one of his compatriots until - Hashashad hoped - it was too late.
Thranduil bounded over bush and weaved between trees, following closely after Thorin. But as the gurgling screams from presumably one of the dwarves was just past a cluster of bushes, Thranduil halted suddenly, peering instead through the trees to first gauge the situation.
Through the trees was a monster - what seemed like darkness incarnate - something that had crawled from the depths of Udûn itself. The creatures that had taken refuge in his kingdom had described a spreading darkness, and this seemed to more than fit the bill - Thranduil had not expected something quite so literal.
He could hear a lot of crashing and crunching through the brush as the other dwarves gathered on the scene - preparing to attack the monster with brute force... and drowning out any indication of where the other elves were.
This was a very real threat - very close to his kingdom, and it needed to be dealt with. But not with a brash, haphazard rage-fueled charge. He called again, summoning the elves to his location.
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