The travel was quick. Jacquelyn did not make a habit of traversing forested lands on horseback, but she'd made a point of training Sheela in crossing such terrain early on in her ownership of the mare. Therefor, Sheela pretty much guided herself along the more level, easier paths in the woodlands. And therefor, Jackie hardly noticed that Sheela also seemed to be guiding herself entirely with the winds.

The breeze changed direction from north, to north west, then to north east over time, and when Jackie noticed this it brought a contemplative frown to her face. The wind will guide you. The voice had whispered this, and it was not common for the winds to change so much so often, in such short spans of time. Compounding the fact that Sheela was following the directional changes of the wind with unerring accuracy made Jackie cautiously curious.

Finally, a feeling of arrival came over her when there was a clearing viewable ahead. Interestingly, she recognized the clearing ahead; it had earned the nickname of the Rotting Giant Glade, named so for the massive, sick tree that dominated its space. It was a well known landmark for the Foresters, but rarely visited by them. Many Foresters reported feeling unease in the presence of the tree, especially the Forester who first discovered the Glade a few years back. He'd reported a sense of immense foreboding, winds changing speed and direction, and general small disturbances of nature. It was a landmark with a reputation.

A reputation that made it fit for Bandit use.

Jackie stopped the mare from approaching further, and dismounted silently. As her feet hit the ground she drew her bow out of the quiver, followed by a single slender arrow. Every step was methodical, her small feet avoiding twigs and stones, allowing only the whisper of fallen leaf beneath the foot to alert the cautious among the figures she saw ahead. Calmly and diligently her brown eyes scanned the clearing from her hidden vantage. An odd ensemble of folks; more qualifying for bandits, as they were typically a rag tag bunch.

One of them yelled and pointed at a tree, spouting words of Hircine and werecats and spies and vileness. Great, likely a damned cult. The yell seemed like a threat, and she followed the finger point. A shadowed figure, catlike, crouched in a tree not far from her. It was.... a panther. She knew the legends of the were-beasts, and that form was not fitting with any of them. The yelling man seemed intent on possible violence, upon a panther. Jackie could not allow this, and added to the knowledge she already had gleamed, she determinedly stepped into the clearing with bow drawn, arrow tip level with the chest of the man yelling.

"By the authority of the Imperial Legion Forester Division, I demand you state your business in this area and reasons for ill-intent towards a panther!" She snapped the order briskly and as authoritatively as a five foot and six inch slim woman could muster. However, a clopping of hooves beside her diverted her attention, as her own chestnut mare strode in front of her bow, standing between her and the man, and snorted while shaking its head. Jackie looked at Sheela for a moment, raising one eyebrow, and the mare nodded its head elegantly.

Sighing, Jackie eased the tension on the bowstring, and meandered around Sheela to look the man in the eye from afar. "For some reason Sheela finds you to be trustworthy, and horses aren't stupid. So you have at least one positive in my mind, for now. Anyone care to elaborate on why exactly you've won over the mind of my horse?"

"Wait.. I may have assumed too soon, of what he maybe, just lower your weapon for now, it's not our way to deal things through violence, our kind aren't warmongers.." Shen advised, another mistake he may have made, thinking the cat-looking thing maybe one of Hircine's servants.

"Excuse me!" Shen yelled, "I'll assume you are here because you've heard the lady of air's voice, right? If so, I'm sorry for startling you, I assumed you were perhaps one of his servants.. well, if you are indeed one of us, perhaps coming down would be wise, and getting to know your fellow brothers and sisters, we wouldn't want you to feel left out." He finished off with a last minute smile, another attempt to redeem himself, if this were to be a mistake.

-I'll make a new one later-

"My weapon is lowered, sir." Jackie remarked smoothly, almost irritably, back, her lax arrow pointing at the ground. "Thanks to Sheela, I'm not pointing an arrow tip at you." She nodded towards her horse, which shook its head and neighed softly. "For some reason she trusts you."

Kin. The word was a whisper, soft as the breeze of a morning and barely audible, making Jackie pause and bite her lower lip. She further looked unnerved when the man spoke to the panther in the tree. "By his, I will assume you mean Hircine, which you hollered a moment ago. Lady of Air I imagine would be Kynareth, as it is her domain. But what you speak of is making very little sense. Brothers and sisters, Lady of Air's voice, family to a panther. Explanations are appreciated."

"And he wouldn't be a were-lion anyways; not the right size of body build." Jackie commented to another man who spoke of the panther. "He's a common panther, nothing more or less. Were-beasts stand with more humanoid forms."

OOC: Sibera's character changes into a panther, so he won't look Khajiit-ish

"By the authority of the Imperial Legion Forester Division, I demand you state your business in this area and reasons for ill-intent towards a panther!" a woman's voice was heard, he turned his head towards her, clearly a huge misunderstanding was happening, Shen got himself into it, thus he had to get himself out.

"Hail, miss.. I realize I've made a mistake with the cat-human creature on that branch, I assumed wrongly that he was one of Hircine's servants, for that I apologize.. although redemption has to be made, somehow, perhaps later on, for I do not know anything at all about the outside world, please do not think of this as an excuse, it's the mere truth more than anything," Shen explained tried smiling in an attempt to get away from the lady's suspicion "Uhm, the what division?" Shen then asked curiously.

"And if you do so kindly, perhaps aiming that weapon wouldn't be the best option, I don't want to get violent here, I prefer to deal with things through non-violence if you will, you see.. we are descendants of the society of druids. I can only assume you are here, because you've heard the lady of air's voice, correct?" said Shen, he noticed her horse made a few friendly gestures towards Shen and the other druids, he was glad there was at least someone understanding in his mind that's from her side.

IC:

Amynd felt his chest rise and fall rapidly, he stared dumb foundedly at where his partener was laying in a blood of rapidly growing blood. Their plan had been sound, an supposidly rich merchant was travelling towards the imperial city...unarmed. However their informant had not remembered to tell them of the two armed leggionaires accompaning him. His partener had barely lived long enough to draw his sword and take a step towards the merchant before the blade had peirced clean through his heart.

Amynd snapped back to reality as he heard a cloud clunk, the sound of two peices of armour hitting eachoth, the sound of a leggionaire stepping into a stance to attack. Instincivly Amynd through himself to the side barely missing the blade. He turned about only to see his other adversarry standing over him, it was at that moment he decided he was not sticking around to fight, instead he sent his foot into the mans groin leaving the gaurds stunned.Amyndran two steps and vanished from the guard's sight. If they had payed more attention they would have seen a single bird take flight above their heads. Once adrift he heard a faint whispering in his head,
The wind will guide you north. Head to Cheydinhal

He rolled over in the air and looked down, Cheydinhal was just around the bend in the road, he began his decent recklessly and plummated near vertically. At the last moment he pulled up and landed safly. He abanondoned his disguse and wandered in the direction of the gate wondering what power had sent him the message.

Jacquelyn stared at the man from her battle-ready posture, her muscles visibly tense now despite her weapon being pointed at the ground. Her eyes were harder than normal as she gazed at the man, this speaker of a society of druids. Still holding her bow and arrow together with left hand, she brushed her hair back behind her ear with her right hand. It was a habit of hers when she began thinking on something diligently. She bit her lower lip slightly, a nervous habit to add to her thoughtful one, and shook her head before resigning herself to fate.

Reluctantly she plucked the arrow from the bow and placed both back in her quiver, before taking a swig of water from her canteen and capping it, allowing it to lower to her leather-clad hip once more. She folded her arms over her chest and looked at the man again. "Alright... so if I get this right... I'm hearing voices in my head, but they are the Goddess Kynareth? First mark of falseness. If it was Kynareth wouldn't she sound the same each time? Because I've heard many different voices, not just one. Some of them notably male." She seemed uneasy about admitting this, but in her mind she took relief in the idea these people were likely as insane as she, spouting about hearing the voice of a goddess.

"Second... the Druids are only legends. Every Forester knows this. So what in Uriel's name are you spouting on about?"

OOC: Wow, its amazing where half an hour of Xbox can put you


IC: Felicity was certainly aware of the current events, though kept her head down throughout, she knew that the Panther above her was no threat as she had seen the likes before, and was just stunned that it hadn't spoken up in its defence. She too was aware of a second females presence, though how she had presented herself thus far, was less than feminine. She decided that it was time to settle the disagreements and make this more of a team, a fellowship rather than the ever worsening mess that stood in front of her.

"Erm, friends, please can we put our differences aside" She spoke up, rare for one so quiet. "Could we please just try too get along. Although nobody here knows for what reason, but the Gods have chosen for us all to be here now." She gazed round at the faces, so many different people and personalities, she wondered who was the strongest, Shen was the leader, but then again most characters had a commanding side, especially the newer of the bunch.

"Please can you come down from up there, for I am sure Kynareth will not appreciate you standing on the very thing we are all here to protect?" Felicity asked politely, though with a low tone of sarcasm to her words.

OOC: Heh.
IC: "I gurantee you, druids are not legends, perhaps these different voices are actually other voices." Shen had got offended by the woman's remarks of how druids were just urban legends or myths, however he didn't let it get the best of him, "and I assure you ma'am that Kynareth sounds only her sweet soothing self, the message or whisper that was thrown out there in the real world, was to gather all of you out there, so we may build a new generations of protectors and preservers for nature.. it might be hard to believe, but trust me, there would be no other reason for you being here, you all share the same reason as of all of them.." he finished, and then sighed, socializing and talking with these beings that have came so far were proven to be difficult, maybe this was a test, and a test it was indeed for Shen, of how people worked out there in the real world.

Shen then faced Fliss, "there is no differences, we all share a common heritage of being descendants from our ancestors of druidism..and sitting on a branch won't do no harm to the tree, although we protect it, it is also our home.. what's he doing right now, is completely allowed, nature belongs to everyone as long as there no harm being done to it's creations.." he then said.

"Oh, and if I may ask, may we know your name, pointing your arrow at us, or me whatever, wasn't much of an introduction, however we may redo this properly.. I am Shen, and if I also may ask another question these other voices.. when was the first time you heard them?" He asked.

(Maybe Im being an ass but... I dont like being ignored.)

Adeth looked rather confused, he heard a man shout the name of hircine and then say something about Kynareth and the likes at a panther in a tree. He was very confused but didn't let it bother him, other than that he took a step back and another one as a female soldier with a horse came around talking how her horse seemed to like the other people in the clearing.

'Druids, Lady of air, Hircine, were-creatures, god's chosen? What is this?' He asked out loud. Obviously this wasn't a place for him, or atleast a place where he'd normally want to be but it seemed interesting. 'I dont understand any of this.' He then exclaimed.

He took a step forward, closer to the woman on the horse. He didn't really agree with her. 'uh... Druids are legends yes...but... Aren't most of Kynareth's worshippers druids? I mean... atleast those who live at her shrines in the wilds?' He asked and then it hit him. Adeth turned around fast. 'You're all druids, aren't you?' He said rather boldly, bolder than he usually did around strangers. Still, his voice was a sharp contrast against his thin, unfed figure.

Shen faced the new stranger that had approached, assuming he was another one of one him and the others, looking as if he was a bit lost, Shen greeted him, "Hey, friend.. assuming you're here because of Kynareth's whisper? If so, I am Shen, and indeed majority of the followers of the lady of air are indeed druids, well... not many now, I couldn't be bothered mentioning that tormenting day," "Such a burden memory to even carry.." he mumbled.

Amynd was about to give up his search and find an over ladden pocket when the same whisppering worked his way into his skull,
north...north...

"Get out of my head" he shouted at the top of his head drawing the angry glares of everyone in the area. He stood blankly for a moment until he realized what he had done and then chuckled to himself.

Being the eternal adventurer he set off north with hopes of riches and glory in his head. Once out of sight with an overly flamboyent flip he returned to his bird form and set off northwards.

Jackie looked at the young man who approached her, speaking of the Druids and Kynareth's worshipers, and when he'd made his statement she brushed her hair behind her ear again, before returning her arm to folding over her chest. "Yes... they do call themselves druids. But I have spoken to them on several occasions, and they admit they call themselves druid by title; at least some do." She leaned back on Sheela's side, the chestnut holding her up without difficult as Jackie looked at the ground.

"Some insist they are truly druids like those of legend, or descended from them. We just assumed them to be zealots of Kynareth's church; there's a zealot in every religion, after all." She shrugged, before looking up to the man who called himself Shen. She looked him over, noting he was a rather youthful Imperial. But nowhere near as youthful as the young boy that had addressed her and stood near her now. Admitting defeat, she unfolded her arms and lifted them in a shrugging sigh.

"I'll bite. You can't be bandits or highwaymen, not the way you're acting now. So you must be another group of Kynareth's worshipers. I which case I apologize for my intrusion. But when you'd yelled it seemed threatening against an animal. And the Dying Giant Glade does have a reputation worthy of use by bandits. Duty dictated that I had to quell the situation and ensure justice and the safety of wildlife. It's what Foresters do. But I erred; We all make mistakes on duty." She bowed apologetically and respectfully to Shen, before rising and pulling her gloves to keep them on her hands tightly.

"I go by JT when on the job, which I currently am. If we get more personal I'll be able to give you my full name, but right now protocol advises I don't." Jackie paused after she said this, then looked over her shoulder to Sheela, and then looked back at Shen. "But protocol is a pain in the [censored] and you'd likely find my name out anyways, since my horse is well known. Jacquelyn is the name, and it is a pleasure to meet you." I think... She was still unsure about all of this druid stuff.

"I... began hearing them when I was little. Why does it matter?" She remarked after a pause, getting defensive quickly. Did he think her insane? Was he about to mock her for the voices like the few other people she'd revealed the little secret to? She nervously bit her lip again, hoping it would be different this time.

Adeth listened carefully to the forester woman and found himself agreeing on the worshippers of Kynareth being wannabes mostly. Even if he had read of them and the authors said they were druids, he had only half believed them. Just like the teachings of Vivec and others that had been put into books were just taken from the mouths of saints, meaning words might have been put into their mouths.

'That sounds about right, er... Jacquelyn.' Adeth said sounding more thoughtful now. I also heard a voice, but it was only just now, before the uh... owl came.' He added and looked around now, taking a step back. 'Though I think I've heard the voice before.' He continued. 'Sorry for not introducing myself before.' Adeth apologized. 'My name is Adeth'

(blah... im off to play nwn2)

OOC: Last post, gonna hit the hay, fellas.. PZ

IC: Shen had let a sigh of relief, at least some friendliness was shown from her, and that was better than more conflict, he was aware of the woman being distrustful towards Shen and the others, "Well, nice to meet you, JT, I only assumed the creature on the branch was a mere servant of Hircine, as you could probably tell, I'm a bit paranoid whether his servants could be here, or there," Shen pointed in all directions making out his remark.

"You see, Hircine was apparently furious at my ancestors for ruining his hunt for fun.. and thus on this day 12 years ago, he dispatched his loyal servants here and slaughtered everyone.. I was there, and I was one of the few surviving druids, however a druid in training at the age of 9 I was, that great tree there had granted our ancestors immortality so that they may watch over and nurture nature for all of eternity, but no longer it grants it, due to the fact that Hircine had casted a curse upon it, the last few surviving druids sacrificed themselves in order for the tree to buy sometime to live on, so that all of you may gather here." Shen explained pointing at the huge tree's direction.

"Your thoughts on what we are, is indeed better than mere villains or cultists.. but as I said, I assure you JT, me, you and the others are more than just zealots or worshippers, we're actual druids born to just to perform one duty, protect and preserve nature.. as of right now, I can see you are serving Kynareth in your own way, which I respect, being a 'forester' assuming that's some sort of guardian of nature.. perhaps in time, JT, your mind will change, when the lady of air speaks or if one of us morphs into a animal of some sort, right now words can't do justice for you.. the voices you heard, when you were a child were perhaps voices from creatures that were around you, I see you have a strong bond with your friend there, it's a sign that you have druid heritage in you, there's no point in denying it, for in time, you will soon find out at one point or another..." He finished, letting off a quick smile and then walking off back to his spot under the huge tree, and sat down.

OOC: Forgot to put this in my char sheet but this is what my staff looks like, http://www.soulpedia.net/w/images/8/82/Weapons-Kilik.jpg

For the first time in a while Altas stayed quiet and listened. Now I understand why Shen is probably best suited to be our leader. He has great leading skills. Altas thought. When he noticed that the conversation was finished, he waved his hand and yelled out, "Nice to meet ya! The names Altas."

EDIT: If you already read this, read again.

Amynd soared through the air glancing down occasionally to look for his destination. He noticed a small group of people surrounding a tree, it was then he knew his destination. He plummeted downwards and moments before hitting the earth he changed back into human form. He landed with a roll on the ground to avoid injury and stood up dusting himself off.

"Hello" he said happily bowing mockingly.

ooc: svcktastic post, I know but I'm tired

Felicity was shocked when Shen had sat next to her, she felt not only embarrassed because of their physical distance, but that she was less than him. Only minutes earlier had he spoken of how he had been chosen, and how they were all special and could hear the voice of Kynareth. But was he forgetting, or simply ignoring the fact that she couldn't. She felt awful, the guilt that she should not be here, that she was a lesser being than the rest of the group that stood before her.

She let out a large sigh before finally speaking up. "Should I leave?" she calmly asked the group, "I don't belong here with you, I can't hear Kynareth, nor can I manipulate my powers as you can. I am not as strong." she continued through the distraction of Altas' introduction and that off the newcomer. At that moment she stood up, hoping that someone would stop her, hoping that she did belong.

Altas noticed Felecity leaving. "Where do you think you're going? If all of us druids are being gathered here then it's probably because of something big. We are going to need all the help we need can get." Altas look at Shen for support. "Right?" Altas then looked at the panther on the branch. "Oh and hey, why don't you come down here? You probably already heard my names Altas."

Jackie retreated into her thoughts as Shen went and sat down at the base of the Dying Giant, until the voice of the young girl from earlier interrupted her and brought her back to reality. She looked up, noting the Bosmer's appearance immediately, her youth, and her distraught and feeling so alien.

"It's... hardly a reason to leave, you know... But you aren't the only one feeling out of place here." Jackie replied, ignoring a loud-mouthed Imperial who called himself Atlas -or was it Altas?- and continuing. "I'm gonna need a bit of time to think on all this, myself. If you want to join me, I know a nice stream nearby. Very serene." She nodded back over her shoulder and past Sheela. She doesn't seem to happy about all this hokerr stuff either... maybe we can try to make sense of it together. Decide if it's worth a grain of salt or not.

OOC: I am going out in a lil while, but wont be long, just going to grab a takeaway and I will be back..

"I will join you" Felicity confirmed the idea was a good one by nodding her head slowly as she said this. Fliss was finally happy to have the female company, and as she started to walk she looked over the woman that she would be going with. She was tall and hardy, her face stern, although allowed some delicate, more effeminate feats. Felicity didn't look back, nor up, but only too the floor as she continued too walk past the Imperial whom called herself Jt, expecting her to follow.

OOC: Alright, so I can't sleep afterall.. too hard imo..

IC: Shen then looked at Fliss, he put his face onto his palm, "Sigh.. I think I prefer the company of animals or plants, than these beings.. I get accused of being some villain by JT, and now Fliss runs off.." he said to himself sighing, is she trying to get attention for herself or something, Shen had thought to himself.

"Oi, Fliss.. wait up!" He yelled, putting his hand in the air at Fliss's direction, "Not everyone here knows of their druid heritage, nor do they know that they're a druid themselves.. you're here for a reason, and that's to be a druid like our ancestors and me, I grow sad mentioning them constantly, but please understand.. you were guided here in one way or another, whether it be someone telling you about the place, or some other way.. I'll tell you like what I told to JT, if words can't do you justice, that you're a druid, then at least wait for Kynareth's voice to be heard.. don't try to cause drama please." Shen said and requested.

Shen stood up and saw another one of his own approach them, he greeted the man in a friendly manner, "I apologize for what you may have seen here, but yeh.. I am Shen, and I'm a druid like yourself, assuming you're here like the others on Kynareth's behalf."

EDIT: This post is suppose to be before Arathorn's char in an attempt to run away.

OOC: And before fc4 as well? Can I ask, we are getting many members, is there a limit? And how long roughly have we been at the great tree now?

OOC: There's 11 so far, but there's a few who are inactive so far, and yes there is a limit.. and if you're wanting to talk, 'OOC' imo, if not some people may get confused and take it as a real post.. or better yet 'pm'! thanks.

ooc: I'm confused what just happened there could someone explain that?

BTW I'm there too.