Terre Haute expedition: Camping Day 1

[lord_wizard]

[It's been a more or less uneventful day of travel for the expedition team. Not unexpected for the first leg of such a trip, and with any luck, it will stay that way.

As the sun starts to get low in the sky, Felix signals the group with a sharp whistle to stop, shortly after he feels the change. They've entered the Dead Zone. That sudden loss of power for anyone used to that sort of thing. Not an easy thing to adjust to, at first.]

"We've crossed into the border of the Dead Zone now. We should stop here for the night. Those of you with experience, help set up camp as needed. And I recommend a few of you working out a watch schedule. You never can tell what might be out here."

SET UP | CAMPFIRE | IN THE NIGHT

Comments

[ensorceler]

[ Anne is waiting for someone to set up her camp, please and thank you. She's remained surprisingly quiet on the trip so far, taking her time to try to evaluate the sort of people she's with before starting anything. Most specifically the 'leader', who she finds suspect.

But she's still queen, damnit, whether they want to acknowledge it or not. So she lingers near her horse, feeding it half of an apple and waiting to spot someone who might actually receive a (polite) command. ]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Well, this gangly guy is hanging around, and he's bossed around by women forever. He's finished setting up his own collapsible cottage and currently seems to be busying himself with putting stuff into it]

[ensorceler]

[ She's definitely staring, because...she wants that. She wants that now. It's so much better than anything she has. ]

You.

[whichwayyoulean]

[It is the coolest home in the universe. He blinks, turning to the sound of her voice]

...Me?

[ensorceler]

How did you fashion that? I must see.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He looks confused for a moment, before realising what she means]

You mean my cottage? Well, it's mostly made of lightweight metal and canvas, a little wood. I made it a while back, it took me a couple of weeks. It all folds away afterwards, to go into the wagon. [He juts a thumb at the wagon in question]

[ensorceler]

[ She walks closer, both jealous and impressed. She glances to the strange, gangly man again. She spoke to him just recently, didn't she? ]

It is an enclosure fit for a queen, I should think. I am envious.

[whichwayyoulean]

You think so? Thanks. I mean, the one I had back home had a lot more stuff inside, but this was made to make travelling easier.

And I can always make more, so long as there's an animal to pull the wagon.

[Give him a project Anne, he desperately needs projects]

[ensorceler]

[ Her smile softens, and she nods to him in polite acknowledgment of his skill. Need more useful people like this. ]

A master carpenter, then. How sad that I did not know before we departed, or I might have requested your skill.

Would you show me the inside?

[whichwayyoulean]

Among other things. I'm an inventor. But hey, I can always make you one for next time.

[He'll head to the door, opening it for]

Sure thing. It's not much, but it does what I need it to.

[ensorceler]

[ Lifting up her skirt, and doing her best to wipe off her riding boots first, she'll step in to look around, then over her shoulder to him. ]

Inventors with such...unique skills are hard to come by.

[ Seriously this is some weird architecture. ]

But there is room for more than one in here, is there not?

[whichwayyoulean]

[It is so rare for him to get recognition for his work, he's probably smiling like an idiot right now]

Oh...wow. Thanks!

[He glances around, nodding]

Sure, I keep it open to anyone who wants to sleep in here. Otherwise it's just me and Ted.

[ensorceler]

[ Who is Ted? Whatever. The idea of sleeping in the same room as men is...insane, but she's done a lot worse in Paradisa already. ]

Yes, it is the only one of it's kind I've seen, for sure, to be assembled by only one man. But more than three in here would make it far too crowded, I should think.

[ Inspecting some more, spacing her arms apart in a corner like she's measuring. Counting steps. ]

I would need privacy. You can hang some curtains here. Heavy ones. It must seem as if I have my own room.

[ She's not talking about 'next time' either, Mister Inventor. Also she is measuring out like half of it just for herself, if you're paying attention. ]

[inafadingcrown]

[Geeze, Anne. Aren't you the special snowflake? Galadriel, on the other hand, has no problem setting up her own camp. Not that there is a lot to set up- in her younger years she would not have even brought a tent. There's one now, but it's rather simple and doesn't take her long to put together. But then she's full of surprises today. Her usual white gown has been exchanged for something a little more simple and her hair is bound around her head in braids. It's a vision of the First Age of Middle-Earth, if only people knew it.

It's only a few minutes before she's done setting up and then she glances over at Anne with a little smile.]

You seem pensive, my lady.

[ensorceler]

[ She really is! But don't worry, she's having the Once-ler move all of her things into his cute cottage. She has this shit handled, don't you worry about her!

But even if she is happy that worked out for the best, she does worry. Everyone has talked a lot about the dangers out here, but after the earthquake, she worries more for Elizabeth and others left at the castle.

Galadriel is both a welcome face but painful reminder. Ever since the banishment, even with Elizabeth's loss, she can't quite smile as brightly as before in this one's presence. ]

Lady Galadriel, you are too perceptive. I am merely anxious for this progress to go well, that is all. How do you fare?

[inafadingcrown]

Well enough. [It's not precisely true. She's nervous, edgy, without her powers. But she'll adjust in time and there's no reason to bother Anne with it.] It has been too long since I have traveled far from the castle; I am eager to learn more of this world.

[ensorceler]

You have traveled here before? Where did you go?

[inafadingcrown]

I was with the expedition to Lente's point some time ago. It was a much shorter journey than this with far less time spent in the Dead Zone, however.

[ensorceler]

[ She edges closer. ]

Would you tell of this journey?

[inafadingcrown]

The journey itself does not make a thrilling tale and I fear it brought more questions than answers.

We traveled to the Dead Zone with little event and made our way to Lente's stronghold easily enough. Convincing her to allow us to enter was a more difficult matter and required some amount of persuasion. In the end, she allowed only the ladies to stay within the walls of the fort, though she fed us all in the morn. [After a hunt of...odd creatures, but that's neither here nor there.] She answered what questions she would and we departed.

Much is written in the journals, I believe. I may mark the pages for you as well, if you wish.

[ensorceler]

What manner of woman was this Lente? She sounds the proper sort.

[inafadingcrown]

She was hardened, for lack of a better word. It seemed to me that she had faced much in her time here and it left her harsh and unyielding. She wished to help us, I think, but she also did not wish to compromise her position.

[ensorceler]

Does she still reside there?

[inafadingcrown]

[She frowns.] It is difficult to say. We know that she intended to depart upon a journey of her own soon after our departure. None have successfully made contact with her since.

[ensorceler]

We ought to visit her again when we return. Perhaps she will answer more questions.