With a squeal of protest from the wooden wheels, the wagon lurches forward, then continues forth smoothly.

"So we have to make sure we stay as quiet as food and wood would be! Which is very quiet."

A small smile crosses Valens' face. "Very, very quiet indeed."

"I see you understand where my namesake comes from, Sir. Our family has long been discriminated against for our now ancient relationship to that Myron Rockafeller. Things were finally looking up, until my logically challenged parents decided that 'Myron' was a fine name. Ah, well. Such is life."

"I see. My mistake, I apparently have not studied the Rockafeller family tree as closely as I had thought." Valens turned away with another hint of a smile, and Veldam just stared on with a bewildered expression at the mysterious exchange between the two.

Something else soon caught Veldam's eye, however. A Zora was running along after the caravan, and jumped in. "Well, you were pretty eager not to miss the party, weren't you? Full run and everything!" Chuckling, the Brigadier surveyed the rest of the group.

They continued on like this for several minutes in silence and darkness. At the front of the wagon, a Knight lit a torch and carried it aloft, casting an eerie glow over the tunnel. After what seemed like a half hour, the wagon stopped.

"What the hell is that?"

Valens lifted his head, alarmed. "Something wrong?"

"There's something there. Not sure what it is. Big, though."

Valens and Veldam looked at each other before standing and jumping out of the wagon. Walking off to the edge of the torch's glow, an audible gasp was heard.

"...can't believe it..."

"...should we...?"

"...yes, help me carry it."

A minute later, the four Knights appeared at the back of the wagon, carrying something between them.

"Get the dolley."

Without a word, the driver went around to the front, returning a little later with a wheeled platform. An ominous silence hung over the Knights as they rolled the object onto the platform. The back of the wagon was lowered to make a ramp, and Valens motioned for everyone to move aside. The dolley was rolled up the ramp, and the object passed before the adventurers--the corpse of a Goron, blood still running from its neck. Valens and Veldam stood on either side of it, the drivers returned to the front, and the wagon continued on.

The Knights spoke not a word, and a single finger held up by Valens assured noone else would either. After five minutes had passed, his finger lowered and he spoke. "Veldam, your thoughts?"

The Brigadier kept his eyes on the corpse all while speaking. "A few things stood out to me. The wagon was gone, for one. They probably had time to dismantle it, but we came along before they could move the body. I don't know why they didn't move the body first; perhaps they required assistance. They hid when we came along for sure. Another thing, the blood is still flowing. He hasn't been dead long, maybe ten minutes. There's still some spirit in him. If we had a Cleric, we could save him."

Valens nodded. "I'm not sure whether they know we've figured it out. Us interrupting them may stop them from destroying caravans for a while. Or they may think we'll pay no attention and just chalk it up to some lowly bandit. Either way, we're going through with our plan." He looked down at the fallen caravan driver. "It's a pity..."

Eberron blanched, his eyes widening at the sight of his fellow goron so brutally murdered. The sick feeling in his stomach turned to one of anger and rage, as he focused on the thought of creatures capable of this. Dirty murderous beasts... This poor traveller had been undefended, innocent. He hadn't been given the chance of a fight or an honourable death. Silently cursing the creatures capable of such acts, Eberron remembered the feeling of his first kill here in the south. Of the crushing noise the Bokoboblin's head had made as his fist crashed down with all his weight. How he wished now to exact a similar revenge on the creatures responsible for this. Looking up Eberron did not say a word, but the look in his eyes was enough to express anything he could have in words. He was not one taken to looks of rage, and it twisted his usually cheerful face into a grotesque image to behold. Snapping out of his foul brood, Eberron shook his head slightly and let out a silent sigh. Smiling encouragingly at the others in the caravan he leant back slightly and closed his eyes, his other senses ready for whatever may come. As alert as he could possibly be.

OOC: God, the body count is rising. Poor Goron's : ( Just so people know this may be my last couple of posts tonight for a couple of days. I'm going away to do a few performances over the weekend and on monday, so I may be otherwise disposed. Normally it wouldn't be a problem, but I can't really take my laptop to the middle of a field festival Hope you guys have a good time rping, if you need an excuse for Eberron to have disappeared or royal guard feels he needs to RP his doing something, feel free while I'm gone. Should be back tuesday at the latest, possibly on monday. Depending on how tired I am when I get back.

OOC: Damn you guys... pulling at my heartstrings... taking advantage of my natural softness. I better win RPer of July to make up for the three TP I have to spend on L1 Elegy...

IC: The caravan's first lurch forward was Victor's cue to begin tightening his eyelids and murmuring his prayers in a more slurred, desperate fashion. Oh Goddesses oh Goddesses why me.

After ages of bumpiness, the horrible ride seemed to come to an end. The Bard was a bit woozy, but that was the worst of it... he'd made it through another caravan trip without...

Oh Goddesses what is that.

Oh Goddesses no, not now. Why?

Victor's eyes turned wide even as his face turned green. Before him was the bloody Goron carcass. Fresh, bloody Goron carcass. He groaned a groan of the deepest despair.

Trying to look away certainly didn't work, as the image remained in the Bard's mind quite clearly. He tried thinking happy thoughts and ... oh Goddesses it was so bloody. Whyyyyyy.

Well that was it. He could not take it anymore. He'd have to do something about this soon. Still looking away, the Bard pulled out his magical harp. A pluck of two strings produced a groan similar to his earlier one, followed by a gagging "hurgk." But the Goddesses knew what he meant.

[L1 Elegy for the Departed on the Goron]

OOC: Good luck fighting with a SPL-less Hylian Vagabond now >.> And it better be Onogoron or else I'll take it back, dammit.

ooc: I really hope it is him, that way your sig could read

"RIP Onogoron: Jul 1, 2009 - Jul 1, 2009 - Jul 4, 2009 - ..."

IC: Eberron watched in amazement as the bard played a song that filled his heart with wonder. The words were rather unorthodox and it wasn't a particularly complex tune but... The effect was incredible. Eberron watched, waiting to see what effect this obviously magical song would have, his eyes widening as his focus was drawn inexplicably towards the dead Goron.

Aria had seen bodies more brutally murdered, but she did not mention it, mostly because it was her own mother's body who had been so horribly slashed and stabbed at. She could not bring up that memory now.

At the word of "cleric," her thoughts immediately landed on Adelaide, but the Hylian was safely visiting her family at the moment, unable to help and unable to get here in time to help. So the bard Victor was the next best thing.

The ranger did not let the song distract her. The enemy could still be near. She strained her eyes and ears for any suspicous sign. [Awareness check]

The hiccups in the caravan's motion occasionally lifted his eye lids, Rosen's hefty body occasionally jumped up as well as a stone walked inconveniently against the tides of the wheels that ran forth against the veil of darkness. Between those half seconds where the cataracts in his eyes would split with the curtains of his lashes he'd notice some odd man playing a tune and heavy set looking goron lying sleeping rather closely to his feet.

Rosen shuffled his sword and feet away from the lying man whose inconvenient nap was rudely interrupting his leg room, which spanned quite the obnoxious length when taking into account the sheer breadth of the man's girth and width which seemed to compliment the rather large grimace as he attempted to muffle the sound of the bard with grumbles and the sounds of his insatiable stomach.

"Damn whippersnappers and their hippie music." He said as his eyes fluttered closed again, wincing and tapered so that they might fight back the pebbles that the caravan tripped and danced over with a less than elegant gait.

OOC: That goron better have something important to say or I'll put him back to sleep!

It was only fitting that a Bard was there to bring the Goron back to life, and not a Cleric. No one could ever trust in the Goddesses to raise the dead, or even stop a person from dying too soon. They had their "will," and if anyone's wishes contradicted that "will," then the Goddesses would just say, The hell with what that person wants, we have our own plans. That is why Darilan became a follower of Wyndisis. He always preached: If you see something you want, don't ask for it; take it. Darilan knew that if he desired, he could use the powers that Wyndisis granted him - no, the powers that he had within himself - if he wanted to revive the Goron badly enough, but the Bard was already there. Sure, it was a sad sight, but he couldn't make himself care enough to spark life into the dead beast. Perhaps, if this Bard could just get its heart beating, and only that, he might be kind enough to give the Goron enough energy to bring it to consciousness. They needed answers, after all.

OOC: Yes, because God forbid VICTOR isn't able to cast magic

IC: The Knights could do nothing but look on in hopeful silence--even the ones sitting in front turned to see the Goron. As Victor's last notes faded away, the corpse remained still. Valens looked away swiftly, and Veldam looked down between his feet.

"I had no idea you knew that song...Vincent? I guess it was just too late."

Veldam looked over at the Bard. "Don't take it too hard. Reviving someone is a difficult--"

"Does anyone have some crrranberrries?"

The caravan jerked to a stop at the sudden rumbling voice, the driver nearly falling out of his seat. Valens hissed "Drive, now!" and looked back at the Goron as the vehicle resumed movement. Its eyes had opened a little, glancing here and there.

"...General?"

"What is it, Brigadier?"

"...He's still bleeding, General."

"What? Oh!"

Reaching into his satchel, Valens removed a bandage, wrapping it securely around the reanimated Goron's neck to stem the bleeding. "This is all I can do. I don't know any magic, unfortunately. I also don't have any cranberries, but...we will get you something in Ruto. Yes, we're almost there. How are you feeling?"

The Goron turned his head slightly on the dolley. "Your hairrr is a prrretty colorrr."

The red-haired General stared back blankly. "Thank you. I suppose...I'm General Richard Valens, of the Hylian Knights. What's your name?"

"I'm Onogorrron, of the Gorrro-Gorrro Carrrtel." He looked back up at the ceiling. "Have you been to Sarrria Town?"

Veldam spoke up. "I was on post there earlier, and am supposed to go back after this mission, actually."

"...I really would love some crrranberrries. I feel tired."

Valens seemed at a loss for words. "I believe you're still very weak. You were dead for a while, after all. This Bard revived you." He looked up and around at the group. "Could anyone help to heal him just a bit more?"

Onogoron looked over at the Bard. "Yourrr face is a prrretty colorrr. I like grrreen."

As the wagon began moving, Kuro jerked forward with it, and rocked side to side along with it as it rolled over pebbles and other things of the like. He looked over the side, watching the darkness, seeing nothing that one would find unusual in a dark, creepy cave. Or... pass. Whatever.

As the wagon stopped, Kuro's right hand instinctively went to his sword, the one that used to belong to his father. He looked around the area, checking for threats any threats, and finding nothing. He finally looked to see what the knights were clamoring about, and his eyes grew wide as he saw the Goron as it was lifted up.

He got closer. Kuro could tell without the knights confirming it, that he hadn't been dead for long. Kuro hoped that someone would revive him, seeing as how there was still a chance. Along with saving the poor Goron, they might be able to get some very useful information out of him about who had killed him.

Kuro didn't have long to wait as Victor the Bard walked over to the Goron and played a song, reviving him. It was obvious that the Bard cared, and that was a good trait in people. A smile crept onto Kuro's face as the Goron asked for cranberries. Kuro thanked the goddesses that he was alive.

Kuro stepped forward to Valen's request to heal the Goron further. While he was a Grunt, he was Hylian, and it was possible that he could heal somebody. He prayed silently and strongly for the Goron to recieve the goddesses favor and that he would be healed. As he finished, he stepped back and watched to see if he would get the results he hoped for.

"Could anyone help to heal him just a bit more?"

That was what Darilan had been waiting for. He gave the general a nod and knelt down beside the mound of flesh that was the barely alive Goron. Placing his hand over the Goron's heart, he whispered, "They took something from you, something you cherished: your life. Whatever did this to you must pay the consequences, and we will never be able to avenge you if you don't have the strength to tell us what you saw."

He looked at Onogoron's lacerated throat and imaged that it was he who was dying. The thought of his life being taken away from him at his young age was enough to spark anger in him. His blood was almost gone, and the rage growing in his heart was the only thing keeping him alive. As the hatred for the enemy that would cause him a premature death grew, he transformed it into healing energy, letting the fire burn within the Goron's weakened heart. [L1 Life]

Abel sat heir as the dying Goron was brought on board the Caravan. He quickly relizedthat the Goron was going to die if someone didn't do somthing however it didn't take long for that to begin as Victor played the song of Elegy or somthing along that line then Kuro began to pray to the goddeses to heal Onogoron then Darilian began to use magic to heal the Goron Abel decided his help wouldn't be neded.

~Pyralin wasn't entirely sure what was going on. That was probably because he couldn't see anything. Actually, he found it quite disturbing when the rumbing cry of "crrranberrries" rose into the air. He thought for a moment that maybe the caravan was being attacked. He, of course, had no way of knowing that a dead goron had been found, and had only heard Victor's song, not seen its effect. Thus, the situation was rather.... weird. Especially when the rumbling voice went on to complement someone for their pretty colors...

But that begins the story at the middle, not the beginning. Pyre had, indeed, heard the call of the Hylian Knights to go on some crazy crusade. These orderly folks never knew what was good for them. And so, to ensure the safety of the passage for the Goro-Goro-Cartel, practically all of the adventurers in Hyrule, including some Hylian Knights, loaded up on a decoy caravan. The ranger didn't want to be left out, nor did he really want to risk his neck. The solution was quite simple.

When the caravan was first being prepared Pyre sneaked under the wagon, and made a makeshift sort of bar with his two daggers and lance. It wasn't very sturdy, but it would suffice. He climbed on, pressed up against the underside of the wagon, and waited for the journey to being.

Needless to say, travelling this way was extremely unpleasant. Not only did the hylian have no idea what was going on, he was always getting bump and bruised, and Pyre had to work with all his might to make sure his temporary hold didn't come lose, leaving him on the ground to get trampled by wheels. And so, he found himself, wondering what was happening above him, but with no intention of revealing himself anytime soon.~

Well, this is encouraging.

Saber shut his eyes as the Goron passed before his sight. Not something he had wanted to see. At least he seemed to be doing better than Victor, who the mercenary overheard hurking and blarghing and whatever other noises the Bard substitutes for vomiting.

It was definitely a bit of a shock, however, when a low Goron voice rumbled out--but not the voice that belonged to Rosen or Eberron. This one seemed much more guturral and earthy, with rolled r's.

Staring in awe at the revived Goron and completely mystified at how it could have been revived--Burlo must be around here somewhere--the mercenary found nothing h could add to the conversation and remained silent as the wagon rolled on.

Simon lifted his head from his hands when he heard the ruckus about the dolly. He was shocked to see the dead body of the Goron, but even more shocked that a cleric was asked for. There were definitely no clerics amongst them. However, his jaw almost dropped when Victor stepped up and used Elegy of the Departed. He didn't think the bard had that talent. It was comforting to know that they had somebody who could revive those knocked out or dead. However, it appeared the bard was out of magic power now, so he hoped nobody would be in need of recovery any time soon.

He would have stepped up to heal Onogoron, but the other scribe, Darilan beat him to it. Seeing the Goron healed, he waited to see what information the Goron could supply on the attackers, if any. Odds are, they probably killed from the shadows, so the Goron probably didn't have much to say. Strategically, it probably would have been better to leave him dead, but Simon had ethics, so he agreed with the priceless value of the life of a sentient being. Despite Onogoron's lack of use, Simon was proud they chose to revive the Goron. Still, strategically, it was probably pointless.

Leth muttered not a word through the whole proceedings. Sure he had been a little upset when the Goron was brought in... and sure he had been a little relieved when the goron was revived with quite possibly the most amazing song his ears had ever had the pleasure of listening to... but he didn't say anything.

And he sure wanted to.

This was their chance to find out what had been happening! Here, in front of them all, was a live witness to what had happened mere minutes ago. And no one asked him anything. Leth would have, but it was not his place. Besides, he would seem rather rude to pamper the poor goron with questions while he was bleeding... So the ranger held his tongue and waited for someone else to do... something.