Freeform Archive · Legacy archive
The Last War
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The Last War
#241The darkness of the prison cell was a tangible thing that threatened to suffocate Dugal. The execution of his men weighed on him, like heavy anchors dragging him downward to the bottom of an ocean of despair. The only thing keeping him from giving up hope completely was the burning need for vengeance. Malik was a walking dead man. He just didn’t know it. The moments of his life were dwindling, slipping away like sand in an hour glass, like mortar being chipped away from centuries old brick.
Dugal pushed the brick out and the bricks surrounding them. He squeezed his body into the opening created. The opening was small. He contorted his body, holding his breath, squeezing, twisting, dislocating his shoulder. It was something he had done before, to get into spots smaller than this. He pushed out of his dark prison into an even smaller tunnel. Half filled with water and excrement. His vision was gone. Sound was amplified as his breath reverberated off the sides of the tunnel filling his ears as the stone pressed against him. He slowed his heartbeat as the tons of rock enveloped him like a womb.
Dugal pulled himself forward from gloom into gloom, the smell assailing his nostrils so strong that it rendered his sense of smell as powerless as his vision. He could only feel now, like an infant waiting to take the journey to new life. Dawn was nearly upon him and as he pulled himself forward he allowed himself a small smile as he envisioned the guards faces as they opened his empty cell. Malik would probably take their heads… -
The Last War
#242Holly stood there watching as smeed, the man she believed capable of not doing a lot launched himself on one of the youths, they had all ran off because of grumple, she gave a polite smile as she turned to smeed and grumple "thank you for your help, i don't know what i would of done without you two" she smiled again leant forward and kissed Smeed on the cheek, she also kissed grumple on the hairy cheek, it was like kissing a spider, but it didn't matter, "Where are the others? Wheres Baldwin, and Rory, do you know?" she looked at them with a face set of stone, somewhere behind them there was a patter of feet, it stopped just behind, "Miss Holly" panted the soldier she had sent to tell the king, "the king shall see you in the morning, he said that your friend was lucky that he is a friend of yours and that he was trying to protect you, otherwise we would of had to take him into custody" Holly gave the soldier a stern look, "b.b.but it's alright because he was helping you" stammered the soldier as he looked into hollys eyes "return to the king and tell him to expect us early morning, and tell him, if any of my friends are shunned or arrested for being who they are, then i will kill the soldier who takes them, but now i shall go and find my sword and the rest of my friends" she stood up straight turned to Smeed and Grumple and beckoned them to follow. -
The Last War
#243Arthur was not a large man. He was somewhat thin and shorter than many. When Mac and Baldwin made the move, he stopped in the streets immediately. He seemed not to even notice the drake in his side, and he quickly drew himself up.
There was a height about him, the way he stood. He almost seemed to become level with Baldwin and Mac as his eyes turned ice cold, and his gaze met that of Baldwin, not Mac. It was almost as if Mac did not even exist, as if he were not pointing a blade into Arthur’s ribs, as if Mac did not matter.
“I suppose you mean this thing.� Arthur replied with the tone of an adult talking to a child. I do not have time to charge her right now, this is simply collateral to make sure she seeks me out for the correct payment of my services.� He paused for a moment, in a subtle way, somehow emphasizing his words in a way that made them seem more important.
“It would be best for you that you not do anything too rash. I am under the protection of the high lord Ti’iron III of Maldeki. If you wish to pay me my fees and expenses for treating the girl, then you may pay me the value of seven silver stars for my services rendered. Otherwise, you best be off in the quickestway possible, and tell the girl that she can seek me out herself.�
OOC: The price of seven silver stars is a ridiculous price for a simple arm wound. A high lord might be able to pay that kind of fee for such a simple procedure, however, Mac and Baldwin, having taken many wounds themselves, would know that a procedure that simple would cost no more than seven copper stars. A difference of One-Hundred fold.
Also, it would be somewhat obvious that Arthur’s threat of protection is mostly for show. Maldeki is a long way off, and lord Ti’iron III, while being a high lord, would not have the influence to effect Halbad in any way.
Lastly, Baldwin’s sword Final Judgement would not be glowing… or at least, not because of Arthur. -
The Last War
#244Rai Dou-Sang sat, meditating just outside of Halbad. He had been there meditating since the sun had arisen just an hour before. It was important to meditate. It centered one’s being, prepared it for the path ahead, for the search for enlightenment. Many monks believed that enlightenment could actually be reached through meditation alone. While Rai respected this belief, he did not follow it. He believed that enlightenment could never truly be reached by meditation alone.
Rai was interrupted by something in the sewage drain. He broke with his meditation just in time to see a man emerging from the sewage drain itself.
It was truly impressive that he had fit through that hole in the first place. It was far too small for him. However, Rai had seen more impressive things before, and he reacted to Dugal’s exit simply with “Here take a drink, you look like you could use some.
He pulled some water, and some whisky from his coat, and put both before the man on the ground, who was now gasping for relief from the terrible smell that had for so much time surrounded him.
“Take from either one that you want�… -
The Last War
#245The steely rasp of Final Judgment being drawn rang out like a startled exclamation. Baldwin laid the keen edge of the blade on the side of Arthur’s throat with quickness that bordered on supernatural. He pressed hard enough to break the skin, but not hard enough to sever the artery pulsing, a bit quicker now than a few seconds ago, just beneath the surface.
“We don’t take kindly to threats.� Baldwin began, “I don’t know Ti’iron and all I see is a thief masquerading as a healer. Seven Silver Stars? I’ve a question thief, and I call you thief because I don’t know your name, only what you do. How much is your life worth? Is it worth Seven Silver Stars or Six copper stars? Choose right and I spare your life and pay your price. Choose wrong and I take your life and keep my coin.
“We don’ care if you and Ti’iron are bedmates an’ such. I ain’t killed in a fortnight and I get itchy when I don’t. Me ol’ lady says it gives me ‘ives. So answer me cousin and I hope you answer wrong ‘cause me dirk’s thirsty.� Mac emphasized his words with pressure on the point of the blade that was already in a position to slip in between Arthur’s ribs… -
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#246Rory touched Holly’s arm. The Wilder’s face was drawn and etched with signs of fatigue. He had done too much today. He was nearly asleep on his feet. “Holly, I’m right here.� He nodded at Smeed and smiled, “You’re a quick study old man.� He said the last not unkindly so that the older man would see it for the term of endearment that it was. “I’m impressed.� He stumbled, he had to rest, but he also had to tell Baldwin about the predicament Dugal was in. The sun was about to rise and they had to try to find a way to prevent their brother from being killed. He pointed to Mac and Baldwin who were a short distance away. “Smeed, Holly let’s go see what that’s about. Holly, isn’t that man holding your sword?�… -
The Last War
#247Arthur did not take too kindly to threats. However, as it turned out, Aurther took even less kindly to his own mortality, and when faced with a choice between the two, he decided to choose the former.
"Five Copper Stars." he said with distain in his voice "It is an insult. Still, I have no time to be delayed here, I have much else to do. I suppose that I shall accept you're offer, however be warned, you have made a mistake by threatening me."
Even then he ignored the blades as if they were not there as he released the sheath and sword from his belt and held it out ahead of himself.... -
The Last War
#248Mac took the offered sword and gave it to Holly who had just showed up with Rory, Smeed and Grumple. Baldwin held the sword at Arthur's throat for two more beats before returning it to his scabbard without looking. He kept his eyes locked on Arthur's as Mac dropped four coppers in Arthur's hand, "I'll take a copper for my time" the big man said with the smile that didn't reach his eyes...
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Dugal drank deeply of the offered water splashing some on his face as well. His left arm lay at an unnatural angle. He placed the water skin on the ground and stepped up to the wall and slammed his shoulder into it with ferocious impact, snapping it back into place. His eyes watered and he gritted his teeth against the bone jarring pain as he grunted deeply.
He turned his attention to the stranger who was kind enough to have offered the water. “Thank you for the water. I’m called Dugal.�...
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The cloaked visitor to Malik’s bedchamber related the events of the last few hours in a sibilant whisper. Malik clenched a leatherbound fist as he heard how Sweev had been killed. The killer sounded like one of the Deshii that had escaped his net. His contacts had told him that Black Dugal had two brothers that were loyal to him beyond the simple bonds that the Deshii shared.
DESHII! The name alone was an affront. It meant Free People in the old tongue. How dare they, a group of common criminals, aspire to such lofty claims of grandeur.
He would shatter their delusions and bring them down; starting with the execution of that lice ridden cur Black Dugal. Bereft of their leadership and most of their high ranking members they would likely return to their rat like ways.
Before the execution he must speak to his superiors. He dismissed his spy and walked over to a door that was hidden to all but those who knew exactly where it was located. Malik could count those on one hand. It opened silently on well oiled hinges to reveal a dark chamber about twenty feet square. The oppressive darkness was broken by the glow given by a pool in the center of the room. The pool was five feet across and bordered by a wall that stood a foot high. A chaise at the far side of the room faced the pool. The eldritch glow cast by the pool threw harsh shadows about the room, and gave Malik’s face a nightmare aspect as he walked to the chaise.
Malik was reknown as a warrior and a politician of considerable power. These were but collateral effects of bargins struck and pacts made in this very summoning chamber. He was caught up in his incantations as his arms weaved with snake like fluidity. He ended as he always did in a low gutteral exhortation, “Lord Belzar, your humble servant summons you�… -
The Last War
#249Holly gave a sharp squeak and took her sword back from the hands that held it, she turned to Rory, "you look tired you must rest, but i'm so glad your alright. Where are the children?" she said this last part to everyone, turning her head slightly to look at each one of them, and watch as the man who had her sword saunter off, she looked at Rory, she could see something in his eye's, and then it came to her "oh yes we have a meeting with the king tomorrow morning, he wishes to see us all, and i will ask for his army then, he would rather we take his army then have his city destroyed." she nodded "maybe we should find another Inn to stay at, and make sure this one hasn't got any spiders in, we will feel refreshed in the morning, i know an Inn called 'the blacksmiths shoes' not far down the road maybe they will have space, and wine, i could do with a drink i'm parched" at that being said she waited for the reply from the others. -
The Last War
#250Rory looked at Holly and then his brother. "Holly Baldwin and I may have more pressing matters to attend to." He filled Holly and Baldwin in on the events of the afternoon. He also told them of Dugal's scheduled execution in a few hours. "Holly, I won't let you get involved in this. Malik," He spit noisily after saying the name, "Is the baron's son. This means he's the nephew of the king. Our quarrel with him may make us less than able to gain the kings aid.
Rory almost told her that Baldwin and him were wanted men but stayed his tongue.
Mac chimed in, "I sent the kids to me house. My old lady will keep a good eye on them. They'll be safe enough there."
Baldwin was deep in thought. He ran his hand through his damp hair. How was he gonna save Dugal?... -
The Last War
#251She kissed Grumple! Grumple blushed. (Of course, friends, it is hard to tell when a troll blushes. Basically, Grumple went from a light shade of Puke to a rich, dark Vomit in color. But I digress...)
Grumple decided he could give his right arm for this woman. (Really!) He thought, "Holly Friend." Grumple's thoughts were simple, but usually effective in their way.
Grumple wasn't thinking about the lost spear any more. ("Out of sight, out of mind", they say. Actually, in Grumple's case, the sight was quite a bit further-reaching if you catch my drift. But I digress, again.)
So Grumple kept his cloak pulled around him so as not to be recognized. He looked like a little old man or a crippled youth following the beautiful blonde -- but Holly had a way of attracting the usual attention shown to tall, athletic women, and Grumple got hardly a second look from passers-by. Fortunately, the occasional soldiers in the area didn't notice him, either.
Of course, Grumple's long gray nose stuck out. He tugged at the hood from time to time in a futile attempt to keep it covered, and tried not to scratch his bug-bites too much. How they itched! -
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#252OCC: So, POG, Malik is in cahoots with Belzar! What IS the king going to think? The plot thickens! (I told you to go ahead and play with my toys, so have fun...)
Note to everyone: Same goes for any player, really, I have thrown in various characters besides Grumple, and don't care if you use them in your posts. I made a request or two for Fox, Kraggis, and Voramis, since I'd rather they weren't killed just yet, but that doesn't mean "Hands Off." If they fit into your ideas of the story, then have a go at it. Otherwise, I'll bring them in again when I can. :wink: -
The Last War
#253Tantus drew to a stop, several men were littered about the road, picking at their fingernails with drawn daggers. Highwaymen. With all of the trouble in Halbad, the guards weren't tramping down the roads and jack-daws like these were becoming more and more common. The real surprise was that these ruffians were within sight of Halbad's peaked roofs and towers.
"You're awful furry to be a monk, but I'm not picky." The apparent leader of the band said. He twirled a particularly wicked looking dagger under the edge of his thumbnail. Tantus knew that the man would likely be quite good at throwing the dagger, humans made games of such things. "Monk's still carry gold and silver, even if it is just the token of their deity."
"You would risk your soul to steal from a holy man?" Tantus asked.
"Well, for one, you no man. You look like some sort of troll-ogre thing. That means you got no soul, and can't harm me no ways." the man said.
"That's telling him, Jack." one of the ruffians gave a cheer.
"Enough out of you!" Jack said, brandishing the blase at his fellow thief.
"Jack...the King of the Crows, isn't it?" Tantus asked.
"Perhaps you've heard of me and my band of outlaws." Jack said, sweeping off his hat and offering a theatrical bow.
"Indeed, tales of your villany have spread as far east as Vrabelton." Tantus said. "That your a robber lord, and a captain among thieves. No one can best you in a sword duel and you can swat an arrow out of midair with a quarter staff."
"Damn, I do sound pretty good, don't I." Jack said.
"Except I thought you would be taller." Tantus said with a lopsided smirk. "If I were you, I would leave Halbad. An army is coming, there are already several companies of cavalry in the area. They've destroyed Palaten, and Halbad is next. They also employ creatures of darkness, demons and the unclean." Tantus warned.
"Palaten is destroyed?" Jack asked. "Are there survivors?"
"Precious few..."
"No..." Jack said, a crestfallen look upon his proud face. -
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#254Smeed tottered after the rest of his companions, still breathing heavily. He was beginning to catch up with the rest, information-wise. So the two brothers were somehow involved in a plan to rescue this Dugal fellow from the clutches of the King's nephew - but why? And was it really a good idea to inform the king of an imminent attack while at the same time acting against the wishes of his flesh and blood?
"Hold up," he began, hoping to get everyone's attention. "If I'm not being too bold - Why exactly do you two feel the need to rescue this Dugal character? Why, for that matter, does he even need rescuing?" He suspected he wasn't being told something. "And what in heaven's name were all the spiders about?" -
The Last War
#255Holly grimaced, she hated being left out of things, but she supposed Rory had a point, they needed the kings army, and if she went along with the rescue mission then it may jeperdize her own mission to get the army, all she needed was the permission of the king and then she could bring in her own reinforcements, to make up the numbers "will you come and see the king with me tomorrow all of you? i could do with your support" she smiled lightly and then turned to Rory, Baldwin and mac "i want you all to be careful, don't get in trouble please" she walked up to Rory and smiled holding his arm, she leant forward and kissed him on the cheek. -
The Last War
#256Rai stood before speaking "You may call me Rai Dow-Sang, or if you prefer, simply Rai. I suspect that you are running from the local authorities. If you would like, I can give you this coat and spear. I have use for neither" He gestured to a dirty trench coat lying folded on the ground, contrasting strongly with the clean, grey trench coat worn by Rai, and a spear laying on top of it. The quality of the spear was quite fine and had clearly cost a lot of money.
"I had put it there for the next person who might be able to use them, however I had not expected somebody so soon. Still they are both yours for the taking, and if you like, I will buy you some food and a bath."
Rai made sure every so often to give freely to those in any kind of need as a sort of penance to balance out his acts towards those who he may have inadvertently hurt. It was also a way of remembering that everything was only an illusion. What may have been there for one minute, would be gone the next, and this policy of his was a token of just that. -
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#257Grumple didn't mind that Holly kissed another man. But Grumple wasn't like other trolls. Oh, no. Grumple didn't get jealous, or mad. Unless it was for a good reason of course, like food, or drink, or fighting, or revenge, or a bunch of other stuff. Oh, No. It was enough to be accepted by someone. Why even being accepted by a Troll was tough for a Troll!
Grumple thought back to Elwina, years ago, when he was younger and much, much bigger, standing guard at the tower. The other small children had pushed the wizard's daughter down on the ground nearby and laughed at her because her father was so strange, and because he was never around to help her. Grumple saw the cruelty of the small children and almost made them into much, much smaller children right then and there!
But Elwina had grabbed his massive leg, her arms wrapped around his thick iron greaves. "NO, GRUMPLE!" she had wailed as he tramped forward with his huge battleaxe in hand. The group of little children cowered back in terror, then fled. Grumple looked down 7 feet at the tiny blonde head as she clung to his ankle and cried out, "Don't hurt them!! They are my friends!"
Grumple had been confused by this sort of "friendship". He opened and closed his thick jaw, not knowing what to say. Her 40 pounds gripped his 400. Grumple reached down and scooped up the little girl with one hand and held her up to look at her. She kissed him on the face!
"That's what friends do" she said. Grumple had thought about this, then lowered her back down. She ran off to play with her friends.
Grumple decided then to be good to his friends, too. If he ever got any.
Grumple also noticed that the other little children never pushed Elwina down again. Not ever again. -
The Last War
#258The room was filled with the dark menace of Lord Belzar. His presence even through means of the summoning pool was enough to make the most hardy soul quake with fear. His voice poured forth from the pool with a bass rumble that leached the strength of the hardiest souls.
“Malik, Dugal has escaped.� The words came from the ebony swirl of clouds that filled the pool. Malik staggered as if struck by a physical blow. His nemesis had escaped! How? He must have had help from outside. His thoughts were broken by his master’s strident voice once again. His brothers are here, an Archer and a Wilder Mage. They come with others to seek to disrupt our plans and usurp power that is rightfully ours. The strand sees all. You must stop them by any means. But more important than the McVey brothers is the young girl with golden hair they travel with. She must be slain at all costs.
“How?� Malik fell to one knee, “Your faithful servant awaits your command.�
The voice dropped to a deafening whisper, “You must employ the Black Wind.�
Malik shuddered at the implications of Lord Belzar’s words.
“Yes my Lord�
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The group had moved to the BlackSmiths Shoes. The inn was closed but once the proprietor, a Deshii sympathizer, realized that it was none other than Mac the Knife banging on his front door. He was glad to let the group in and even served them food and drink. It was a safe haven where they could rest and talk.
Rory looked at Holly as he chewed a mouthful of warm food. “Baldwin and I are members of a group known as the Deshii. Deshii means free people and for years we have fought against the evil taking root in this city and the surrounding countryside. Malik, the Kings nephew, has been keeping the poor of Halbad under his heel for years and lately he has become even more brazen. Dugal, called Black Dugal by some is the leader of the Deshii and has been a thorn in Malik’s side and has become a hero to the people. Dugal and his men make sure that the city’s wealth gets…more evenly distributed.� Rory took a swig of ale. “Dugal is our older brother.� He cast a glance at Baldwin, “The sword didn’t pick him either. Anyway, Malik captured Dugal and most of the Deshii shortly before our arrival. I don’t know how he found them out. He killed all of them except for Dugal.�
Rory gazed into Holly’s eyes, “We have to save him.�
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“So I’ll tell you what, Rai� Dugal said as he pointed to the tree stump twenty spans distant, “if you can throw the spear closer to the center than me than I go along my way giving you my thanks but if I can hit closer to the center you’ll help me.� He looked at the monk squarely, “The people I’m quarreling with are dangerous and by helping me your life will be in danger. I’ll not let you help me even if I win the bet, without telling you that.�
“So what’s it to be?�… -
The Last War
#259Rai replied
"Do you think that I am so foolish as to play such a contest and expect to win? What have I said that makes you think that you cannot ask me for my help freely. Mind you, I will not help you in any activities that will cause harm to others, however if help is truly what you need, then I give it freely. All you have to do is ask."
"However, the first things are first, you must bathe. Your odor will be noticed a mile off, and you need change the clothes you wear, as your prison garb gives you away as a villain. I have a bar of soap here, and there is a river not to far from here, or if you would like, I can take you to a bath house. Make sure to take the coat and spear if you want them, I will not be taking them for myself for any reason." -
The Last War
#260Arthur, like so many others that night was worn out and tired. He had healed people all night, and now his body was drained of his power. He could still have cast magic healing, but at great risk. The danger with Wilder magic, was that it was very easy to overdraw on it, and either burn your self out, or even die. The more tired you were, the harder it ecame to control, ,and the more you used, the more tired you became.
This was the reason that formal spellcasting had been created. To stop overdrawing. With finite spells, you could control the amount of magic that was spent and stop before over exerting yourself. Of course, the trade off was that Wilder magic was more powerful, and could be taken closer to the limit of spellcasting, however for most, the dangers far outweighed the benefits.
It took a real strength of willpower to resist overdrawing. Arthur knew it too. That sweet essence flowing through him, coursing through his veins, filling him with life and energy, and then, only to be gone in the moment of weakness. It was the greatest injustice. Wilders were rare for this reason. They were rare because they died so often overdrawing on themselves.
Arthur collapsed on his bed. He was tired, and he was going to sleep -
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#261“The lot I’m tangling with are evil bastards and there’s bound to be harm to others. But if I have my way, the harm will only be to vile men who would prosper at the expense of others. The toll Malik and his lackeys from the NightWatch claim is measured not in simple gold crowns but in the blood and lives they take. I'll tell you a secret about me. I’m always taking the measure of folks to see what they’re made of. I think you’d do a bit better in the spear throw than you’re letting on. Sure you don’t want any trouble but you’re capable of defending yourself and will do so if pushed. I’m sure you won’t let innocents be harmed either. Tell me if I’m wrong.� Dugal wrinkled his nose disapprovingly, “Well you won’t gamble with me but I can’t fault your sense of smell. I smell like hundred day rot, eh? I’ll take your offer of soap and seek out that river. Afterwards I’ve a man in the city that I need to ask a favor. I hope you’ll join me.�
Dugal started to walk towards the river, soap in hand. He turned and looked at Rai, “You’re not from around here are you? And the unwillingness to harm others is that part of your religion?�… -
The Last War
#262By mid-morning Voramis had found Captain Kraggis and the few remaining light cavalry. There were only 6 horses for the eight men, so two were doubled up with riders.
"Kraggis!" hissed the dark one. The Captain drew himself up in his saddle and tried not to appear cowed. "You chase the wind. The enemy has moved to Halbad and you waste time here! Go to the camp and prepare to move to Halbad."
"You there. Take this message to Lord Belzar in Palaten." Voramis handed a tangled ball of spider webs to cavalryman Jarmin Fisher, who picked it up with obvious disgust and trepidation. Fisher rode off, fearful that something was inside the ball other than mere webs.
He was right, of course.
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Grumple watched his companions talk to each other. It all seemed to be important, at least to the humans; matters of life and death and heroes and war and freedom and such... but there was something that was clearly of higher priority.
9:00 am. Well past time for breakfast! Good thing the innkeeper was bringing out some food and drink. Grumple's "spot" needed a "hit" right about now.
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Realen Fox entered the city on horseback just after dawn. On his way in, Fox had passed by another man scrubbing in the river, and a holy man sitting and watching him. They didn't seem unusual.
Fox had found a cloak on some poor unfortunate soul that had died outside the city wall from unknown causes. The man didn't have a mark on him, but had obviously been scrubbing himself with mud in the river on a bugbite before he succumbed.
The cloak covered Fox's cavalry uniform, sword, and light mail shirt. A sharp eye might have noticed his riding boots, but sharp eyes were not in abundance. People were dazed. There had obviously been quite a commotion there overnight. Some burned buildings, numerous ailing citizens, evidence of riot. Fox wondered if it was connected to the drained cavalryman under the bridge. He overheard people talking about the spiders going berserk, and figured the answer was Yes. From the conversations around him he was picking up quite a lot of useful information, and a lot of chatter.
Corporal Fox figured he should observe what he could and report back. It was a perfect opportunity to scout around with some freedom, if he was careful. He tied up his horse where he could get to it quickly and walked past an inn that was closed; the "BlackSmith's Shoes". Closed, yes, but there were voices inside, and people talking in hushed tones. Fox looked surreptitiously in both directions, then went down the dark alley and leaned nonchalantly beside an cracked window to listen.
Something about "the Desheye" and the King... this was no idle chatter. He listened closer. -
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#263Smeed sat in silence, eating fresh seed-cakes with relish and drinking in Rory's words equally gratefully. At last, some sort of explanation was being made. So the two brothers - or three, as it seemed - were in fact against the current system of rule that had the citizens of Halbad so riled up and violent. He was glad he had taken up with companions of a more pleasant moral character than the ordinary folk to be found here.
And now this Dugal fellow was captured, and, quite understandably, Rory and Baldwin wished to free him. Well, Smeed had helped them out before, and he saw no reason to stop now. He leaned forward. "I doubt I'll be much help, but if you need anything, I'd be glad to assist you in your rescue attempt. Maybe I could ask the cards..." He very much doubted that anything he could find out would be of much help, but there was always a chance.
"Which reminds me," he said, his memory jogging, " - I never ended up teaching you how to read the cards, Rory! Shame on me!" He smacked his forehead. "In the ...excitement getting to Halbad, I clean forgot!" Rummaging in his pack - now rather grimier than before - he retreived his cards. "Do we have the time, or shall I just ask about your Dugal and be done with it?" -
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#264Rory’s eyes were half lidded but snapped open smartly when Smeed mentioned fortune telling. “Gods, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before. The cards may hold a clue as to how we can save Dugal.�
Baldwin, shirtless, displayed a powerfully muscled torso crisscrossed with scars new and old as Mac wrapped gauze, provided by the inn’s proprietor, around his cracked ribs. “Make it fast Smeed, we’ve got to get moving quickly… -
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#265Holly sat smartly legs crossed on a stool sipping her wine and looking around the Inn, her arm still hurt but it wasn't as bad as it had been, she turned to the inn keeper, "i don't suppose you have a bath do you?" the Innkeeper smiled and pointed up the stairs "to yer right" he said quickly, Holly nodded her thanks and walked up the stairs, it was only a small bathroom but it was alright, there was a towel hanging on the door and all the necessities for a wash, she undressed quickly and stood in the low lying bath, a shower like a waterfall started as soon as she stood underneath it, the water cascaded down her back, after a few minutes of just standing underneath the water she washed her hair quickly and soaped herself down with smelling stones which she had stored in her cloak, she stepped out of the bath and the water stopped instantly, water rolled over her Succulent curves, she grabbed the towel and wrapped herself up, it wasn't long till she had to go and see the king, in about 3 hours she would be walking up to the castle, getting ready to ask for the army, she sat down on the floor and brushed her hair with a wooden home-made brush, she had in her bag, each brush made her hair shine brighter and brighter, she pulled on a little bit of her fringe and it curled up into a small spiral, which spiralled down her face, she took of the bandage which had been put on her arm and looked at the damage the wound had already started to heal, but you could still see where the dagger had entered, she winced as she ran a slender finger over the gash. -
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#266As Dugal Bathed in the river (that I have waved my magic rod to transport them to), Rai sat with the spear and coat next to him.
"No I am not from around here. This is my first time to this city of...Halbad is it?. And yes, you could call it part of my religion."
At this point, Rai started to meditate. It was not showy at all like some other monks who used hand gestures or made noises. In fact, if Dugal had not known any better, he would have thought the man sleeping.Rai awaited Dugal to finish washing off. -
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#267"Right. Fast. I'll do my best." Smeed flicked the cards around in his hand, shuffling them neatly as he spoke. He hardly had to look at the deck - shuffling and cardplay were second nature to him. In a trice he had cleared a space on the table before him and lain the cards in the centre.
"What I do first, is I make a pentagram," Smeed explained as he drew out his quill. For lack of anything better to use, he dipped it in a nearby pat of butter and traced the golden grease in a star shape. He hoped the innkeeper wouldn't mind. "It sort of grounds the cards, gives them a pattern to follow. Otherwise I'd never make sense of the layout. Sorry about the butter." He quickly dealt out five cards to the points of the star, and five more in the spaces between the first cards.
"The five on the points will be the strongest ones, and the others are simply there to provide context." He sat back, and closed his eyes. "Now we simply wait until one of those strong five starts clamouring in my head to be turned over. It doesn't take long, generally speaking." Indeed, one of them was already prodding at his subconscious. He opened an eye. "And there it is." It felt sort of like the beginnings of a headache, except as though the ache were outside his head, trying to get in.
Rubbing his temple, Smeed flipped the card that had nagged at him: The Ace of Masks. "That means the fellow's hidden. We knew that already, though - being imprisoned usually counts as being rather hidden..." Working quickly, he flipped the nine left: The Seven of Sabres, The Six of Sabres, The Queen of Sabres, The Deuce of Towers, The Four of Vaults, The Sage, The Ten of Torches, The Serf of Sabres, and The Outlaw.
"Odd..." There was only one Vault - the usual symbol for imprisonment - and it was in a minor slot. Smeed had been expecting at least three. On top of that, The Four of Vaults usually mean either a weakened building or a useless cage - something whose foundations belied its actual use. It was in conjunction with the Deuce of Towers, which meant a journey underground. The four Sabres didn't help matters either - Sabres indicated freedom, which a prisoner of Dugal's importance would not be granted easily. The Ten of Torches meant revenge, which was understandable. The Outlaw was clearly supposed to represent Dugal - but as to the Sage, Smeed was unsure. Perhaps its relation to the only Torch meant something - but he couldn't be sure. He wished he knew more about what was currently going on.
He cleared his throat, not really wanting to say what he suspected. But perhaps it would help them instead of hindering them - if they could find out where Dugal really was. "Er... what the cards are saying doesn't really make much sense, but from what I can gather... Either Black Dugal has betrayed you and joined the enemy, or he has already escaped." -
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#268OCC: WHATT!!??? Nobody, don't sewer pipes empty into the river? Isn't Dugal taking a bath there? Don't towns always get situated on nearby rivers? Huh? "Magic Rod" indeed. Yeah, right. Maybe you're in the Wrong Post! 8)
By the way, I love the weird way you guys post from the British Isles, or whatever they're called. So charming. Sounds like you have, you know, 'History', or something. Not like us over here. :lol:
Wogden, I swear, your card-fortune-telling is inspired. You could make money off that stuff. :)
IC: Grumple tried to ignore the stares of the innkeeper as he inhaled his plate full of food, and held it up for more. Again. Yes, and again. As food goes, it wasn't properly bleeding or anything, but as trolls go, Grumple wasn't fussy. In fact, breakfast was entirely satisfactory to Grumple. Which meant it was somewhere on the Edible Scale. (The number didn't matter much, but it was at least a Three.)
Because the innkeeper was providing properly, Grumple didn't need to eat the curtains, or for that matter, the potted plant. He sat back and rubbed his tummy. If anyone had noticed, Grumple was now pushing 5 foot 4, and 150 pounds.
----------------
Fox heard what was going on. Someone named "Dugall" had escaped. Then, a boring card game was going on. He noticed a shed attached to the building with a window above. He quietly climbed up on top of the shed and peeked in.
He almost cried aloud. "By the Sinless Sycophants of Goddess Ashtar!" Fox thought. There was the most perfectly beautiful woman - practically naked -- brushing her long blonde hair. Fox held his breath, light-headed, mouth hanging open, and wondered if this was the same Beauty that had almost run him down and and killed him back in the woods. It had to be. There couldn't be two of these in the whole continent!
Goddess indeed! She could actually SIT upon her golden hair. -
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#269OOC: Who’s from the UK besides Calista?
IC: Rory jumped, “Are you sure Smeed? Do it again.�
Mac spoke from across the room where he was putting the finishing touches on the wrapping about Baldwin’s torso. “Baldwin betray us? Never that!�
Baldwin spoke with a grimace due to Mac wrapping he so tight he could barely breathe, “But it would be just like him to take matters into his own hands and escape on his own. He’s not the type to wait around while we plan.� That was a big difference between the brothers. Baldwin was a planner, Rory seemed to trust his gut way too much and Dugal was somewhere in between. “Mac go see what’s going on in the City Square. Hurry back if anything’s going on.�
Mac nodded and rushed out of the front door into the crisp morning air. Had he not been moving so hastily he might have seen Corporal Fox in plain view on his second story perch.
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Dugal used a keen blade found in the pocket of the trench coat to shave off the hair on his face and the head on his head. Most people who knew him would be looking for a short goatee and spiky dark hair, so the new look would give him a chance at avoiding the scrutiny of the guards. He put on the trench and hefted the spear. They would do until he got something better.
He looked at Rai who was deep in meditation. He sat down cross-legged across from the monk. What did the other man see when he meditated. He reminded him of his younger brother Rory, who could go to sleep in the heat of battle. An exaggeration to be sure but that’s how it seemed sometimes. In any case he was grateful for Rai’s help. And now he was doing the unexpected, he should be heading for the hills but instead he was waiting for Rai to finish his meditation so he could go back into the city. First he’d see the twisted man, and then he’d go find Mac. His anger flared, Malik was a dead man…
OOC: Nobody check your PMs -
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#270OOC: UK? Not I. I hail from the magical Northlands of Canadia.
Thanks, Dream, but honestly it's nothing. Although, if there's money to be made... :twisted:
IC: Smeed sighed. "No, I'm quite sure. See, there are far too many Sabres for comfort - Sabres mean freedom among other things, and there are only two possible ways for your sibling to be free. I would put my money on the escaped option, if what you say of this Dugal is correct - and if I gambled, which I make a point of never doing."
He wistfully finished off the last of the seed-cakes in the little basket. Perhaps he could get the recipe after this whole Dugal mess was done with. "I'd recommend staying put until your Mac fellow comes back with tidings - if Dugal has escaped, then our job may end up being a lot harder. By all accounts, it's easier to free a captured outlaw than to find a wanted one."
There was another point which Smeed wanted to make clear, especially to Rory - he was trying to teach the man, after all. "Not only that, but it's considered unwise to check one's cards twice for the same question - they don't seem to like it. They always end up giving you the same layout the next time - but the cards start doing odd things like turning up the wrong way or accidentally blowing off the table. It's their way of saying they don't take kindly to folks who abuse their power. Best to ask once and be satisfied with the answer. To my knowledge, they haven't been wrong yet." He had often read them wrong, but that was another matter altogether, and he was quite convinced this time. -
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#271OOC: Hey guys.Wogden was right. Life really is a pair of socks.
They come is all shapes and sizes
You can never find a matching pair (IE. You are almost never completely satisfied with life, and it never comes out the way you expect)
You are always losing them, and the socks you lose never do come back
You take them for granted and step on them, but if you have none you realize how important they are.
If you wear them for too long without keeping them clean, then they get nasty and smelly.
What a view of life. -
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#272Rai had finished his meditation. He stood calmly and firmly. He looked very much like a monk, with his clean shaven head and beard, his grey trench coat, and most of all, his stature.
It was a stature that seemed to say that he was totally relaxed, and yet at the same time, alert and ready. This was not the same thing as the alertness of a fighter such as Rory, a tiger preparing to pounce with that relaxed grace that spoke of years of the hunt. No. This was different. Something more, and yet less at the same time. But most of all, something else.
"Where would you like to go. I have sworn to help you for at least a little time." -
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#273Grumple, too, was "totally relaxed, and yet at the same time, alert and ready." :) After all, three plates of food prepared Grumple for some serious relaxation, while the possibility of dessert kept him alert and ready. He hoped dessert would be something special (which is to say, "still moving").
But instead, the relaxed, alert, and ready troll noticed something move past the window in the alley. "Huh?" thought Grumple. No one seemed to be paying attention, especially not to him. Grumple stood up and went out the back door to see what it was.
There was a man climbing down from the shed! He wore cavalry boots! With memories of the calvary men who had stabbed him in the past few days boiling up in the little troll's mind, RA&R Grumple became ROARing Grumple that sprang out the door in a rage after Fox.
As luck would have it, Grumple in his blind fury stomped on a heavy rake lying by the shed which sprang up and dealt him a lusty blow to his face -- adding yet one more lump to the already misshapen mass. Ever so briefly stunned by the rake, Grumple threw it at Fox who was making the most of the moment to sprint to his horse. A rake is not quite the same thing as a magic spear, of course, and it hurtled past the fleeing spy, down the street, and struck Mac hard on the back as he was leaving the inn.
Fox would never have been able to outrun a troll on foot. He barely made it out alive on horseback as he fled the city with Grumple in hot pursuit... much to the astonishment of several onlookers who had never seen a boy run quite that fast; nor for that matter, look quite that ugly.
Grumple gave up the chase outside the city as the terrified horse and rider disappeared over the bridge and up toward the forest. Breathing hard, he noticed a short distance away a very tall man. Something about this fellow caught Grumple's attention. Maybe it was his stature, or something else.
And there was another man cutting off his beard and hair with a knife, and with him was... could it be? Grumple's SPEAR! -
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#274OOC: Ye gods, Dream, I love your humour. -
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#275OOC: Dream check your PM's -
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#276Holly stood up and put her clothes on hastily, knocking some of the cleaning implements of the shelf, she pulled her cloak on and practically ran out of the door jumping down the steps, "whats going on, i heard screams outside, i looked out the window and i saw people running and Mac being hit over the head with a rake, wheres Grumple?" Holly stopped talking and looked at the surprised faces of the others, she turned and ran outside, she ran past the dazed Mac in the direction that the men or what looked like men were running in, and arrived at the gates not long after, she stopped running and walked causally out of the gates, there was Grumple, stood not far away by a river, with two other people sitting crosslegged, she edged closer keeping one hand on the hilt of her sword. What was going on, each time she moved she got closer and closer, Holly started to walk properly and didn't notice the root sticking out of the ground, her foot got hooked and she screamed as she fell face first to the floor. -
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#277Grumple's roar nearly gave Smeed a heart attack. As soon as his heart rate had slowed enough to warrant moevment again, he collected himself from the floor (where he had somehow tumbled), and swept his cards back into his pack with the thoughtlessness of one whose actions are second nature. What in the Lord's name had Grumple been thinking? The roar of a troll was certainly not something easily overlooked in a populated town like Halbad.
Then Holly practically sprang over his head, and Smeed was bowled over once more. The woman was out the door before he'd got to his feet again, and Smeed thought it prudent to follow. Unfortunately, Holly was many, many years younger than Smeed, and running hard had never been his forte. He caught himself a nasty fall from tripping over a rake which was lying innocently in the road, and cursed the garden tool and all its forefathers. Holly had disappeared - and Grumple, of course, was nowhere to be seen either.
Breathing hard, the old man scrambled to his feet for the third time in as many minutes, and decided to backtrack to Rory and Baldwin. No use following the girl - he had no idea where she or the pint-sized troll had gone. -
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#278Tantus measued out a steady pace with his walking staff, the steel shod tip tapping the ground with every step of his left foot. The Crows, Jack's men were moving along behind him, Jack walked at his side. It had not taken much effort to convince the bandot king to spare the bugbear's life, and less to inspire them to return to Halbad to assist Holly, Baldwin and the others. He had passed a good part of the trip telling stories of his home in the hinterlands, and teaching the men some of the less pleasant words in trollshaw.
Of course to the uneducated ear, all of the words and sounds of trollish, or trollshaw are less then pleasant. In fact, one of the difficulties of learning trollshaw is to learn it without constantly spitting on yourself. The men took a particular delight in hurling insults at each other in trollshaw, though in trollish, most human insults were either compliments, or simply didn't translate. Trolls were like bugbears in that their olfactory sense didn't divide the world into stinky, and not-stinky. Given the general hygiene of the trollish race, they would invariable be surrounded by stinky, which would just make them that much more diffucult to deal with.
"Sounds like a horseman, Lord Jack." A gnurley man said. "Sounds like he's skinning it for the devil too."
"Well then, we should waylay him and see what he can offer the Crows." Jack said, flicking the side of his nose with his finger in what was supposed to be a cavalier manner. The men broke from the road and took up hiding places in the roadside hedge and brush. Tantus, Jack, and the gnurley man remain on the road.
No one knew the gnurley man's name, but they knew that many years ago, the man had been afflicted with a magical disease that had caused his bones to grow in a bent fashion. His arms and legs were bowed, and his knees and shoulders were overly thick. Despite this, or maybe because of it, the gnurley man was very strong, and had a will to survive despite of the world.
Corporal Fox had managed to outpace the horribly deformed child, but something had distracted it at the last. Ahead there were three men in the road, one he recognized as the self appointed bandit lord Jack King of the Crows, the other two looked like they belonged in a circus freakshow. -
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#279The wooden handle of the rake hit the back of Mac’s head. Mac had a hard head. It still got his attention; he spun around, “Wot?�
He saw the commotion going on at the inn, Corporal Fox leaving on his horse and the Troll in pursuit. He spied a group of three youths dressed in the threadbare clothing of street urchins lounging at the next corner. “You lot. C’mere.� Mac the knife was well known. The three youngsters came over. “Here’s three coppers.� He gave the coins to the children. “Go find out what’s goin’ at the Square. Find me and tell me and a Crown’s in it for ya.� The children ran off, happy to be doing an errand for someone as famous, or infamous as Mac. Mac jogged off after the Troll in long easy distance eating strides.
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Dugal dropped his weight into a fighting stance. It had been a long time since he had wielded a spear. He usually preferred shorter blades so he could get up close and personal but this just felt right. His calloused hands gripped the shaft with a light but sure grip. Confidence filled him as he faced this ugly boy.
“I don’t fight children.� He said, “But I’ll slice you open head to toe if you don’t back up.� Dugal meant it. He didn’t have time for this. He needed to get to his contact in the city so he could kill Malik.
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Rory was sleeping with his head on the table. Baldwin looked at Smeed. “Mr. Smeed this group is a lodestone for craziness.� He had seen Grumple chase the horseman down the road and Holly nearly ran him over following Grumple. He took out some arrows and started to work on the fletching and shafts. Rory was getting some much needed sleep. He was waiting for Mac to come back. Staying put seemed like the best thing to do… -
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#280Rai did not move or speak. Instead, he sat back down and began to meditate again. He was not actually unaware of the surrounding world. Quite the opposite. He was quite aware, extrordinarily so.
To any casual observer however, he looked like he might be sleeping. He was in the least confrontational position, and therefore, most likely to be unnoticed by those looking to fight.
In his mind, he allowed memory to reply the last few seconds. Dugal in his stance, definately skilled with the spear, his form was perfect. At least Rai knew what Dugal's weapon of choice was.
The boy who was not a boy. There was something odd about him. Although a cloak had hidden his face, the boy must have had some sort of plague disease, because his face was terribly deformed. And something else about the teenager (he is 5'4 after all) that wasn't right. Something about the way he stood. As if his growth was in some ways deformed.
And then there was the girl, barely noticed, but still noticed. She was not a clumsy individual, for although she fell akwardly, she did not land quite awkwardly. Rai guessed that she was simply unused to the outdoors.