Dota
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Post by Dota on Jan 29, 2011 21:28:56 GMT -5
Ede turned, watching Rayne retrieve her daggers, and what was left of the crossbow. Her eyes wandered towards the front of the cart. With a few steps to the side, she was able to see the mangled mess that was once their horse. Had the party happened upon the carnage while journeying, Ede might have been less disturbed -- the pile of bones and flesh would have never been a horse. But she had seen this creature in its whole, living form. What was once life could become gruesome death so easily...
Rayne returned. If she had noticed the horse, she didn't let any emotion cross her face.
"Alright I'm ready to go. You all set?"
Ede nodded. She glanced over at Scarlette, seeing if she'd be joining them. The woman was standing. Doran was motioning down the path. The party was ready to move out. Ede prepared herself for the long walk ahead.
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Post by Trunks on Jan 30, 2011 11:45:37 GMT -5
Rayne looked at everyone. They all seemed ready to go. Scarlette was the only one that seemed like she needed some more information. She provided as much information as she she could remember from that brief conversation she had with Doran.
"We're going to an inn. Apparently we'll be there by morning. Let's hope we don't have any more run ins."
The rogue flipped up her hood and followed the group.
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Post by Sakabatou on Feb 2, 2011 18:09:18 GMT -5
Finally, they were on their way, leaving the night's carnage behind them. Doran allowed Katrin to lead, opting to take rear-guard--primarily so that he could keep a watchful eye on Ede's condition. Soon after departing, he motioned for Rayne to join him.
"I know that our ultimate destination is some town to the east. I might have heard something about a few day's journey, probably by horse, but that is all that I know. Perhaps you could speak to Scarlette or Ede and fill me in?"
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Banette
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STILL Obsessed with Ganon After All This Time
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Post by Banette on Feb 4, 2011 16:35:38 GMT -5
The journey to the small building she had stayed in once before was blissfully uneventful. The red-headed woman and the young girl was just slightly trailing behind her, and the giant and the dark-haired one were taking up the rear.
She saw the familiar shape of the abandoned structure up ahead, and sighed tiredly. Soon, they could rest for a while.
According to the thief, they were headed toward an inn.
An inn? In the middle of nowhere? What sort of nonsense was that?
Regardless... with all of the group hurt in some way, any place to rest was a welcome stop. Especially now that they had to walk the whole way east.
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Post by Trunks on Feb 5, 2011 9:56:45 GMT -5
Rayne moved back to Doran when she was summoned.
"I know that our ultimate destination is some town to the east. I might have heard something about a few day's journey, probably by horse, but that is all that I know. Perhaps you could speak to Scarlette or Ede and fill me in?"
The rogue nodded and headed up front a bit to Ede.
"So where exactly are we ultimately headed. Do we know the name of the city or do I have to speak to Scarlette?"
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Dota
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Post by Dota on Feb 6, 2011 7:57:54 GMT -5
"So where exactly are we ultimately headed. Do we know the name of the city or do I have to speak to Scarlette?"
Ede shifted uncomfortably under her load (which honestly didn't look like much, even on the petite girl's frame) so that she could turn enough to look at Rayne.
"Ta...Tar..."
She frowned and shook her head.
"Scarlette knows."
Her reply was succinct, as though she could make herself last longer by conserving even the energy it took to speak.
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Post by Trunks on Feb 9, 2011 0:06:48 GMT -5
Rayne jogged up to Scarlette.
"Hey! How's the neck? It doesn't look like it's infected. That's good. Doran wants to know the city we're traveling to.... or what did he say 'the ultimate destination' to the east. Something like that."
Rayne waited for her response... that is if she was going to give one.
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Banette
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STILL Obsessed with Ganon After All This Time
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Post by Banette on Feb 9, 2011 8:25:24 GMT -5
"...Doran wants to know the city we're traveling to.... or what did he say 'the ultimate destination' to the east. Something like that."
Scarlette turned her attention to Rayne, an unreadable expression on her face. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke, her voice devoid of any sort of emotion.
"Our ultimate destination is the merchant town of Târgșor."
Whether it was from sudden exhaustion or some other cause, the red-head was in very little mood to talk. That didn't seem to show in her expression, however.
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Post by Sakabatou on Feb 11, 2011 19:33:39 GMT -5
Doran nodded thoughtfully when Rayne relayed the information. "Romania is a long way, even by horse. We won't be able to proceed on foot."
He sighed wearily, shaking his head. "We'll think about it tomorrow. I can barely keep one leg moving after the other at this point."
The silhouette of the dilapidated inn began to gather more detail as they approached. It would be lacking in comfort, but at this point, Doran could fall asleep on a stampeding bull, so any shelter was welcomed. He looked wearily at the rest of the group as they neared. All he could think was that they were a sorry looking bunch.
"Katrin and I can scout the building. Rayne, I'd like you to stay with Ede. I'm sure Scarlette will do whatever she pleases."
Miles and miles to the east, at the same time the worn-out travelers were gazing upon their hopeful abode, another man was rising early under very different circumstances. It was before dawn, and as he rose from his cot he lit the lantern that hung from the center of his large tent. This tent was spacious enough to contain his cot, a large table upon which several canvas maps were spread, a number of simple chairs, and his servant's sleeping mat. The servant, a strikingly fair-skinned boy of fourteen, had already prepared a fresh washbasin, which the man used to wash his face. After combing his blonde hair and thin, pointed beard, he allowed Dieter (this being the name of his servant) to dress him, his garb being perfectly fit for travel, yet of such quality that only the tiniest subset of society could ever afford its like.
When he felt himself presentable, he pushed aside the flap of the canopy entrance. There was a guard at attention on either side of the entrance, each armed with a halberd and scabbarded short sword. Their armor, like the man's own vest, was adorned with the papal crest. He spoke to the guard on the left.
"Summon Captain Faella for the night's report." The guard saluted smartly and struck a quick pace. Faella, the night captain, was sitting in the tent within ten minutes.
"There has still been no word of the envoy that was sent two days ago. Our scouts reported that the city gates were closed, as would be expected at night, but no guards were apparent and none of the battlements were lit. As ordered, they did not approach the city."
The man stroked his beard thoughtfully for a few seconds. Well, their course was already set, so there was no real decision to make. "Very well. Give the order to break camp. We will reach the city by nightfall and set up outside the walls. Tomorrow, they will open the gates to us with open arms, as sanity would dictate, or we shall lay siege to the city of Târgșor."
Captain Faella saluted as he stood. "Very good, General Rosenkranz."
After the captain had departed, General Judas Rosenkranz, commander of the Order of the Papal Knights, stepped from his tent, allowing the sights, sounds, and scents of the war caravan's sprawling camp to infuse him. Organized bustle defined the landscape in every direction as hundreds of knights, squires, and servants rushed to break camp in an orderly but timely manner. Men saluted Rosenkranz as they passed into his own tent, exiting with furniture and rolled maps to be loaded into the proper carts.
In one more day, he would discover whether the rumor that had spread across Europe--that an evil power was at work in Târgșor--held any veracity. If the Evil Seed really had taken hold in the city, then he would wipe its blight from this Earth with the holy power so righteously wielded by his own hand.
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Dota
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Post by Dota on Feb 12, 2011 10:01:37 GMT -5
Ede was ready to sleep by the time they'd reached the building. Doran stopped the party, however. What was the problem? Probably some ritual of caution that swordsmen (or in this case, hammer-men) underwent before setting up camp. That's why she had hired him, so she didn't have to make these smart decisions. She could at least rest while they waited. It didn't matter if the sun was beginning to light the world from below the distant horizon. Where they had stopped was good enough. Ede slipped off her pack, letting it fall to the ground. Her sari and the cloth viel she had donned before their departure (both now looking dusty and torn from her tumble across the ground) would serve as substitutes for a blanket. She unwrapped the silk-trimmed maroon sari, revealing a gem and bead-decorated ghagra choli of various blue and green hues beneath. The two-piece outfit left her mid-drift exposed, and the top was laced up her back. The skirt portion looked reminiscent of her sleeves -- long and flowing. Without a word, Ede lay herself down, curling up under her blankets. Her sore arm was draped over the pack to keep the painful tug of gravity at bay. She told herself that she was only resting until someone decided they could enter the building. She'd get up as soon as Doran returned...probably wouldn't hurt to keep watch outside as well...might have to make a hasty retreat...Rayne would tell her...
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