73 replies to this topic

[Redcoat]

OOC: Read the last post of Chapter One before replying, please.

EDIT: Oh my God, I'm an idiot. Topic opened!

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Since their escape from the incompetent clutches of the guards of the Citadel, the group had been wandering vaguely southwards through Teubon Wood, the massive dedicious forest on the south of the Iron Barony's reach. Their journey had taken a particularly nasty turn, however, as they'd been forced to flee not along the road, as had been planned, but through the forest itself to avoid detection; none wanted to risk being anywhere near Stormguard's eyes, for they were, rightly or wrongly, fugitives.

And so they had been forced to take the scenic route. Trees upon trees, as well as streams, creeks, and the occasional spot of muskeg made southern travel ever more difficult, until they were forced to manoeuvre eastward; they quickly found this an equally harrowing hike. Despite this, it was a beautiful place, if inhospitable; Anikus had many a drawing to sell for profit back home before the third day was over. As the sun came close to setting, the septet made camp near a large river, likely the River Bourbon.

At camp that night, Anikus moved to start a fire in the center of the camp, lighting some embers with a bolt of flame. "I don't want to grind down our rations," he mentioned. "Perhaps we should send one or two of us on fishing duty?"

[Lyon]

"I'll fish," offered Kaethe, quickly standing up. "It's not as if I have anything better to do, and besides, I'd like a swim." She scraped a fingernail along the back of her hand and examined the dirt with a grimace. "Those sewers were disgusting."

[King Calamity]

"Guess I'll go,"  Tri'tas said, "I want to make sure we catch something good.  So is it just me and her, then?"

[Chef]

Grimlain rummaged in his pack for his pipe and set it in his mouth, lighting it with his fire magic.  He took a few puffs of smoke with his eyes closed and focused on the fire.  He assumed the position of tending the fire, because he had great skill with fire magic and he didn't know of any other way to make himself useful.  It was also a good time to reminisce about the recent events.  I'm guessing that I will be running with this group of lunatics for a while, he thought to himself. I guess I'm lucky that I don't have anything else to do.  I might as well get used to this for the time being...

Grimlain sighed and resumed paying no heed to his companions and focusing on the dancing flames...

[King Calamity]

"This is ridiculous!" Tri'tas yelled, "I've turned this thing into every garment humanity has construed, armor, a ladder, a tent, and it won't make a net?" He turned to Kaethe.

"How about you, any luck?"

[Lyon]

Kaethe was too busy picking crusted mud off of her shirt to reply. She smiled brightly at Tri'tas. "I'm sure that this would make a good net... if I could get... it... off..." With a cracking noise, the mud dusted up into the air. "Lovely," said Kaethe, dropping it in the water. "Here, fishies," she said, ignoring Tri'tas's shocked expression.

[King Calamity]

"That's it," Tri'tas growled as he pulled off his shirt and dropped his weapons, "I don't need a bloody net!" he finished, and he put one of his knives in his teeth and dove into the water.

[Redcoat]

OOC: I actualy rolled a DnD dice for this... you got a natural 20. Congratulations.

---

Tri'tas' incredible display of both strength and folly produced an enormous splash at first, but amazingly Tri'tas was able to get his hands on one of the slower fish in the school. Though it fought, the fisherman was able to get his hands around it, and it quickly was reduced to meagre flopping. The group, however, was eight people; more fish and food would be needed, not to mention for the road.

Back at camp, Anikus was cooking the last of the salt pork on a spit, with as much care as could be mustered in a forest. He tried to strike up some conversation.

"So, where's everyone from?"

[Chef]

The smell of the cooking fish made Grimlain's stomach growl, but he knew that there wasn't enough for everyone.  He decided that he would feign not being hungry so that the others could have something to eat until there was more food.  Grimlain stopped poking at the fire with a small branch when the redcoated person spoke up asking where everyone was from.

"I am from the forest," Grimlain answered, seeing that no one else was taking the opportunity. "My family and I used to live there.  It was very peaceful.  Much like the place we are in now."

Grimlain cut himself off short.  Images of his dead brethren appeared in his mind from that foul bandit attack many years ago.  Grimlain resumed poking the fire.  He didn't really want to think about those bad memories right now...

[Lyon]

((A natural, 20, eh? ... Darn, I rolled a 1. By the way... Look here.))

Kaethe jumped into the water, which reached up to her knees, and deftly snagged a large fish which was trying to swim between her legs. She smiled happily as she did up the laces of the discarded garment, sealing the fish firmly inside. "Will two fish be enough, do you think?" she asked, tossing her wet hair (the fish had splashed water in her face). "I'm not sure I can fit anything else in here, and in the meantime, I have... nothing else to wear."

~~~

"I'm from the icy north," said Telchi. "I'm a Selken; I see that some of you have heard of them. Our people roam the ice floes and snowdrifts, hunting where game is in plenty and selling our swords when we need money to buy food. Mine has ever been a warrior people, and I am one of our order of warriors, the Telchi. Each one of us doffed our old names to take on the badge of the order."

[Vithar Megilaglar]

"We come from a land connected to the mainland by a small strip of land. Sometimes even that small strip of land become hidden by the waters. Hence, it is a foreign land, probably that some of you have heard of but never seen. There are few travelers and most of them are merchants. The land we come from is called, by us, the Keibatsu Kyuukei. You would know of it, if you ever speak with the merchants as the Crescent of the Clans. There is much to tell and you'd probably tire of hearing me speak of it all."

Takeshi ended his monologue, and Sakura nodded. There was still quite a bit to tell, and the look on Anikus' face displayed that he knew there was more to tell.

[King Calamity]

"I don't remember the name of the city I come from," Tri'tas said, "But since then, I've been all over the place.  I've been up north with the Selken, and Keibatsu Kyuukei is where I... er, found this katana."  Tri'tas unsheathed the blade.  It was expertly crafted, and very sharp.

[Redcoat]

Anikus smiled, knowing he'd have plenty to grill everyone on for his own curiosity. It was the bane of his existence sometimes, but it was an important duty: to bring more Knowledge together, so that... to be honest, he really was not certain. Knowing was the entire battle, after all!

"I hail from Arkhova," Anikus mentioned, patriotic fervour almost making it to the surface. "The City-State of the Eureka Cross. I was once a militiaman, but the wandering bug does not discriminate in its victims," he noted. "Spent a good long time writing and walking."

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Takeshi laughed to himself at Anikus' comment.

"You know, for one who spent a lot time of walking, your fitness is questionable.

Sakura looked down, as though nothing had happened. It was slightly surprising to everyone to actually hear her speak. Takeshi looked up, obviously thinking on something. He spoke quietly, as though he was still lost in thought.

"I'm curious, Anikus. You seem to be our de facto leader...so...what exactly is our heading? To me, it seems to me that we are slightly lost."

Takeshi looked at the scholar, awaiting an answer.

[Redcoat]

Laughing at Sakura's comment and vaguely acknowledging its truth, he began to speak. "It would indeed seem that we are, frankly, lost beyond our wits. But see that river?" he asked, pointing to the fishing crew while noting to himself that he ought to ask Tri'tas why on earth he was fishing inside the river. "Given its size, it must be a tributary of the river Bourbon."

He pointed upstream, now speaking to the group as a whole. "If we follow it vaguely to the north, we will eventually find the main artery. If we follow it south, we will find our way outside of this forest and towards Otavia, as the river flows to the south. Once free of these woods, the roads and stars shall guide us."

Satisfied with his ad-hoc strategy, he wondered for a moment. "It would have been a good investment to secure a canoe," he lamented, "were it possible."

[Lyon]

"Are we going to cook these fish, or are we going to stand around jawing all day?" demanded Kaethe, dumping the fish out of her shirt and wringing the garment out. She sighed mournfully. "This is ruined now."

Telchi winced delicately. "Lady, please cover yourself up," he pleaded with a blush, offering his cloak. The gambler rolled her eyes but accepted the garment, wrapping it around her.

"If you insist, Mr. Muscles," she said, pulling out a knife and beginning to gut the fish.

"I wish you wouldn't call me that," said Telchi, drawing both swords. He cast around for a relatively flat rock and laid the fish on it. Then, taking a deep breath, he went to work. His swords flicked in and out with supernatural speed, making the precision cuts necessary to remove the skeleton. Using the flats and tips of his blades, he removed bone after bone, until a completely prepared fish lay on the rock. Breathing somewhat harder, he wiped his swords and re-sheathed them.

"That's one of the first things they teach the Telchi," said the Selken warrior with a grin. "How to gut a fish."

[Chef]

Grimlain finished the rest of the tobacco in his pipe and put it back in his bag.  He saw that the Selken was preparing their food and his stomach growled in response.  He hadn't eaten in a while and he was fairly hungry.

"Even before you learn to walk?" Grimlain replied to Telchi's statement, suddenly entering the conversation. "It seems that your parents have a certain lack of priority, no offense."

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Takeshi thrust both of his lightly glowing blades into the dirt.

"Well, to be fair, he did say "one" of the first things they teach. In the Keibatsu Kyuukei, as soon as you are able you are taught to wield knives and short blades. During your sixteenth winter, you have to choose a discipline in which to continue your life practicing. In my case, it just happens to involve the use of the long blades. In Sakura's, the use of the bow. It's impossible to tell what discipline a child will be best at, and so you spend the six winters from ten to sixteen studying the various disciplines. It's a long process, but it pays off in the end, producing someone who is extremely willing to continue with their chosen path."

Takeshi picked up a fallen branch and, out of seemingly nowhere, drawing a knife. He proceeded to whittle at the branch, waiting for the cooking to be done.

[King Calamity]

Tri'tas grabbed his hat and waved it across his body, dispersing the water wherever it went.

"Most of my skills are self-taught," he said as he dressed himself, "and I never have led a very disciplined life."

[Lyon]

OOC: Guess I'll macro the cooking along...

---

Telchi quickly balanced the flat rock between two other rocks on either side of the fire, allowing the rock to warm up and begin cooking the fish. He checked them several times with his dagger, poking each one several times to ensure that it was cooking evenly; after all, he didn't want anyone to get sick from badly cooked fish!

As soon as they were done cooking, Telchi began doling out portions of the fish using ((Yup, you guessed it!)) more flat rocks. Kaethe accepted hers with a smile and thanks that made him practically drop the portion he was about to give to Anikus. He recovered his composure long enough to apologize and retreat back across the cooking fire to his own seat. This would be so much less disconcerting if she was wearing a shirt instead of my cloak... he thought ruefully. He decided to try to strike up a conversation instead.

"So, Anikus, where are we planning on going next? Or are we just going to stay here like an ordinary band of thieves, rob from the rich, and give to any poor people who pass us by?" He smiled slightly.