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Part 3: On the road at last
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Part 3 - On the road at last by Dworkin (GM)
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Ares rides to the head of the group as they move through the streets of
the city of Cadiniagart. Streets which are oddly quiet, except
for the large number of patrols, there are few other people about.
He rides up, away from the harbour until the street opens out into a
market square, where overturned stalls are being set upright and
scattered goods are being reclaimed. There are more people here,
and more patrols, but all seem too preoccupied to pay much attention to
the party of passing strangers.
From here numerous streets and alleys spread out into the city, but two
main ones lead generally away from the docks. One seems to run up
the slope directly towards a large fortified structure, while the other
seems more level, leading along the flank of the moutain.
After some brief consultation, Ares takes the latter route, the other obviously leading to the palace.
Perhaps an hour later the way dips downwards towards a gate which,
thankfully, stands open. There are guards at the gate, and up on
the fortified wall, but their attention seems to be turned
outwards. They give only a cursory glance towards this group leaving the city, being more concerned with the possibility of an attack during the current confusion.
The guard commander asks for names and consults a list that he carries.
Apparently satisfied that none of the party match the names and
descriptions on that list, he waves them through.
Beyond the gate is a deep canyon, with an inlet of the sea pounding on
rocks hundreds of feet below. A long, arched bridge of silvery
metal crosses the gorge in a single span.
As the horses step onto it, it rings like a bell beneath their
hooves. The cables which support the span hum in the breeze like
the strings of some huge harp.
Across the bridge the road starts to climb once more, winding through
twisting valleys between high peaks. Ares looks back once, to
find that the city is hidden behind the curves of the valley.
Nodding in satisfaction he rides on.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Ares
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Ares rides along the road, scanning the land to each side, seemingly
searching for something. Finally he spots it. A tree.
Small and stunted, twisted by the weather up here in the
mountains. He stares at it as he rides past, then a little
further on there is another. Then another.
The road drops lower, as the surrounding peaks rise higher, and soon there are enough trees to constitute a forest.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Cyan
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"Well, well. I'd take notes," Cyan says, staring around her, "but
it wouldn't do me much good." As she sits on the back of the
horse, she pulls out a small pencil - a mechanical one - and begins
sketching in a hardbound book.
"Got to get this down...wonder if I can make it look like things are changing..."
This is a LOT faster than I'm used to....
Berd looks around, and sniffs disdainfully.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Dworkin (GM)
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The forest gets denser, and the trees taller. The canopy of
leaves is almost unbroken, and the road leads through a a green gloom
pierced by occasional shafts of white light. There is a loud roar
from somewhere, and off among the trees something moves, a vague shadow in the dim twighlight of the deep woods, vast and only just visible.
Fortunately it shows no interest in the group of travellers on the road.
Perhaps thirty minutes later and the road is running through a cutting,
the land to each side having folded and hunched into a series of ridges
and gullies. A dense mist flows down the slopes and gathers in
the cutting, so that the horses hooves are hidden from view for a while.
The road eventually rises out of the mist-floored gully, and somewhere
along the way the surface has changed to one of hexagonal red
slabs. It leads over the top of the rise and the trees start to
thin out again, revealing a sky with a distinct purple tint. Ares
frowns at the sky for a moment, then spurs his horse onwards.
The way switchbacks down a steep valley wall, descending into dense
woodland again, then turns to follow the bank of a broad river,
travelling upstream. At a suitably shallow point it curves into
the water and the horses wade across. The open strip of sky above
the river is a clear eye-searing blue, and Ares points towards a vast
mountain peak rising far upstream, "A couple more hours travel and
we'll be there."
The horses climb out onto the far bank on a road of compacted earth and
stone chippings. Insects flit through the air, shimmering like
living metal darts. The road leads away from the water, and soon
only the sound of the running water can be detected, and that only
faintly. At about this time it becomes noticeable that the
temperature has dropped quite considerably. A puddle in a rut at
the roadside actually has a thin layer of ice on it.
Ares reins his horse to a standstill and dismounts, taking a few
minutes to stretch his legs, and then searches through his belongings
until he finds a heavy cloak, which he wraps around his
shoulders. He announces that it might be a good time to rest for
half an hour or so.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Cyan
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Cyan sends Berd high, to sweep about the area once, searching, while
she remains on her horse for an instant, stretching. Then she
hops off her horse, buckling her sword back on when she hits the ground.
Rooting about in the saddlebags, Cyan comes out with some wine and
takes a pull of the skin. "Not bad.... How much farther to
Amber, Ares?"
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Ares
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"Maybe two hours riding, three if the road jinks about much. That
should bring us into Arden. From there we swing around the
shoulder of Kolvir. Call it four more hours to the city
itself. So seven hours at most." He smiles, and adds
"Barring trouble of course."
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Duncan
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Duncan slides from the saddle and stretches, working the kinks out of
his back, he turns as Ares describes how long the journey will take, "Dhat iss good to hear, dhat we are nearly dhere."
He draws his sword and moves away to give himself some room before
swinging it through some complex loops and sweeps to loosen up his
muscles.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Morgan
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Chuckling to himself as he swings down out of the saddle, Morgan looks around. "Trouble,
trouble, where do you be? Tis the longest you've abandoned me. I
look about, knowing you're here. You'll find me anon, I have no
fear." Rubbing his horse down with some grass, Morgan winks at Cyan.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Tander
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Otandal swings down from the horse, rubbing his backside a bit to work
out all the kinks. After a bit of walking, he finds himself near
the back of the small group. "So.. once we get to Amber, we
casually stroll up to the castle, and ask to be let in? I'm still
a bit unclear on that part." He chuckles slightly. "I'll
pay more attention next time."
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Cyan
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"Something like that," Cyan says. "Putting the cart before the
horse, aren't you? I believe we should concentrate on arriving in Amber first, then concern ourselves with the final leg of the journey."
She makes sure she's far away from Duncan's heavy sword, and stretches
again. "Well, food would be good." Going into her pack she
pulls out some bread and cheese.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Ares
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Ares grins at Otandal's question. "I have some connections in the
city, once we're there I should be able to arrange something. As
for getting there, well this close to Amber things are pretty
safe. Farther out things can get nasty." He nods towards
Berd, "Some of his cousins, for instance, can grow a lot bigger and
uglier than him. They have tempers to match their looks
too. And they aren't the worst of it!"
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Cyan
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"Well, we seem to be doing well so far," Cyan notes absently.
"And Berd and I have dealt with some of his larger cousins
before. It is hardly easy, but in the company of such stalwart
warriors," she notes, with only a touch of irony, "we should be able to
manage, don't you think?"
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Ares
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"No matter. As I said, travelling is usually safe around
here. We're within the Golden Circle, and most of this land is
under the protection of treaties with Amber. If anything too
unpleasant rears its head and the locals can't deal with it, Amber
sends some troops to assist."
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Derek
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Derek had been pretty quiet the whole ride long, and even now he did
not say a word as he dismounted from his horse. He had had watched the
road behind them with more than one eye, musing and thinking about the
recent events in the city. His thoughts had wandered from the dead
delivery to the assassination and berated himself for the n-th time for
having removed himself from the favorite sport of both Amber and the
Courts.
I should have known better. I can always try to run and hide, to
pull the covers over my head, to ignore it, but there is no escaping
the intrigues spawned by family and its foes. Well, seems I am again
drawn into the game, but a pawn no more.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Alexandra Boisjolis
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Lexy had watched the road they traveled, enjoying the route. This is
definatly a great way to travel. Walking through Shadow like this. Wait
a sec... Her eyes fall on Ares back and she narrows her eyes a bit,
then smiles. So, royalty... must be tired, if that didn't click in
earlier.
When they reach the rest stop, Lexy dismounts with th eothers and stretches her legs.
"Very impressive animals you have, Ares." she says truthfully.
"Big and strong. War mounts?" she asks, inspecting the animals.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Ares
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Ares smiles. "Some people use them for that, but they aren't bred for
it specially. They actually breed like this in the wild
too. Don't get your hand too close to the mouths, by the way,
they aren't averse to a little meat in their diet. Mostly their
happy with grass, hay, or oats, but just occasionally they get a
craving for fingers."
"The island where they originated is quite harsh, and they learned to
take advantage of any sort of food that came along I suppose."
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Ares
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"Now we're away from others, might we take a look at the contents of
that satchel? I'll take you as far as the border of Arden
whatever happens, but those documents might persuade me to go a bit
closer in with you."
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Cyan
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Cyan stares at Ares in disbelief. "I thought we had already been
through this," she says, "but apparantly I was ill-informed.
Well. The decision to look in the pouch is obviously for Derek
and Duncan to hash out; the pouch is theirs, by right of capture.
But I maintain that it is for King Random's eyes alone. Should
this Forest of Arden be near to Amber itself, I feel sure that I can
lead the group the rest of the way, should you not desire to do so."
Glancing at Duncan and Derek, she continues. "If you decide to
open the pouch, please inform me first; I wish no part of it."
Berd covers his eyes and shakes his head, but does not move from Cyan's
back, except when she slings her pack over a shoulder again. With
a squwak of annoyance, he hops onto it agilely, and settles into the
deep depression his body has moulded into the leather over the years.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Derek
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Derek looks back at Cyan as he listens to her conversation with Ares, cutting in as she winds down.
"I also thought this discussion ended, but I
am open to anyone's wish to look inside the satchel. I just might add
that, though we are already quite deep entrenched in this conspiracy
and in the favorite game played throughout shadow, knowing the content
of the satchel could be your entrance into a whole new set of rules...
Rules that might or might not endanger you more than now. I first also
wanted to know what is inside it, but on second thought it might be
better as a bit of information known to King Random and his brothers
and sisters. If he wants to part with this information, to bestow it
upon us, then be it, but otherwise... My cravings for knowledge do not
go that far. "
He tugs the satchel from beneath his tunic and holds it out for Duncan to take if he wants.
"If you want to open it I leave it to my friend Duncan to decide if he allows it. If he gives the go-ahead I will leave briefly."
He nods at Cyan with a smile, then waits.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Cyan
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Cyan smiles back at Derek, then shakes her head ruefully. "You
misunderstand, my friend. When I say I wish no part of it, I mean
just that. If the satchel is to be opened, I will make my way to
Amber alone. I cannot, in good conscience, be a party in any way
to the thieving of this knowledge to satisfy idle curiousity.
Should I arrive at Amber before you, I will attempt to warn the King of
your presence and ask him to send riders to meet you. I will not,
however, inform him of the opening of the pouch. While I will not
assist if the pouch is opened, neither will I betray a man who risked
himself in order to save a woman."
Leaning against a tree, she waits to see what Duncan will say.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Duncan
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"If dhis Arden marks dhe boundary of
Amber, dhen dhat iss as far as you have to take us. I will have
no part of openink dhe satchel. Dhis iss not a decision I have
jusst made. I have been considerink it as we rode. As Derek
has said, knowink what is inside here could endanger all of our
lives! Widhout openink it we can claim ignorance."
He holds the satchel out to Ares, and just as the man goes to take it, he tosses it to Derek instead.
"Dhe satchel stays closed!"
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Cyan
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"Good." Cyan nods at Duncan, smiling. "Well, then, now that
the matter has been dealt with, shall we continue? Or do the
horses need more rest?"
Berd narrows his eyes at the horses, as if considering their
taste. Or perhaps if they will fall over and die from exhaustion,
and THEN considering their taste.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Ares
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Ares scowls at Duncan and Cyan, then shrugs, "Arden it is then. Once there, you're officially in Amber's back yard, and anybody can reach the city from there.
I'll turn back there though, it'd be too dangerous for me to go
further, and you won't show me anything to make me change my mind."
He turns to his horse and mounts up again.
"Let's get it over and done with then," he says, and spurs his horse down the trail once more.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Derek
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Derek smiles at Cyan and Duncan, then tucks the satchel back under his
tunic and looks for a few moments at Ares' retreating back. Shaking his
head he walks around for a few steps to stretch his legs, then looks
back at the rest of the group.
"I thought we had just stopped for the
evening... Ah well... no roast over a nice fire and listening to our
gracious and beautiful ladies singing and playing ballads... Could it
be we somehow angered our friend Ares?"
With a smile and a chuckle he once again leaps onto his horse and pats its neck affectionately.
"Well... since our guide is riding on, I guess we should follow him..."
With that he spurs on his horse to slowly follow Ares along the trail he is leaving.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Cyan
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"Thank you, kind sir," says Cyan, with a grin. "I'm sure he has
his reasons," she continues, swinging back up on her horse and
following Ares. Berd gives a satisfied smirk - no walking for him
is always a good thing.
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Re: Part 3 - On the road at last by Dworkin (GM)
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Ares leads on, and the weather brightens as the sun slides down towards
the western horizon and sets in a blaze of crimson, gold and black
clouds, clearly visible as the roadway follows the eastern shoreline of
a large lake. As darkness falls the forest fills with the
mournful cries of unknown animals, a whole chorus of them lamenting the
end of another day.
The road is easy to follow, even in the gloom of the night-time woods,
being the only clear track through the trees. But the darkness
doesn't last long, as a full moon rises and sends spears of silver
light down through the canopy. In the renewed light Ares quickens
the pace.
Finally he reins in alongside a stone marker by the road. "This
stone," he says, "marks the border of Amber. This is the Forest
of Arden. Just follow the road and you can't go wrong.
Don't wander off, or you could find yourself in serious trouble."
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