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Part 51c: Caravan
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51c - Caravan by Dworkin (GM)
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The old road, hard-packed dirt, clearly marked by carved wooden poles
on each side, every fifty yards or so, runs through the forest, its
surface concealed beneath drifts of fallen autumn leaves. The
trees still bear much of their foliage, but the year is definitely
sliding down towards winter, even if the bright afternoon sun, slanting
through the branches is trying hard to make it appear otherwise.
A deer steps nervously onto the road, her ears pricked for the
slightest sound. She is followed by a faun, this year's, still
small.
There is a distant rumbling, the faint ringing of metal on metal, and
the mournful call of some animal, and the deer are gone, fading back
into the forest before any threat comes into sight.
Minutes pass, and the first wagon appears, climbing out of a dip in the
road which had hidden it from view. The draft beasts which pull
it, four of them, are... not precisely oxen, and not precisely horses,
but creatures which blend the qualities of both with something that has
a barbed ridge along its spine and dirty yellow scales. Their
drivers call them "termagants".
The creatures plod along, their heavy, hooved feet stirring up the
leaves. The heavily-laden wagon does not seem to present any
great difficulty for them. More of them, also drawing wagons are
emerging from the hollow. Interspersed with them are other
animals; horses, flightless birds, something which looks like a bundle
of sticks tied together with rags. Each of those has its own
rider, all dressed in clothing which differs markedly from that of the
termagant drivers and, in many cases, from that of the other riders.
There are passengers too, riding on some of the wagons, whose clothing is as varied as that worn by the riders.
By far the largest group of people with the caravan, though, are the
guards. Not quite human, seven feet tall, striding along
tirelessly in armour of bronze scales, and armed with a wide variety of
weapons, the only constant being the long spear and shield that every
one of them carries. They never speak, save in their own
language, and that rarely.
The termagant drivers call them "Myrmidons", but acknowledge that it is
just a word which replaces the unpronounceable jumble of sylables that
the troops use to describe themselves.
The Myrmidons haven't fought anything yet, and are not expected to. At least until the caravan reaches Charyk.
One man, dressed in the coloured leathers of the termagant drivers,
slides down from the lead wagon and stands at the roadside. As
each wagon, or group of riders, passes by him, he calls out "Charyk soon, my friends! Be vigilant!"
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
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Roman has his own riding beast, named "Dragon". Although
horselike in shape it's greenish skin is slightly scaled, and it's head
is protected by a bony crest from which three horns protrude.
[OOC imagine a cross between a horse and a triceratops and you've got it]
Roman is euphemistically "travelling for the sake of his health", which
means that someone back home wants to change it, for the worse.
Thus he does not volunteer too much information on his background and
history, although those knowledgable of such things can trace his
origins to somewhere in or near the Black Circle Realms.
A trip to Charyk serves these aims by helping obscure his trail - many
travellers pass through Shadow here, without calling on powers that
might be tracked. Roman also hopes to avoid fighting the beasts
that reportedly lie in wait around Charyk - Wormwood is a little too distinctive, especially in it's effects.
He has called on his power once. Banglen-Yp's appearance draws
the eye of most males. But her manner is distinctly odd. A
little suspicious of unknowns, Roman has risked invoking the Logrus to
the small degree required to turn it's sight upon her, in an attempt to
riddle her nature.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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Gabriel had been more than friendly to all if some
what distant during the trip. His distance was not born of melancholy
angst and trying to be cool in a dark way, not in the least. If
anything the traveling performer seemed to be quick with an easy smile
and friendly thumbs up. Most of the time though he wore a set of ear
phones and had his eyes half closed as small sounds issued forth
faintly and a dreamy smile played across his lips.
Even now he had missed the caravan leaders
warnings as he led his horse half dancing to some unheard melody. He
was not dancing gracefully or with a lot of style, instead he was
dancing like most across the worlds dance when no one was
looking. With a lot fun and looking like a complete and utter
geek.
Stepping in time to some beat that anyone around him only vaguely got
the idea of as he lead his docile mount. It was easy to see he did not
have any obvious weapons, but he did not look like a fighter by any
stretch of the imagination especially and his feet moved, gliding
step, cross step, gliding step, gliding step gliding step.
Oblivious as to what was going on around him as much as what lay ahead, but having fun and safe in his innocents.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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Despite having been mostly quiet, as if ashamed over the odd pattern of
speech, the blonde bombshell has nevertheless been friendly and ready
to smile at all that smiled at her - which meant she rarely did much
else but smile.
Wearing a brown knee-length, camouflage patterned skirt with flounce,
brown boots with high, wide heel reaching just below the knee and a
green, camouflage halter-neck top that leave the back bare she seemed
to spend a lot of time studying the cloth, almost as if fascinate by it
at times. But perhaps she simply turned her attention to it to
escape the nearly unceasing attention that she seemed to draw, even if
she did not seem to mind being the object of such interest.
Having been watching the dancer her own attention was drawn away to the
man who called for them to be vigilant, although from her expression it
would seem as if she did not quite grasp why they would need to be
watchful as she looked around in what was best described as
bewilderment.
Sitting on the wagon with her knees together while the feet was apart
with the weight on the toes, which were pointing inwards, she held her
hands lightly clasped between her thighs, looking ever so misplaced,
innocent and at the same time peculiar and, quite frankly, rather
dim-witted.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
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Both Gabriel and Banglen-Yp seem innocents. Gabriel seems to be at least a bit of a clown. What
a perfect guise for an assassin. But then he's so obviously not
an assassin, half the Court's nobility would suspect him of being one... Roman curses silently at the thought, this is the paranoia he is trying to escape.
Banglen-Yp is different - too odd to be a good assassin. It would
be easy to suspect her oddities of being an act - even though she would
have to be very good to keep it up. And she is a mystery - did
the Logrus lens show more truth or less than the unaided eye ?
Roman rides alongside the wagon were Banglen-Yp sits, and comments
"'Tis said that fell beasts roam the approaches to Charyk. The
guards are here to protect us passengers and goods - they look to be
adequate to the task". Nevertheless Roman is uncertain. The
scabbard at his waist moves, slightly, for no apparent reason.
"But perhaps it is best to be prepared, after all..."
Roman dismounts from Dragon. should have specified combat training... he thinks to himself and starts to walk beside the wagon, leading his
mount. As he walks, he begins to call the Logrus to mind.
If the power will be needed it is all too likely that the time will be
insufficent to completely invoke it from nothing. All in all a
small trickle of power is probably the least risky option.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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•• Fell • beasts ••
The strange way of speaking came as before with a gentle, feminine
voice, this time sounding like something between a statement and a
question.
•• Pro•tec•tion • is • good ••
Banglen-Yp smiled and watched the man riding next to the wagon, her
eyes for a moment seeking out the scabbard, but there seemed to be no
reaction to its movement, if at all registered.
Her eyes lingered on him, however, even as he dismounted and began to
walk, the eye appearing to soak up everything that they observed.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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Still oblivious to the world
around him, Gabriel becomes more animated in his dance as he moves down
the road as his rhythmic pace. With one of his gliding steps his
hands go up into the air like a man in prayer and with the next step
they come down. Not a care in the world, life was good as the ear
phones played his favorite part. Inside the world of Gabe’s mind he
could almost see the video to the song.
Help I'm stepping into the twilight zone
Place is a madhouse feels like being cloned
My beacon's been moved under moon and star
Where am I to go now that I've gone too far
Help I'm stepping into the twilight zone
Place is a madhouse feels like being cloned
My beacon's been moved under moon and star
Where am I to go now that I've gone too far
So you'll come to know
When the bullet hits the bone
So you'll come to know
When the bullet hits the bone
In truth he didn’t know about the bullet hitting the bone, or
double crosses, but he knew what he liked. It had a beat and you could
dance to it.
I'm falling down a spiral--destination unknown
Double crossed messenger--all alone
Can't get no connection, can't get through--where are you
His lips and started mouthing in time with the words unconsciously, his
eyes were closed and his brow twisted in concentration. You could
almost see the dreaded air guitar coming soon.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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Finding herself fascinated by the blind-dancing, Banglen-Yp studied the
dancing fellow, wondering what would come next. She cocked her
head to the side and leant forward as if to study him closer, then she
sort of fell, or slid off the wagon, although she landed on her feet,
already walking over towards this stranger, looking ever so eager to
investigate and learn more.
•• How•dy ••
She repeated the word he first had spoken to her once she was but a few
feet away, rather loud so that he would hear her over that noise so
near his ears, while she walked along with that big smile on her lips
that most of the others seemed to like.
If he opened his eyes she would wave a hand at him as well, as she had
seen others to, moving it from side to side from the elbow with the
palm facing him and the fingers spread out.
•• You • blind•dance • well ••
The voice was soft and gentle, nearly timid and withheld, but the eyes were lit up with curiosity as they studied him.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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As the woman drew near to get Gabriels attention
she could hear the music playing on his earphones and tell that she was
either going to have to yell to garner his attention or something as
simple as reach out and touch his shoulder. Either way for the
moment he danced on with eyes closed obviously into the music and the
moment. The music in the things on his ears must be quite loud.
Double crossed messenger--all alone
Can't get no connection, can't get through--where are you
“Well!” He suddenly burst out singing as he moved rythmicly in a
bouncing step “the night weighs heavy on his guilty mind, this
far from the border line! When the hitman comes he knows damn well he
has been cheated...And he says, Help I’m slippin into the twilight
zone…” The stranger didn’t sing well and would probably be thrown off
the bus in a more polite world. But he sang with as much fun and gusto
as he danced.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
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Roman doesn't pay any real attention to the events. At first most of
his concentration is occupied by calling up the Logrus and walking in a
straight line, with just a little awareness left over to watch for
attacks. Even when he has the Logrus ready it takes some effort
to keep it under control - and to shut out that singing. Maybe that's why he plugs his ears...
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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Not getting a response Banglen-Yp considered the situation and then
began to emulate the dance. She did not sing, however. As
soon as she believed that she had captured the gist of the dance she
too closed her eyes and began to blindly move about.
Since she did not see much with her eyes closed, or so one would assume
anyway, she ended up in front of the fellow she previously attempted to
communicate with and then, quite by accident, she noticed that she had
encountered an obstacle of come kind - and lost her balance.
Reaching out to grab hold of the obstacle in an attempt to prevent
herself from falling down flat on her back she opened her eyes to
discover that it was the blind-dancing singer she had bumped.
She still held on to him as she began to topple.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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Something soft bumped into Gabe and
he was lost in his revelries and a yelp of surprise interrupted his
song . It took a split second for him to realize that the yelp came
from him. Gabe never stood an chance he was to busy grabbing his chest
and jumping with a start as something grabbed him and pulled him down.
He opened his eyes to the world flashing past him. Thinking something
was deeply wrong , when you life flashed before your eyes it was
supposed to go slow enough so you could at least make out the good bits.
That was all he managed to think before he landed on
the ground in a tangle of arms and legs. Some of which were definitely
not his own. He came face to face with um… Well she was a fine philly
to say the least. That was definitly a good bit in his flashing life he
had to say. It was to bad he couldn't remeber it happening the first
time.
Staring into those eyes for an eternity, okay it was only
a couple of seconds but to him it was enough time to formulate this
glib response “Ummm errmmm…Ah'm sorry miss” and his cheeks blushed a
deep red as he tooked away hiding his eyes with the brim of his beat up
old felt hat.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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•• How•dy ••
Still smiling, Banglen-Yp watched the man go red, wondering if
something was wrong. He did not seem damaged or incapacitated,
she noted. He was apologising for something, though.
Perhaps for not greeting her the first time.
Not moving at all she stayed there and observed him, and to say she did
so with curiousity would be an understatement bordering on
sacrilege. Indeed, she seemed almost fascinated.
It had been an intriguing event, the collision, the fall and the
continued contact. She smiled at him as the eyes sought shelter
behind the rim of his hat and peeked below it so that she could
continue to look into his eyes, carefully lifting it as if afraid to
damage it.
•• Nice • to • meet • you •• she said, using the phrase she had heard the others use back from where she had been a few days ago.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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The woman’s extreme curiosity and
lack of motivation to untangle herself only served to deepen the
already dark blush on Gabe’s face his hands let go of her with a start
like she was a hot stove. Then started to reach to find a place to take
hold of her again to extricate himself. But being a gentleman he had no
idea where to ummm grab. So his big ham mitts only moved in the air
ineffectually. “Ur ummm… Um errr.” his tongue managed as bad off
as his hands.
He took refuge in that word. “Howdy....” smiling nervously.
“Ummmmm Yea, pleased to meet you too miss.” There was a nervous
pause “If this was any sign of how she greeted strangers, then Ah could
only imagine how exuberantly you’d greet friends.” He said it without
thinking, his nerves pushing him to stick his size 13 boot in his
mouth. He kept looking away embarassed but his blue eyes kept
glancing back to find hers as he blushed more and more. It looked as if
he would eaither curl up in a ball from embarassment or burst.
This was not going right,not at all. He was an adventurer now, supposed
to be smooth, suave and debonair.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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Tilting her head to the side, Banglen-Yp considered the words of the
entangled man for a moment and then laugh a short, warm and very
friendly laughter, clearly anything but aimed at him. With
surprising grace she sort of slipped out of the entangled mess and a
few moments later she ended up sitting in front of him, the burst of
laughter gone but the smile still in place.
There she was, seated with her legs sticking out towards him and both
arms behind her back giving support to her reclined position, shoulders
pulled up and the head cocked to one side as she continued to observe
him with interest.
•• Sor•ry ••
Uncertain what had gone wrong she thought it best to apologise in case
she had caused offence. It was at times difficult to figure out
what was offensive and what was not, she felt.
She remembered the first time she had caused offence and suddenly she
averted her eyes down on herself and began to brush herself off, all
over, gently, as if afraid to be too rough on her outfit.
Best not repeat that first time by losing focus, she reflected.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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There was a moment of relief when Banglen
disentangled herself from him. Surprisingly that was outweighed by the
look of regret at the same time. When she apologized he couldn’t help
in, shambling to his hands and knees he sat up with less grace than she
did. There was a kindly if intense look in his sky blue eyes “Don’t you
dare say your sorry.” he found himself saying
“You kin greet me like tha’ any day ya like and twice on
Tuesday.” There was a deep conviction in his smooth voice. He
glanced down at his wrist where there was no watch before looking back
up to find her eyes. “Is it Tuesday yet.” He asked with a broad
friendly grin.
The tall lanky man stood up unfolding himself upwardsly and held down a
hand for the fair maiden. “Ah’m Gabriel, but most call me Gabe or
Harlequin and Ah think we’d betta’ git you back on the wagon darlin’.”
he smiled warmly, in that broad boyish smile. But from what she had
seen of him around the caravan he didn’t spare the smiles for anyone.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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Banglen-Yp looked at the now free man as he told her not to dare to say
sorry. She already had, unless she was mistaken. For the
briefest of moments she contemplated saying sorry once more as an
apology for saying sorry in the first place, but in the end she opted
not to.
•• Twice • on • Tues•day ••
She repeated it so she would remember. In response to his query
she came to the realisation that she was not even certain what Tuesday
was. She presumed from his second question that it was a point in
time.
•• When • is • Tues•day ••
The head tilted to the other side as she studied the outstretched hand
with curiosity. He was introducing himself, she believed.
•• I • am • Bang•len••Yp • not • dar•lin ••
Her own hand was gently placed in his and she smiled up at him, but
this smile was in some manner different from the previous one.
More happy, perchance.
•• Nice • to • meet • you • Gabe ••
She repeated the greeting again, assuming that this was the moment to correctly make use of it.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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Gabriel smiled a crooked good natured grin
“It’ll always be Tuesday in mah book.” he shot back with a
chuckle. he was not certain when Tuesday was any more, time
hadn’t amounted to much in a long…well …time.
“Naw, darlin’ is…. “ he hesitated
knowing that it could be considered offensive by some women, but he
didn’t mean anything by it. It seemed so unfair that women could use
darlin’ and sweetie and nothin’ be thought of it. But A man uses it and
he was a scheamer, player, sleeze and general jerk. “Darlin’ is a pet
name, a term of endearment.” He explained ready to be lambasted for it,
knowing that at least some woman some where would mentally chastise him
for it.
Instead he smiled warmly and gave
her hand an ever so gentle squeeze to match the open friendly smile.
“The Pleasure is all mine Miss Yp. We’d really betta get moseying along
or the caravan’ll run off an leave us. If you’d like Ah’ll ride with ya
t’ protect ya and keep ya company.” 0
It was possibile that she had enlisted the aid if the most inept bodygaurd ever.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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Listening carefully to what Gabe said, Banglen-Yp looked both attentive and thoughtful.
•• Al•ways • Tues • day •• Dar•lin •• Pet • name ••
She rose to her feet easily and looked over to the caravan, expecting
it to be running in an attempt to leave the two of them behind.
It was not. However, it was still moving, and if they stayed put
it would eventually be gone from here.
It was something people said, evidently.
Looking back at him quizzically she focused on the other part of what he had said instead.
•• The • plea•sure ••
She looked every bit like a living question mark without actually being
one. Had she done something she was not aware of? Perhaps
to him they had joined in a union as she had witnessed back at the
place from whence she had come. And yet they both were fully
clothed, of sorts. Most peculiar.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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“Yea, you know pleasure.” Gabriel said scooping her up easily as if he
had not a care in the world. He hesitated as he tried to think of how
to explain his brow furrowing a bit. Reaching up he gently set her in
the closest cart before hooking a foot in his horses stirrup. As he
bounced up and down trying to get ready for the leap into the saddle he
continued.
“You know, it’s kind of a compliment. Sayin’ that it was right
nice ta bump into th’ way I did. It was pleasing ta meet you. Ya made
mah day…Not to mention makin’ this trip interestin’.”
He hesitated again as he lept into the saddle before trotting over to
her wagon. “It was a real pleasure ta meet you. It was really, really,
really nice ta meet you. Understand? Now where are you from if you
don’t mind me askin’?” He kept looking over to her and glancing away,
but his eyes always cam back to find her.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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Even as he picked her up and placed her on the wagon, Banglen-Yp
listened intently and with a clear interest. She nodded
eventually.
•• Yes •• Nice • to • meet • you • too ••
She noted that he had indeed enjoyed the bump, but that they were not
in wedlock or partners. While she pondered upon this and filed it
away for future use she heard him ask her another question.
Looking up at him she smiled and pointed back in the direction the
caravan had come from.
•• From • there ••
She seemed perfectly honest and sincere.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Dworkin (GM)
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Somewhere ahead, water is flowing.
The caravan continues to move, and as it does so, the sound of the
wheels changes suddenly. The dirt road has become one of stone
slabs, though still largely hidden by fallen leaves,
The road is still marked by the posts, but one of them has been snapped
off, just a few inches above the ground. Not far ahead, more
posts are broken, or missing entirely.
Something white gleams through the trees to the left, dimly visible at
the extreme likit of vision in the darkness of the forest. A
skull. Armed with a variety of barbed horns and sabre teeth, and
big as one of the wagons.
The road curves a little, reaching a fast-moving stream, and crossing
it via a bridge of gigantic bones. As the way reaches the far
bank, there is steel plaque suspended from chains attached to two huge
femurs, imbedded deep into the earth on each side of the highway.
The plaque is an inch thick, charred and corroded, and there are tooth
marks in the metal.
The words CHARYK WELCOMES TRAVELLERS are inscribed upon it.
As far as the eye can see ahead, all of the marker posts have been shattered.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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He looked back in the direction indicated
and pursed his lips nodding “Ah suppose that put’s cha one up on me
then.I don't even have a there.” with a quick easy smile he looked back
to the front and his moth opened at vision of destruction. “Well
doggies!… would ya look at that.” His grin became more of one of boyish
at the skull, then puzzlement at the destruction.
Caught in the wonder of it all he let his horse
trot forward pulling away from the cart “Ya think they been movin’ some
wide loads through here?” He asked as he came up next to Roman, pullin
off his battered old felt cap and running his fingers through his hair.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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•• Yes • you • have • there •• You • come • from • place • be•fore • come • here ••
Benglen-Yp pointed out his error, knowing he had joined up with the caravan too, so he too came from the place he was before.
Turning her eyes to the scene he mentioned she did not know if the
destruction was normal or new, so she found it impossible to make a
judgement on it.
As he rode up ahead she turned to look at the skull in the forest, and
smiled. Difference in sizes. She liked it. All
different, no the same.
Exactly like her.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
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Roman looks at Gabriel and shrugs. "Considering the skull and the
teethmarks on yonder plaque, I would say that the beasts reported to
roam this area are responsible for the damage. Unless our
guards are even more formidable than they appear, I begin to wonder if
they are adequate to all the perils the caravan might encounter."
"Still, there is no doubt that we are safer with the caravan than
alone. If you have any personal defences I suggest that you ready
them, as I am doing. You might warn...Banglen-Yp, too. She
seems...unaware of danger and it might be instructive to observe how
she prepares to meet it."
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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Gabe gave a puzzled smile with a quite
“Hmmm” then he started pulling out his lasso and getting it ready.
“Ah’m sho it’ll all work out fo th’ best.” added before asking
uncertainly. “If those magnificent brutes were indigenous to the area….
Well no one would have bothered putting up signs in the first place
would they?” He wasn’t at all certain what he was getting at, it was
just a pondering.
With that he wheeled his mount back to Banglen’s wagon.
“Hey darlin’, he seems t’ think we may get attacked by something. Don’t
worry Ah’ll look out fo ya.”
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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•• Look • out •• I • will • not • go • a•way • dar•lin ••
Benglen-Yp pointed out that she was not going anywhere else, so there
would be no need to look for her. The mention of an attack made
her look around, but more with curiosity than any kind of angst.
•• If • at•tack • come • Bang•len••Yp • fight ••
Trying to recall something she had seen and tried back from where she
had been before, she believed that she could do it again. As far
as she knew it would be fairly effective too.
She turned to Gabe with a smile, so far having been unable to see any danger.
•• You • want • to • pro•tect • me ••
It was hard to tell whether it was a question or a statment.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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Harlequin’s brow furrowed for
a second bouncing along on his horse “No, no. Not look fo ya. Ah’ll
look after ya. Make sho you’re okay, that if we get attacked, Ah’ll
make sho nothin’ gets ya. Ah’ll protect ya. Ah’m sho everything’ll be
allright. Ya know they say if ya stand up to an animal and make your
self look big and mean it’ll back down.” He optimistically the smile
finding his lips again. It was no wonder he was called harlequin, it
was a nice way of calling him a fool.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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•• I • can • not • change • size •• Banglen-Yp pointed out,
looking a bit sad, even if the idea was a good one. The shoulders
came up in a small and sad shrug.
Then she smiled happily.
•• I • can • look • mean ••
She looked anything but mean saying that and it would take
quite the powerful imagination to ever begin to make her out as even
remotely scary and mean.
•• Bang•len••Yp • pro•tect • you • too • dar•lin •• she promised with a solemn nod.
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
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It was ludicrous the mental picture
of him standing up to anything like the beast that owned that skull.
But Harlequin ran with it. “Protect me?” He chuckled “Why thank ya
darlin’. That’s right kind of ya. Are you sho you c’n look mean though?
Let’s see you best mean face.” He grimaced and growled “Grrrr!” Trying
to sit up in the saddle and puff out his chest. Falling short of mean,
but hitting comical dead on. He looked like he was suffering from
constipation. “Beat that?”
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Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
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It was with big eyes that Banglen-Yp watched the display offered by
Gabe and she contemplated whether he was making one of those jokes she
had experienced back there or if he indeed was serious in his attempts.
She decided he was making a joke and went along the same line in order
to humour him. One thing she had noticed was that many of the
males seemed for some reason quite keen on both amusing and proteting
her, back there.
•• There • is • med•i•cine • for • that •• Lax•a•tive ••
She had seen that on the screens people enjoyed watching back there. Then she blinked and smiled in a rather coy fashion to help convey the joke. It had worked on the screen.
•• I • should • not • scare • the • car•a•van •• she explained
and pointed to the animals dragging the wagon. Truth was that she
did not wish to scare Gabe either until it was proven absolutely
essential.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
What ever Gabe’s face radiated it radiated honesty, the
youth looked perplexed by her comment , but shook it off. “He naw …Ah’m
fine.” he looked back an the animals showing no signs of being scared
and contemplated this of a moment putting tow and tow together. “Maybe
it only works on wild animals? Still Ah’m sho it will be okay.” he said
and smiled back at her beliving everything he was saying. "Everything
always tends to work out." And it did for him.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman looks amused at the pair. "Have either of you spent time in
the Black Zone ? Plenty of things scarier than that, there.
Or maybe you hail from the other end of the universe ?"
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gabe looked around and smiled at the man adressing
them. "Howdy, Ah'm sorry Ah didn't introduce Mah self. Ah'm Gabriel,
but people call me Hareliquin or Gabe. No Ah don't think Ah have ev'a
had the pleasure of seein' the Black Zone. Sounds like an interestin'
place. Ah'm sho I'd enjoy their hospitality some time."
He nodded to the destruction on the path "Don worry none, stick
with me an' you'll be fine stranger." again he said it not like he was
boasting or trying to belive it. It was simple honesty that rang in his
voice, he didn't have a doubt that they would be fine. "Am'm afriad Ah
didn't catch your name?"
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman smiles back, resisting the urge to make his teeth pointier "Roman"
He goes on.
"The Black Zone is certainly interesting, but those unfamiliar with it
have to be careful. You have to be able to tell the things that
might have you to dinner from those that might have you for dinner."
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Pleased t' meet ya Roman." He smiled that broad friendly
smile. "Careful? I don't get it." he says back with a perplexed grin
"Why'd ya have to be caueful with all of those people inviting ya over
for dinner?Sounds like a right friendly place. What they over feed ya
or somethin'?" Noting bad ever applied to harlequin. He was sure in his
heart people could work out their differences if they only sat down and
shared their vacation photos. Since life was one big vacation for this
wander he had a lot of photos to show.
Nothing could clear a room faster than him breaking out the photo album.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Looking completely confused, Banglen-Yp tried to figure out what Gabe meant.
•• I • have • not • shown • the • mean • face • yet •• she told him honestly. Then came the other male up and spoke to them, making her listen carefully.
•• Ot•her • side • dar•lin ••
It was spoken as a question and directed at the man mentioning the
Black Zone. She learnt that he called himself Roman and about
things that you eat or are eaten by. Sounded like a hungry place.
•• Gabe • Gab•ri•el • Har•le•quin ••
That was spoken as a statement and directed at Gabe with her gaze fixed at him for a moment.
•• Bang•len••Yp ••
Another statement, offered to the two of them.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gabriel looked over at Banglen, this time
the question mark hunk over his head as he grinned good naturedly.
“Yea, what c’n Ah do you for darlin’?” he thought she was trying
to get his attention by saying his name. Then added for good
measure “Well alright, do we get to see that mean face?” he
looked expectantly in an easy going way.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
•• I • should • not • scare • the • car•a•van •• Banglen-Yp explained again and once more pointed to the animals dragging the wagon.
She shook her head.
•• I • should • not • scare • dar•lin • Gabe • or • dar•lin • Ro•man • eit•her ••
She smiled sweetly.
•• Show • when • attack • come ••
She nodded affirmatively.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman tries to explain "I mean that some of them will give you food, and some of them will try to use you as food. The monsters usually will, and some of the demons will, too.
And then he turns to look at Banglen-Yp
"Pleased to meet you, Banglen-Yp. Don't worry about scaring
me. As I said, I've spent in the Black Zone. I doubt that
you are going to be scarier than some of the things there."
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Correcting cross post.
He started to laugh it off,
with a grin. But one look at her brought a solemn look to his face and
he nodded. “That scary huh?” he asked and if trying to picture it and
things not quite adding up. Yet she had been kind to him and he was the
type to take people at face value. He glanced to Roman as if
seeking something, anything. All he could do was look back to the
pleasant lady they traveled with and nod asking again “Really? That
scary?” It didn’t sound like he was mocking her, just trying to get her
words to match his eyes.
Then again he had once seen a rabbit turn
on a cat that was stalking it, the little bunny ran the cat over
suddenly when it bolted causing the cat to leap three feet in the air.
He was sure the cat was surprised if not scared.
He couldn't help but look back to Roman, looking surprised. "Now why
would someone want to go and do somthing like that? I'm sure that must
be rumors." He had walked some of the most god forsaken countyside in
the worlds. He'd met people that everyone said were bad and even
canibals. No one had ever tried to seriously hurt him. It had to be the
protection offerd to entertainers or something like that.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman doesn't understand why Gabriel has problems with the idea.
"Why do humans eat cows and sheep ? There are things that you see
as prey - and, especially in the Black Zone there are people, and
things, that would see you as prey. And if I'm not mistaken the
things around here may have similar tastes."
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
•• Hun•gry • place •• Banglen-Yp said to Roman and nodded. Then she tilted her head quaintly to one side and smiled brightly.
•• Plea•sure • to • meet • you • too • dar•lin •• Bang•len••Yp • be • sca•ry • when • need•ed ••
She turned to regard Gabe again.
•• Yes • in • place • back • there • they • think • ve•ry • sca•ry •• she agreed with Gabe and nodded with him.
•• Sca•ry • not • nice •• she remarked with an almost comically serious face. The people back there had been rather scared, but it had worked well to her advantage.
The screen was quite useful at times and had taught her a lot.
She had not even had to do much more than look scary.
Then she remembered.
•• Al•so • sound • sca•ry ••
She nodded happily.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
“Well now that’s just down
right hurtfull.” Gabe said in frustration “Here Ah go gallivanting all
over hell and high water and nothing has ever shown the least little
inclination of wantin’ to eat me?” He looked from Banglen to Roman.
“What am Ah to stringy? Do Ah offend?”
Stopping he looked back there where Banglen said she came from
and looked back at her. “That scary?” he asked yet again. “Didn’t they
ev’a see a pretty young lady before? This a I gotta see. Promise me
you’ll show me some time darlin’. ”
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman doesn't understand why anyone would want to be attacked and possibly eaten.
"I guess you just haven't been to the right - or rather, the wrong -
places. But if you really want to meet something hungry for human
flesh, just hang around here for a while. It looks like the
locale includes some beasts as nasty as anything the Black Zone has to
offer"
To Banglen-Yp he adds "If it's not rude to ask, are you a demon ?
Your words suggest some sort of shapeshifting ability which is most
typically found in those who dwell near Chaos"
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
•• Yes ••
Looking at Gabe Banglen-Yp gave her answer with a happy nod, although
it was perhaps unclear what questions she replied. Perhaps both.
•• De•mon ••
Next she looked at Roman with a confused expression and shook her head slowly.
•• Cha•os • the•or•y •• she asked, having heard mention of that back there.
She was uncertain, she did not know enough about it.
•• Shape•shift ••
She looked hesitant but finally shook her head again after a moments though.
•• I • am • Bang•len••Yp •• she explained and smiled at Roman again. •• Can • make • mean • face ••
Again she nodded happily.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
He looked from Banglen back to Roman his eyes wide
is disbelief. "A daemon?" He shook his head and threw it back in
natured laughter. "Have you been out in the sun to long Roman? She
don't look like an incorporial spirit come to tempt men in their
dreams." Now he knew Roman was tellin tall tales. He laughed again
"That's a good one brotha." he shook his head and looked down before
looking back up at Roman.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
The conversation continues for a little while, as the caravan passes
between the broken posts. At one point the wheels of the wagon
jolt over something in the road, deep gouges in the stone... four of
them, parallel.
"Looks like claw marks, but what could... " one of the
other passengers murmurs to a companion, tailing off as he remembers
the steel of the sign, bitten and scarred. Clearly something that
could bite into steel would have little trouble with mere stone. "Bloody Charyk. If it weren't for the market, I wouldn't come here for all the gold in Berenal!"
The trees thin out ahead, and within a few minutes the wagons are on
the killing ground. The clearing, six miles in diameter, is
clearly artificial, covered with the sharpened stumps of thousands of
trees, still rooted in the earth that nurtured them.
The road leads across this man-made plain, directly into one of the
massive gates at the base of the half-mile high tower which squats
squarely upon a crossroads at the centre of the clearing.
Three suns hang in the sky, small and palid, but still well above the
horizon. There should be no attack now. The terrors which
besiege Charyk have grown daring of late, but it is still too early for
them to emerge from their dark warrens. Even in daylight, the
dark stone of the tower burns with a million blazing runes, filled with
sorcerous power to ward off evil, and the sky overhead is filled with
wheeling shapes, vast, majestic, deadly.
The man who spoke before raises a hand to point, and a mile overhead,
two hundred pairs of yellow eyes focus on the movement for an instant,
before dismissing it as unworthy of their attention... not a threat,
just a traveller.
The object of their momentary attention nudges his companion, "See, Matthias! The ormvråkar! We are safe now!"
And a howl, like that of a wolf that devours moons, echoes across the forest...
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman smiles back at Banglen-Yp, resisting the temptation to
demonstrate shapeshifting. He just shakes his head at Gabriel's
comment. The man knows nothing of demons. Nor does he know
what Roman's Logrus sight showed him...
Roman is so relieved at apparently reaching safety that he almost lets
go of the Logrus, but not before the howl is heard. While
he has time, he calls on the Logrus power to shield his body, hoping
that it's protection will be adequate to the task.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
•• Sca•ry • face • time ••
Another question slash statement from Banglen-Yp, although for the time being her pretty face with a smile on it still reigns supreme.
She began to crawl back into the wagon until only the top of her head
was showing, eyes big and wide, with the impression that she was still
smiling although it was hidden from sight.
The screen showed creatures sounding like these and it nearly always
meant that mean and scary things would follow. Not always, but
nearly.
•• At•tack • come • soon • Bang•len••Yp • bel•ieves ••
The head nodded and began to sunk out of sight.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman calls after Banglen-Yp. "We may still get there without
being attacked, and it looks like we'll have support from the tower, up
ahead. I'll give you a shout if your 'scary face" is
needed."
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
The golden locks still visible, the same voice as before, still smiling by the sound of it, answered.
•• O•kay • dar•lin ••
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
An intense look crossed
Gabes face and he sat up a little straighter in the saddle
heroically. No longer looking bumbling or awkward a look of grim
heroic determination rested on his brow. “Well Roman ol’ boy…Ah guess
this is it.” With that staunch heroic determination he reached into his
pack to arm himself. “Can you tell where that came from friend Roman?”
As he nobly pulled from the pack his trusty….Camera! “I have got to get
a picture of this!” he said the grim determination showing the boyish
excitement that lay beneath it.
Looking around for what made that sound an excited grin
on his face he added the flash attachment. “Where is it at?” he asked
again ready to go riding towards it.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman is surprised, "A picture...?" But swiftly jumping to the
wrong conclusion, he continues "Do the pictures produced by your
sorcerous device enable you to control beasts ? A powerful magic,
but are you certain that it will function in this Shadow ?"
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Not much could take the wind
from Gabriel’s sails at the point, but the gibberish Roman was letting
loose with almost did. Confusing him somewhat. sorcerous device? Powerful magic? Gabe wasn’t a spell slinger. Then a word came that he understood. Shadow!.
He wasn’t a complete fool, he’d been around almost 20 years traveling
since he was born. He’d been taking pictures almost a whole year.
“That’s what this flashy thingamagiggy is for, to deal with shadows.”
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman looks curiously, To
so casually mention a device that gives power over Shadow, the foolish
guise must conceal a great sorceror - perhaps even an Amberite Prince -
certainly he must come from a Realm close to Amber
Roman answers more quietly
"Your magic is powerful indeed. Most sorcerors only master the
magics local to their world. Few can deal with Shadows.
Tell me, will you take control of the beasts and force them to fight
each other, or merely send them away to other Shadows where they may do
us no harm ?"
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
There the strange man was talking about
spell slinging again and power…power! “Yea it’s got one of the most
powerful Zoom lenses Ah could find. 1.9 million effective pixels 38 mm
to 380 mm. Point an shoot.” He told Roman like a soldier talking about
his gun like a man in love. “That’s just what the lady said,
tones of power in a compact easy to use package.”
He looked up to Roman nodding excitedly “Point and shoot friend,
then BAM! You got ‘em right where you want ‘em! They’re caught on film
forever! So simple a child could do it.” His grin looked like a kid at
Christmas in and of it’s self.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman nods as if he understands, wrongly thinking that he does. A
device to capture the beasts as they attack and eternally imprison
them. If only a few get past the guards then Gabriel's device
should easily deal with them. It will be interesting to watch
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
•• Cap•tured • beasts • look • nice • on • screen ••
The eyes were back up over the edge, having resurfaced as the two males
talked. It was more interesting than making mean faces, listening
and learning.
•• Bang•len••Yp • learn • much • from • screen ••
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gabe looked dreamy for a moment, "Ah always wanted to be
on the silver screen." He said in reference to what Banglen had said,
the shook his head snapping out of it. had to deal with what was going
on now, he had to get pictures of the beasts.
"Do either of you know where that sound came from? I just gotta get these beast on film."
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Looking thoughtful Banglen-Yp shook her head.
•• Not • silver ••
It certianly had no been silver, unless she had misunderstood what
silver was. It did not look like any of that metal things either,
even if it was hard.
•• Sound • came • from • beast • mak•ing • howl •• she said helpfully and the head nodded to confirm this fact.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Overhearing the question, the wagon driver glances at Harlequin, and nods.
"It came from that way... " he jerks one thumb back towards the deeper recesses of the great forest. "We, however, are going that way. Quickly." and he points ahead, towards the tower. He urges the termagants
to greater effort, though, if the truth be told, they don't need much
urging.
The wagon lurches forward at an accelerated pace.
"That was a drakhon, and you had best pray that we reach the city before it discovers we are out here."
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Such arrogant certainty - he must be an Amberite
"I would ask you to reconsider - we do not know how many other beasts
lie in wait out there. And besides, did you not promise to
protect Banglen-Yp ? You cannot do that while you are chasing
after monsters" nor if your chewed remains are iin a monster's stomach
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
It took him a moment to figure out what she ment by 'Not
Silver.', "No the Big screen Darlin'. You know movies." He said
glancing at Roman and looking a little crest fallen. "Damnable
tarnations. Ah always miss out on the interestin' stuff."
brightening and looking hopefull a little bit he asked "You sho it
wouldn't be allright if Ah just kind of road back at the back of the
caravan? Ah wouldn't leave it?" He looked longingly back towards the
woods a far away gleam in his eyes.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
•• Big • and • small • screen • moves •• Banglen-Yp nodded in agreement althought it was all wrong. But she did not know that.
Hearing the Gabe wanted to ride back and see the Drakhon she nodded at Roman.
•• Ro•man • speak • truth • Gabe • guard • Bang•len••Yp • and • Bang•len••Yp • guard • Gabe ••
She nodded again.
•• Bang•len••Yp • also • go • then ••
A happy smile, now that the head was all visible again. It did not look any more mean that before either.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
"You'll have to walk" Roman points out "the wagon can't move out of
position. And Gabe, if your horse isn't battle-trained you might
do better to walk. No matter how good a rider you are, a
panicking horse is something of a liability."
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gabe looked from one to the
other and back again, then back again. “Awww okay.” He said softly in a
defeated little boys voice, almost but not quite pouting. “I guess a
man has to keep his promises.” Some times you couldn’t just go
gallivanting about when you had said you’d protect someone. He looked
back longingly, just one picture was not to much to ask was it? Then
with a sigh he looked back to Roman and nodded. “Your’ right Roman.”
Then looked over and Banglen with a smile “is that your scary face?” He
smiled that broad friendly smile and brightened up.
“What does • Bang•len••Yp • mean in your language anyway.” He said her name dead on perfect
with her inflections and everything, but still in his own voice.
He had always had a knack with languages and customs.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Turning her full attention to Gabe as he asked her about her face, Banglen-Yp looked the part of a moth staring at the flame.
Or something.
•• No ••
She returned the smile and shook her head. But then she looked confused at his following question.
•• Me ••
The smile returned with a vengeance, although as such it was no doubt the sweetest and most harmless of vengeances ever.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gabe laughed softly, his soft
laugh was as pleasing a sound as you had ever heard and he tilted the
rim of his hat down to cover his eyes. When he looked back up to meet
her eyes there was a soft blush to his cheeks from her intent
examination of him. But his whole face smiled back at her openly. “I
suppose your right dalin’. I just wanted to know more about ya is all.
You an friend Roman here.” The rim of his hat dipped down again
to cover his eyes and he looked back up. “I suppose it’s not important.”
With that he looked back with two regrets now. Not being
able to get his picture and not being able to know his two new found
friends any better.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman smiles at the byplay. "If we make it inside safely, we can
have a contest - see who can pull the scariest face. "Either the
caravan will be attacked by force enough to get past the guards -
and we will see what we each can do in the fray, or it will not and we
can rest and talk at leisure. Either way we will find out more
about each other in good course"
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gabe glance at Roman perplexed. "Scary faces and
what someone can or can not do don't make them who they are." he said
softly in a brief shining moment of zen like wisdom for such a young
simple man.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
When Gabe laughed something felt odd inside Banglen-Yp and then she heard someone else laugh too. A soft, gentle laughter.
She looked rather surprised when she realised it was her laughing. But it felt good.
Confusion replaced the surprise the next moment as she tried to understand what he had said.
•• Right ••
It sounded like a question, and she looked like one too, nearly.
•• What • is • not • im•port•ant ••
Another question.
Confusion.
Turning her attention to Roman she pondered his words.
•• Con•test • or • talk • or • both ••
Yet again her attention went over to Gabe. Perhaps he would shift
colour once more. So far she had only counted one. Red.
•• Gabe • cha•me•le•on • change • colour ••
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman can manage this sort of discussion more easily. "Ahh, but
there is more to it. Our abilities and our use of them are
expressions of our nature. If an ability is innate then it is a
part of the wielder. If it is learned or acquired then it says here is
a man - or a woman - who would seek to gain such power. And then
there is how we employ them, which also reflects our true
natures. These things say more about who we are than a name - or
a pretty face."
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
•• I • am • not • my • face • I • am • Bang•len••Yp •• Banglen-Yp remarked. •• I • am • not • my • ab•il•i•ty • I • am • Bang•len••Yp ••
•• I • am ••
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Maybe we have time to push a little, to see how she might react
"Indeed, but what is Banglen-Yp ? We may see a pretty face, we
may see you use your abilities. We may see these expressions of
your nature, but can we see what Banglen-Yp truly is ? Can you show us
?"
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
•• No ••
Banglen-Yp shook her head.
•• Bang•len••Yp • can • not • show ••
She looked sad and then turned her gaze towards the spot pointed out by the driver.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gabe glanced at Banglen and only blushed
more as she mentioned his blushing, a battle going on across his face
not to look away. “I just meant it’s okay if you don’t understand what
Ah’m sayin’. When Ah ask about you or who you are. Or if you just plain
don’t want to tell me that fine. What Ah’d enjoy is not important
Banglen, you bein’ who you are is.” He nodded slight and let his
attention move to Roman greatful for the change and no longer to be
under Bangeln's spotlight.
Something was bothering Gabe in
Romans words, like an itch in the back of his mind. A small puzzled
frown formed on his face, as he started pondering aloud. Sure he was a
simple man and oh so very often people mistook simple for stupid power again and again “You mean kind o’ like what people do with their life and time tellin’
otha people about them. Kind o’ like someone seeming obsessed by
power and what people can do says something about someone.” He
said softly with out any ill on his face at all. Almost as if speaking
to himself, a strange soft thought full look on his face. “ Ah wonder
what that might say about a man…” he said looking up and glancing
at Roman.
Still thoughtfully he sat in his bouncing along on
the horse at the hurried pace. Talking so softly in a whimsical voice
that he could barley be heard. “But what would it say about a man if he
judged someone off one little thing like that. How shallow would
he be. What if he missed the deeper things like why someone does what
they do. Even if they used an ability harshly or wrongly it could be in
error. Ah don’t know bout you but Ah think two people can do the same
thing for much different reasons. Naw Ah’ll get to know people by
talking and listenin’, seein’ how they live their lives and just askin’
the about who they are.” that good natured friendly smile crept back
over his face “That’s how you get to know someone, just listenin’
and watchin’ and most of all akskin’.” Simple was not stupid. “And
Ah’ll accept them fo who they are inside, not out, and hope they’ll
accept me.” he smiled a soft hopefull crooked little boys grin and
nodded.
“Why Roman, what kind o’ powers and skill so you have?
Who are you Roman. Me Ah’m a performer by trade, Ah grew up
in a gypsy traveling carnival. Ah can even show you if you like.”
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman looks at Gabriel How much to tell ?
"Perhaps your demonstration might be left until a later time unless it
has a virtue of warding off monsters. My background might be
called privileged, which is how I learned to use this" he slaps the
scabbarded sword at his side. "And living near to Chaos, I have
learned some ways of dealing with the supernatural, as well as some
knowledge of the workings of the universe, of Shadow and Reality.
I have invoked a powerful charm to ward off physical damage, in the
event of an attack, and my blade is enchanted. If your sorcerous
device and Bangle-Yp's scary face are not sufficient, I can still
contribute to our mutual defence"
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Banglen-Yp looked thoughtful as she listened to what Gabe told her
about being who she was. She remained quiet as the others talked
and turned to gaze towards the forest again.
Identity.
To be.
Self.
Who are you?
Tilting her head to the side she sank into her own private thoughts, forgetting anything and anyone around her.
Identity.
To be.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
He looked at Roman quizzically “Well of course Ah’d
wait until we are stopped.” Stating the obvious. “Supernatural? Chaos?
Deamons? Enchanted Blade? Are you a deamon from hell Roman? Ah don’t
get it, Ah don’t have no sorcerous devices. Am Ah missin somethin’
here? ” Spell slingers were not supernatural, they were as natural as
breathin. Enchanted blades? He had no idea of what the man was talking
about or what enchanted was. Other than falling to someones charms.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman looks mildly offended at the suggestion he might be a
demon. "Of course I'm not a demon" glancing at Banglen-Yp he adds
"not that there's anything wrong with demons, they're just...on a lower
social level. And I don't even know where this 'Hell' is."
After a pause he goes on
"Are you telling me that the device in your hands, the one that
manipulates Shadow to send it's victims to eternal imprisonment, is not
sorcerous in nature ? How then does it work ?"
Maybe it's driven by their Pattern! Stealing the camera is
sounding like a better and better idea so long as the theft can't be
traced to him. And so long as it is done in a way that is not too
dishonourable. But first he needs to see how to use it.
===========================================================
Re: 51c - Caravan by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Catching the glance from Roman, almost as if sensing it, Banglen-Yp's
nearly constant smile is replaced by a frown, followed by a nearly
demonstrative focusing on the forest.
A moment later she climbed further back into the wagon until she
reached the rear end, at which point she hunkers down while her
attention still fixed at the woods.
===========================================================
A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Harlequin's train of thought had went something like
this. Roman had thought Banglen was a daemon from Chaos. Hence
since Daemons were from hell. (Chaos = Hell) or perhaps (Hell = Chaos)
in it's inhabitants eyes. By all accounts hell sounded pretty chaotic.
Maybe they didn't like to refer to it as hell any more. What with all
the bad press and all. And chaos theory being so popular, so had
renamed it in a sweeping public relations campaign of biblical
proportions “Come stay at Club Chaos, you have a hell of a good time!” he muttered dreamily almost under his breath “What happens in Chaos, is condemned to- Er stays in Chaos. or have a hot time on the town tonight”
Daemons are from (Chaos = hell / hell = chaos) and Friend
Roman was from Chaos = hell / hell = chaos). Yet was not a
daemon, he was higher than a daemon. “Deevil!” he hissed in an intense,
eyes growing wide with curiosity as he looked at Roman.
Roman was interested in Romans Camera.... Some peoples
thought pictures imprisoned the soul on film. He had always just
thought this was superstition except for maybe the gate artist
sciences. Where was he, oh yea! Some peoples thought pictures
imprisoned the soul on film. Deevils imprisoned souls! And with the
deevil Roman talking like that about his camera, he must be interested
in it to harvest souls. “Help!” he said quietly yet with
intensity “The Deevils trying to get mah Soul!”
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman looks concerned Does he mean me ? I don't want his soul.
"I'm not sure what a Deevil is, but I have a feeling that you should be
more concerned with the monsters in the woods, right now. They
may not be after your soul, but I'm sure that they would like to
devour your flesh".
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
“Deevil! What's wrong with Mah soul that you don'
want it Deevil? Not good enough for ya?” he hissed starting to move his
hands to his ears, they stopped short and he got that thoughtful
expression again. “Well you have been pretty nice so far, for a
deevil. And bah what Ah've read the average deevil is more honest than
politicians, not to mention nicer than lawyers.”
He thought about it more and he had his picture
taken hundred of times and his soul was never the worse for it.
“Ah sorry Deevil Roman. You've been good by me.” He held out the Camera
to Roman “here mind getting' a picture of me and Benglen together?” He
smiled brighty to show there was no hard feeling to The Deevil. He had
sympathy for the Deevil even.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman looks genuinely puzzled "I'm not sure what all this talk about
Deevils and souls is about. And I don't know how to use your
device. Why don't you show me how to do it ? Take a picture
of Banglen to show me how it's done."
If he's trying to trick me into imprisoning myself it won't work. I'll watch carefully for tricks and see what happens.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
The ormvråkar swoop, low above the caravan, vast feathered pinions sweeping clouds of
dead leaves from the trees, and the stink of their carrion breath
washing over those on the road below,
Around the top of the tower, the ports open, and a hundred bronze rods
push out, jetting pulses of green fire out across the forest, past the ormvråkar.
The sky lights up with a sickly green lightning, and something, out in the forest, shrieks in pain.
The drivers push the termagants harder, and the caravan moves faster towards the huge armoured gate of Charyk.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Seeing the activity, Roman adds "On second thoughts, if there's a
monster that close, we ought to worry about getting to the tower first,
and pictures later. It's fortunate that we're close enough for
the people in the tower to cover us with their weapons."
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Banglen-Yp watched the green light but did not react much to it other
than giving it her attention while it lasted, then once more focusing
on the forest from where the scream had originated. She seemed
almost fascinated by whatever was in there, only her eye coming up over
the edge, eagerly soaking in every detail.
•• Pret•ty ••
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gabe was about to call to Banglen
when everything broke loose. His camera shot up and he started snapping
as many pictures of the event as he could, a quiet
<sub>wow!</b> escaping his lips. Quickly and without
thinking he reined his horse to a stop. Zooming in the lens as far as
he could in the direction of where the roar of pain cam from. Looking
though the view finder he sought the perfect picture. Hoping for it.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman makes sure that he stays out of the way of the strange device
Gabriel is wielding as best he can, while watching to see how it is
operated. When the opportunity arises he attempts to follow the
direction it is pointing, in the hope of seeing an attacking monster
banished to a prison-Shadow.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Without thinking he pulls out the small
square of film that is ejected from the camera, clasping it between
index finger and middle finger. Glancing over at the cart he
points the infernal device and Banglen and calls out “Let’s see that
pretty smile Darlin?” the cries of the beast behind him
momentarily forgotten even though they need to get to the safety of the
keep desperately. But danger just didn’t apply to Gabe.
Just everyone else around him.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Let's see that pretty smile!
Change.
A slow turn.
A dazzling bright smile.
The back stretching up.
The shoulders being pulled back.
Lips being puckered a touch.
That's right, give me some love!
If she had been seductive and attractive before, Banglen-Yp suddenly
appeared nearly impossibly so, striking a pose that would capture only
the best of her whole being.
There! Hold that!
It was a change, although she remained the same. It definitely was not her mean face.
Like a trained martial art master, reacting on pure instinct.
A reflex.
Change.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
It was like something
off the cover of a women’s cosmo mag. or Sports Illustrated
only more so. Gabe wasn’t used to this really even when his female
friends played seductive for the camera it wasn’t... well it wasn't
this. He took the picture out of reflex more than anything.
Slowly the camera lowered, revealing his jaw hanging
down in surprise and amazement. As his poor country boy face blushed
five kinds of red. Neither horse nor rider moving, stunned by the
sensual overload of such a display. Not being something he had gotten
to see every day, or ever. It wasn’t good, it wasn’t bad, it was just
to much for him to take in one shot. Frozen as the wagon trundled on at
it’s best speed Gabe sat there and stared into who knew what.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Well, she certainly didn't disappear off into Shadow to be kept as
his slave-concubine...Better not let him get left behind and eaten yet.
Roman turns away from watching Banglen-Yp and goes back for Gabe.
"Best to get moving, don't want to hold everyone else" he states. He
gives Gabe's horse a gentle slap on the rump to encourage it to move in
the direction of the gates and safety.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
As soon as the camera came, down Banglen-Yp looked almost as surprised
as Gaping Gabe the Gobsmacked. She shrunk down into the wagon
again with an expression that was a blend of bewilderment and amazement.
Reaction
Change.
Confusion.
Lack of...
...control.
One last glance at Gabe and then she dipped down into the wagon, out of
sight. Looking down at her hands, her body she wrinkled the
forehead in thought, in wonder.
Questions.
Mystery.
Reaction.
She giggled.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Suddenly the horse was moving
and that was enough to jolt Gabe into the hear and now, or at least the
then and there of the here and now. Maybe with Gabe it was just the now
but not quite here. That wasn’t the point though, he could react “Holy mother of gods!” he muttered softly only half hearing anything that Roman had said.
He cantered on up to the wagon side glancing back at Roman
for an instant, looking for moral support. and then he called out
softly “Ummmm…. Miss Banglen?” whatdoisaywhatdoisaywhatdoisaywhatdoisay Feeling like he needed to say something, but clueless as to what, where, when or why.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
“Ummmm…. Miss Banglen?”
The blonde head peeked up over the edge and towards Gabe, the mouth still hidden but clearly smiling by the looks of the eyes.
•• Bang•len••Yp ••
The eyes blinked at the statement and then two hands came up to hold
the side of the wagon, followed by the rest of the head and even a bit
of shoulders.
•• Yes • Gabe • what • is • it ••
That was definitely a question.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
The wagons are all out in the kill zone now, moving fast. The gate is still closed ahead of them.
Above and behind, the ormvråkar give vent to cries of anger as something,
a vaguely serpentine form with countless burning eyes, reaches up from
the forest and snatches two of their number from the sky in a single
movement. More of the green fire rains down from the great birds,
as their riders bring weapons to bear on the ground.
Behind the last of the wagons, a shape stumbles from the forest.
It is vaguely reptilian in form, walking upright on two legs, while
four long, clawe-tipped arms reach out and it bellows a challenge.
Fire strikes it, but it barely seems to notice, even when it loses an
arm. It charges at the last of the wagons, and only stops when a
lucky shot removes its head.
Behind it, there are more shapes moving in the gloom of the forest...
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
•• Mean • fa•ces ••
Banglen-Yp is distracted by the appearance of the large beasts and
turned to regard them with the same curiosity she had been studying her
travelling companions with before.
Mean faces. That is what they would have called it back there.
To Banglen-Yp it is a face, but she are aware of what would make a face
mean, having learnt it thanks to the screen. The reactions of the
others also seemed to verify this, so she settled for that her mean
face was to be regarded as mean here as well.
•• Big ••
That she realised too. It was huge. Mean faces that were
big were often more mean too, but not always. Another lesson from
the screen.
Hail the screen, our queen, reign supreme, let us dream.
Banglen-Yp blinked. Yes, the screen was powerful and held much knowledge.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman is thinking furiously
This looks bad, I hope they're just waiting to open the gate. It's
worse than anything I heard, worse than the caravan master was
expecting. Is there some special reason for attacking this
caravan ? Is my enemy behind it ?
He shouts to Gabe and Banglen-Yp "Keep moving !. And be ready to
make a stand - if that gate doesn't open, we'll have real trouble"
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gabe's fumbling formulation of
reply to Banglen was lost in the unraveling events of the ormvråkar on the trail to Charyk. He tried to rein his horse around to face the
beasts charging the back of the wagons. “Real mean face.” he said in
reply to Banglen. “Those people could get hurt.I'll catch up!” and with
a “Hyay!” He was suddenly off and riding in the wrong direction at a
gallop. Headed for the back of the Caravan and danger.
But he was almost 20 years old and
every 20 year old thinks they are immortal. Or at least that they can
not die. Slipping his camera into his pack he pulled his rope as he
galloped charging in the wrong direction.
What was one suppoed to do when charging beasties? Oh yea
mean face, hoot and holler "Cooooooie! Hieo!Hieo!Hieo!Hioe!" He tired
to make the most mean face he could.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sitting in the wagon, Banglen-Yp had little choice but to move, unless she decided to disembark.
Which is exactly what she did when Gabe took off.
Climbing up on the side she jumped down and began to run after him,
seemingly without worrying about the beasts that were so near.
Those people could get hurt.
She could not let that happen, so she ran.
The screen would not let it happen...
...most of the time.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Is he trying to get himself killed ?
Roman looks from Gabriel running off to Banglen-Yp, expecting her to
sensibly stay put. When she runs off after Gabriel, he
experiences a moment of indecision I don't want to fight, that's what the guards are paid for, but I said I'd help defend them... before hitching his mount to the wagon and running off after Banglen-Yp.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
With the thunder of hooves eating away the distance to the
last wagon and the thrill of the wind in his hair. Gabe was certain in
his heart of hearts, that this was all some big misunderstanding. That
if people just sat down and reasonably worked things out everything
would all be fine. If the things standing up were sentient they
could all sit down and exchange pictures, maybe play some cards.
If not... they there were people that lived with beasts and got to know
them. Protected endangered species, that kind of thing. “Where's Steve
Erwin when you need him?”
Any way you sliced it he changed his mind in flight and drew his Camera out of the pack again. He had to get a picture!
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Under the assumption that Gabe is fleeing in panic, the drivers scream at him to turn back, and point towards the city.
Then the myrmidons are moving, following the mounted man, and a torrent
of javelins, arrows, and more of the green fire is unleashed in a
barrage of destruction which slams into the monstrous attackers like a
hail storm.
Many of them fall...
And then the myrmidons are among them, axes, swords, an spears striking
with a machinelike precision which is the perfect counterpoint to the
bestial fury of the monsters.
But the battle is not all one sided. Many of the armoured giants fall before the assault.
And in the middle of this chaotic melee rides Harlequin, with Banglen-Yp only a little way behind, and Roman following her.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Camera Clutched in his hand like a powerful
talisman, Gabe reines his horse to a stop amongst the chaos of melee.
Though over the din of combat, in the midst of adrenaline feed insanity
he shouts the mystical words of power! ”STOP FIGHTING YOU FOOLS!”
Probably not a single soul heard or paid attention
to him, but it didn’t seem to matter to the young man on horseback. He
took a picture aiming it toward the opposing force trying to get their
attention with the flash before shouting "CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?” he chidded them visiously for fighting.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hearing Gabe's shout - but only just - Roman begins to doubt his idea
that the man is an Amberite. Any Amberite who was that naive
should have died at the hands of his kin, years ago.
He draws his sword, the blade seeming to leap into his hand. The
blade looks old and poorly-kept, it's colour suggests bronze and the
green streaks have the appearance of verdigris.
Instincts come to the fore and his skin starts to shift, becoming darker and taking on a plated appearance.
I can't save the fool, but at least I might be able to get the girl
out of trouble. And who knows, mayber her "scary face" will work
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Running as fast as she could, with her hair and skirt flapping about
wildly, it turned out that Banglen-Yp's ultimate goal was the last
wagon rather than the beasts that were emerging from the forest.
As soon as she came within reach she lept up to grab hold of the side
of the wagon and pulled herself up and over it, vanishing from sight
inside, more or less headfirst.
A few moments later two hands grasped the edge on a place near where
she had vanished, and then her head popped up to peek over the edge
towards the beasts and the guards. As she saw the fallen guard a
rather sad look took over her eyes, the mouth still kept hidden.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman moves to guard the wagon that Banglen-Yp has just jumped into.
He continues to transform. His hands have swollen slightly and
now resemble gauntlets of verdigrised bronze, matching his blade.
His hair has retreated into his skull, as have his eyes,his head
now looking like a helm of the same material, a faint green glow
shining from the eye-slits. The changed skin expands from head
and hands, flowing over his clothing.
His voice echoes from within the "helm". "Time for your scary face ?"
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
The flash does its job, at least in part...
A creature, no bigger than an average house, turns its attention
towards Harlequin. Small, pig-like eyes glare at him from under
heavy brows, and it opens a mouth filled with teeth as long as his
forearm to bellow a challenge. Yellow ichor drools from its lips,
and where that fluid strikes the earth, the plants blacken and die...
It starts towards him, lizard-like in its movements, and surprisingly quick.
The Myrmidons continue to fight, but their numbers are reduced now,
with perhaps a third of them already dead or dying. Still, they
have taken their toll on the attacking beasts, and the inhuman corpses
are starting to pile up, providing a distraction for some of the
monstrosities, which turn aside in their assault to feast upon their
former allies.
The roadway grows slick with their spilled blood.
Roman stands guard, transformed now into a creature almost as bizarre
and monstrous as some of the attackers. His strange blade flicks
out as a creature leaps at him, unfurling a mass of barbed
tentacles. The edge bites down into its shoulder, and the thing
staggers back from him, its flesh seeming to boil and burn around the
wound, even after it falls.
Banglen-Yp is in the wagon, guarded by Roman. To her surprise,
the people she came to rescue aren't there. The wagon seems
empty. She starts to move a crate, to see if there is anybody
hiding behind it, and the massive wooden container flies aside with
unexpected ease.
A quick check shows her that, not only are there no passengers aboard this wagon, but the cargo crates are empty too...
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Watching Roman change as if he had not, short of smiling briefly, Banglen-Yp shook her head.
•• Must • res•cue •• she told him and smiled at him again. •• Nice • colour ••
Then she began to rummage through the wagon, quickly learning that the crates were empty, as the wagon itself was.
•• Emp•ty ••
She called out her finding, or lack thereof. Clambering forward
in the wagon she moved over to where the scaley drag animals still
trudged along.
•• They • for•got • some •• she pointed out and took a seat on
the driver's bench and looked for how they were steered, although they
did seem to follow the other wagons as they moved.
•• I • will • save • you •• she informed them and decided she
would keep a lookout for dangers instead of trying to guide those who
knew where they were going anyway.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman's transformation is complete. From a distance he might be
thought a man in old bronze plate harness - although it would seem that
the maker of the armour had been obsessed with points and sharp
edges. But those who belive there to be a man inside the armour
would be wrong.
Close up, the lack of any sign of a face, just green phosphorescence
where eyes should be, might lead some to conclude that this was empty
armour animated by a spirit or sorcery. They, too, would be wrong.
Inside its exoskeleton the Thing that is Roman is not dissatisfied with
the course of the battle. The myrmidons are taking heavy losses,
but it is still possible that the caravan will make it safely into the
tower. The largest monsters are easy targets for the gunners
within the tower and the bird-riders. So long as only a few of
the smaller monsters make it past the myrmidons they can be killed by
the other defenders.
But Roman is also aware that the danger may be greatest close to the
tower. There must be a limit on how far the defenders within the
tower can depress their weapons. The real kill-zone stops short
of the tower - and if too many monsters get inside it there will be
hard fighting ahead.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
The caravan moves on still, drawn by the doggedly determined
termagants. Those travellers who have faster mounts, such as
horses, have pulled ahead, closer to the tower. From somewhere
within that cyclopean structure, a great bell begins to toll, the sound
of it deep and sonorous.
Charging towards the man with bright, flashing light, the monstrous
beast shrieks its rage as it gets close, and Harlequin's horse rears in
panic, throwing him to the ground, where the wind is knocked from his
lungs. Massive fanged jaws close on the horse, shaking it as a
dog shakes a rat, then casting it aside.
There is a flash of green, and a sound like the tearing of the sky, and
the horror explodes in a ball of emerald flame, which clings to the
scaled flesh, searing it to ash.
Some people are, it seems, born lucky. For the moment, the man is
out of immediate danger, as he scrambles to his feet and decides that
discretion is the better part of photography.
From her position in the wagon, Banglen-Yp notes that the draft animals
seem quite content to follow the rest of their "herd", and so turns her
attention to the attacking horde.
Alongside the wagon, Roman keeps guard, lashing out with his strange sword at anything that gets too close.
At the tower, the gate starts to open, and there are more weapons
inside, sending bolt after bolt of vitriolic green energy hurtling out
towards the attackers.
Some of the beasts start to slow, faltering in their assault...
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Big, possibly dangerous even with the Logrus and natural armour -
but with a distraction it may be possible to land a mortal blow before
it can strike
Roman moves towards the front of the cart, allowing the creature to get
a little closer, lengthening his arms a little for the extra reach.
When the position is right, he speaks, pointing im the direction of the cyclops-eyed monster lizard "Banglen-Yp. Scare that"
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Keeping an eye out for anything that looked to get too close to the
wagon, Banglen-Yp spotted one of the beasts as Roman suggested that she
would scare another. She looked over at him, with a smile, and
shook her head, pointing to the beast he referred to.
•• You • scare • that • one ••
She pointed straight up.
I • will • scare • that • one ••
Her whole attention was turned upwards as she spoke.
•• If • I • can ••
It sounded a bit hesitant almost.
Staring upwards with wide eyes and open mouth, either in awe or in
fear, she ducked down into the wagon and appeared to go into hiding
among the empty crates. Whether she was going to hide or try to
surprise the monster by jumping out at it (perhaps shouting 'boo') was
anyones guess, but for the moment she was out of sight.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman doesn't have time to see what Banglen-Yp is talking about, the
oncoming beast is too close. He readies himself to meet the
monster, hoping for an opening.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Moving towards Roman, in a series of quick darts, the lizard-like
creature blinks its single, burning red eye and hisses at him.
All over its body, long, barbed quills fan out, increasing the thing's
apparant size as it prepares to attack.
Harlequin moves past, making for the wagon, his strange capturing
device dangling, all but forgotten, from one wrist, as he tries to
shake off the effects of his recent fall.
The lizard glances in his direction, and decides that, perhaps, he will
make an easier meal than Roman, who does, after all, look a little less
tham appetising at this point in time.
Overhead, a thing like a large, two-headed bat folds its twenty foot wingspan, evades an attacking ormvråk and plummets through the hail of green fire towards the wagon. In
the last instant, the wings unfurl, with a sound like a thunderclap,
and it hangs directly above Banglen-Yp's hiding place.
Perhaps warned by some strange sense, the lizard glances away from its
new prey, just in time to see Roman's sword flash down towards
it. It tries to hurl itself aside, too late, as the weapon
beheads it.
Turning towards the wagon, Roman studies the great bat, and decides how he will deal with it. And then...
The still-dazed Harlequin starts to scramble into the wagon and freezes
at the sight which lays before him. The winged creature is
struggling now, attempting to regain height, as something reaches up from the wagon bed. A nightmare of dark chitin, claws, teeth, metal and leather.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
The mean face.
An unnerving hiss escaped the creature holding the flyer down and the
jaws open to reveal yet another set of teeth as thick saliva dripped,
as if the monster was salvating at the thought of such a grand meal.
Then, with a leap, the dark nightmare was on the flying beast, digging
its long claws into it to get a grip before the long, scorpion-like
tail struck at the creature, as if acting with its own mind.
Plunging deep into the best the tail came out and was swiftly swung
around for another attack as the black attacker crawled up on the back
of the flyer.
Claws slashed.
An inhuman scream came from the dark beast, as if calling out in triumph.
Tail trashed.
The eyeless head of the black nightmare came nearer the head of the
flying creature and the inner set of jaws opened and closed as if in
anticipation.
It was...
...time to feed.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
I thought she was a demon. A good, fast shift.
Useful, especially if she learns to control her appetite...Have to
remember that form, it might go down well at parties...
Satisfied that the flyer is no threat, Roman looks around for other
dangers. Banglen-Yp might be vulnerable while she is distracted
by feeding.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
No sword, no weapon…. Okay a
knife but that wouldn’t do against something like that! It looked like
something from the Aliens from a horror move. It looked enough
like it to be a copyright infringement. Still dazed and confused
Harlequin manages a mighty screech of surprise and terror. At first
missing the fact that it was attacking something that was attacking
them.
BANGLEN! He shouted looking for the
blonde pixy, as he readied the only weapon he had at hand, the only
thing he realy knew how to use. His rope…..
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
The black creature stopped for a moment to turn its eyeless gaze upon
the man screaming down below, but then it resumed its attack upon the
flying creature, sinking claws and tail into it as it crawled towards
the heads.
Hunger.
Rage.
Instinct.
Driven by strong forces the monster had little time to worry about
someone screaming for it. The man was safe for the moment and had
no need of it at the moment. He could wait.
Hunt.
Kill.
Hunger.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman's "head" turns at the man's cry. He offers some advice
before returning to the more important task of watching for attacking
monsters.
"Don't disturb her while she's eating. She has...limited self-control"
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Oh that's just great!
That’s just peachy!” He cursed the best he could with his inability to
utter profanities. “One Holy-Wood horror tellin’ me ta not disturb
anotha!” That was it, he had had enough, his horse had been eaten, and
his friends were missing and now some…. well some thing was… Well he
wasn’t certain what it was doing, it sounded like it was giving good
advice. What ever that other thing was it did not look like something
HE wanted to disturb. Much less be holding a particular flower that it
took a fancy to. He didn't know what he wasn't going to take but he was
danged well not gonna take it! He wanted his friends!
“Where’s Banglen, an’ th’ Deevil Roman. Tell me now or Ah shall
be forced ta give you a sound thrashing! Let me warn you! It will go
poorly for you if if you’ve harmed on hair on their heads! ” He
challenged Roman. There was always for a good soliloquy on stage and
life was a stage! To bad it was ruined by the fact that he had’nt yet
made it to his feet yet.
He started twirling the rope over head as he stood giving Roman his best scary look.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman is not impressed by Gabe's "scary look" - he hasn't even managed pointed teeth ! "I'm Roman, that is Banglen-Yp, and if you don't mind I'm trying to stop another monster
coming up and eating you. Like the big lizard I just killed for
you. Or do you want to get eaten ?"
WIth that, Roman turns his attention back to guarding the wagon.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
The monsters... the other monsters, that is... are hanging back a little now, and some are retreating, or fighting amoung themselves.
The first of the wagons reaches the gate, rumbling inside, beneath the
hail of green fire. One by one, the other wagons follow suit,
while the surviving Myrmidons bring up the rear, carrying their dead,
or whatever remains of their dead.
As the last of the fighters steps inside, the gate slams shut, blocking out the attackers.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Green tendrils push a rag out the "helm", at the level where the mouth would be. Roman uses it to clean Wormwood, before sheathing the blade. That done he begins the careful task of shifting back.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Swiftly and with precision the black monstrosity moved up to the first
head. The jaws opened and then, suddenly, another set of jaws
shot out and into the head of the flying beast, who by now no longer
was flying. A swift, fast movement and the procedure was repeated
on the other head of the dying beast.
A triumphant, inhuman yell emerged from the victorious monster as it
leapt off the now absolutely positively dead formerly flying beast, its
long tail swining behind it, splashing the blood of the dead beast
about.
Then it stopped and looked towards Gabe and Roman and then began to
move towards the cart again, moving around towards the back, moving
extremely fast.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Caught flat footed by Roman’s words Gabe
forgot to keep the lariat twirling and simple physics twined it
around him briefly. “Naw!” he said with an look of disbelief “Are you
sure?” He’d seen skinshifters before and he’d seen things fierce some
looking as these two. But never skinshiftes that looked like that.
“Well doggies! That’s a pretty good trick!” a big grin formed on his
face at the sheer amazement of it all.
He turned and started towards Banglen and
went down like a sack of potatoes, the rope still loosely around his
legs. After a couple of seconds of wild and desperate
struggle with his rope he fairly bounced back up and moved over to the
charging monstrosity that was Banglen. As she ran full bore towards
then “Darlin?” He asked calling out to the eail looking beastie that
was bearing down on them. He held out a hand as if to hold to touch a
horses nose or let a dog smell, curiosity and amazement pouring out of
every fiber of his being. in this case it just happened to be a
nightmareish monstrosity that he had just seen rip apart and eat...
well it ate something.
Seeing him like this it was surprising he’d lived as long as he had in life.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Approaching human shape again, Roman also moves in front of Banglen-Yp
"That's a very impressive form" he says, admiringly "but it's time to put your mean face away. Let's see that sweet smile again" Before somebody decides you're a stray monster and shoots you
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
With Banglen-Yp, in her monstrous form, already hidden from sight,
somewhere in the wagon, Roman and Harlequin are left to study the
interior of the tower.
Massive stone butresses support the vaulted roof, a hundred feet above
their heads, where cables and walkways of steel cross and connect in a
complex three-dimensional web. There are great lanterns up there,
among the arches, lighting the chamber, which is filled with a buzz of
excited voices.
The chamber clearly does not fill the whole ground floor of the
structure. There is a wall opposite the gate, with another
gateway (still closed), flanked by turrets, and with a parapet of
stone, complete with embrasures and merlons, above it. Along
those internal fortifications, gleaming rods of brass and crystal
swivel and tilt, sweeping their aim across the caravan in the
courtyard-like area below.
The two men stand beside the wagon, looking around the cavernous
chamber, and the caravan master approaches, accompanied by three of the
termagant drivers, one of whom points to the pair. The caravan
master stops, fists planted on his hips, and looks Roman and Harlequin
up and down...
"Which one of you is the idiot who just cost me twenty-three of the Myrmidons?"
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
A black shape had swiftly moved deeper into the wagon and with the tail
vanishing as the wagon passed the gates Banglen-Yp had vanished out of
sight. The mean face did not go down well with humans and
evidently Banglen-Yp felt that being in that shape would be a bad idea,
so there was no time for a chat with the two men, even if it could have
spoken.
Or perhaps the xenomorph was shy, simply.
Either way, it was gone from sight before the wagon had completely passed the gates.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
As the caravan master spoke, asking who the guilty party was, a blonde
head peeked up over the edge. The head looked around and then
frowned, pulled back a little and looked down.
•• Oops ••
The head ducked down and out of sight again with some faint muttering
to be heard if anyone approached or had good enough hearing.
•• Must • re•mem•ber ••
There were some noises from inside the wagon, as if someone moved about.
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
23 lives... that was a heavy number. Gabe didn't know if
was him or not, but if they were looking at him and Roman. Well the
Deevil Roman had always seemed to have good advice.
Gabe stepped forward, removing his hatand bowing
his head. "Ah'm not certain what all happened. All Ah did was ride back
to help try an save th' people in th' last wagons. So it would probably
be me." 23 lives....peace....fighting.... there had to be a betta way. "Ah'll take full responsability." anything this man could do to him would be no less than he deserved.
And would not be as bad as the guilt that now weighed on the young mans
soulders.
His lower lip quivered and his eyes grew bright with unshead tears. How could you make up 23 lives?
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
At least he's owning up to it
Against his better judgement Roman speaks up "Be fair, caravan
master. True, his foolishness cost lives, but your men would have
taken some losses anyway. Better to ask why this caravan was the
subject of such a strong attack, while the suns were still up."
===========================================================
Re: A stranger train of thought by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Once more the head popped up, this time only far enough to rest a
smallish nose on the side of the wagon. Big eyes blinked as she
looked at Gabe as he seemed to have some kind of problem with his
eyes. Perhaps he had gotten something in them when he fell.
They talked about the guards.
They talked about death.
They talked about the empty wagon.
The head moved about a little and the noises kept going for a little, as if she was moving about where she was peeking out.
===========================================================
Crime and Punishment by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
"The men would have lost very few lives. They were contracted to protect passengers, not wagons."
The man scowls as he answers Roman, "If your
friend had not decided to challenge the beasts, the Myrmidons would not
have been forced to fight. By drawing them back, to defend
himself, and the empty decoy wagon, he caused them to leave the other
passengers unprotected. Had one of those wagons been attacked, by
even a single beast, while the Myrmidons were diverted elsewhere, those
passengers would have likely perished, and the way would possibly have
been blocked, leaving every wagon behind that one stranded on the road,
along with all the drivers, and any passengers."
"Now, I face the prospect of trying to leave this place with too-few Myrmidons to provide adequate protection." His tone is icy now, though his eyes blaze with an angry fire, "If
I had my way, he would be hanged for his foolish endangerment of
others, but the Lords of Charyk do not look kindly on executions that
they haven't ordered themselves. Still, I have ways to punish
him... or, rather, both of you, since you are so keen to support
him. You are no longer welcome to travel with this caravan, nor
with any future caravan under my captaincy."
"You have a choice... leave Charyk by some other method, or remain here
for the rest of your life. And may the gods show mercy, if you
choose the latter."
===========================================================
Re: Crime and Punishment by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Who does this Shadow dweller think he is ?
Roman's voice is as cold as the caravan master's "Then perhaps you should educate your myrmidons in correct strategy. Following a suicidal fool to
the detriment of their main duty is a poor decision. And how
foolish would you look if your myrmidons threw their lives away to save
a man whom you then execute yourself ?"
"And if you choose to do without my presence, the loss is yours."
===========================================================
Re: Crime and Punishment by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Yes, you are right... the loss is mine. The loss of twenty-three friends."
"I suppose I'll just have to live with the knowledge that, in fifty years of trading along this route, today has doubled the number of people I have lost."
===========================================================
Re: Crime and Punishment by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Even if she had not been busy, Banglen-Yp got the feeling that she
would have best stayed where she was. They talked a lot about
death and anger seemed to rule them all, although under control.
It was scary similar to the xenomorph form, but in a different way.
Holding onto the edge of the wagon she glanced down at herself again
and then nodded, the eyes revealing that she was smiling as she looked
up again, although the smile faded quickly again as she continued to
watch the scene that played out before her.
===========================================================
Re: Crime and Punishment by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman turns away from the caravan master. He's said all that he needs to say and he will not be drawn into an argument.
Instead he approaches the wagon, where Banglen-Yp is watching.
===========================================================
Re: Crime and Punishment by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
The eyes of the blonde bombshell grew wider as she saw Roman
approaching and she sank another half inch, as if ready to bolt if
needed. The fingers still crested the side of the wagon, however,
and other than sinking a little she did not move.
The look in her eyes turned into a curious one as he came closer, her eyes tracking him all the way.
===========================================================
Re: Crime and Punishment by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman walks slowly, stopping at the wagon. He looks at
Banglen-Yp. "Are you coming down ?" he asks in a friendly voice,
extending his hand.
===========================================================
Re: Crime and Punishment by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Peering down at Roman, now with great curiosity, Banglen-Yp nodded but did not move for a few moments.
It was familiar somehow.
He wanted to do something.
Shake hand?
No.
Perhaps he wanted to...
Then, as if remembering that she had to get down, she rose to her feet
and smiled down at Roman. Her outfit seemed to be the same as
before she hid, but something was different about it - exactly what was
nigh impossible to tell without a more careful study, however, unless
one had a remarkable eye and memory for details.
•• Yes ••
She could easily get down herself, but he wanted to help her. It
had happened at occasion, mostly males wanting to help. It was
interesting.
Lifting one leg over the edge and sitting down on it she tried to work
out how to best do this move. A moment later the other leg
followed over the side, leaving the blonde perched on the side,
seemingly in perfect balance, with both hands holding onto the side.
It almost looked as if she was about to jump down at him.
===========================================================
No punishment at all by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Seeing Banglen-Yp perched on the edge of the wagon, Roman reaches out
with both hands, lifting her off and setting her down in front of
him. Wrapping an arm around her in a loose hug he draws her in,
planting a brief kiss upon her lips.
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
As Roman lifted her down Banglen-Yp foudn it best to get some more
support, so she wrapped her arms around his neck. As his arm came
around her, once she was grounded, she stood there and blinked,
seemingly a little lost.
As he gave her the kiss her eyes went wider and she looked rather surprised.
Familiar.
New.
Memories.
Responses.
She held back several reactions but one escape. Her right hand
came loose around his neck and swiftly moved back to the side of her
head, where it began to quickly sweep forward again...
...to cover her mouth.
Her eyes stayed wide as she just looked at Roman.
Memories.
Responses.
Her face slowly turned a touch more crimson but she did not move and her eyes did not hint at either embarrassment nor anger.
It was as if she was fascinated.
Seen on the screen
Hail our queen
•• Hel•lo • Ro•man ••
Edited a typo.
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gabe stood in silence head bowed as
they fought about him. He wanted to screem at roman to be quiet and to
let the man have his say and do what need be done.The man had been hurt
by gabes actions, and even if no one told him that the last wagon was a
decoy wagon. He had still chosen to ride back and try to defend it. It
was his choice....
Even if neither Roman or Banglen had told him what their scary faces realy were, it was his action. It was his....
Ah'm sorry Escaped Gabes lips
softly, then he stepped up. and called out to the Caravan master "Ah'm
sorry! Ah did't know that was a decoy wagon. Ah was just tryin' t'
help." he waited a moment trying to colect his thoughts "That's no
excuse though, it was mah fault. That's somethin Ah'm gonna have to
live with. Ah'll accept any punishment you deem appropriate sir.
Banishment or hangin' if need be, but please sir. It is not the Deevil
Romans responsability, The fault is mine. Ah'll go on alone, but do not
punish him for mah foolishness. Ah know I can't bring your friends
back, and it rattles me to th' pith and marrow of mah soul. But Ah can
see that their families are taken care of." Gabe refused to cry
even though the emotion was raw on his face.
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman smiles, "Hello Banglen-Yp" he tilts his head examining her
expression. "I can't believe that you've never been kissed
before. But if you want, I can kiss you again"
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
•• Kiss ••
A statement.
Glancing over at Gabe as he spoke, Banglen-Yp shook her head.
•• No ••
If she said no to further kisses or denied never having been kissed before was impossible to tell.
Then she smiled at Roman and broke free as easily as water runs off a waterfowl.
•• Gabe • is • sad ••
She stopped smiling and pointed at their travelling companion. Or former. Or something.
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman shakes his head and follows Banglen-Yp. "He has good reason
to be sad, and I don't think he would welcome an attempt to cheer him
up. Some sadnesses need to be left, to pass in their own time".
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Shaking her head, Banglen-Yp's gaze went from Roman and to Gabe as she spoke again.
•• Be•ing • a•lone • is • not • good ••
Starting to walk towards where Gabe stood she simply walked up to him,
remembering him trying to talk to her before when it was a bad
time. She said nothing, but stopped a few feets away and looked
at him with a sad expression.
•• How•dy • Gabe •• she said softly, wanting to announce her presence in case he did not notice her.
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gabe glanced over at Banglen and nodded "Hey
Banglen..." He said softly "Now might not be such a good time Darlin'"
He turned and gave a nod to the Caravan Master awaiting his responce.
There were some things a man had to face, and his mistakes were one of
them.
It was kind of Roman to try and protect him. Wher as a
man may need help and support with his mistakes, he souldn't be
protected from them.
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman lightly lays a hand on Banglen-Yp's shoulder. "It's like I
said, he needs time. It's best if we go and find somewhere to
stay while we work out what to do."
As he encourages Banglen-Yp to come with him, he tells Gabe. "Find us when you're ready."
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Dworkin (GM)
-----------------------------------------------------------
"As I said, I would hang you, in an instant,
but the Lords of Charyk prefer folks not to. Your friend, I
include in this, since he decided to get between me and you. The
punishment stands - you will have to find your way out of here
yourself, or stay."
The man spits on the floor at Harlequin's feet, "If you enjoy fighting the beasts so much, you can always volunteer for the Guard."
He turns and walks away, still angry.
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Harlequin
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dazed, confused and feeling generaly sorry, both remose
and as a stare of being, Gabe stumbeled over to a wall and silenltly
sunk down it until he was sitting. There he stared off into nowhere.
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Banglen-Yp
-----------------------------------------------------------
Banglen-Yp did not understand at all.
Not the time?
It was now, as always, so how could it not be the time?
He needs time?
Is not time its own, without owner? So how could he get it?
Somewhere to stay.
She was unsure if she was staying. Was she not on her way to that place? Was she also banned?
It was all very confusing.
As the kiss had been.
She looked over at Roman and tilted her head to one side.
•• Why • did • Ro•man • kiss • Bang•len••Yp ••
Clearly a question.
If Roman began walking she would follow, to let Gabe find his time and
wait until it was the time. It would have been interesting to
watch but it seemed as if Roman believed it to be best that Gabe was
left alone.
Alone is bad.
===========================================================
Re: No punishment at all by Roman of Chanicut
-----------------------------------------------------------
Roman guides Banglen-Yp off through the great tower, calling over his
shoulder at Gabe. "As soon as you're ready for company..."
As they go he answers Banglen-Yp
"I kissed you because I was excited and glad to have got through the
fight, because I was grateful for your help in the battle, and most of
all because you look to be worth kissing. And that little kiss
was just a small taste..."
[...To thread 52 a]
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