zahz
Newbie
Posts: 40
|
Post by zahz on Nov 30, 2018 3:52:05 GMT
Thazzric called Bear stalked back and forth by his small campfire fire outside the waystation. Grumbling. Restless. Twitchy. Looking for the world like a caged tiger. An image reinforced by the young half-orcs gleaming yellow eyes that reflected the firelight all too brightly. He sniffed the air and licked his lips as he moved to a pack near the fire and checked the map again. For the third time that evening. Though shorter than average for his kind he was broader than one would expect across the shoulders, without a spare bit fat to him. A quiet wildness seemed to radiate from him even when still. He sent a brief gauging glance at the sky above.
Nope, they should be here by now. This wasn't like them not like them at all. There wasn't another waystation for at least another two days down the next fork in the road. If they were lucky. The first day of summer they were to meet at the last way station on the road up Bleak Pass.
They better have a reason for being late. Or they'd have to catch the dammed thing again. Hell, there was a Fine chance it wouldn't even be where they last saw it a few moons ago.....
|
|
|
Post by Kelathi on Dec 3, 2018 23:44:50 GMT
Asha was late- not something she looked kindly upon with others, and as a result, not a trait usually associated with herself. Although it couldn’t have been helped, a glance towards the quickly darkening sky drew a curse from her lips nonetheless, and she urged her stallion on impatiently. A few humans had seen her riding up through the pass, a small valley about three horses wide and flanked by high grassy banks. They had decided to try their luck at ambushing her, perhaps mistaking the fact that she was riding alone for a sign that this would be an easy steal. They should have known better, judging by the tattoos on her face, her strong build and the fact that she was clearly armed, but thieves were not exactly known for their cleverness.
The first man had been bold but had been dealt with easily, leaping down in an attempt to throw her from her horse, which would have succeeded had she the reflexes of a snail… that thankfully, she did not. Even so, when the other two had shown up, she had found herself needing to dismount, out of concern for her horse getting caught up in the scrap. The men had ended up limping away with faces littered with bruises rather than pockets stuffed with coins, but not before one of them had managed to get a fair punch in there. She hadn’t really noticed at the time, having been too preoccupied systematically disarming them one by one. Sure, it would have been easier just to dispatch them once and for all, but she was in a particularly foul mood, and had wanted to send them home limping, with pride severely wounded, and perhaps less inclination to underestimate and ambush a lone woman next time. She would have gotten off completely unharmed had there not been two more men, the sly vermin, waiting above whist the others retreated, till her guard was down and they came leaping down practically on top of her.
It wouldn’t have happened if Bear had been there, she knew, for his hearing was much keener than her own. She had dealt with the last two and sent them packing with the rest, but had ended up with an unwanted gift to remember them by. A bruise blossoming on her jawline- a purpling patch on her darkened skin, the only real sign that she had been in a fight at all.
That, and her lateness.
It was dark by the time she glimpsed his small campfire, and she could see even from far away his silhouette as he paced impatiently back and forth. Coming down the hill, she slowed her steed to a trot, and when she was within earshot she finally dismounted, leading her horse by the reins to the fire. “Thazzric.” She stated in greeting, aware that his nickname probably wouldn’t be appreciated right now judging by his current mood.
|
|
zahz
Newbie
Posts: 40
|
Post by zahz on Dec 4, 2018 2:44:39 GMT
He heard the horse before he ever saw it. He stirred the stew on the fire and ladled into a hard, ball-like loaf of slightly stale sourdough others were warming by the fire. He could pace and eat at the same time. If the horse on the road wasn't Asha, then they’d either be trouble or they wouldn’t.
If they were trouble they'd get a hot sourdough loaf full of near-boiling stew to the face. If it was Asha... well he'd figure out what to do then. His feet treading softly back and forth as the time between heartbeats stretching out as he listened to the night. Between a breath and a mouth full of stew, he heard it. A soft distinct chiming, He knew that sound. It was a small bell Asha kept strung on one side of her horse's bridle. On some level, he felt announcing yourself like that was foolish out in the wilds. Not too foolish though. It had let them know before when trap net or fishing pole had caught something to eat. Helped them both sleep when weary alerting them to nearby trouble as they huddled in a makeshift den in the winter.
So it was Asha. Or, at least her horse. That would bode no good, were it the case. He moved back to the fire as she came around the bend in the road.
“Thazzric.” The sound of Asha's voice was always much softer and sweeter sounding than he expected it to be. He stifled all but a ghost of a smile. People never responded well to it.
He fixed her with a haughty cat glare as he gauged her up and down eyes flicking from her disheveled by more than just travel look. The Dirt. The darkening bruise. He Gave her a noncommittal grunt instead of harsh words and offered her the hand not holding the stew to dismount.
“Dogs and rats don’t normally give you trouble. Not even the desperate two-legged kind.” He paused glowering into the shadows of the night. “take it you were also delayed getting to Keystone. It's either that or you lost another wrestling match with a fish” His tone was level, most couldn’t tell that though. A near feral grin split his face. Those had been fun times.
|
|
|
Post by Kelathi on Dec 4, 2018 3:22:25 GMT
She took the offered hand as a sign that despite her lateness, he wasn’t in too much of a mood, and gladly accepted his help down. Now dismounted, she headed over to a nearby tree to tie the reins, and her horse happily champed the grasses before beginning to munch on the dry grass underfoot. She patted the beast’s powerful shoulder gently as she responded flatly- “I’ve been unusually lucky with thieves.” Suggesting that she may indeed have run into a similar type of trouble at Keystone, but didn’t care to elaborate further. “Also, despite what trouble I may have had, at least I wasn’t the one who got slapped in the face.” When she turned to him, she was also smiling, knowing full-well exactly what event he was referring to. Seeing the fish whip it’s tail and cuffing the half-orc square across the face had made her fall to pieces at the time, leaving the usually stoic warrior giggling like a child long after it was all over. She approached the fire then, leaning over to take a peek into the bubbling pot. “Any of that for me?”
|
|
zahz
Newbie
Posts: 40
|
Post by zahz on Dec 4, 2018 4:33:14 GMT
Bear barked a laugh, Short loud and harsh, as he sent a cuff over the top of her head whuffing thought the air above her. He sobered immediately as he gestured to a large flat stone at the fire. A couple more loaves sat upon it warming cozily. "Yeah. I made plenty."
Bear knew he tended to lose himself when anything set off his prodigious quicksilver temper. After the incident with the rather robust salmon, his traveling companions insisted they be the only ones to fish from now on. Fortunately, IT didn't happen too often, nor did IT last too long when it did. Though the red fury lasted long enough and when IT happened all he saw rested in a crimson haze. Likely this was just one more reason people called him "Bear". He wasn't perturbed by the name at all. It was rare for a half-orc to garner a name of note from their orc kin. Let alone to be named for a beast even the most incautious orc knew to be wary of. Usual IT only happened in a fight. just... not that time
Wisely this girl had sought cover and had jammed her hand in her mouth to stifle laughs. Quietly Bear wondered if the laughter was born as much from humor as fear. He and his traveling companions spent a good bit of time coaxing her back out once he'd calmed down They joked about it NOW, though shed barely spoken to him for a week afterward. He STILL wasn't "allowed" to go fishing.
|
|
|
Post by Kelathi on Dec 4, 2018 15:03:56 GMT
In truth, her avoidance of Bear at the time had not been due to fear, but rather out of a desire to give him room. Also, there was a part of her that felt guilty for having laughed when, judging by everyone else’s reactions, it had probably not been the most appropriate reaction. It hadn’t occurred to her that he might have associated her resulting standoffish attitude as fearful, but she probably should have caught on, considering the way he had practically tiptoed around her after the incident, and how, for a while, he had smiled marginally less (those big teeth enough to frighten most, ironically more so when he was trying to be friendly). But she had never been too good at reading people, or in this case half-orcs, her skills lying in combat rather than social interaction. For this reason she was apt to miss subtle signs, preferring instead people to just come out and speak what is on their mind than leave her to decipher it, which she’d most likely do incorrectly.
She had ducked just in time to get away from his playful cuff, knowing from experience they were harder than they looked, and once she was a safe distance away she reached down to unlace her boots. Kicking them off, she reached for one of the small clay bowls and began to help herself. Then, sensing the moment for playful cuffing had passed, she moved closer to him before sitting down. Taking a mouthful of the scalding food, she paused, and for a moment it was unclear if it was because she had misjudged the heat, but her words soon made it clear that this was not the case “Bear, you're telling me you made this?” At the wary look on his face, she softened her features. “’Cause It’s good.” She added, taking another mouthful eagerly, mopping the stew up with the bread. “…The stew I mean. The bread is horseshit.”
|
|
zahz
Newbie
Posts: 40
|
Post by zahz on Dec 4, 2018 19:03:45 GMT
He chuckled "thankee. If ya can't make stew or porridge you should never boil a pot girl." He grinned.
" mushrooms and herbs I gathered on the way, grabbed some herbed brining salts and some dry beans and vegetables in keystone. Meat is squrell"
A faint smile haunted his features" Travel bread is always horseshit. But they are better warmed if ya tear out some of the middle and pour in some stew. "
He tapped her knee and pointed to several small tightly sealed containers. " there's also potted meat honey and butter. "
He nodded. He thought their opinion of his cooking was such. Judging from how Asha and his other regular companions dug in whenever he cooked. This was the first time anyone said something though. And it felt good.
" Oh, yeah. Your horse will have some company in the leantoo. Got us one of those shaggy goatish looking things people these parts raise for wool milk and meat. We saw some packing goods over the mountains last time. Their be milk and popped corn with barley in the morning if you handle clean up and first watch. "
Narrowed cats eyes stared into the fire " I think we won't see Hans this time. Many hap we can find another healer sort in Brightkeep."
(Ooc vegetables grains and produce are among concessions. Corn and potatoes are new world crops.)
|
|
|
Post by Kelathi on Dec 4, 2018 22:39:45 GMT
He knew her too well. When travelling alone her meals consisted of any small mammal she could get her hands on, skinned, chopped up, and served cooked but un-seasoned. Which was why she was all too happy to let Bear cook most of the time. She merely nodded along as he listed the ingredients; it was all the same to her. Even so, she did as he suggested, hollowing the bread and spooning stew into the cavity for her next bite. When he mentioned the sweet foodstuffs he had also packed, she had to stop herself from shaking her head, although a small smile tweaked onto her lips. He certainly had thought of everything! He put her to shame with his organisational skills; meanwhile, she merely rocked up with her sword and her horse, rough and ready. So when he mentioned she was expected to muck out and handle first watch, she just nodded in agreement. “Done.” No arguments there. At his next words however, she paused for a moment before answering, studying his face attentively. “You’ve still not heard from him then, I gather?”
|
|
zahz
Newbie
Posts: 40
|
Post by zahz on Dec 5, 2018 0:18:07 GMT
"By the wolf mother's left tit I've not heard a bloody peep, nor seen hide or hair of 'im" Thazzeric grumbled around a mouthful of stew soaked bread. He pondered her response briefly.
"You've not seen or heard anything either of him or our Lightfoot then."
Bear wasn't as concerned about the ability to dish damage; or hunt, fish, and forage, Asha and him had that covered, same went for tracking. Rather what concerned him were things like their ability to puzzle out warnings in foreign tongues, undo and perceive the triggers for cleverly hidden traps. Treat poisonings diseases and injury. sometimes it helped not having to boil water to make it safe to drink. deal with magic mumbo-jumbo. He felt it best not to rouse spirits or other things unless it could be avoided.
|
|
|
Post by Red Irish Dragon on Dec 6, 2018 3:09:45 GMT
That was the absolute LAST time she would ever trust directions from a beggar. She even gave him a gold coin for his help! So what had happened? She’d tried to go through a ditch after finding a bridge was out, washed out a few years prior, and was now very, very late meeting people that you didn’t want to make wait.
Her education meant she had several choice, high-class words to use in describing the beggar, but she was favoring lower class growls as she stubbed her toe in the dark again.
Of course she didn’t exactly look like the type to go on an adventure. To describe her in a single word, she looked like a pixie, with a slender, short build and large eyes, layered in robes of silver and blue that showcased her as a bard, as did the flute and pan flute that hung from her bags. Sticking out from the top of the bag, however, was a number of scrolls, and only a glance inside proved they had nothing to do with music.
Despite her wispy build, pale skin and platinum blonde waves, Eira Sholeh was a skilled cryptographer. Despite being a bard, she utilized her role to sneak into temples and libraries, and proved where her devotion laid as she was merely a fair flutist. A unique individual, given the realm of books and studies was still predominantly masculine, and she was anything but.
Blowing another section of hair from her face, her amber eyes finally landed upon a light in the distance, deciding to head for it and deal with the consequences of that decision later. Fortunately for her, it wasn’t a pair of bandits or a horde of goblins - well, she was a bard and therefore entitled to a little hyperbole in her storytelling - but rather the very people she was trying to find. Not that they’d be expecting her… ironic, as in a sense they had just been talking about her.
“Oh, please tell me there’s food ready?” she asked piteously as she came within sight - and smell - of the loaves. Eira waited to be invited in, of course, not being so familiar with the other two as she was hired for her cryptography rather than previous partnerships. Plus, if she wasn’t invited to the food, it wasn’t like her tiny frame would stand a chance against the other two. “Oh, heavenly hot food on a night as dark and dank as a dungeon’s icy grip on its poor, helpless prisoners…” she went on, half mumbling to herself in typical bardic tradition as she rubbed her hands together, as if acting out the grandiose tale she was making up as she went. Then she seemed to remember herself, unintroduced and intruding, without a single greeting.
As if to answer their questioning gaze, she hesitated, tilting her head. “Soooooooo… I guess Lightfoot didn’t tell you, then…?”
|
|
zahz
Newbie
Posts: 40
|
Post by zahz on Dec 6, 2018 6:47:58 GMT
Bear causally shoved a chunk of log towards her as eyed her with a weighty gaze. Teasing the top off an pulling some of the innards from a loaf.
He ladled stew into the bowl as the newcomer babbled. He's not met this one before. Apparently, the girl had met Lightfoot. Not that it was the sneak's real name. But that one likes having secrets.
" Tell us what? " he tried to say sweetly. Though it still sounded grumbly.
He delivered a sideways narrow glance. "Your name and you can share the fire. Speak how you know Lightfoot and ya can have this stew... Or don't give us your name and put up with me calling you blue eyes, or whatever, till you get sick of it. And I eat the stew In front of you. I hear it's quite good." His jest sounded more like simple bulling even to his ears and he scowled inwardly.
The little gutter rat was quiet as a shadow and clever a coon. But this was not like him. The scamp knew how to find trouble better than most.
|
|
|
Post by Kelathi on Dec 7, 2018 0:39:59 GMT
Of course, Bear had been aware of the stranger’s approach long before Asha had heard anything amiss, but she had spent enough time around him to be able to read the cues in his composure that there was someone, or something approaching. He didn’t look alarmed though, so instead of responding to his question, she merely continued to eat and wait. Soon enough, she heard the tells of an approach herself, and a small figure stepped into the camp-light. Asha paused, looking the stranger over as she spoke. A flute, a bag full of scrolls, and not a weapon in sight. She found herself wondering if the woman had travelled far, and if so, how on Earth she had managed this without a means to defend herself. Perhaps she was just a lucky individual- in which case, Asha was more than happy to invite her in, maybe some of that luck would rub off on her.
Bear had rolled a log over to the stranger, and his words, if gruff, were invitation for her to join them. Asha remained silent for the moment, watching the exchange play out.
|
|
|
Post by Red Irish Dragon on Dec 7, 2018 1:02:27 GMT
Eira wasn’t sure if the log was an invitation, or a barricade. Now that her eyes had adjusted to the campfire, she seemed far less certain of herself, but she took a deep breath, puffed out her chest, and strode forward anyway.
“Well, since Lightfoot obviously is horrible at sending messages, despite my asking, he was caught up in some… other…” Here the bard searched for a word she felt was appropriate, making quite the pondering expressions as she did so, hands waving in the air as she cycled through ideas. “… quandary. So! He sent me in his stead. Of course he had to give me what scrolls and resources he had on a wandering crypt - oh, I’ve been SO curious about how it does that! A part of me is hoping it’s like a giant turtle with a graveyard on it’s back, or-or even better? A portal that can be magically moved about, so the crypt itself is stable but the way IN isn’t!”
Another pause, humorous in that her big smile slowly grew awkward, then she cleared her throat with a straight face. Nope, these were warriors… they weren’t on the same page as other bards and storytellers might. “Ahem. My name, of course… silly me! ‘Blue eyes,’ indeed… so many other choices! Cerulean, cornflower, azure, hyacinthine, mazarine... anyway. I just haven’t gotten to go on such a grand adventure before… although I have to say, I’m late only because this neanderthal beggar gave me the most insufferable directions that sent me into what I think was marshland, and of course in the DARK so I couldn’t figure out where the path went… oh, yes. Ahem. Eira Sholeh, Order of the White Rose Minstrels, and I must say, ra-tha talented cryptographer and decoder, at your service!”
All of the titles were said with the biggest flirty grin and innocent big eyes, finished with a wink. She was a pixie only by initial appearance. The ego that went with her petite frame was worthy of any giant.
A sudden growl made her blush and lose her flirty confidence for a moment, glancing down at her noisy stomach before sniffing lightly in disdain for its timing. “Sooooo… have I earned some of that hearty smelling stew, or do I have to play for my supper too?”
|
|
zahz
Newbie
Posts: 40
|
Post by zahz on Dec 7, 2018 2:05:28 GMT
"Bwhahah! You chatter like a bird! but your belly roars!" Bear laughed as he passed the bowl to her.
....perhaps if he forgot her name he'd take to calling her Magpie. Minstrals were curious sorts part entertainer part thief and clever. they chase the wind for a tale, and they gossip like birds. Begrudgingly admitted to himself Lightfoot possibly chose his replacement alright. though they might be going off the map.
Bah the two of them were night and day. this waif was light delicate and spritely as their usual companion was rough and scrappy. there was a healthy sort of trim. Lightfoot looked like a half-starved dog. and chatty. Wher their usual comrade barley spoke and moved like a fog.
"Asha, what do you think of this girl our thief coaxed here for us?"
|
|
|
Post by Kelathi on Dec 7, 2018 17:06:10 GMT
Asha paused, and appeared to consider Bear’s question for a moment, resuming her intense study of the girl in question before answering after a brief silence. “She can join us.” But as the girl in question moved to sit, Asha spoke again, an edge of humour to her words. “…But I feel you fell short in your demands, Bear. I would have preferred a song in payment for the food.” Before the girl could leap up to take her up on her words, Asha nodded towards the bubbling pot, out of sympathy for the girl’s noisy stomach. “Eat first. You can prove you are who you say you are, later. My name is Asha.” Clearly, she did not actually doubt the girl’s words, otherwise she might have focussed on her knowledge of Cryptography rather than whether she could play. Rather, she had seen an opportunity to get some music playing, and this she wouldn’t pass up if she could help it. It had been a while since she had just sat back and enjoyed some music, it would be a welcome change.
|
|