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Post by jliessa44 on Aug 9, 2018 3:24:22 GMT
"Audrianna Ardell." She shook her hand. "Ah. Hmm. And you'll just share."
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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Aug 9, 2018 17:30:51 GMT
"Well, yes, for my own reasons," Celandra replied. "That is, if you're interested...and if I know I can trust you as well." She put her hands on her hips and cocked her head.
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Aug 11, 2018 2:05:04 GMT
Azazel shrugged “got noth’n to lose. Everyone I know thinks I’m half mad already, no one gonna miss me if I don't come back.” Azazel paused for a moment, “but if your saying that ain’t enough, it makes a fellow wonder; what is?”
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Aug 11, 2018 12:19:01 GMT
"Boy," Tam growled, "You always got somethin' to lose." He grabbed Azazel's arm, pulling him around to face Tam. "Lissen t' me." Though drink slurred his speech slightly, his wild eyes were bright with passion. "If ye wanta get th' Moonstone, ye can't be after annnnything else. Can't get d'stracted. Ye say people think ye're half-mad now? Ye say none'll miss ye? Take th' wrong turnin' on the road and none'll think ye're mad. They'll know ye're all mad. Tha's if ye're lucky. Ye're not . . . yer none-t'-miss-ye might find they're someone after all. Unnerstand?" He let go of Azazel's arm. "If ye unnerstand, if ye're goin' ta promise me ye won't get d'stracted, I'll tell ye what I can. If not, go chase 'n'ther treasure."
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Post by jliessa44 on Aug 12, 2018 0:48:06 GMT
Audri twitched a smile, shifting her weight from one side to the other. "And how would I prove I'm trustworthy? I'm, mmm, a little rough looking I think. Could be a mass murderer."
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Aug 12, 2018 3:11:35 GMT
Azazel felt a spark of anger ignite within him How dare this imbecile touch me! Why I should… Be extinguished it. There was never a place for such passions. Expressionlessly Azazel wiped the saliva off his cheek and stared deep into the wild man's eyes. “ I ain't gonna get distracted. I don't never get distracted from what matters.”
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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Aug 12, 2018 19:25:54 GMT
"Yeah, I realize that." Celandra replied calmly. "So I'm not saying that we have to be 'life-long friends' from now on and tell each other our deepest secrets; I just could use a partner. And one who has something relatively in common with my interests...fights for what's right...wants peace in this world." She studied the young woman before her. "And besides, you never denied that you're interested in the Moonshard anyway."
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Post by jliessa44 on Aug 13, 2018 3:57:57 GMT
"Peace definitely. Everyone has a different definition of what's right, but I have fought for my version." Audri chewed on a corner of her bottom lip before becoming sure of herself again. "There's no point in denying it. I am interested. There's little other reason for me to be here."
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Aug 13, 2018 12:52:56 GMT
[For theinconceivable1 ]"But d'y'know what matters, boy? Make sure y'do." Tam swayed slightly and took another pull from his mug. "Th' mountains are safe 'nough, dragons 'n monsters 'n all. Beasts outside can be fought. An' you'll hafta fight the beasts, or talk t' 'em, in and out the maze. 'S unner th' mountains ye're in danger. 'S a maze 'a caves unner there, an' the Moonshard at the very center. Ye unnerstan'in' me?"
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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Aug 13, 2018 17:09:25 GMT
Celandra nodded exactly once. "Well," she whispered, "it so happens that I have just spoken with the man who knows its whereabouts. He told me a good amount of advice, but all in riddles, so I will need help deciphering it all. And he didn't exactly say where it was, but he did advise me not to go alone-though that was my previous intent. There are of course, dangers so he said it would be best if I had a partner to help me; so I chose you."
She paused. "But I also need your advice on something. You see those hunters over there?"-she gestured with a nod to the group surrounding a table-"I was wondering what your opinion is on them-do we need them too? And above all else, do you think they can be...trusted?" Celandra glanced herself in the direction of the huntsmen and pressed her lips thinly, weighing the possibilities.
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Aug 14, 2018 5:55:28 GMT
Azazel nodded.
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Post by jliessa44 on Aug 21, 2018 2:40:08 GMT
"Do we need them? You're better informed than I on both the dangers of this journey and of this world in all honesty." Audri flicked her gaze towards the men and tilted her head, seeking out possible ill intent.
((Sorry. All moved in now though and made it through my worst day of the week.))
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Aug 21, 2018 18:34:13 GMT
((@liessa: No need to apologize! Sorry you had a rough day. ))
Tam took another gulp of the mug, finishing off the drink. "Caves are th' dang'r's bit. That's where y' get th' madness bit. But!" He leaned forward. "I found a map, I did. Raided an ab'nd'ned wizard's tower, found't in 'is things. Made by some old explorer, years ago. It got me through, almost t' th' Moonshard. Then I ran an' came back an' couldn't stand th' sight'a it, so I hid it. Buried it 'neath the old tall one by th' wolf's head, bound up in iron t' keep it in an' everythin' else out. If ye find it, boy, it's yers, but heed it better'n I did."
The crowd of hunters, woodsmen, and outsiders was a roiling stew of emotions: excitement, determination, fierce competitiveness, anger, impatience. Along with these sensations came a vague feeling of unease about at least one person in the crowd, though exactly which ones was difficult to tell with so many gathered there.
A man a few stools down cleared his throat, slid off his seat, and approached the pair. "Excuse me, ladies. I couldn't help overhearing a bit of your conversation. You're after the Moonshard and looking for companions, did I hear right?"
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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Aug 22, 2018 3:14:44 GMT
(That's totally fine, jliessa. I was actually gone for almost a week so it actually worked out fine. Hope everything goes well with your moving and stuff. )
Celandra managed a small smile at Audri's response. Then after witnessing the male newcomer approaching, she brought her guard up. She really did not want to make a big scene of it all. "Is that what you heard?" Celandra countered, raising an eyebrow and recalling it was often wise to meet a question with another question. "Because either way, sir, I think we'll do just fine by ourselves." She wasn't comfortable being so harsh to others, but she was wary of this man for eavesdropping.
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Aug 22, 2018 9:35:49 GMT
Azazel stroked his chin thoughtfully. “You hid it on the forest did ya? I don't reckon I’ve heard of a place called the wolf's head? Could I bother ya to take me there, least point me in the right direction? I’d be mighty grateful”
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Post by jliessa44 on Aug 27, 2018 2:34:13 GMT
Audri gave the man a sharp smile, shifting her hold on the spear. "Are you offering to protect us?"
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Aug 28, 2018 20:16:01 GMT
Tam snorted. "Not on yer life, lad. If I wan'ed t' go anywhere near tha' map e'er again, I woulda hid it closer. Use yer wits or ask som'un else, yer choice. But I had enough'a the map an' the quest already."
"Only if you want me to, lady." The man gave Audri an uncertainly friendly smile. "I've no doubt the two of you can take care of yourselves. But I'm after the Moonshard as well, only my original companions and I split after a nasty disagreement over what we'd do when we got the stone, and one alone in the wilds is taking a mighty risk. So when I heard the two of you talking, I thought perhaps I'd try my luck at finding some new fellow adventurers."
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Aug 29, 2018 3:02:19 GMT
Azazel sighed. “If that how your gonna be. Well least I can do is thank ya, I got myself a Nightshade bear hidden in the forest, come with me and I let you pick any part but the skin; already promised that to the mistress over there for a few drinks.”
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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Aug 29, 2018 3:40:09 GMT
Celandra glanced sideways at Audri, hoping to gain her opinion telepathically. "Well..." she began, addressing the man, "it's like this: I sure don't want to be ripped off or be cut off on the end of a deal here. So, I need to know just how trustworthy you are, if you don't mind."
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Post by jliessa44 on Sept 7, 2018 3:24:32 GMT
((Sorry guys. These past few weeks have been rough. Just finished cramming for a quiz on quantum energy...))
Audri chewed on the inside of her lip, slightly shrugging one shoulder at Celandra. Her grip shifted on the spear and she paused to take a drink before asking the man, "What did you want to do with the stone?"
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Sept 10, 2018 19:33:26 GMT
Azazel sighed. “If that how your gonna be. Well least I can do is thank ya, I got myself a Nightshade bear hidden in the forest, come with me and I let you pick any part but the skin; already promised that to the mistress over there for a few drinks.”
Tam snorted. "Ay, an' then once Ah'm out there already ye'll say I might as well lead ye t' th' map? Is'at th' game ye're playin'? Ah told ye, ah won't go near th' thing ag'n. But send a leg an' haunch a' the bear here with the skin an' tell th' mistress 'tis for me an' Ah'll thank ye."
Celandra glanced sideways at Audri, hoping to gain her opinion telepathically. "Well..." she began, addressing the man, "it's like this: I sure don't want to be ripped off or be cut off on the end of a deal here. So, I need to know just how trustworthy you are, if you don't mind." ((Sorry guys. These past few weeks have been rough. Just finished cramming for a quiz on quantum energy...)) Audri chewed on the inside of her lip, slightly shrugging one shoulder at Celandra. Her grip shifted on the spear and she paused to take a drink before asking the man, "What did you want to do with the stone?"
((No worries! Sorry I was delayed as well; the first wave of assignments just hit me.))
"Fair questions, both of you." The man nodded. "I want to see the stone in the hands of someone who'll use it to do some good — mine or another's, either will do. I thought my original companions were that, but lately there's been too much talk of gaining wealth and power and so on among them. As for how trustworthy I am, I can tell you I don't intend to harm either of you. Not sure what guarantee I can give you now beyond my word."
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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Sept 11, 2018 1:21:07 GMT
That satisfied her completely. "Alright," Celandra said, "I say you can come with us."
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Sept 11, 2018 9:20:20 GMT
Azazel jaw clenched. How desperately he wanted to drive his knife deep into this ignorant man's gut. He forced himself to relax. Nothing would be gained by such actions, rage had no place here. He forced a smiled “Alright then, thank you for your time.” He turned around and weaved his way back to his men's table.
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Post by jliessa44 on Sept 18, 2018 2:10:41 GMT
Audri shrugged and shifted her spear to lean against her shoulder so she could offer her hand. "Audrianna Aria Ardell.
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Sept 18, 2018 23:48:58 GMT
"Thank you, ladies. You won't regret this." The man took Audri's hand and shook it. "Rowan of Carron." He turned to Celandra. "Mind sharing your name as well? Also, you talked to Tam; where are we headed first?"
"Be careful, boy," Tam called after him. "Rememmber, stay onth' path!"
As Azazel approached the table, the mistress intercepted his path. "Were you successful, sir? Will there be anything else?"
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Sept 19, 2018 4:27:37 GMT
Azazel’s scanned the room and his senses heightened; something felt wrong… He focused on the mistress and forced a smile “Aw well that feller don't seem to like talking much, he said something about a wolf's head; you wouldn't happen to know anything ‘bout that would ya?”
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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Sept 26, 2018 17:19:43 GMT
"I'm Celandra," she told Rowan. "From Rosewood." Then she thought a bit about her earlier conversation with Tam. "Well, he didn't say exactly where to go. He just said, 'find the old one by the wolf's head'--I'm not quite sure what that means. And also that we would need to dig there until we find iron; that'll be our guide. Do you know what he meant?"
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Sept 26, 2018 19:27:09 GMT
Azazel’s scanned the room and his senses heightened; something felt wrong… He focused on the mistress and forced a smile “Aw well that feller don't seem to like talking much, he said something about a wolf's head; you wouldn't happen to know anything ‘bout that would ya?”
"A wolf's head?" the tavern mistress echoed. "Well, I wouldn't know for sure — I stay 'round the village where it's safe. But I've heard many a hunter and adventurer talk about a wolf's head cave somewhere in the forest. I'm sure if you asked one of them, they could tell you the way."
"I'm Celandra," she told Rowan. "From Rosewood." Then she thought a bit about her earlier conversation with Tam. "Well, he didn't say exactly where to go. He just said, 'find the old one by the wolf's head'--I'm not quite sure what that means. And also that we would need to dig there until we find iron; that'll be our guide. Do you know what he meant?"
"Hmm. Not for sure." Rowan rubbed his short beard. "But I was talking with some of the woodsmen a few moments ago, and a few of them mentioned a cave that looks like a wolf's head. I'd guess that's where the old man meant. I've never been there, but I think I could find the place from what they said — unless one of you ladies wants to ask for another guide. Not sure I'd take that risk, though."
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Post by jliessa44 on Sept 27, 2018 17:11:23 GMT
Audri snorted and shook her head. "Our party is large enough."
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Sept 29, 2018 0:31:45 GMT
Azazel tipped his head “Arlight well thank you kindly.” He moved past the tavern mistress and let out a strained breath. Part of him felt as if he was being irrational; no one here would recognise him and even if they did he could kill them before they could scream. Yet still his eyes scanned the crowded tavern wearily; expect the worst and you’ll never be disappointed.
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