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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Oct 3, 2018 18:44:08 GMT
Celandra nodded, "I agree. I wouldn't like to press my luck any further; I'm following you."
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Oct 4, 2018 1:00:28 GMT
[For TheLostLordofAllyra and jliessa44 ]Rowan nodded. "Right, then. Let's be off." He headed towards the door. "I don't know if you ladies have horses, but we should be able to manage on foot either way." No one in the inn seemed visibly hostile, though some still gave Azazel curious or wary glances — fewer than one might expect, given the size of the town, but more than one might expect knowing that quite a few adventurers had already passed through and gone in search of the Moonshard. At the front of the tavern, Rowan headed towards the door, along with two young women: the fierce-looking one who'd entered shortly after Azazel, and the golden-haired girl who had spoken with Tam before Azazel had.
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Post by jliessa44 on Oct 4, 2018 3:24:00 GMT
((I don't remember if I ever specified whether or not Audri had a horse...))
Audri hefted her spear up so it balanced against her shoulder easily. "So how long of a trek to the wolf head?"
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Oct 4, 2018 23:22:51 GMT
Azazel almost smiled At least something's going right. He glanced back at Tam as he sat down at the table with his men. Dont wanna talk huh? Maybe I need to be more… persuasive. But he would have to wait. His methods were most effective in the shadows.
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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Oct 5, 2018 0:07:04 GMT
"I don't have a horse with me," sighed Celandra. "I really should have considered taking one with me back at home. I think I can manage on foot though."
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Nov 3, 2018 2:11:02 GMT
[Hi, guys! Sorry for the delay. This month has just been crazy. I might be spotty in November too, between classes and work and NaNo, but I'll do my best to be a little more regular. I intended to do more with this, I think, but instead, have the quick post that I have time for.]
"Not far. An hour or two's walk, I think." Rowan pushed out the door, holding it as Audri and Celandra exited. "It'd be faster with horses, but we can manage on foot. Probably attract less attention that way."
A few of the woodsmen glanced over towards Azazel as he sat down. One ventured to ask: "So, man? Any luck?"
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Nov 3, 2018 22:46:20 GMT
Azazel grimaced inwardly. Even the fact that these woodsmen knew even a little bit of his business put him on edge. He might have to kill them but he would see what information he could gain first… “Not much. Crazy old man wouldn't tell me nothin’ but something ‘bout a wolfs head…”
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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Nov 5, 2018 3:48:06 GMT
Celandra smiled and nodded in deference to him. "Yeah, that's not bad at all."
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Post by jliessa44 on Nov 11, 2018 15:57:07 GMT
Audri shrugged and hoisted her spear up a little higher on her shoulder. "Are there many who would attack us then?"
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Nov 16, 2018 1:46:22 GMT
"Wolf's head?" echoed the man. "Huh. He could be talking about that cave out in the forest. That'd be my guess." "But why'd he send anyone there?" another man scoffed. "The Moonshard's in the mountains. Everyone knows that. He's probably talking about some kind of landmark around wherever the shard's hidden."
"As I said, my former companions seek the Moonshard as well." Rowan quickened his pace, turning towards the forest to the south. "I have no doubt that, if they know where we're headed, they'll seek to follow. And there could be other treasure-seekers in this town as well.
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Post by jliessa44 on Nov 16, 2018 15:28:06 GMT
"Hmm." Audri purses her lips and glanced up at the sky. "How did you escape your companions then?"
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Nov 16, 2018 23:29:40 GMT
Azazel shrugged “who knows. Mans mad, he is.” he sat down at the table “The drink and helping neatheir.” he looked up at the two woodsmen “where you fellers from?”
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Nov 17, 2018 13:39:49 GMT
[Official note for everyone: From here until a to-be-determined point, I'll be responding to individual posts instead of waiting to respond to everyone's posts at once, mostly because conversation. Also, Nightblade will be joining us shortly! Ok, that's all.]
"I told them I wanted no part in their quest if they were only after the Shard for selfish gain. I told them I'd set out on my own. But as far as they know, I don't know anything they don't — they think I know less; our leader was going to go talk to the old adventurer and see what he knew." Rowan shrugged. "Anyone's guess if they noticed us leave."
"Least the drink keeps him happy enough. Man was crazy when he first got here. Couldn't talk to him without him acting like you were attacking," one man muttered. Several others agreed.
The other man, the one who'd asked the question earlier, cleared his throat. "We're most of us from here, born and brought up. Not many new folk come to stay here, 'cept the occasional adventurer who wants his home closer to where he travels. What about you, stranger? Where you coming from?"
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Nov 18, 2018 4:37:56 GMT
Azazel figured his dagger beneath the table and cursed himself for not thinking of such an obvious response to his question. “Crestdale,” he said trying to keep his voice relaxed “legends of the that shard sure do travel.”
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Nov 18, 2018 13:14:01 GMT
The woodsmen all nodded, some more rueful than others. "Aye," one commented. "That they do. We've had travelers from all over." "Even had a fellow from the islands," another added. "He got near as far as Tam did. But when he came back, he was madder than Tam. Claimed he could see the future now and that he'd foreseen his family's death if he kept on."
Just then, the door at the front of the tavern opened. Malachi, the soldier who Azazel had sent to fetch the archers, stepped in and glanced around the room.
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Nov 19, 2018 4:15:25 GMT
Azazel let his hand fall from his daggers hilt. For the briefest moment his eyes locked with malachi and then he turned his attention back to the woods men, and raised an incredulos eyebrow ”Mader then Tum?” Azazel pertained to look nervous “He didn't happen to blab about why he went mad did he?”
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Nov 19, 2018 12:20:13 GMT
The woodsman shook his head. "The man didn't talk much about what happened, more what he thought was going to happen. Far as we could pry out of him, though, he was normal, just hunting through the caves, until he turned down one tunnel and then, boom. He says his mind was expanded or summat to include all of history, including the vision of his family. We're pretty sure something got knocked loose, but . . ." he shrugged.
"We can't tell if he actually saw something that triggered it or ran into something or what else," added another. "But, y'know, they say the magician who made the Moonshard knew all kinds of magics. He musta laid traps or summat; it's probably him behind it all somehow."
Malachi spotted Azazel and nodded to him. While Azazel spoke to the men, Malachi went to the bar and asked after a mug of ale. He then made his way towards the table, pausing by Azazel without looking at him. "Mind if I join you lads?"
The woodsmen nodded and people moved to make space for Malachi by Azazel. After Malachi sat down, he casually slid a slip of paper along the table to Azazel. On the paper was the message: "The archers are here and ready for action. Your orders?"
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Nov 20, 2018 5:18:03 GMT
Azazel reached under the table and rested his hand on Malachi’s leg. Still pretending to be nervous he kept his attention on the wood’s men. “This magician, do you reckon he would surround…” At the word Azazel applied pressure to Malachi’s leg “... the place with traps? I wanna to know what I’m getting myself into you know. ” Azazel leaned back “But I reckon there's alot of travelers like me that come to this here Tavern…” He squeezed again “... ya probably get tired of all our questions don't ya?”
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Post by jliessa44 on Nov 21, 2018 3:38:22 GMT
Audri tilted her head to the side. "Not to be... self-centered, but I am generally noticed."
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Nov 21, 2018 23:04:30 GMT
[For theinconceivable1]Malachi didn't respond to Azazel's message at first, but after a few minutes of conversation, he excused himself again. The woodsmen barely spared him a glance as he went. The one who had been speaking earlier looked thoughtful. "I'd say it's likely enough, with how many folks don't come back. Probably best to be careful." [For jliessa44 and TheLostLordofAllyra]
"All the more reason to be quick," Rowan replied grimly. "There's no telling whether they'll follow us to see if we know anything or if they'll assume we know no more than they do." As he was speaking, they reached the forest's edge. Rowan hesitated a moment, then plunged in on a narrow trail.~Chapter Ten~ Two
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Nov 22, 2018 22:12:25 GMT
Azazel nodded thoughtfully. “Well me and my boys best be goin’’.” Azazel stood up “ Dont want anyone to get to that shard before me.” He forced a smile “Wish me luck.”
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Post by jliessa44 on Nov 27, 2018 20:25:04 GMT
((Ooh. Nightblade is joining?! Somehow I missed that. ))
Audri followed, using her spear as a walking stick.
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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Nov 28, 2018 23:46:49 GMT
(Sorry, I've been like on here. Oops, kinda forgot, hee hee.)
"I'll try to be as stealthy as I can," Celandra said softly, feeling like whispering was the better option in the scenario. She ducked down into the foliage and followed behind them, but she glanced behind herself once more, just to make sure no one was looking.
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Dec 28, 2018 13:28:51 GMT
((OOC: Sorry for disappearing on y'all! Finals happened. And then Christmas break involved a lot of writing and working on presents and not a lot of RP time.))
The woodsmen nodded. A few raised hands or drinks in farewell. "Good luck," the one who had been talking earlier said, "You'll need it."
They pushed along the narrow trail for a solid fifteen minutes. After a while, the sound of a stream could be heard on their left. Anyone paying attention within their group would notice that they were slowly going upwards.
Rowan abruptly paused. "There's someone ahead," he whispered.
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Post by jliessa44 on Dec 28, 2018 20:01:49 GMT
((Lol. You’re fine. I’ve been devastatingly busy. ))
Audri dropped immediately into a fighting stance and drew a dagger with one hand, her other hand held out in a ready stance.
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Dec 28, 2018 23:04:37 GMT
Azazel and his men stood up and left the Taven once outside he scaned the area.
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Post by TheLostLordofAllyra on Jan 3, 2019 1:10:44 GMT
(Totally fine, Leilani. Things are usually busy around Christmas and New Year's; I know I've been pretty busy sometimes.)
Celandra crouched down in the foliage and tried to quiet her breathing. She brushed back a lock of her pinkish hair so it wouldn't get in the way and cautiously peeked out to see who it was.
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Jan 8, 2019 13:55:04 GMT
[For theinconceivable1]The street outside was quiet; nearly everyone was inside either a shop or their own home. Still, the dozen archers Malachi had brought managed to be unobtrusive. In their rough, travel-worn clothes, they fit well with this worn-down part of town, with the tired, dusty street and the dry, weather-warped buildings squeezed as close together as possible. Even the few archers whom Malachi had sent to lookout positions atop various buildings were relatively unnoticeable.
Malachi approached Azazel. "Rowan left the city with two young woman, one young and naive by the look of her, the other a warrior. I assume he acted under your orders. What would you have us do here?" [For jliessa44, TheLostLordofAllyra, NightBlade]After a few moments, Rowan whispered, "Perhaps it was nothing. Only an animal, or . . . something. I have heard strange stories about this forest. We move on, but with care." He moved forward, keeping his hand on his sword. [For NightBlade — optionally]The forest air was still, barely a breeze to ruffle the leaves or carry birdsong. The cool morning had worn away, and even in the shade, the heat of the afternoon grew steadily. But the twisting game trail was relatively clear and easy to follow, and frequent tracks suggested hunting would be good later. Then, quiet voices came from the trail ahead, past at least one bend. The words were indistinct, but the tone was wary.
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Post by theinconceivable1 on Jan 9, 2019 7:36:58 GMT
Azazels expresian went slack, his face void of all emotion. “Burn the tavern.” he commanded “Anyone who saw us, who could have heard anything, needs to be dead and their bodys burned with the building. ” He turned and strode toward the forest. He smirked “Oh, but bring Tam to me...alive. I want to have a chat with him.”
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Post by NightBlade on Jan 26, 2019 3:41:37 GMT
(Ach my bad, quite sorry Leilani Sunblade . Gracious sakes alive it's been a long time...) "Proob'ly nothing." Came a brogue voice with mock-indignance. "Pro'bly an animal, that one never bothers me. Aye, that's what I go for. But proobably nothing? Ach, nauw there's just hurtin me feelings." A worn wooden staff with smooth bits of bark clinging to it fell from a tree canopy and stuck in the ground. It was followed a second later by a man, landing fairly lightly given his remarkable stature. He was dressed in a combination of animal furs and a large sea-colored tartan. Slung across his broad back was an immense fur and rawhide scabbard, the contents of which his hand rested on lightly. "Alright then, and who might ye'all be? Noo offense but ye dinnae sound much like animals."
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