Post by The Seven on Jun 16, 2008 6:09:27 GMT -5
The Vale had left as soon as possible on their way to the Grand Tourney at Nightsong. The first few sunrises were filled with rain from the heavens, as a storm relentlessly poured down upon the large party traveling south. Poor Aegis had only flown during the calm periods of the storms, though always returned just before the worst of it came upon them again. It was somewhat like a warning.
As they traveled, they met many sorts of people, from jesters, from sellswords, to bards, to mysterious men atop mysterious horses. All of them, Joshua greeted pleasantly, and conversed with. Joshua regarded it as a lesson, as he learned more of the different regions, the types of quarrels these people had, what they love about their lords, and what some hated about their lords. Though half of the people Joshua talked with cared nothing of silks or spices, the most recent gossip or the color of the bricks around them.
Most of the people cared for the basic things only. Food, warmth, and peace. Aside from that, they spoke of little else. And I have given my people that, so far, he said to himself. At the end of each conversation, he handed the man or woman a loaf of bread, or a bundle of fruits. He saw a lot of toothless, and blackened smiles, though the warmed his heart despite the cold and the rain.
They were halfway to Nightsong, when the weather cleared, and the sky shone a bright blue. Joshua had finally removed his hood, and changed from his wet clothes, for he had no fear of any further rain now. Letting his body bask in the new sunlight, as a shadow brushed over his face, though he knew what it was. Aegis was eager to spread his wings.
Joshua steadied himself in his saddle, as Yohn came near. "I think I'll catch up on some sleep that I have lost during the bad weather, uncle," Joshua said, with a smile. "Wake me in a few hours, please," he said, as he leaned against his horse's neck, slipping out of his body and quickly into Aegis'.
He was soaring high, spreading his wings for the first time in weeks, and it was wonderful. A snack would be nice, he thought, lowering his altitude, and scanning the terrain around him. Noticing a spot of trees, he screeches, sending a small bird flying from one of the thicker ones. Perfect, he said to himself, swooping down and gaining on the bird fast. He made his body narrow, and aimed it at the fleeing bird, as he folded his wings slightly. The bird was only a few feet away, when it darted right, further into the trees, though he was ready for it. Quickly banking, he brought himself up and over the bird, in a barrel-roll motion, as he was above the bird, but upside down. Gracefully, he bent one wing in, swinging his body around, while extending his claws, catching the small bird's wings and neck, before snapping it in his talons.
Landing on a tree nearby, he began feasting on the small bird, crunching the small bones in his beak, before swallowing the fresh meat. He was easily enjoying his snack, when it was disturbed by a ruckus from below. Two male animals were chasing a young female, and caught her in a small clearing. They looked to be dirty and hairy, and very wild. Though they were far away, he could hear and see them perfectly, as the males pounced on the female, and began harassing her. "Oh, c'mon darlin'," one said, followed by a sharp, "NO!"
Slipping out of Aegis, Joshua looked around hastily, reviewing all the routes taken by Aegis, mentally. Turning to Yohn, Joshua said, "I will be back shortly," and left without discussion.
It did not take him long to find the spot again, though the people were not there. Looking up to the branch, he saw Aegis waiting for him, as he quickly brushed his friend's mind. West, he confirmed, as he kicked his horse forwards again. It became too thick to ride, and had to dismount, before tying his horse to the tree and continuing forwards. Soon he heard moans of protest, as he came upon a monstrous scene. The woman was pushed over a tree stump, being taken like a dog, as the other man watched eagerly, looking like an animal himself.
"You will stop this now, if you wish to die quickly," Joshua said, low and threatening, just loud enough for the men to hear. The dirty men looked over in shock, as the one watching eagerly quickly pulled out a knife, slightly cutting himself in the process, though he didn't notice. The other man spit on the back of the woman, before giving her one last thrust and pulling out, doing up his breeches, and grabbing a short sword from beside the stump, looking at him with murderous intent, as to get rid of him quickly, so they can continue.
"You chose correctly," Joshua said, started forwards, unsheathing his new sword, as it came out lightly and easily. The superb sword cut through leather, mail, flesh and bone in one clean swing, as Joshua brought it down upon the man's left collar bone, cutting down to the heart. He was dead quickly, as promised. Joshua tugged his sword out, before turning to the other wild man. He was upon very quickly, as Joshua had not thought he would be so vigorous. He would get me before he could defend myself, Joshua panicked, reeling back. Though just before the man swung at Joshua, seemingly in a heart-beat, Aegis was upon him, digging his claws into the man, and pecking at his face, though the man was stubborn, and fought back. Aegis, smarter than the average bird, disengaged, as the man began to swing at him, missing, as he flew back up into the trees.
Screaming in frustration, the wild man picked up his dead comrades sword, and came at Joshua with a ferocity of an insane man. Joshua was ready this time, however, as he parried both blows, and cut the man quickly at the man's hamstring, slowing his movement and making him scream. "Fuck you!" he howled, coming again. Joshua side stepped him easily, carefully placing a blow on the man's sword arm, making him drop the sword and be further crippled.
"Fuck it," he cursed, as he stumbled forwards. Looking to his right, he eyed the woman, now turning to view the scene. "I'll fuck you, alright," he said, advancing with dagger in hand.
Joshua, alarmed at the man's intent, darted forwards, and swung full force, as the man went to stab the woman, though lost his arm in the down swing. As his arm dropped to the earth, the wild man looked at it and said "Oh..." before dropping to his knee. Joshua looked at the scene around him, looking for Aegis amongst the trees. Holding out his arm, he swooped down and landed softly. He's not hurt, Joshua thought, relieved. Turning back to the fallen man, he saw that the woman had grabbed the dagger from the fallen hand, and sat atop the man, stabbing him repeatedly, wailing tears and sobbing hysterically. He was long dead.
Joshua ran over and stopped her hand, "Drop the knife," he said, soothingly, "It's over. You're safe now. It's over." Looking him in his eyes, she seemingly collapsed, dropping the knife. Catching her, Joshua carried her back to the horse, where he placed her over the rear, while he rode back to the party.
--Joshua advances from 84 Swordsmanship to 86 Swordsmanship. (+2)
--Joshua advances from 45 Wargging to 50 Wargging. (+5)
As they traveled, they met many sorts of people, from jesters, from sellswords, to bards, to mysterious men atop mysterious horses. All of them, Joshua greeted pleasantly, and conversed with. Joshua regarded it as a lesson, as he learned more of the different regions, the types of quarrels these people had, what they love about their lords, and what some hated about their lords. Though half of the people Joshua talked with cared nothing of silks or spices, the most recent gossip or the color of the bricks around them.
Most of the people cared for the basic things only. Food, warmth, and peace. Aside from that, they spoke of little else. And I have given my people that, so far, he said to himself. At the end of each conversation, he handed the man or woman a loaf of bread, or a bundle of fruits. He saw a lot of toothless, and blackened smiles, though the warmed his heart despite the cold and the rain.
They were halfway to Nightsong, when the weather cleared, and the sky shone a bright blue. Joshua had finally removed his hood, and changed from his wet clothes, for he had no fear of any further rain now. Letting his body bask in the new sunlight, as a shadow brushed over his face, though he knew what it was. Aegis was eager to spread his wings.
Joshua steadied himself in his saddle, as Yohn came near. "I think I'll catch up on some sleep that I have lost during the bad weather, uncle," Joshua said, with a smile. "Wake me in a few hours, please," he said, as he leaned against his horse's neck, slipping out of his body and quickly into Aegis'.
He was soaring high, spreading his wings for the first time in weeks, and it was wonderful. A snack would be nice, he thought, lowering his altitude, and scanning the terrain around him. Noticing a spot of trees, he screeches, sending a small bird flying from one of the thicker ones. Perfect, he said to himself, swooping down and gaining on the bird fast. He made his body narrow, and aimed it at the fleeing bird, as he folded his wings slightly. The bird was only a few feet away, when it darted right, further into the trees, though he was ready for it. Quickly banking, he brought himself up and over the bird, in a barrel-roll motion, as he was above the bird, but upside down. Gracefully, he bent one wing in, swinging his body around, while extending his claws, catching the small bird's wings and neck, before snapping it in his talons.
Landing on a tree nearby, he began feasting on the small bird, crunching the small bones in his beak, before swallowing the fresh meat. He was easily enjoying his snack, when it was disturbed by a ruckus from below. Two male animals were chasing a young female, and caught her in a small clearing. They looked to be dirty and hairy, and very wild. Though they were far away, he could hear and see them perfectly, as the males pounced on the female, and began harassing her. "Oh, c'mon darlin'," one said, followed by a sharp, "NO!"
Slipping out of Aegis, Joshua looked around hastily, reviewing all the routes taken by Aegis, mentally. Turning to Yohn, Joshua said, "I will be back shortly," and left without discussion.
It did not take him long to find the spot again, though the people were not there. Looking up to the branch, he saw Aegis waiting for him, as he quickly brushed his friend's mind. West, he confirmed, as he kicked his horse forwards again. It became too thick to ride, and had to dismount, before tying his horse to the tree and continuing forwards. Soon he heard moans of protest, as he came upon a monstrous scene. The woman was pushed over a tree stump, being taken like a dog, as the other man watched eagerly, looking like an animal himself.
"You will stop this now, if you wish to die quickly," Joshua said, low and threatening, just loud enough for the men to hear. The dirty men looked over in shock, as the one watching eagerly quickly pulled out a knife, slightly cutting himself in the process, though he didn't notice. The other man spit on the back of the woman, before giving her one last thrust and pulling out, doing up his breeches, and grabbing a short sword from beside the stump, looking at him with murderous intent, as to get rid of him quickly, so they can continue.
"You chose correctly," Joshua said, started forwards, unsheathing his new sword, as it came out lightly and easily. The superb sword cut through leather, mail, flesh and bone in one clean swing, as Joshua brought it down upon the man's left collar bone, cutting down to the heart. He was dead quickly, as promised. Joshua tugged his sword out, before turning to the other wild man. He was upon very quickly, as Joshua had not thought he would be so vigorous. He would get me before he could defend myself, Joshua panicked, reeling back. Though just before the man swung at Joshua, seemingly in a heart-beat, Aegis was upon him, digging his claws into the man, and pecking at his face, though the man was stubborn, and fought back. Aegis, smarter than the average bird, disengaged, as the man began to swing at him, missing, as he flew back up into the trees.
Screaming in frustration, the wild man picked up his dead comrades sword, and came at Joshua with a ferocity of an insane man. Joshua was ready this time, however, as he parried both blows, and cut the man quickly at the man's hamstring, slowing his movement and making him scream. "Fuck you!" he howled, coming again. Joshua side stepped him easily, carefully placing a blow on the man's sword arm, making him drop the sword and be further crippled.
"Fuck it," he cursed, as he stumbled forwards. Looking to his right, he eyed the woman, now turning to view the scene. "I'll fuck you, alright," he said, advancing with dagger in hand.
Joshua, alarmed at the man's intent, darted forwards, and swung full force, as the man went to stab the woman, though lost his arm in the down swing. As his arm dropped to the earth, the wild man looked at it and said "Oh..." before dropping to his knee. Joshua looked at the scene around him, looking for Aegis amongst the trees. Holding out his arm, he swooped down and landed softly. He's not hurt, Joshua thought, relieved. Turning back to the fallen man, he saw that the woman had grabbed the dagger from the fallen hand, and sat atop the man, stabbing him repeatedly, wailing tears and sobbing hysterically. He was long dead.
Joshua ran over and stopped her hand, "Drop the knife," he said, soothingly, "It's over. You're safe now. It's over." Looking him in his eyes, she seemingly collapsed, dropping the knife. Catching her, Joshua carried her back to the horse, where he placed her over the rear, while he rode back to the party.
--Joshua advances from 84 Swordsmanship to 86 Swordsmanship. (+2)
--Joshua advances from 45 Wargging to 50 Wargging. (+5)