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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 12, 2009 18:46:01 GMT -5
Klicker watched the bandit leader as his men carefully as they slowly drifted off to sleep, leaving one man on watch. The leader had curled up next to the fire, facing his two captives and to all outward appearances seemed to be asleep.
Klicker didn't think the man was asleep though. He wished his weapons were a bit closer. The bandits had piled them a good six paces away.
The night dragged on and Klicker pretended he was asleep, even providing a convincing snore. All the time though he watched the bandit on guard duty and the leader.
Finally the leader's breathing changed and Klicker figured he really was asleep. Klicker slipped the dagger out of his sleeve and began sawing on the rope that held his wrists, hoping they were hidden from the bandit leader's view.
The man on guard hadn't moved for a good ten minutes. He was leaning up against a tree at the edge of the faint firelight and his chin was resting on his chest.
Either they were all asleep, or they were faking it and setting their prisoners up. Either way Klicker figured an escape attempt was going to have to be now or never.
The rope gave and his hands were free. He carefully pulled the knots away from the ranger's hands, trying not to move much. Now they had to get their ankles untied and they might have a chance. If they could only get to their weapons.
At least their horses hadn't been captured. Klicker knew Pie was probably within hearing distance, waiting for his whistle. Knowing the ranger's horses, that one was probably not far either.
There just might be a chance, he thought as he leaned forward and brought his arm around and began sawing on the rope around his ankles.
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 12, 2009 19:31:04 GMT -5
Ash left the Inn in Araluen bright and early, before the sun was more than a dim lightening of the sky. He saddled his newly acquired colt and rode out of the city gates wearing his white priest’s robes. Snowy swooped down and landed on his shoulder, cleaning the blood from her meal off her talons.
Ash whistled a cheerful tune and the horse seemed to step in beat to the music, bobbing his head as if pleased with the change in his fortune.
“I suppose I am going to have to come up with a name for you, aren’t I?” Ash interrupted his tune to speak to the horse. The horse cocked an ear back and turned his head slightly as if to listen to him, then bobbed his head again.
“Mmm… nothing is coming to mind.” Ash mused thoughtfully. “Blackie is just so… so – common. It would never do… no, you need a great name, for I believe you to be a great horse.” Ash studied the horse’s head and neck as he rode along. “Well, I am sure, when the time is right, you true name will be revealed.” He patted the horse on the neck and resumed his tune, whistling expertly as the horse trotted along the road southward.
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 31, 2009 13:03:07 GMT -5
Ash nearly lost his shadow in the streets in Meric as he deliberately sped up his horse when the sun went down. He took several twists and turns down dimly lighted streets until he finally came to an Inn on the south side of the city.
He stabled his horse, which he was still struggling to determine a name for, and made his way into the common room. The lad that had been trailing him since Araluen was sitting at the bar. He had to hand it to him, the kid was good. Ash pretended he didn’t know who the kid was or why he was there.
Several heads turned in his direction as he approached the bar keep and inquired about a room. Likely they didn’t see any priests frequent this Inn. It wasn’t exactly the pearl of the city. Ash paid for a room and ordered dinner then took a seat close to the fireplace. Snowy flew off his shoulder and settled in the rafters above, attracting a great deal of attention. He smiled coldly at those that looked his way and they turned back to their own business.
His meal arrived and he enquired about where to get traveling food for the next week and the girl said this Inn could outfit him for a decent price. He supplied a list of his needs and she scurried off as he began to eat the plate of roasted meat, steamed turnips and onions mixed with spinach leaves and walnuts. He poured a large amount of honey on the crusty biscuit and sighed contentedly as he took a bite and savored the sweet, sticky mass of bread.
This was his first night at an Inn since leaving Araluen three days ago. He hadn’t planned to stop, but the weather had been terrible outside and he hoped to get his pack at his feet dried out before moving on. Perhaps he would stay here an extra day if the rain was still falling in the morning.
He watched the boy go out as he took a sip of the beer and wondered if his father had men in Meric that might try to pay him a visit tonight. He sighed… probably. His father had his fingers in a lot of pies all over the Kingdom. After his meal he headed back to his room on the first floor and bolted the door behind him and made sure the window shutters were bolted shut. Then he began to pull his damp clothes out of his pack and hung them around the fireplace.
He pulled out a bottle of linseed oil and set to oiling his cloak in an attempt to waterproof it. When he finished it he hung it up to dry and then he pulled his boots off and gave them a scrubbing and dose of oil.
Snowy hooted and he unlocked the window shutter and let her out into the night, locking it behind her. She would find her way to the stable when she was done hunting, so he wasn’t worried. Likely she would be out playing all night anyway.
He tossed a log on the fire and sat back against the wall on his bed and opened a book, settling in for a pleasant evening with a good book, cozy fire and the comfort of a sword by his side…
(OOC: Ash's story will now pick up in Greenfield Fief with "Letter Mission")
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Post by Cutebabys on Jan 2, 2010 21:33:51 GMT -5
Dagbert felt someone moving. He looked at Klicker, a slow, small turn of his head, his look one of grim approval. He should have done that. Instead he lay there, worrying about Chaos.
Where was he? He should long have been back. He dismissed the thought. Chaos had been his apprentice for a few years now and was more than capable to look after himself. Chaos was his first apprentice and he didn't want anything happening to him.
He wondered what plan the man had. It probably didn't matter, the leader was asleep. Or at least he appeared to be. He didn't know where they were being kept and felt uncomfortable without his bow and quiver. Yet it was something inevitable if they were to gain the 'trust' of the prisoners. It wasn't needed now that they fell asleep though.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 10, 2010 0:04:37 GMT -5
Klicker was loose and he looked around the camp at the sleeping men, then at the sentry who was nodding up against a tree. Their weapons were in a pile by the fire, in the middle of the sleeping men. Klicker rolled over into a three point crouch on his toes and one hand. He turned to the ranger and pointed to their weapons and then to the woods beyond.
His plan was to quietly seize the weapons and if the men woke up, fight them until he was either free or dead. Hopefully the ranger could get to his bow and even up the odds a bit. He was going for the bandit leader should any of them wake up. A hostage could be useful, he thought.
He quietly slunk over to the weapons, his eyes on the bandit leader, and picked up his sword an knives, then handed the ranger his bow and knives. Just then the leader opened his eyes a slit and sat bolt upright.
Klicker pounced on the man, holding his mouth shut with one hand and trying to knock him out with the sword hilt with the other hand. Their struggle was beginning to wake the others.
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Post by Cutebabys on Oct 20, 2010 0:47:49 GMT -5
"Let's g-" Dagbert's voice was nothing but a harsh whisper, barely able to be heard. Then everything happened. The leader sat up and Klicker grabbed the poor man.
Others were waking, and in quick succession Dagbert sent four arrows out, each of them hitting the men at their shoulder as they rubbed their eyes, getting the sleep out of them. That'd stop them from being able to shoot him, while not killing any unnecessary people.
He'd have to deal with the leader first, and so he glanced over to Klicker. He was holding his ground, but Dagbert didn't want to take any chances. Nocking an arrow, he released it. Only to realize that he had sent it a fraction too low.
The arrow was flying in Klicker's direction.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 20, 2010 10:05:05 GMT -5
Klicker felt the bandit leader tense his muscles as he tried to heave Klicker's bulk off of him. Then the man's eyes widened and Klicker heard the thwang of a bowstring a split second after a piercing pain stabbed through his left shoulder.
Instinctively Klicker ducked to the right and rolled off of the man. The arrow had clipped his shoulder and its trajectory wos deflected down and to the left so that it imbedded in the bicep of the bandit leader.
He let out a howl, joinging many of his comrades who were all sporting arrows, Klicker saw. He bit his tounge to keep from joining in and only hissed slightly in pain, and glared at the ranger as he swung the sword hilt and finally knocked the bandit leader out, cutting off the man's wine of pain.
"Nice shooting." Klicker said half sarcastically to Dagbert as he took the rope that had bound them and began to tie up the leader, the blood running down his arm made tying the knots a slippery job. "So now what we gonna do with all these fine fellows?" Klicker asked.
They were all injured and would need tending, but he supposed they could all still walk. He suspected the ranger would want help getting them back to the city and the castle dungeon.
Klicker gathered up all their weapons and whistled for his horse, Pie and was relieved to hear an answering whinny and the sound of a horse crashing through the forest. He turned to the ranger, their previous standoff fresh in his mind. Klicker decided the pile of scum before him needed to be dealt with and would take precedence over his own personal dilemma. "I suppose you would like some help getting this rabble back to town."
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Post by Cutebabys on Oct 20, 2010 11:46:34 GMT -5
"I didn't miss," Dagbert replied dryly. He didn't want his friend to think that he was losing his touch at shooting. "You did try to kill me earlier, after all." But inside Dagbert knew it had been a bad shot, him being shaken by today's events. He'd been in trouble time and time again, but rarely Chaos. It seemed as if Chaos wouldn't be able to find him again. He realized his mistake and knew he couldn't afford to wait any longer.
Dagbert nodded and jerked his head. "They won't be too hard to round up, 'cept for maybe this one." He pointed at the bandit leader and used his double scabbard to whack him on the head. Even with an arrow in his arm, he couldn't be trusted when alone - that Dagbert knew."Never mind that: he may prove to be the easiest one yet," he continued as the man fell to the ground, unconscious.
"We'll bring them to Redmont, I was heading there myself." Dagbert glanced at Klicker. "You wouldn't mind this lump on your horse, would you?" He pointed out the bandit leader with a tilt of his head.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 20, 2010 22:22:57 GMT -5
"I didn't miss," Dagbert replied dryly.
"I will remember that." Klicker said warily as he pulled a bandage out of his saddle bag and wrapped it around his arm to stop the bleeding.
"You did try to kill me earlier, after all."
Klicker stopped for a moment and looked at the ranger. "Well not really." he countered. "Everyone knows it is bad luck to kill a ranger. I was just trying to save my own skin." He said in a hurt tone. "I am not a killer." That much was true. Yes, he had been forced to kill before, but he hated it and if he could find an alternative he always did.He was not like some of the other men in his master's employ who enjoyed torture and killing.
He wropped the bandits weapons up in his blanket and hung them from the saddle horn.
We'll bring them to Redmont, I was heading there myself." Dagbert glanced at Klicker. "You wouldn't mind this lump on your horse, would you?" He pointed out the bandit leader with a tilt of his head.
Klicker sighed wondering how he was going to explain all of this when he got back to the estate. "I suppose not." He said and helped Dagbert hoist the bandit leader up behind the saddle. "You know it would have been easier to truss him up and make him walk along behind us. Seems such a waste to have knocked him out so we have to lug him around."
He looked at the other prisoners, "You ain't planning on kocking them all out are you? We don't have enough horses for that." Klicker glanced out into the forest. "Didn't you have an apprentice with you? What'd ya do with him? Send him on ahead for help?"
Too late he remembered he had asked a similar qustion earlier and it seemed to be a touchy subject. Maybe he didn't get along with his apprentice. Klicker shrugged mentally. Rangers were strange individuals to be sure.
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Post by Cutebabys on Oct 21, 2010 2:08:17 GMT -5
Dagbert raised his eyebrow, wondering if Klicker was telling the truth when he said he never killed anyone. Probably: he didn't look like he was lying. "Well, if you say so." Dagbert knew too many people who enjoyed that sadism and that pain people went through, and hated these people. As a ranger, he'd been raised to never kill unless it was absolutely necessary. "If you did enjoy killing I'd have left you in the hands of these people earlier," he pointed out, shrugging.
"We were tied up just now, no?" he asked. "And we escaped, no?" It was too easy to escape, even trussed up, as Klicker said. It was a good idea, but Dagbert wasn't taking any chances. He lowered his voice, "Besides, these people'd definitely behave now that their leader's knocked out and on a horse." One of the corners of his mouth curled up, him smiling lopsidedly.
"Chaos..." For once Dagbert sounded uncertain. "Actually, he's supposed to be in front; I told him to go ahead first while I tracked you. It's been so long though..." he trailed off, deep in thought. "Damn! This is all your fault!" he cursed. Chaos would join them at Redmont if he was smart enough. Dagbert pursed his lips, still thinking hard.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 21, 2010 13:24:58 GMT -5
"Damn! This is all your fault!"
Klicker glared at him a moment, "hey no it isn't-" Well, he could see how the ranger might feel that way and he didn't want some kid to get lost in the forest. He looked at the bandits and then at the ground and the look of anger drained away from his face. "Well, I guess it is partly my fault." He said after a moment.
"I am sorry, especially if some harm has come to your apprentice. I really didn't mean for any harm to come to either of you." Klicker said sincerely, meeting the ranger's eyes and not blinking or flinching away. "I was only trying to find out what Ash is up to. I have orders to keep an eye on him." Oops! Now he ws letting too much slip out. That would start the ranger asking questions again. Best to change the subject quick.
"We could tie this rabble up for a bit and go look for him. I am a fair tracker myself." Klicker suggested. He didn't like rangers much at all, but he liked them less when he was on their bad side.
The sky was just starting to lighten, hinting that the dawn was not far away. "We'd have to wait for daylight though." Klicker eyed the fire and the empty food pot sitting next to it. "Too bad they didn't leave us breakfast." He looked back at the ranger, having made up his mind, he offered, "since I was partly responsible for this predicament, I will help you out if you like. Just tell me what you want me to do."
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Post by Cutebabys on Oct 21, 2010 19:19:42 GMT -5
Dagbert was stunned. He was used to needing to force his way through things, ruling by fear...and not guilt. Few people would actually admit they were wrong and here Klicker was, saying that he was sorry and it was partly his fault.
Grunting, Dagbert nodded. "Never mind him. It's been ages since he left; the chances of him being in here is about close to nothing." Unless he's dead, Dagbert silently added. "We'll have to deal with this bunch first." He looked at the gang in disgust. "And it was these thugs that made me lose him," he admitted. It was the closest thing to an apology he'd make.
"Ash..." Dagbert was annoyed at the day's turn of events. What was in that letter anyway? Did it have anything much inside? Hmph. He'd better not show it to Klicker in that case. Despite what he had already done for them, he was still on an assignment to find out what Ash was doing, and was still indebted to whomever he was serving... Who was he serving anyway? Dagbert raised an eyebrow. He'd have to find out more, but Klicker didn't seem inclined to talk and Dagbert didn't want to hurt him right now.
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Post by Brandwyn on Feb 4, 2011 15:20:34 GMT -5
"Ash..." Dagbert started to say and broke off. Klicker eyed him warily again. He really didn't want the ranger going down that road, but he echoed his sentiments. Ash had been nothing but a pain in the butt for the past 10 years.
"Well, if we aren't going to look for your apprentice, then we should get a bit of rest until daybreak and take this rabble to the nearest authorities, wouldn't you say?" Klicker whistled and his horse came back to him. Rummaging for a moment in his saddle bags he pulled out a large chunk of cheese which he trimmed the mold off and handed half to the ranger. Then he handed him three strips of lamb jerkey. It was tough and spicy and not much of a breakfast. "Sorry I dont' have anything better."
He sat near the fire and watched the ranger and their prisoners until the sun came up. As soon as it was light enough to see, he helped the ranger gather up their prisoners and tie them all together in a line and they marched them out of the forest and to the nearest village that had a town hall with a small jail cell in the basement. They crammed the prisoners there and sent off a message to the Araluen Guard to come pick them up.
Klicker eyed the ranger again as they were leaving the Town Hall. Was the man going to let him just ride off? 'Yeah, so he can follow me.' Klicker answered his own question. He looked back to the woods again. "Maybe we should go search for your apprentice now, or do you have some place he is likely to meet you?"
Klicker saw a shop across the square and started to head toward it. "Don't know about you, but I need to restock my supplies." Maybe the ranger wouldn't stop him. Maybe he would let him go if he dropped a bone the ranger could sink his teeth into. "If you need me to give a report on those men in there," he jerked his head toward the town hall, "you can leave word at Duke Avignoned's house in Araluen City. They know where to find me."
He then turned and strode purposefully toward the little shop that sported all kinds of merchandise packed into its four walls and overflowing onto the street under the awning. His horse following along behind him with the reins dangling from the saddle.
(OOC: This ends this thread. Pick up Ash's story in Letter Mission on Greenfield fief. Klicker remains in the employment of Duke Avignoned and you may see him around again at some point.)
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