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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 6, 2011 22:46:59 GMT -5
(OCC: Late August in the year 657: This thread is open to any rangers / apprentices leaving the Gathering and heading north to Norgate, Araluen, Marshwood or Caraway…)…)[Crowley, Halt, Rick, Bunt, Ringulf, Red, Tam, Mylia, Dian, Ivy]
Bunt rode along at the end of the somber group riding hard for the northern fiefs from the Gathering Grounds. He studied his two apprentices and wondered how on earth he had gone from Greenfield Fief to Caraway Fief and to training two young women to become rangers. ‘Times were sure changing’ he thought. Ivy and Dian seemed to be opposites but so far they were getting along okay. He wouldn’t say they were friends yet, but at least they weren’t at each other’s throats. He had a few ideas on how to handle that should the need arise, but he would be very happy if he never needed those tactics.
He still wasn’t able to read Dian very well. She seemed pretty quiet and shy and scared of her own shadow. He wondered how to build her confidence and get her to face her fears and overcome them. Maybe Ringulf would have some tips, he seemed to have done wonders for Tory. ‘Poor kid,’ he mused privately, ‘I hope Tandar goes easy on her when they get to Meric. Whatever it was that was done to the girl it must have been pretty darn bad, and I am not just thinking about the whippings.’
Rick was setting the pace up in the front of the cavalcade with a bone jarring trot alternating with a slow lope and then twenty minutes of walking so the horses could catch their breath. They’d been in this pattern for six hours now and Bunt was in a pretty bad mood due to every bone and muscle aching from the ride and the increasing cold as they made their way north. He didn’t say anything however, for each of the rangers were anxious to get back to their fiefs and assess the damage and situation. Bunt figured they were all wondering if they would find friends fallen victim to the plague upon their return. He couldn’t remember a Gathering that had broken up early or one where the rangers were leaving in such somber moods. There had not been any jokes or pranks and with each handshake and farewell, they were all wondering if they would see their friends again. Crowley, who was in the center of the group, was reading reports as he rode and muttering under his breath.
Bunt looked at the apprentices and they all seemed to be scared out of their wits. He urged Low Belly to a slightly faster pace and caught up with Dian. For a moment he rode along beside her in silence. Clearing his throat he said, “I’ll be glad when we stop fer a bit but I think Low Belly is gonna be ecstatic.” Low Belly flicked her ear back at him and the look in her eye suggested that he had no idea how glad she would be. “Ya have any family anywhere’s about, Dian?” he asked wondering if there was anyone she was worried about having contracted the plague. One thing that had him and apparently Crowley stumped is why it didn’t seem as if any of the rangers that had been in Norgate at the Winter Revel had gotten sick.
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dian
Apprentice Scribe
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Post by dian on Dec 8, 2011 0:47:16 GMT -5
Dian was able to keep up with the rangers traveling pace. Fast, medium, slow. It was all thanks to Erebus though, if she had had the old battle horse then she would have an extremely tired horse on her hands. They had been going on for hours and it should have tired out any other horse but a rangers'. She patted the Horse's charcoal black fur and then fondled his ears. Erebus, she had finally named him just before the gathering had ended, didn't make a sound, being trained not to, but seemed to walk with a little more "oomph" in his step. He seemed to always want to please Dian despite her little fear of him at first. In her lap she had the wriggling bundle of fluff that didn't wan't to leave Dian ever since she had gotten Erebus. Maybe the puppy was jealous that Dian had another animal to talk to, but Dian just ruffled its fur and continued looking ahead, but her eyes where flitting around the cowl of her ranger cloak's cowl. A few Kilometers back she had drawn up the cowl to save her ears from the cold.
The simultaneous drumming of hoof-beats was interrupted when one of the horses sped up. Without turning her head she looked towards the ground, and soon enough she saw the feet of Low Belly, her Mentor's horse. She was pretty sure it was Low Belly at least, from the times she had watched Bunt take care of the horse and ride her as well. She was proved right when she heard her Mentor's voice to the side of her.
“I’ll be glad when we stop fer a bit but I think Low Belly is gonna be ecstatic.” Low Belly flicked her ear back at him and the look in her eye suggested that he had no idea how glad she would be. “Ya have any family anywhere’s about, Dian?
"how long have you had Low Belly? Or is it rude to ask a lady horse a question like that..." She asked, she had regained a bit of her old chatterbox self, but only the very slightest bit, enough to let herself make the very ghost of a joke. "No I don't, not as far as I know at least." She remembered what she had over heard about the plague, it was a creepy thought, but unless she, her mentor, or anyone else in this riding group got it, she doubted it would effect her too terribly. Other then shock of course. Anything as horrible as that would cause any person in their right mind to have shock.
"Sir, what exactly is the plague?" She said, letting a ray of curiosity shine through her clouds of shyness, but not enough to start calling him by his name and not 'Sir'. She new what the word meant, but she wondered what happened when someone would get the plague.
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 8, 2011 14:22:56 GMT -5
"How long have you had Low Belly? Or is it rude to ask a lady horse a question like that..." She asked,
Bunt rubbed his cheek where a branch had whipped by and scratched it about an hour ago and said thoughtfully, “hmmm, lemme see… guess it’s been about six years now. She’s jes getting inta her prime now. I guess she is just about ten years old.” He grew quiet a moment remembering his horse before Low Belly. “See normally when a ranger’s horse starts ta git some age on it, like in its early twenties, he retires the horse and gits a new one from the breeding program. Tha’ new horse norm’lly comes from tha same bloodline and usually looks near the same as his original horse.” Bunt’s eyes got a sad look in them and tears started to well up. “I couldn’t bear that after…after what happened ta poor ole Triscuit…” It was a moment before he could go on. “I refused ta have a horse for a couple months till Crowley…well he…” Bunt looked up in front of him to where Crowley had stopped muttering over his reports.
“I beat some sense into him.” Crowley turned around and said solemnly. “He was acting like a damn fool.”
Bunt blushed, something he hadn’t done in quite a while and hung his head for a moment. “I couldn’t help it. Triscuit was… he was special… He wasn’t supposed to go like that. He was way too young to die…” Bunt got choked up and saw Crowley looking at him with sympathy.
“Unfortunately our job can be as dangerous for our horses as it is for us sometimes.” Crowley said gently. “Something young Skinner found out this year as well.”
“Yeah, I had a chat with the boy during the Gathering.” Bunt cleared his throat. “Anyway, I needed to let Triscuit go and so I asked for one that wasn’t in his bloodline and that’s how I ended up with Low Belly here.” Bunt patted her neck fondly. “She’s a good horse too,” he leaned over, hiding his mouth from Low Belly and whispered, “if’n ya can git her ta stop eatin’ so much. She’s a bit faster than Triscuit was and turns a bit sharper too, but don’t tell her, it’ll go ta her head.” He grinned at Dian, but there was still a sadness in his eyes.
"Sir, what exactly is the plague?" she asked him.
Bunt took a breath, glad it wasn’t taking her long to get around to the subject that was on all of their minds and glad it distracted him from bad memories.
“Ya can call me Bunt. Tha’ ole bird dog up there,” he pointed to Crowley’s back, “is the only ‘Sir’ around here.” He chuckled as Crowley harrumphed. “I won’ bite ya and I want ya ta be comfortable talkin’ ta me. Best way ta git there is ta be on a first name basis. One o’ these days I’ll have ta tell ya both how I got my name.”
“Well, ‘plague’ refers ta any sickness tha’ lots-o-people git an’ is spread all o’er tha lands.” Bunt explained. “It can be different sicknesses, jes depends on what’s goin’ round at tha time.” Bunt thought back to what they had read in Ari’s letter and in the few reports Crowley had gotten during the Gathering.
“This one here, they are callin’ the White Death or the Wargal Scourge. Some think it was the Wargals tha’ attacked Norgate durin’ the revel tha’ had it. Then when the weather got warmer, people started comin’ down with it. I guess they git a real bad fever an sweats and chills an all. Then they git these sores tha’ turn all white and crusty lookin’ all over their bodies. They can’t keep no food or water in ‘em and so they keep getting weaker an’ weaker till the fever kills ‘em.” He didn’t want to scare the apprentices, but they needed to know what they were likely to see in the days ahead. He was a believer that the truth was always far less frightening than one’s own imagination left to run wild.
“Not ever’one is dyin’ though,” he countered. “Some are recoverin’ and then some are havin’ relapses or gittin’ it a second time and dying from it then cuz their bodies are so weak already.” He glanced at Dian and at Ivy. “It sounds like this here fever is caught by touchin’ someone tha’ has it, from what I saw in those reports. Tha’ means if’n ya keep yer hands clean and keep yer distance from tha’ sick ‘uns, then ya probably won’ git it.” He wasn’t sure that was entirely true, but felt that it wouldn’t hurt them any to take precautions.
“It sounds a lot like tha’ ole yeller fever tha’ broke out… gee must’ve been ‘bout twenty years ago now… down there in Culway fief tha’ summer. There was lot’s o’ people in tha’ castle due ta the floodin’ an’ the heat. The place was crowded an’ soon’s someone got sick, everyone else started getting’ sick too. Terrible fever it was an’ made their skin turn a sallow sickly yeller color with big dark circles under their eyes.” Bunt reminisced. “I was makin’ my rounds and found out the fever wasn’t only hittin’ the castle folk either. Nearly the whole fief and some o Seacliff as well got it. “’Bout half the people who got it died. Then we thought it was over an’ a new wave broke out jes ‘afore fall an’ took out another quarter. Soon as the cooler sea winds blew away the heat, the fever dried up and I never heard of it hittin’ agin like that.” Bunt looked up at Crowley who had stuffed the reports in his tunic front and now appeared to be dozing in the saddle. “Seems this White Death might be a bit like tha’ yeller fever stuff,” Bunt mused.
Bunt looked at his two charges and said solemnly, “I want ya two ta promise me tha’ if you start feelin’ poorly, you’ll let me know straight away. I hear it starts with a real bad headache and then ya start getting’ achy feelin’ all over. From there ya start getting a fever an ya can’t keep yer food in yer belly. Even if ya think it is probably nuthin, I wanna know, ya understand?” He pinned Ivy and Dian with an intense gaze. “We ride aroun’ a lot an’ see a lot o’ different people an’ I don’ want the Corps blamed fer spreading this plague an’ I don’ want ya ta be out in tha’ middle of nowhere should ya happen ta git sick an’ can’t git back ta tha’ cabin.”
Bunt’s gaze lingered on Ivy for a moment. “I will likely have ya stay put ‘round the cabin an’ work on yer shootin’ n throwin’ till we find out if it is the plague or not, so don’t be thinkin’ you’ll be lyin’ ‘round the cabin munchin’ on walnuts jes cuz ya have a headache.” The corners of his mouth quirked as he tried to keep a straight face.
They rode for a little bit and Bunt worried that the girls were going to be in for some rather difficult things to see in the days ahead. He wondered if there was any way to really prepare them.
Just then Rick brought the party to a halt near a little stream that crossed the road. The horses snorted, their sides heaving from the long exertion. “Okay folks, let’s stop here for an hour and let the horses rest. I’ll light a fire and we can get some hot food in us and maybe a bit of a nap as well.” Rick swung down off his buckskin stallion and led Domingo to the stream to drink as he loosened the girth.
“Amen!” Bunt pulled up Low Belly and kicked his legs out of the stirrups. He stretched before he attempted to get down and still had to stand there supporting his weight with his arms on the saddle for a minute before his joints were able to hold him up. As they moved north, the colder air settled in his joints and each mile made it harder to move. He realized that he was going to have to look at retiring himself in the not too distant future and shied away from the thought. He’d never considered life beyond active duty.
Low Belly sighed in relief when he loosened the cinch and led her to the water. He fished his coffee pot and beans out of his saddle pack wondering if coffee was going to be one of those items that were about to become scarce in Araluen like a lot of other food items were likely to become. “Let’s get some grub.” Bunt said to Ivy and Dian. “You two go gather up some firewood but stay in sight.”
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Post by Firehead on Feb 3, 2012 16:23:26 GMT -5
Red galloped Hap along the outskirts of the group, alternately teasing everyone within reach, and riding quietly along beside the others--at least until one of them got tired of his constant chatter. At which point, he would kick Hap into a fast gallop and bolt ahead, to evade said person.
Now he reined Hap down to a lope, coming up alongside Tam. Tam eyed Red suspiciously; he'd already had Red try to dump him from his saddle once today. Red however, simply gave Tam a harmless smile and did nothing but slow to a jog along beside him.
In truth, Red was feeling lonesome--Qwade had riden south, with his appretice, Al, and Rab. "What are you up too?" he eventually asked.
"Minding my own business." Tam replied, still not totally certain that Red wasn't up to something.
"Funny--that's what everyone else seems to be up to, too." Red responded, with a sigh. "Why does Crowley want me to come along with you guys instead of Qwade?" he asked of no one in particular.
Tam didn't respond--he had no idea. But after a moment, he suggested, "Maybe you should ask Crowley."
"Oh. good Idea. Except Crowley's not in the best of moods towards me right now. Maybe because I pestered him for details." Red added, after a moment's thought.
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Post by Ringulf on Feb 15, 2012 13:02:59 GMT -5
Ringulf and Halt had been keeping a steady pace with each other as the girls followed behind. He was talking with Halt almost the whole time they had been coming north so far.
This was a bit unusual since these two rangers were not known for their gregarious natures. It did seem as though they had quite a bit to speak of. They kept their voices low and intense, it seemed as though the were planning or strategizing. at one point Ringulf even pulled out a leather map tube and they passed it back and forth. After a bit Ringulf dropped back to come alongside Mylia.
"Hey girl! How are you doing huh? You've been pretty quiet since we broke camp, what's on your mind? Sorry I was up with Halt so long, we very rarely get a chance to talk, I used to count on his advice quite a bit after my Mentor passed. He and Crowley were about the only ones who saw past my state of mind and kept me going. Guess they knew I would come around one day... We were discussing the situation with the missing apprentice from Marshwood and the recent Scotti Raids and River Brigands. He seems to think they are all related, and to tell you the truth that confirms many of my own suspicions as well."
They trotted along for a bit trying to catch up on all that had been running through their minds.
"I have a theory as to why this sickness seems to be wargal initiated and why most of the Ranger corp have been unaffected. We fought the wargals from above with bow fire so very few of us came in contact with them. Afterward we all left Norgate and returned to our fifes so we did not have much more contact with it when it was taking hold of people. Then we all headed off to the Moot from all over and have been somewhat isolated in travel and Moot activity."
"The one thing that has me pleased but puzzled...Ari, He was pretty badly scratched up and bitten by those creatures during the battle yet, He did not come down with the plague. Good old Skandian constitution perhaps, but it may be more. In any case I think you can rest assured that he is alright and seems to be distinguishing himself among his peers during this conflict. A horrible way to have to do it but not entirely bad for ones career if you catch my meaning! At least he is with the other Battleschool students and they are commanded by knights. He will be fine."
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Ari sat next to a fire in the chill of the autumn wood. Alone save for his charger Frostmane.
He sat cleaning and polishing his armor. Not only to keep it bright and rust-free, but because he had been told by his superiors to keep everything he could as clean as possible in the time of the sickness to stay healthy and to provide an image of hope and discipline amidst the disheveled populace.
Their forces had been stretched so thin in the past few months that even Battleschool students had been pressed into servicegiven temporary Battlefield commisions and rode circuits alone covering many miles, and often having to rely on themselves alone to keep the peace. Ari had seen quite a bit of action and had been in some tight spots since the outbreak of the plague. So far he had been clever enough to not have to resort to too much violence to do his duty, but He and Frosty had been a major influence on the the area of the southeast interior where he was stationed. He had been close enough to the Port that he had dropped by to visit Finn and see that she was well, and had even seen Simone and Gier on his rounds and Rendezvous at the Greenwall. The Marshwardens had been charged with the defense and policing of the Low Road and making a barrier to keep south-bound refugees from passing down through the wood. It was the only way to keep the southern towns free of the large body of refugees and keep them moving east towards the coast and waiting ships that were focused on evacuation.
"I sure vish dat Mylia ant Ringulf vould get back soon, de Fife needs dem very badly, as do I Frosty" he said outload to his happily munching steed.
He seemed to be turning and gripping and letting his fingers move along a small object in his hands, as he spoke the last sentance he lifted the small carving of a standing bear to let the firelight play upon it and thought of the one who had given it to him.
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dian
Apprentice Scribe
this status thing reminds me of Facebook
Posts: 100
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Post by dian on Feb 25, 2012 14:54:57 GMT -5
Dian could feel obsidian nipping at her fingers as she rode. It didn't hurt, but she knew soon it would and she'd have to break the pup out of that habit. These where only subconscious thoughts though because she was to busy listening to Bunt's story. She hadn't bonded much with Erebus just yet, but she could already imagine how horrible it would feel to lose him...
"I beat some sense into him.” Crowley turned around and said solemnly. “He was acting like a damn fool.”
It wasn't meant to be a joke, she could tell, and so she didn't react outwardly. But she found the mental image of the commandant "beating some sense" into her knew mentor amusing. She could tell she was starting to lighten up around the rangers... for better or for worse.
“Ya can call me Bunt. Tha’ ole bird dog up there,” he pointed to Crowley’s back, “is the only ‘Sir’ around here.” He chuckled as Crowley harrumphed. “I won’ bite ya and I want ya ta be comfortable talkin’ ta me. Best way ta git there is ta be on a first name basis. One o’ these days I’ll have ta tell ya both how I got my name.”
She knew the other rangers had taken note of her shyness and her being uncomfortable, though she hadn't suspected a soul would correct her for saying sir. She tried making a mental note to not say sir to Bunt, she didn't want him having to correct her twice. It would just be... awkward, and maybe a bit more unnerving then trying to call him his first name.
then she listened as bunt explained what a plague was, she knew the definition of the word, but was glad for him speaking anyways.
“This one here, they are callin’ the White Death or the Wargal Scourge. Some think it was the Wargals tha’ attacked Norgate durin’ the revel tha’ had it. Then when the weather got warmer, people started comin’ down with it. I guess they git a real bad fever an sweats and chills an all. Then they git these sores tha’ turn all white and crusty lookin’ all over their bodies. They can’t keep no food or water in ‘em and so they keep getting weaker an’ weaker till the fever kills ‘em.”
"That sounds kind of... gross. I don't think I know which name is scarier White Death, or Wargal Scourge" Dian wasn't fond of the concept of death. It was to final, to unchanging for her, and the stories of wargals had always scared her when she was younger, so each name hit a nerve on her.
“I want ya two ta promise me tha’ if you start feelin’ poorly, you’ll let me know straight away. I hear it starts with a real bad headache and then ya start getting’ achy feelin’ all over. From there ya start getting a fever an ya can’t keep yer food in yer belly. Even if ya think it is probably nuthin, I wanna know, ya understand?”
She hesitated, it started with a bad headache? Her mother was prone to bad headaches, and it was possible when she got older she might have the same problem. Or it might start sooner rather then later, which might mean quite a few false alarms for Bunt and Ivy... that didn't sound very good to her.
"Alright, I promise... Bunt" she said, only barely refraining from calling him sir.
After a minute or so of silence Rick had come riding up, suggesting a break. A smile lit across Dian's face, she was tired of being in the saddle and a break was welcomed... Bunt had even beat her in saying amen. She nodded when Bunt told her to get some firewood. She dismounted Erebus by hopping down so as to not drop Obsidian, then set the pup back on the saddle where it couldn't escape. Erebus turned his head and tried to glance at the dog, and then his eyes met hers.
Don't be gone long or she'll nip my ears off he seemed to say.
"I wont be long, I promise" she said in a tone lower then a whisper, her hand brushing across his mane. She scurried off to get as much firewood as her scrawny arms could carry, staying within sight of the other rangers. When she returned, Obsidian was trying to climb up Erebus' s neck, who looked thoroughly unamused. A horse could look unamused? It seemed to Dian ranger horses certainly where a breed of their own.
"Where should I set this down?" she asked. When she had been answered, she set the firewood down and removed the saddle bags off of Erebus to lighten his load, but didn't take the saddle off. She wasn't sure if she needed to or not, and besides it would take a while to get them back on. Then she grabbed Obsidian, holding her close, and sat down near the rest of the group.
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Post by Brandwyn on Feb 28, 2012 12:54:41 GMT -5
Two pairs of eyes watched the small party of rangers from the depths of a thicket of thorn bushes. The tall lean man dressed in hunter green with brown treus and jerkin pulled the material covering his nose and mouth down for a moment and rubbed an itch at his jaw. His dark brown eyes glittered in the noonday sun poking through the foliage overhead as he studied the group, weighing his options and chances of success.
When it became obvious that the group was breaking for a hot lunch and would be occupied for a good half hour or more he motioned his companion to follow him. They silently backed out of the thicket and disappeared over the small tree laden hill behind them. Once out of site he led his companion at a swift jog back to where the others were waiting a good mile off the trail.
“What’s the word Cap’n?” a burly, sour looking man asked as they ran up to the group of thirty-five men.
“Crowley’s with ‘em.” Cap’n answered and there was a low rumble of praise and thumping on backs. “Quiet down! Those are rangers you fools!” the Captain snapped. “We don’t want them to know we’re here until we are ready to take them out, understand?” He fixed the loudest ones with a glare and the group instantly grew serious again.
“Alright, I think they are splitting up into separate groups at the major crossroads just outside of Araluen City. I recognized that new ranger from Marshwood and I am pretty sure that Crowley and that plainsman fella are going to head back to Araluen Castle. Don’t know about the old guy or the young fella, but my guess is they are going one to Norgate and the other to Caraway. No telling about Halt.” This last was said with a particular note of hatred in his voice. He knelt down and drew a rough sketch of the terrain in this part of Araluen and the trails and roads nearby. “They got kids with ‘em too. Must be apprentices, I want them captured not killed, you understand?” He looked up at each of them, and fixed the two most blood thirsty of the lot with another stern glare until they reluctantly nodded agreement. “Three of ‘em are girls and yer not to harm ‘em any more than is necessary to subdue them. The boss wants all the apprentices ‘intact’.
Watch out fer the boy, I’ve tangled with his kind before. He is a street kid and he looks to be smart and scrappy. He’ll give ya trouble, and if he don’t his mentor, will for sure. We need to take the plainsman and Halt out first, then the Skandian. They’ll put up the biggest part of the fight. Remember Crowley we take alive. He doesn’t have to be very alive, but…”
The others nodded, absorbing the advice with grins on their faces in anticipation of the fight.
“Sir, don’t you think it might be better to wait until they split up? We can send a group after each of them and it seems the odds will be in our favor.” His second suggested. “Or just grab Crowley when he goes off with that plainsman and his apprentice.”
The Captain considered the idea, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. There was merit in the plan. However the longer they tailed the rangers, the greater the chance was of them being discovered. Not only that, as they got closer to Araluen Castle, the land became more populated and their cover in the forest far less. His forces outnumbered the rangers 35 to 6 unless you added in their four apprentices. It should be an easy victory, once he neutralized their ability to shoot. In close quarters they would have only their knives to fall back on except for the plainsman and the Skandian who also carried axes. He’d fought a hunter from the plains before and the man had been very skilled in hand-to-hand knife fighting. He was assuming this ranger was likely just as good. And Skandian’s were known for their fierceness in battle, so even though this one was a ranger, he wasn’t going to discount the man’s bloodline. Halt was dangerous no matter what the circumstances were. He’d discovered that first-hand. It was best that he put most of the men on these three, eliminate them and then the others would be easy pickings.
“No, we go ahead with the plan.” The Captain finally decided. “We ambush them here,” he indicated a spot on his crude map. “That’s where those banks are high on each side of the road and the trees are draping over it. They will be bottled up with no way to go except forwards and back.”
The others nodded once again. “Get that net up there and find a good place to anchor it. Then when you hear the signal, raise it.” He ordered two of the smaller built men who had bows strung over their shoulders. They nodded and took off silently through the trees at a run.
He laid out the plan to the others and then ordered everyone to make their way into position. “Do it quietly! I will kill the one of you who tips these guys off that we are here.” The men nodded gravely and melted swiftly into the woods, each going to their assigned spot. Only his second was there with him. The Captain turned to his blond-headed friend, a man only a couple of years younger than himself, “better get back there and watch them. When they start movin again, give me that bird call.”
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Post by Brandwyn on Feb 28, 2012 15:47:59 GMT -5
Rick had been riding silently at the head of the group for a while, all the time scanning the road ahead and the trees on each side. The hair on the back of his neck had been standing on end for a while and he had the feeling of being hunted.
When they stopped for lunch he approached Bunt after the girls had strayed off to get firewood. “Don’t let them out of your site,” he said softly to Bunt as they cleared an area for the fire and brought out some food.
“I know,” said Bunt, just as softly as Crowley rolled over a couple of logs for them to sit on. “We got comp’ny.”
Crowley looked from one to the other and then to Halt who was trying to melt into a tree trunk a few feet away. “What’s going on?”
“We are being followed, well not followed exactly,” Rick answered, keeping his voice low so it wouldn’t carry, “More like being paced. The birds have been warning us for a few miles now.”
Bunt nodded, “yep. I ain’t seen nothin’ yet though. They’re out there, whoever they are, an’ I’m bettin’ they ain’t up to anything good.” He said while showing Dian where to drop the bundle of firewood. “We best keep our weapons close ta hand.” He looked meaningfully at Dian and Ivy, not knowing how much they had overheard.
Bunt saw Dian struggling with the saddle bags and walked over to give her a hand. “Trouble brewing in tha trees. Keep ‘im saddled an’ yer bow ready, but look casual.” Bunt scanned the trees over Erebus’ saddle. “Stick with yer horse if trouble breaks out. As long as ya stay on ‘im, its doubtful anyone can touch ya. Just watch out fer arrows.” Bunt turned back to the fire and said a bit louder, “It’ll be a bit afor the grub is ready.” Under his breath he said softly to her, “an don’t be starin’ at tha trees. We don’t want them ta know we are onta them.”
Several minutes passed while they each went about their assigned tasks to make lunch. All of them trying to behave as if they didn't know they were being watched. Bunt pulled out several items of food from the saddle bags and then placed them near the fire on a flat rock Rick had found to use as a makeshift table.
Rick and Crowley were in a low conversation with Ringulf discussing their options. “If we send a scout out to look around it is going to look suspicious.”
“But we don’t even know what we are up against.” Crowley argued. “It could be a big cat or wild boar or something watching us. How will we know if we don’t take a look?”
Rick and Bunt shook their heads at the same time. “It’s people, not an animal.” Rick said with certainty and Bunt agreed. “Once we get moving again, I can range on out ahead of everyone and take a look.”
Crowley started to shake his head when Halt materialized right next to Ringulf and Crowley. “No need." He pretended to warm his hands over the incipient campfire that Bunt was springing to life. Rick looked at him and then scanned the woods behind him, but he didn’t see anything.
“There’s a bunch of them, judging from the tracks I saw. They spread out, moving through the trees in small groups, but I came across four separate trails that each had several sets of footprints. I believe, Gentlemen, that we are being hunted.” Halt said gravely as he took up a spot on one of the logs.
Rick took out his pot and poured some water from his canteen into it. He set it in the fire to get the water boiling while he pulled some dried venison from his pack. “You think it is a bunch of outlaws?”
Halt considered for a few minutes then shrugged, “Can’t say, I suppose it could be anyone.” He took his saxe knife out and began to sharpen it, although they all knew it hardly needed honing.
Crowley watched him for a moment, sitting next to him on the other end of the same log. “so anyone got any ideas? I don’t like the idea of sitting here waiting to be picked off one by one.”
Bunt had been thoughtful for several moments, appearing to have nodded off, but he was watching the hill behind Rick. “Someone’s up there now, in tha’ ole thorn bush.” He said casually, “Keepin’ an eye on us.”
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Post by Ringulf on Feb 28, 2012 22:41:51 GMT -5
Ringulf had been working with his saddlebags when he heard the disturbance in the forest. the birds had stopped their normal patterns and the horses started to get fidgety. He cast a look back at Rick who was already discreetly scanning, he heard it too. As Bunt and Crowley picked it up Ringulf immediately took inventory of the apprentices. if trouble went down they would have to be protected. Best get them all in one place.
Ringulf took down the big duffel bag that was tied up behind the bedroll. He checked the direction of the light breeze, "Good it is from our backs"
"Girls," He said in just a loud enough voice to sound like pointed conversation, "Forget that firewood, grab some armfuls of dry leaves and Tam, grab as many of those reddish ferns over there as you can and bring them to the fire instead,and don't ask questions." And then in a loud whisper he said between his teeth, "...do it quick."
He put the bit and reins into Chenlott's mouth and hung his quiver on his saddle horn along with his strung bow.
He took the bag and slung it over his right shoulder so it hung on his hip, then he sauntered over to the rest of the Rangers.
with his head down and his back to the forest he scratched the back of his head and said to his feet "Yeah I feel it too, We may need a point man on this one, they know we are rangers or they would have attacked by now, they will expect missile fire, you guys provide it huh? I will give them something else to think about. Crowley, Have the kids dump all that on the fire as soon as the come in.
When he saw the flicker of understanding in Crowley's eyes he walked toward Halt by the tree.
"When the smokescreen goes up, stay with the apprentices and get Bunt and Crowley to the sides. A wide spread of about six arrows will get some attention, don't worry about hitting me, just shoot from left to right. I will follow the first one."
Halt got a wicked smile on his face.
"I thought you Skandians were all blood and guts, run up the middle types?"
"I've told you before...I'm only half Skandian....besides that is your job if this doesn't work!" Ringulf said with a wink.
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Post by Firehead on Mar 2, 2012 14:05:55 GMT -5
Red was still board when they stopped. having taken things as far as he could with pestering the others without getting shot in reprisal, Red decided to help out by gathering firewood. Leaving his bow and quiver on Hap, he wandered off, staying clear of the others. Wouldn't do for the others to think that he was up to no good.
He had strayed out of sight of the temporary camp when he spotted the rabbit, and decided to catch dinner for later that night. Dropping to a crouch he stalked close enough to use his knife. At the last moment, the rabbit looked up, spotted its danger, and bolted. Red, not easily disuaded, darted after it, chasing it into the woods. Red took a dive for the rabbit as they reached a steep embankment, but the rabbit was quicker than Red, and dodged left at the last second. Having missed his catch, Red tumbled down the embankment to the bottom in a flurry of leaves. He came to a stop face down with nothing to show for his efforts but a mouthful of dirt, which he spat out in disgust. "Yeck!"
He almost didn't see it. It was well camaflaged, to their credit. But Red was a Ranger, well-trained, and not for nothing had he managed to survive the Mountains of Rain and Night. Still, he did a double-take, not believing his eyes at the first sight of the net, lightly covered with the dirt of the trail. Now what's a net doing out here? There's no fishing nearby, around here. Red thought to himself. He looked about him to see how large the net was. And then, he looked up.
Red let out a yelp of surprise, and leapt to his feet, taking to his heels in a display of speed that would have made the rabbit--had it been around to see it--green with jealousy. As he ran ful tilt away, he gave a shrill whistle, calling Hap on the double. ----------------
Tam slid down out of the saddle grateful to have stopped. He was a better rider, but never had he riden for so long and at such a pace as Rick was setting. He looked around him at what the others were doing. Rick had gathered with Bunt, Halt, and Crowley, Ringulf was directing the girls in their firewood gathering, and Red had wandered off to who knew where, and Tam really didn't care. Red just had way too much energy for him to feel comfortable around.
Ringulf caught Tam's attention, calling him over and directing him to fetch as many red ferns as he could carry and to bring them back to him (Ringulf). Tam nodded, and headed for a thick patch of ferns growing on a nearby hillside. He worked quickly, keeping his eyes and ears focused intently on his surroundings. As he was arriving back with a huge bundle in his arms when he heard the shrill whistle shrieking like an alarm. Red's horse, Hap, bolted forward as though he'd been stung, racing towards the woods. Tam hurried the last few steps, as he watched the strawberry roan galloping away. "Where'd ya want these at?" he asked.
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Post by Brandwyn on Apr 28, 2012 8:54:00 GMT -5
The Captain of the outlaws through out a stream of silent curses in his mind at the site of the young ranger tumbling down the embankment right next to their trap. “Damn it, of all the luck!” He cursed aloud and drew his sword quietly. At the sound of the ranger’s warning whistle, he sprang into action. “Stop him – you two there!” He growled to the two men closest to Red as the young ranger sprinted off back toward the ranger’s camp.
“Forget the trap! They are onto us now. Grab that net you four and bring it along. If you get a chance to throw it on Crowley’s head, do so,” he ordered. “The rest of you break up, half of you circle around on that side of the road, the other half come with me on this side.” Cap’n looked at the two newest men to his group and decided he should have someone stay on the road in case any of the ranger’s got away. “You two stay here with those crossbows and if any of those rangers come down this road, shoot them.” The men nodded and scrambled back up the bank on each side to conceal themselves in some brush.
Satisfied, the outlaw started running back through the woods with thirteen men behind him, “remember, we want them captured or dead. No one gets away alive.” He reminded them as they ran, circling out away from the road, but keeping it just in sight. He was thinking of how he was going to neutralize the firing power of the rangers now. Fortunately he still had some of the little clay pots that emitted eye burning fumes when smashed on the ground. The only problem is one had to be close enough to their target to throw it at the target’s feet or it wouldn’t do much good.
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Post by Ringulf on May 17, 2012 15:15:22 GMT -5
As the smoke from the fire started to thicken from the collected brush the girls put in, Ringulf pulled a scarf up over his nose. Crowley did the same. Then when Tam dropped in the red ferns something very strange happened to the fire. The smoke got very thick and yellow and the apprentices herd Crowley say "To Me youngsters keep the fire in front and down wind try not to lose the person next to you pick up your bows and make ready but don't fire till you can identify your target!"
As the camp turned into a misty dreamlike arena Crowley moved with the girls and Tam to a spot very close to the horses and squatted down among them. Kneeling bow drawn they waited.
Ringulf had melted into the fog and silently crept in toward the area where they had felt the disturbance. He found a dark patch of bushes and folded himself into them looking toward the camp.
Halt had seen Ringulf's disappearance and backed out of the mist himself. His bow and quiver already set and an arrow knocked.
He had not seen where Rick went but knew the Plainsman had a strategy as well.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 4, 2012 22:26:29 GMT -5
Bunt moved silently with the smoke as it drifted out from the fire. He made his way to the trunk of a tree just along the edge of the road and readied his arrow. As soon as the smoke cleared enough for him to identify his targets he would start picking them off. He hoped Crowley was going to be able to keep track of all the apprentices.
As soon as the smoke billowed up from the fire, Rick leapt into action – straight up into a tree overhead. He ran along a tree branch and jumped into the next tree like he’d been born swinging from the limbs. Swiftly he moved parallel toward the road, following the sounds of Red’s hollering and his horse’s hoofbeats. He soon had the group of bandits in sight and so he paused in his flight through the trees, set his feet and hips against the tree and began to fire as rapidly as he could while they were still in view. He started with the ones at the end of the line of bandits on the east side of the road. He fired two shots, quickly taking out the last two in that line. Then he turned and took out the two on the west side.
A crossbow bolt whizzed past his ear, narrowly missing him and Rick spun around the trunk, putting it between him and the two outlaws blocking the trail up ahead. Apparently they had seen him firing at their comrades and were trying to take him out. Fortunately for him they were not very good shots. Rick knocked and arrow, ducked out from behind the tree trunk and fired without really looking to see if his target had moved. The arrow struck the man in the shoulder and he dropped his crossbow and started screaming. The other one took a look at his friend and then glanced at the bodies Rick had already put arrows in and took off running into the deep woods.
Rick let him go and turned back to the two groups of bandits running through the woods. They were out of sight now and so he retraced his path through the tree tops, jumping from one to the next trying to catch up before the battle was over.
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Post by Ringulf on Jun 5, 2012 0:14:12 GMT -5
The clearing was very smokey and the shapes and shadows of figures in the smoke screen were very difficult to recognize, that is, of course, if you did not know what you were looking for, or had not already seen the setup.
This is what Ringulf had been counting on all along. There were many things that Rangers learned along with silent and stealthy movement. They were taught to move in the dappled shadows of moonlight, in the morning fog, in brush and heavy undergrowth and yes even in the smoke and fire of battle or catastrophe.
These highwaymen or bandits or whatever they were, none of which had yet been ascertained as of yet, would not be prepared for such conditions and aside from any scouts they had sent foreward, had not seen the camp or how many members were in it.
Even the apprentices would be at an advantage as they had been told by Crowley to grab their horses reigns and get low, with their bows at the ready.
Crowley looked around and suddenly realized through the oily smoke that he could not see any other ranger beside the apprentices...they had all vanished, disappeared!
Mixed emotions crossed his mind at that point. The one being admiration and pride to see how skilled his senior rangers really were at their job, that they, without any discussion of strategy, enacted emediately and in unison, a very successful maneuver.
The other feeling was that of anger and frustration at being left like bait and babysitter along with the apprentices!
"Aw crap! I really must be gettin old! Next they are gonna have me sitting at the kiddie table for feast with a nice big bib to catch the creamed spinnach as it drools out my gibbering maw!!" He said in a disgusted whisper.
Halt knew just what Crowley was thinking(except for the spinnach) and knew how ticked off he must be at being "selected" to mind the kids. But Halt also had an arrow knocked and two in his bow hand and was trained on any movement that was made entering the the clearing.
He had not seen Ringulf disappear but remembered looking at Chenelot before the mists had obscured him and saw Ringulf's big Longbow strung and hung on the saddle horn along with his quiver.
"Ah, OK Ring, the axeman cometh... I can work with that."
Just then he became aware of Rick's Strategy as he herd the twang, hiss and thuck of several arrows. The release point was somewhere above him and the point of contact was not to far off to his left to the North of the clearing.
"Hmm...I won't shoot till I see them coming in, If I know that crazy Skandian he is gonna let them over run him and take them from behind." Halt mused to himself.
Ringulf was crouched and insconced in a large leafy bush his cloak was draped around him and he held two of his Skandian throwing axes in his hands. His satchel of axes was slung from his shoulder and rested in the front of his belt next to his seax.
When he herd Rick's volley and heard several bodies hit the ground with various grunts and screams of pain, he knew they would be past him momentarily.
The first bunch that passed him were all clustered together having been herded thus by Rick's shooting.
As they got about ten feet in front of him, he threw the two axes in his hands simultaneously catching two of the attackers directly in their backs either to the right or left of their spines between the shoulder blades.
The two to either side turned quickly around and Ringulf advanced a few feet in a quick but low leap. In a split second as he planted himself two more axes flew spinning through the air. One took an axe that slit his sternum bursting into his chest. The other looked down to see just the haft of an axe sticking out past his chin. he tried to scream but his severed throat no longer would afford him that comfort.
Several others had stopped and turned to fight the shadow of death that sprung from the bush. Another axe came out in Ringulf's left hand and he quickly drew his seax across his body from his left hip with his right hand.
He parried the sword bearing down on him with his axe. The sword arched down with an overhead chop. His axe caught the sword and he drove his seax into the soft flesh of the brigands belly.
He twisted around the falling man and jumped clear as the body fell into the space he had just abandoned. The dead man became a stumbling block to the attacker that had been leveling an arched cut at Ringulf's neck.
If Ringulf had still been there, he would have been a shorter man by a head. Since he was not, the brigand's swing met with nothing but air, and between that and the comrade tangled in his feet, he plunged forward, his swing carrying him twisting to his back.
He saw the axe and the upside down vision of the Skandian Ranger as it split his skull between the eyes. Then he saw nothing.
As Ringulf pulled the axe free he sensed the danger behind him and instinctively started to shoulder roll over the pile of dead men he had just created.
As he launched into the roll, he felt a jab of pain in his left shoulder blade.
He recovered from the roll facing the spearman who had given him his "Caress of Steele" and was down on his right knee, steadied by his planted left foot. The spear drove in at him to strike a second blow, it's wielder just out of range of melee for the Ranger.
Ringulf caught the spear in the lower horn of his axe and circled the point and shaft up and around his head and over his shoulder.
But this one was no fool, most likely he was the leader of this band of cutthroats. He had not charged in but had halted at the other side of his pile of men and had thrust the spear at the Skandian's back.
Having made contact and feeling the tip of the spear hit bone through muscle, he felt he had delivered a damaging wound to this crazed wolf. He was rather surprised when the wolf turned back around on him, to ward off his next blow!
As the Ranger was only armed with an axe and a seax knife he knew he had the range advantage on the man who was only on one knee with shorter weapons.
So he drew back his spear for another balanced thrust aimed at the middle of the unarmored Ranger.
As the Spearman withdrew his long spear and readied himself for the final plunge, Ringulf, without any rotation at all to his blade threw his seax directly at his assailant. It was not an easy throw due to the short distance and the outstretched left arm on the upper part of the shaft, nearly excluding Ringulf's target.
Both men saw the seax knife as if it moved slowly in a dream. The blade flew straight up the shaft and sliced through the top of the forearm and sleeve, then continued on to bury itself in the brigands chest about three inches to the man's left is and about two inches up.
A fountain of blood spurted back at Ringulf as the man lurched forward and fell over the rest of the pile,
Ringulf ripped out his seax , grabbed the spear and rose to his feet to see two more men barreling down on him.
The first caught the spear by the back of the haft as it passed through him to be seen by his trailing comrade. As he became enraged, driven wild by the situation, he leapt at the Ranger slicing down on him with a short sword.
Ringulf grabbed his right wrist with his left hand holding the sword from contact with his face. He then tried to stab his combatant just below the rib cage with his seax, but the brigand was quick and grasped Ringulf's wrist too.
They struggled for a few moments, teeth bared, both trying to press home there attack, when suddenly the brigands eyes rolled back in his head and a little splop of blood sprayed into Ringulf's beard.
The man went stiff and he twisted. As he fell Ringulf saw the arrowhead protruding from the man's neck just above his chest.
He looked up to see Halt about ten yards away another arrow already knocked.
"Always like to get the last word." Halt said dryly.
"I noticed," said Ringulf,..."Thanks!"
"We better get to the camp and see if any got through!" Ringulf said urgently.
"Right behind you!" Halt said matter of factly.
"Normally that would worry me...cmon!" Ringulf said with a snicker.
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Post by Firehead on Jun 20, 2012 10:41:42 GMT -5
(OOC: Sorry if this is a bit disjointed.)
Red sprinted toward Hap and bounded into the saddle as Hap spun on his hindquarters and headed back the way he'd come, full-speed ahead. A flash of pain seared through Red's back, and he reeled in the saddle, almost falling. He clung to Hap's back, one hand clutching at Hap's mane, as his mount galloped toward safety. Then he found himself in a war zone, Rick--he was sure--behind him, firing upon his persurers, and Ringulf ahead of him with --in Red's humble opinion--more axes than a man should have available to him.
He thundered by Ringulf and brought Hap skidding to a halt and turned, feeling another stab of pain in his ribs. He glanced down and saw a crossbow bolt--it had struck a rib and skidded off. He yanked it out, then reached behind him to wrench out the first bolt. He couldn't get a good grip on it however, and wound up breaking it off at the fletchings. He growled at the pain, tossing aside the end, and refocused on his surroundings.
He looked up just in time. He had time enough to see the huge warrior leaping through the air toward him and register the seriousness of the threat, before the man's weight slammed into him, and toppled him from the saddle. Red drew his knives as his back struck the ground and the two combatants tumbled down the hillside rolling over and over as they fought for their very lives.
They were an equal match: The big man was strong, unhurt, and he smelled to high heavens, but Red was lith, in good health--dispite the bloodloss--and had an equally high motivation to live as the big man. And he was ticked. In an ideal setting, the two of them could probably have lasted for quite some time against one another, but this was not an ideal setting, and Red began to tire quickly. He was still losing blood and try as he might, he couldn't get leverage against the big man for one good strike.
The big man gained the upper hand as they struggled at the bottom of the hill, but as he reared back for a blow that would finish Red off for good, three arrows came out of nowhere in quick succession. They struck the big man squarely in the center of his chest, and toppled the warrior backwards. Red shoved himself up one one elbow, and look told him that the big man wouldn't be rising for another go-round, which was fine with Red. He looked over his shoulder and saw the apprentices, each with an arrow knocked and ready to fire. He gave them a thumbs up, and grinned weakly at them. "Nice. Bullseyes all around."
Mylia approached him catiously, nonetheless, until she had satisfied herself. "You know, you could just slash them across the throat and be done with it."
Red looked up at her with an aggrieved expression. "Hey, I wasn't trying to get in trouble!"
Mylia gave him a skeptical look. "You never are." Even she knew that, it didn't take anyone long before they found that out.
Red pushed himself to his feet and scrabled back up the gentle slope. There, he saw that the battle was pretty much over already. He wondered briefly at how easily it could have gone the other way, had they not had any forewarning. But then he shook it off and sauntered up to the other Rangers gathering together, now. He clapped Ringulf on the back. "Man! You can come chop my firewood anytime. Can you do it this fall?" Red asked sweetly. Annoyingly. Only Red had that kind of audacity. He figured they could all do with a laugh, even if all the jibbing would be at his expense.
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