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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 7, 2010 14:02:39 GMT -5
Norgate Winter Revel (open to all) (Late January Year 657)
The Baron of Norgate, William Brunsfield, stands upon the turrets of Castle Norgate and surveys the preparations for the biggest festival his fief has had in 20 years. He spared no expense in preparing for the affair to ensure that not only his Royal Guests and the Nobility in general had a good time, but he wanted to make sure that the commoners had an equally merry time.
To attract more people from outlying fiefs, and thereby their money hopefully, William had paid local farmers and laborers that normally had little or no work in the winter months to keep the roads clear. Even now he could see men with oxen, carts and shovels moving snow off the four main roads that led away from the castle. He had ensured that the roads would be cleared between the Castle and the borders of his fief on the roads to Araluen, Redmont, Marshwood and Whitby. So even though it was mid January and normally they were socked in with heavy snow, the travelers should be able to get through without a problem.
He had sent out bards and jongleurs and heralds to announce to the people all of the things he had planned for the month long festival. He had ordered spare rooms by homeowners in the city to be made available to travelers and asked the noble families residing throughout Norgate to host other noble families since there would not be enough room in the Castle to house all the guests he hoped would attend. Unlike the recent faire in Whitby, it was far too cold in Norgate at this time of year to expect people to sleep in tents.
He looked at pride upon the castle walls and turrets. They sported greenery cut and shipped in from the mountains and Grimsdale Wood and were decorated with red and gold ribbons. He had erected a large tent in the courtyard where guest could off load their wagons directly into the castle, walking up the covered red carpet lined with red and white spun sugar posts. To the right of the main door into the castle was a winter scene made entirely of edible food products such as sugar, wheat cakes and gingerbread. It was a scene of woodland fairies frolicking on any icy lake, teasing a few human men on the banks. The men were offering the fairies presents and in the trees above (that were made from cinnamon sticks) sat long-legged elves with pointed ears and bright blue eyes. Wil-o-the-whisps made from caramelized sugar shaped like snowflakes and dipped in powdered yellow saffron glowed from the branches of the trees around the almond paste elves. The scene was enchanting and the workmanship by his chef and her team were extraordinary.
Inside the castle in the main foyer, the walls were lined with over a hundred tables laden with all manner of goods for sale. Merchants were still arriving and they had over flown down the two main hallways left and right that led to various sitting rooms and the library as well as William’s private study in the back of the castle butted up against the kitchen so it was toasty warm throughout the long winter months from the kitchen ovens set in the walls.
The doors to the great hall were standing open to the foyer, two great wreaths of fresh cut pine greens and mistletoe hung from each massive door. Red ribbons were wrapped around the wreaths and tied in a bow at the bottom. Gold and white garland made from ribbon s wrapped around more greenery draped down around the outside edges of each door. As one stepped into the hall, the first thing you could see was gold and white candles burning brightly in a long line down the center of the hall on each side of the red carpet that ran right up to the raised dais that housed the Baron’s table.
Most of the tables that had been in the hall were in the foyer occupied by merchants but in the front corner nearest the kitchen there was a long line of banquet tables. When the time arrived they would be laden with food for the guests to graze upon, but right now they were covered by long white linen tablecloths with red, gold and green runners. Large candlesticks set upon each of them completing the scene.
There were two huge areas on each side of the red carpet where people could dance or congregate and the chairs and benches had all been shoved against the walls in tucked into the corners. Musicians and bards and entertainers of various types occupied the corner on the opposite side from the food and were working out a schedule for performances for the first evening.
Guest had already been arriving for days and the rooms in the upper floors of the castle were going to be filled in very short order. Baron William looked around and saw that his castle and grounds were cleaner than he had seen them in years. The stable was well tended; it’s hay mow overflowing and the granaries full. Another large tent lined the wall alongside the stable in the courtyard for people to park their carriages under to keep them out of the harsh winter wind and snow. It too was quickly filling up.
Pleased with what he saw, William went back inside to his apartments shared for the next month by his wife, Melisante. She was putting on the finishing touches and looked absolutely gorgeous, her belly bulging with their first child. He snuck up behind her and folded her into his arms, rubbing her swollen tummy and nibbling at her ear.
“Ach! Stop it my Lord! You shall muss my hair!” She cried indignantly, but made no effort to pull out of her husband’s embrace. They were both young and the sudden death of William’s father had elevated them both to positions they had not expected to inherit for many years. After a moment she turned in his arms and asked, “Are you ready for your debut performance as Baron of Norgate?”
William shook his head, and nibbled on her fingers. “I am scared witless,” he said calmly. “I think you should settle my nerves.” He fondled her breast through the heavy brocade bodice and then looked down at them. “Have they gotten larger?” his eyes turned round with wonder.
“Yes silly, they do that when one is about to give birth soon.” Melisante slapped his hand away, “and don’t be absurd, it took me two hours to get this dress around my fat form. I will not have you ripping it off of me just to satisfy your boyish lust!”
William looked hurt for a moment, but then flashed his dazzling smile at her, “You are beautiful! You have never been lovelier in your whole life!” He said softly and meant it. He kissed her tenderly, much like the very first time they had kissed on their wedding day. “Now let us go greet our guests.” He grabbed their coronets, placing hers lightly upon her head over the gilded and pearled snood that netted her fine gold silken hair and then placed his own lop-sided on his head. She reached up and straightened it, not saying a word, but her eyes spoke volumes. She tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and they made their way through the secret passage to step out onto the dais at the head of the hall.
Standing before their thrones, they gave the herald the signal and trumpets blasted the air both inside and then a half a minute following, outside the castle. William held up his hands for silence.
“Welcome friends and family, Nobles and commoners to our winter wonderland. We have a great many activities planned to while away the hours should the shopping and eating not be enough entertainment for you. The musicians are cued and ready and the dance floor is clear.” He paused, thinking he sounded rather lame, but speeches were not his forte. “Let the Winter Festival begin!” He cried and the people cheered.
The kitchen doors burst open and servants carried out tray upon tray of food as William and Melisante seated themselves at the head table.
(The winter revel is now open to all players. The setting is in mid-January, some three months after the Harvest Faire in Whitby and after the Yule season.)
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Mri
Apprentice Scribe
:)
Posts: 207
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Post by Mri on Dec 24, 2010 12:07:00 GMT -5
Bummed that he'd missed the Harvest Faire because he'd been away on business, Landon made sure he came early to this one. He was dressed in fine attire, shaded the color of the Everest with traces of gold throughout. A grin lined his face as he walked the halls with the other guests that had come days before the due date as he had. Oh, today was the day to party!
He let out a random burst of laughter and walked down the steps with a spring in his stride, heading for one of the food-lined tables.
He scanned it for faces he knew...and a place to sit.
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Post by Ringulf on Dec 31, 2010 23:41:34 GMT -5
A large black sleigh sliced through the frosty air over a moderately deep cushion of new fallen snow.
The sleigh was pulled by a team of large white and draft type horses with black dappling. Three passengers rested comfortably in the seats, a large,powerful man dressed in black bear fur with a matching hat and a beautiful woman curled up on the bench next to him reclining on his lap. Across from him was a middle aged man in a thick woolen tunic and cloak. He seemed a bit nervous or at least unfamiliar with this particular mode of travel and in all honesty was included along with the sleigh's driver in a party he was just beginning to get any familiarity with.
The sleigh came over a ridge and and as it did it's occupants could see a town stretched out before it and a castle looming beyond it.
"Splendid it seems as if we are nearing our destination, Driver stop at the first tavern you see and inquire about the location of the Amberbright Chalet."
"Very good your excellency I shall do so at once." The driver replied.
"I hope you have selected a proper lodging for us Cyrus, I expect to be entertaining as well as having some other guests." The Barron said.
"I have been very pleased with your performance so far, so it will not be a surprise to me to find exactly what I am expecting."
The fur clad redhead squirmed in his lap and he looked down and chuckled as Maureena tickled him suggestively beneath the fur throw that covered them.
"Patience My Dear we will soon be before a fire warming ourselves with glasses of buttered rum and some cakes!" The Barron looked down lasciviously at his concubine.
After a brief stop in Norgate village and getting directions to the chalet they pulled up to a large set of gates that opened on a large circular driveway. The apex of the circle was the beautiful a framed cabin with many smaller steep roofs in and around it making what almost looked like a forest of evergreen tree shapes as an architectural theme. in the front the main doors were covered by a large portico that shielded the driveway and let carriages or in this season sleighs drop off their passengers under its roof out of the elements.
The Barron, Maureena and Cyrus exited the sled and the driver along with several pages removed their luggage and ushered them into the cabin.
The building was sumptuous and opulent but with a very woodsy charm. The center of the room was taken up with a large circular fire pit that had a hammered copper umbrella like flu that found it's way out of the high peaked roof. many doors opened to other rooms and other high peaked roofs. And the staff were lined up to greet Barron Rathbone.
A small man came to the party and bowed in welcome the Barron made some requests and they were shown up to his room.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 7, 2011 12:41:02 GMT -5
(OOC: Lea and Omensinger)
Lea Goldsmith whirled around the inner courtyard pond on her new ice skates like she had been born in them. She had learned how to ice skate when she was a child and admitted to herself that she was now showing off for Omensinger. She had donned some loose fitting russet brown hose under her hiked up tan very full skirt. It was fairly cold and so she had on three shirts that varied from a thin white tight-fitting under shirt to a slightly thicker off-white poufy sleeved peasant blouse over which she had on a dark brown woolen sleeveless tunic that buttoned down the front and covered over the top part of her skirt nearly covering her buttocks as well. She wore matching dark brown wool socks that went up to her knees and her feet and ankles were covered by the brown leather ice skates she’d had made for this occasion. She had commissioned them from a female Skandian merchant named Fin at the Harvest Faire in Whitby a couple of months earlier.
She was skating backwards, one eye on the few other skaters on the ice as she built up speed so she wouldn’t inadvertently run anyone over. When she thought she was going as fast as she could on the relatively small ice rink, she launched herself into the air and spun around backwards three times before she landed, dipping into a bow with a flourish of her hand at Omen and a huge smile on her face. She barely noticed the applause coming from bystanders on the decorated walkway and benches lining the pond. She only had eyes for the love of her life. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the frosty air and her eyes sparkled merrily as she focused her gaze on him.
Flipping a foot around and arching her back she leaned backwards and did a lazy S-figure across the pond, her arms outstretched and her hands moving gracefully in a beckoning fashion as she threw Omen a suggestive look over her shoulder and then she went into a spin, going faster and faster as she brought her arms in close to her body until she was nearly dizzy and then an abrupt stop with one hand stretched up over her head and the other across her belly. She bowed and only then noticed that a small crowd had gathered and were applauding her antics. She blushed bright red as she realized she had drawn unwanted attention to herself and grinned sheepishly at Omensinger.
“Perhaps we should… um… lie low for awhile, hmmm?” She grinned and giggled. “I didn’t mean to stand out quite so much in this crowd.” She looked around and saw the crowd was dispersing and several more people were taking to the ice as she made her way to the edge. “Or would you prefer to skate with me for awhile? It has been so long since I have gotten to just skate for fun!” Her eyes glowed as she watched the other skaters, most of whom were now just circling the pond in a counterclockwise motion, many falling or teetering precariously on the blades, unused to the feel of them on their feet or the balance required to wear them.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 7, 2011 15:33:16 GMT -5
(OOC: Brother Ash)
Ash was concealed in a rather thick copse of evergreen trees on a hill a bit back from the road leading from Araluen to Norgate just outside of Norgate Village. His black horse was tethered in the trees behind him happily munching on a large portion of oats and sweet corn flavored with molasses. Ash shivered and pulled his white cloak tighter around him. Snowy, his pure white snow owl, opened one eye and regarded him from the branch just above his head but he ignored her, continuing to stare at the road instead and she went back to sleep.
Ash was bored and cold and hungry and tired of waiting, but you wouldn’t know it to look at him. He leaned against the tree trunk, trying to stay in the thickest part of the branches where he was protected from the biting wind and not visible from the road or village. He had been here for hours marking the arrival of various guests of the Winter Revel, but there were three he was particularly interested in.
His vigilance was rewarded when he saw a sleigh draw into view with a driver and three passengers. He recognized Cyrus and the Baron at once, but missed the third passenger until she moved her head to look up at the Baron from where her head had rested in his lap. They were close enough for him to see the look in her eyes and Ash suppressed a shudder of revulsion. He never had experienced the need or desire to copulate with women or men and found the thought rather disgusting. Some had speculated his preference had lain with men and that was why he had joined the church, but it was not true. He often wondered if there was something fundamentally wrong with him or if it was just a result of the abuse he had witnessed at his father’s hand that had turned him off from the idea completely. He supposed he would never know any more than he would ever understand why everyone else in the world was so drawn to such behavior.
He studied his friend, Cyrus, who seemed a bit uncomfortable but was looking quite well. It seemed working for the Baron agreed with him far more than had working for Ash’s father. That Ash understood perfectly well.
Who was the girl though, possibly just one of the Baron’s women? Probably, Ash decided. Cyrus had informed him that the Baron was hardly a celibate priest; though he would not elaborate more than that and Ash didn’t really care to know.
They stopped at the village and then sped on through it and out of site. Ash knew where they were going. He had visited the chalet Cyrus had arranged for the Baron’s use two days ago and thought it might do nicely as a staging point for his own plans. He intended to take the Baron up on his offer of hospitality, it sure beat sitting out here in the snow in a weather-worn tent or staying in the castle with the thrum of guests and close scrutiny he was sure to get there. He could have rented his own place but somehow it seemed frivolous for him to take up an entire cabin by himself when there were going to be so many people here looking for warm places to sleep during the revel. The Baron should respect his privacy when he required it; at least Ash thought he would.
A gust of wind brought him out of his speculations again to scan the area around the village once more. It chilled him and he glanced back at Raven to see the horse had his butt to the wind and his head down. The blanket Ash had thrown over the horse’s back, saddle and packs seemed pitifully thin, but was actually a very warm, black, wool blanket. Soon Ash would need to pull the other one out and throw it over himself if the temperature continued to drop. There was a hint of snow showers in the scent on the air, Ash thought, and he expected there to be fresh snow on the ground by morning. That suited him fine for it would cover the tracks he and Raven were making here.
A few hours passed and the afternoon turned to evening and the stream of guests arriving picked up considerably just before sunset. Ash had nearly been dozing himself when a burst of laughter caught his attention. He focused in on the very large sleigh that was moving slowly along the road, recognizing the malicious sound of that laughter.
Duke Avignon pinched his wife’s arm just above the elbow hard enough to leave bruises through her fur coat as he pulled her face toward his and forced a brutal kiss upon her lips. Arielle struggled to pull away from him without dropping the infant she was trying to nurse in the frigid air. The Duke laughed as he pushed his son away from her exposed breast and gave it a mighty squeeze. Arielle cried out in pain, anger on her face and wrenched herself from his grasp, moving as far from him in the sleigh as she could manage. She winced as the baby sought his dinner once more and the Duke laughed again, satisfied that he had exerted his authority over her and made it known that his needs came before that of his twin sons, as if Arielle needed the reminder.
Ash’s hand went to his sword as he gritted his teeth in anger, seeing the exchange from his hideaway. ‘If I only had a crossbow’, he thought, ‘that bastard would be dead even now.’ He studied Arielle though as he schooled himself to patience. He had some elaborate plans on his brother-in-law’s demise and having the ancient man die from a crossbow bolt just seemed much too easy a death for one that had caused so many people in the world such harm and pain. No, the Duke would die, but he would die screaming for mercy, that much Ash was determined to do. The first step would be to get his sister out of his clutches though.
Arielle did not look well. She was gaunt and there were dark circles under her eyes, or perhaps they were bruises. Ash couldn’t tell from this distance. She still had fire in her eyes though and Ash was glad of that. The Duke had not broken her spirit yet, even though she was already pregnant after having given birth just a few short months ago to twin boys. Ash wondered that Arielle did not have a wet nurse, but upon reflection he figured that was probably the will of the Duke as well. Ash could see how the Duke would want her to nurse her own children as it would be another drain on her system. He wondered how a man so vile could be so viral and sire so many children only to have them all perish one after the other until there were only Arielle’s little twins to carry on the Duke’s name.
He watched their sleigh pull into the castle courtyard and a boy of about 12 ran out to assist them. Ash smiled. He knew the boy and had paid quite handsomely to have his sister housed in a particular suite of rooms in the castle, one with a special entrance known only to a few, the boy being one of them. The secret passage was instrumental in getting Arielle away from the Duke with her two children and Ash had paid even more to keep the boy silent about the passage.
After his sister was out of sight Ash settled in to await the arrival of the last person of interest, his father. His wait was short this time as his father and other sister Anya arrived just over an hour later. Anya looked to be in good health and decent spirits as they too stopped at the castle.
Satisfied that all of his plans were about to come to fruition and h e would at last have his revenge on his father, Ash pulled the blanket off Raven and tightened the cinch. He pulled the reins of the hackamore over the evil tempered horse’s head as Raven tried to take a chunk out of his chest and mounted. He whistled to Snowy who launched herself from the branch and glided onto his outstretched arm and then rode off toward the Baron’s Chalet.
He cantered Raven along the back trails, crossing the main road and came up behind the cabin, pausing to check the activity around it. Everything seemed normal and so he proceeded to the front door, dismounted and placed Snowy on the pommel and then knocked. If he was lucky he wouldn’t be too late for supper, he mused as he waited for a servant to open the door.
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Post by Tandar on Jan 13, 2011 14:40:24 GMT -5
Deep in a forest some distance west of the castle, Cannon trekked through the pristine, fluffy snow blanketing the ground where few bothered to venture. He was dressed against the biting cold, but his fingers were numb and the low temperature made the air was almost painful to breathe even through the mask he wore. The mask covered the lower half of his face, and the heavy wool hood of his white cloak covered the top of his head, leaving only the area around his eyes exposed to the elements. He spotted the three arrowheads surrounding the triangular figure carved into the trunk of a snow-coated elm, and began counting his paces after he passed the tree. With each step, his snowshoe left a long dimple on the surface of the snow. With luck, new snowfall would erase the marks of his passing. At a certain point, Rip turned right, took a few more steps and stopped. Thrusting his gloved hand into the small snow bank in front of him, he shivered as flakes found their way up his sleeve and touched his skin. After a moment of feeling around, he found the rope pull he was looking for and managed to lift the hidden door enough to position the prop rod to hold it open.
The assassin looked over the weapons cache buried below ground level. He had deposited the supplies there during the summer months and concealed the door with leaves, branches, and foliage. A barrel full of large blades sat in one corner with a row of crossbows beside it. Cannon picked up a thick, bulky roll of padded canvas that was tied shut. Tugging at the knot, he peeked inside and caught a glimpse of the long straight blade of a dirk. Judging by the end of the bundle, there were at least half a dozen in the roll. He stuffed it in his backpack and started sorting through the stack of light weaponry.
A short time later, Cannon was trudging across the ground once again, this time toward the castle with a fully loaded pack. The revelry had begun for the citizens of Araluen, but the Triad of Four had work to do.
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Post by Ringulf on Jan 21, 2011 13:52:10 GMT -5
Omensinger watched as his lovely partner showed how truly talented she was on the ice. He was not a terrible skater, he could go forward and backward and do a little spin like maneuver that he normally used to stop, but she clearly could run rings around him.
Instead of taking away focus from Lea he decided to sit and pull out his miniature travel lute and play some music for her to skate to.
This seemed to have a wonderful effect as she became even more graceful and beautiful.
This also started to draw a crowd and before long others were joining into the icy dance.
“Perhaps we should… um… lie low for awhile, hmmm?” She grinned and giggled. “I didn’t mean to stand out quite so much in this crowd.” She looked around and saw the crowd was dispersing and several more people were taking to the ice as she made her way to the edge. “Or would you prefer to skate with me for awhile? It has been so long since I have gotten to just skate for fun!” Her eyes glowed as she watched the other skaters, most of whom were now just circling the pond in a counterclockwise motion, many falling or teetering precariously on the blades, unused to the feel of them on their feet or the balance required to wear them.
When they finished as Lea realized she was attracting quite a few admirers.
They got up to go when many of the other skaters and looker's on stated to compliment her on her skating and then started asking the Bard for another song.
Omen was going to turn them down at first not wanting to take away from Lea's moment but when he realized that she was not to keen on being remembered he acquiesced and started in.
"All right folks!" he said, "This one is a song for the simple folk of Norgate and it is about a certain Northern neighbor that you must all be acquainted with...The Scotti!"
With that the crowd let out roar that was mixed with laughter and jeers as the people of Norgate had allot of history with the Pictish people, either by blood or contact.
Omensinger plunged into a rolling pictish melody with a solid beat and many around started a rhythmic clap, then he started singing.
"A Clansman clad in kilt left a bar one evening fair, One could tell by how he walked he'd drunk more than his share, He staggered on until he could no longer keep his feet, then he stumbled off in to the grass to sleep beside the street.
Ring ding deedle eedle idy o' ring dye deedle o' dee, He stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street..."
The clapping continued and the audience prompted Omen to continue the tale.
"Later on two young and lovely girls just happened by, And one says to the other with a twinkle in her eye, You see yon sleepin Clansman, so strong and handsome built? Ah wunder if it's true what they don wear beneath their kilt?
Ring ding deedle eedle idy o' ring dye deedle o' dill, Ah wonder if it's true what they don wear beneath there kilt?"
The crowd laughed and raised cat calls at the bawdy subject matter all engrossed in the frolic.
"They creeped up on the sleepin Scotti quiet as can be, and lifted up his kilt above the waist so they could see, and there behold for them to view beneath his Scotti skirt, Twas nothin but what God had graced him with upon his birth!
Ring ding deedle eedle idy o' ring dye deedle o' der Twas nothin but what God had graced with him upon his birth!"
This brought even louder cheers from the crowed who were enjoying the song and Omen's rather silly gestures and expressions as he sang it.
"They marveled for a moment and one said We must be gone, let's leave a present for our friend before we move along!, So as a gift they left a blue silk ribbon tied into a bow, Around the bonnie star of the boys kilt liftin show!
Ring ding deedle eedle idy o' ring dye deedle oh doe, Around the bonnie star of the boys kilt liftin show.
The laughter continued and even Omen vamped a few times on the lute before continuing the ballad. but this just made them want it more.
"The Clansman woke to nature's call and stumbled to a tree, behind the bush he lifts his kilt and he gawks at what he sees, and in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes.......
a long silent pause with a comic pantomime of Omen Lifting an invisible kilt and gawking at his nethers.
"Mah Friend Ah dunno where ya been bu' ah see ya won furst prize!!"
Ring ding deedle eedle idy o' ring dye deedle o' dye, Mah friend ah dunno where ya been bu' ah seen ya won furst priiiiiize!"
The Bard quickly rattled out the little theme in closing through loud laughter and jeering then he raise his hand and his little lute and hopped down from the rock he was standing on grabbed Lea by the arm and skated quickly to the other side of the lake to remove their skates as they were both loudly applauded and thumped on their backs.
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Post by RacingBelle on Jan 29, 2011 9:46:54 GMT -5
Adriane hunched over her small bay horse Lightning. She was mumbling a string of curses under her breath as they plodded to Norgate castle. Adriane's hands and feet had long since gone numb from the icy weather since this morning when she had set out, hopefully for the last time. Though it wouldn't be long before Lightning was in a warm stable and Adriane was near a warm fire. Already the castle was coming in view. Both Adriane and Lightning were tempted to rocket off but both also knew they would end up colder in the long run. So still they plodded on. Adriane usually had plenty of patience to spare but being cold made her temper flare and impatience start to rumble.
"I give up! Better to get colder then get warmer sooner right?" Adriane declared defiantly. Lightning's ear flicked back in acknowledgment. "I could swear your human sometimes." The bay tossed his head slightly in seeming agreement, making his bit jangle. A low whistle filled the air and Bolder, Adriane's dog, came running from where he was sniffing at a corpse of trees. The black dog wagged his tail and whined. Adriane's heels clapped the bay Ranger horse lightly on his sides and the horse took off, galloping past the farmers that were working so hard to clear the roads.
"Whoa! Whoa!" Adriane said rather loudly. Lightning slide to a stop. "Now you know that's not what I meant. Silly boy." Adriane gave him a pat anyway. It was just like her little horse to pull something on her once in a while. Lightning seemed rather proud of himself just to add to the fact. She looked around for her dog as she adjusted her Ranger's cloak more firmly around her, throwing up the hood once she had found him. The cowl hide her face as Lightning walked through the gates of Norgate fief. The guards stationed at the gate recognized a Ranger apprentice and gave brief nods of hello. Adriane waved off some stable boys wanting to stable her horse. She would do that herself. A Ranger's horse comes first. Adriane dismounted, leading Lightning after her. Bolder followed the pair into the stable. Adriane sighed in relief. It was warmer in here with all the horses and what not. A stable boy quickly showed her where everything she would need was before going off to help some other traveler. After untacking, a quick brush, a few pats and words of praised followed by a good measure of grain to Lightning Adriane saw to her dog.
"Alright. You can follow me. Just don't get in other people's way." Adriane told the dog with mock exasperation. She stooped down and played with his ears and giving Bolder a quick rub on his belly when he flipped over. "Come on then. Might as well go see who's here."
Adriane closed the stall door and walked out of the stable taking with her the essential Ranger weapons her Saxe and throwing knives and re-curve bow slung over her back with its quiver full of black arrows , with Bolder also close at the girls heels. Adriane walked into the castle, taking notice of all the intricate decorations. She was a bit self-conscious of herself. Never before had she been to something like this. After all, Adriane was only a simple village girl, not some Baron's daughter. Adriane slipped into the room where all the singing and laughter could be heard. The apprentice looked around for a chair, not sure where to go. So she moved off and leaned against a wall waiting for someone direct her somewhere. Bolder sat at her left side, leaning on her leg slightly. Adriane absentmindedly stroked him as she took in yet more sights.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 31, 2011 10:12:21 GMT -5
Tory was standing in the shadows half hidden by a decorated spruce tree that had been chopped down and placed in a bucket of dirt. The tree was a good 7 feet tall and there were six others nearly identical placed around the great hall. They sparkled with glass, silver and gold ornaments wrought in a variety of shapes and sizes. Garland was strewn liberally around them and there were presents wrapped under some of them. Tory had seen people arrive and place gifts under the trees for later distribution. She wondered if she was supposed to have gifts for her friends again since she had already given to those she cared about at the Yule celebration in Marshwood last month. That is everyone except the two most important people in her career as a ranger; Tandar and Patrick.
She was expecting to see Tandar and Brandwyn here, hoping they would be here as a matter of fact. She wanted to see how the last couple months had helped Tandar and if he was in a better frame of mind than he was at the Harvest Faire.
Tory held out very little hope that Patrick would put in an appearance however and although she wanted to see him again, she was rather hoping he would not show up. She didn’t want him to risk getting caught. She knew Crowley was still looking for him and for some reason seemed to think Patrick was back in Araluen. Tory knew the heat was cranked up a notch and she was being watched like a hawk. She saw Harrison, the ranger of Norgate, glance in her direction every five minutes and Tory glared at him. Obviously he had been put on the alert to watch her and nab Palisade if he turned up. So, even though she had made a beautiful, long boot dagger with a black leather scabbard, with Fin’s help of course, for Patrick and she longed to give it to him, she still hoped he wouldn’t show up.
She sighed and moved back into the shadows as Harrison looked her way again. He stared at the spot she was hiding in, but from the look on his face Tory thought maybe he couldn’t tell she was there. Harrison glanced around the crowded room and then some other ranger interrupted him and he moved off, deeper into the crowd.
Tory moved toward the door, deciding she’d had enough of Harrison and stopped fast in her tracks as another girl a couple years younger than she entered the hall with a dog in tow. The girl was wearing ranger gear and the bronze oak leaf marking her as an apprentice. Tory watched her for a moment and waited to see if her mentor showed up. ‘She must be new,’ Tory thought, resuming her walk to the door. She didn’t see anyone with the girl and the girl looked very uncomfortable in the luscious surroundings of the great hall. Biting her lip for a moment, Tory glanced back toward Harrison and saw him watching her again. She glared at him again, staring straight at him and then turned and marched determinedly over to the new girl, her face changing from the angry glare to a smile of welcome. Hopefully this would go better than her first meeting with Ivy, Bunt’s apprentice, had gone.
She stepped up to the ranger girl and looked at the dog, longing to pet it. Tory loved animals and related to them far more than she did to people. “Hi! I’m Tory, apprenticed to --- well, that is a rather long story, but I think I am still apprenticed to Ranger Tandar.” Tory smiled to cover the awkward moment. She never knew what to say these days about who her mentor was. “I love your dog; he is beautiful, what’s his name?” Tory reached out her hand, palm down to let the dog sniff her. “Can I pet him?” she asked.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw that Harrison had stiffened as she moved toward the door and now he relaxed, laughing at some joke his ranger friend had just told him. Tory chuckled to herself in satisfaction. Let him relax, think she is just enjoying the party and then she would slip out unseen. She could find a spot outside the castle where she could keep an eye open for Patrick, just in case he did turn up. Meanwhile she would play the game and pretend she was having fun here. Who knows, maybe she actually would have fun, she thought doubtfully. She generally didn’t like parties or large crowds and wasn’t even sure why she had come in the first place.
She turned her full attention back to the new girl, noting they were nearly identically dressed and it seemed the girl wasn’t any more comfortable here than Tory was, though probably for slightly different reasons. Tory, however, was always up for making new friends even though she was more often rejected by her peers than not, the vast majority thinking she was a very odd girl and some even saying she practiced magic to talk to the animals. It was absurd, but Tory let them go on thinking that and used it to her advantage. Maybe this girl wouldn’t think she was weird though and Tory would have another friend like Mylia.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 31, 2011 14:20:54 GMT -5
(OOC: Fin and Katrina haggling over a new sword)
Fin parked her wagon around near the side gate into the main hall that was on the stable side of the huge building. She unloaded the tables and items that were already complete and ready for sale and display on the tables. She helped Gyr and Ringulf set up the tables not far inside the door so she had easy access between their display tables inside and her forge outside.
"Ah vwill let you two set up deh display as you see fit vwhile Ah go set up meh forge outside. Dis is dah log book on how much tah ask for and how low tah drop deh price, but Ah trust ya bote ta get a good deal, so ya do as you tink best." She patted Gyr on the shoulder. "Ah sure am glad ya bote are here. Ah am looking forward ta some fun here at dis Revel dis year." She turned to Ringulf and folded her arms around him, resting her cheek on his shoulder for a moment and then whispered in his ear, "Ah am especially gladt ya are here, My Love!" she kissed him then and slipped out of his grasp expertly and was out the side gate within moments.
She opened the side flap of her wagon and set it on the poles, turning the outside wall of her wagon into the roof of her blacksmith shop. She arranged the portable forge and other tools of her trade in their usual configuration minus the display tables for her jewelry and other trinkets. She was glad Gyr was here to help her as well as Ringulf. She could set up the jewelry inside with the other merchants where the traffic of patrons was in greater volume, leaving her weapons and armor on display out here, with a few exceptions. She would place a couple of high end swords and armor pieces inside to entice customers to come outside to see what she had out there. Hopefully she would be able to make a great deal of money shoeing and trimming horses feet while she was here and maybe get some orders for some custom swords. Meanwhile Ringulf or Gyr could man the table inside while she worked out here.
She had just placed the rather large anvil in its place next to the dishing table, her muscles straining with the weight of the anvil, when a potential customer approached. She recognized the woman from the Harvest Faire and greeted her warmly.
“Ahhh. Goot afternoon, Lady Knight!” She grinned and accepted Katrina’s hand. “It is goot ta see ya again.” They had met during the Faire and talked of weapons for a couple of hours before Katrina had been hauled off by a group of knights to discuss some business that only they were privy to.
Katrina smiled back and shook her hand vigorously, wincing a little at the Skandian woman’s grip. “It is good to see you again, Lady Fin” She eyed what Fin was wearing and couldn’t help but ask, “I know you are Skandian, but aren’t you freezing in that outfit?”
Fin chuckled as she began to set the fire in the forge and nodded, “a bit right now, but vwen de coals catch, Ah vwill be toasty vwarm in no time. Besides,” she winked at Katrina, “Ah haf ta be careful not ta catch de furs on fire vwile Ah am working.” She struck flint to steel and sparks leapt onto the soft, dry tinder in her forge. Within moments the fire was flaring up as the wood caught. Fin waited a bit and as the wood burned down she carefully placed some lumps of black rock into the embers and then added more wood, gently pumping on the bellows. She saw Katrina’s puzzled look and answered before the Knight could ask about the rocks. “Dat is coal.” Fin said pointing to the bin of black rocks. “Dey burn and make da fire hotter ant it is easier to work de steel ant makes it stronger.”
Katrina picked up one of the lumps and rolled it in her hand, noticing that the black came off on her fingers. She dropped it back in the bin and wiped her hands off on a rag that Fin handed to her. “Very interesting,” Katrina said and then moved to examine the swords Fin had piled on the ground in front of a weapon stand. “I am hoping you might be able to help me.”
Fin started to pick up the swords one at a time and place them on the stand in a particular order. “Ah hope so too,” she winked at Katrina, “Vwhat did ya haf in mind?”
Katrina picked up a longsword and looked it over closely examining the craftsmanship of the fine blade. The Skandian woman definitely knew how to forge a weapon. She didn’t see exactly what she was looking for here in the items Fin was putting on display for sale however.
“Would it be possible for you to forge a sword between now and the fourth feast of the faire?” Katrina asked doubtfully. “That is only about 5 days; I don’t suppose that would give you enough time.”
Fin grinned. “Ah don’t see vwhy not. Ah haf assistants now ta mindt meh wares vwhile I vwork here.” She pulled out her handmade, leather bound note book that was barely larger than her palm and a stick of charcoal. “Vwhat did ya haf in mind fer deh design?”
They discussed the particulars for several minutes and Katrina gave her a down payment of a gold piece. Fin shook her hand and began to gather the materials needed for the sword. She had three commissions to complete before the first week of the faire was up and the profit from those items would more than pay for the little she had spent to get here. She whistled a merry tune as she stoked the fire and set about her work of heating up slabs of cold steel that she had prepared back in Marshwood. Her secret to being able to forge a weapon in a day or two came from all the work she did before hand preparing the raw materials so that when she arrived at a market she only had to do the final stages of actually shaping and decorating the weapon and then honing its edges and giving it a final polish.
Katrina stepped into the main hall from the side gate and smiled to herself. She knew Henry Dell was going to be double surprised on the night of the Fourth Feast. She looked around for familiar faces as she wandered through the crowd of merchants on this side of the room, their stalls packed with people examining the wares.
Several people greeted Katrina and she chatted idly with them as she slowly made her way around the room. She was looking for Dougal in particular, but before she found him, her father motioned her over. He was standing with a fairly large group of knights and they were discussing candidates for apprenticeship and promotion. Katrina joined in on the conversation, giving her opinions and kept an eye out for Dougal. She had a feeling that this Winter Revel she was going to enjoy for a change. ‘Heck, the last four Revels I was out patrolling the borders and missed pretty much everything,’ she thought. ‘It will be nice to be a part of the celebrations for once.’ She was using up a week of her furlough time so she could spend it with Dougal here at the revel where her mother could not keep them apart every moment of the day. Duchess Anne was going to be far too busy playing hostess with the Baroness to keep tabs on Katrina. Now all she had to do was get her father so absorbed with his old time friends in the Chivalry and she would be home free.
She pulled one of the knights aside while the others were hotly debating an apprentice for knighthood and spoke to him softly. He was a very old friend of her father’s and they had not seen each other for over a year. Katrina convinced him that her father was in need of companionship from his friends and had been feeling very nostalgic about the old days. The knight agreed to make sure that her father would not lack for company while he was in Norgate and Katrina smiled her thanks. Humming, she broke out of the press of knights and headed for the table of food, her stomach rumbling. This was going to be a good revel, she just knew it!
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Post by RacingBelle on Feb 5, 2011 21:12:05 GMT -5
Adriane crouched by Bolder, scratching behind his ears and ruffling the dogs fur. She was just contented to play with her dog right now.
"So what do you think of all of this, boy? Like things like this?" Adriane said. Bolder let out a soft whoof. "I thought so. It's certainly warmer in here than out there right?" Another soft whoof. Adriane stood up and looked around. Then at the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of another Ranger apprentice. Adriane could tell because of her bronze oakleaf. Adriane fingered her own oakleaf. Bolder growled softly. "I know boy. It's alright. I see her." The dog relaxed again. Adriane looked at the approaching apprentice, it was a girl like herself. Adriane threw back the cowl of her cloak, even though the girl hardly knew it was over her head in the first place, and returned the welcoming smile.
“Hi! I’m Tory, apprenticed to --- well, that is a rather long story, but I think I am still apprenticed to Ranger Tandar.” Tory smiled to cover the awkward moment. She never knew what to say these days about who her mentor was. “I love your dog; he is beautiful, what’s his name?” Tory reached out her hand, palm down to let the dog sniff her. “Can I pet him?” she asked.
"I'm Adriane and this is Bolder." Adriane replied. She noticed that Tory seemed a little awkward about saying who her mentor was but let the fact go. Adriane wouldn't pry into other people's lives. Tory held out her hand to Bolder and the dog sniffed it briefly before butting it with his nose. Bolder cocked his head, as if silently pleading for Tory to pet him. "Sure you can pet him. He won't bite." Adriane gave the dog a stern stare. Or a least I hope he won't any way. Adriane added silently. "So do you like animals? I do. I kinda have a...special taking to horses. My Ranger horse is named Lightning. What's your horse's name?" Adriane was eager find out more about others in the Corps. Tory was the first Ranger apprentice she had met. "Do you like being in the Corps? I do so far...it feels like I was meant to be doing this. Like a second nature." Adriane continued to smile and hoped Tory wouldn't think she was being too talkative. She was just really excited, this could be her first friend...that is a girl and a Ranger!
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Post by Firehead on Feb 7, 2011 14:31:13 GMT -5
Mylia's skin tingled with excitement--this was her first Yule Revel, and also, her first time wearing a dress (that actually fit like it was made for her) in over nine years. She was both excited and nervous as she pulled the gown down over her head and smoothed it down the front. Made of wool and dyed a rich blue hue with a darker blue trim, her dress was of a simple pattern, one that flattered her small, petite frame without being revealing. Tying the cord that held her pouch--a blue-toned one that matched the trim color of her dress--and went about her waist, she spun to face herself in the mirror. At first glance she could hardly recognize herself, she looked so different from her usual dirty self. She was quite clean and still glowed from the sound scrubbing she'd given herself, her hair was neatly trimmed to just below her ears in a feminine style, and topping it all off was the dress factor.
Spinning away, she skipped to the door that opened to Simone's room and danced in, giving a last twirl around before coming to a stop in front of Simone who sat on her bed brushing her hair. "What do you think?"
Simone gave her a careful glance then said, "You look fine."
Mylia beamed at Simone then asked, "What about you? Aren't you going to wear a dress?"
Simone barely contained a snort of derision. "Me? Heavens no, Mylia, not with a limp that can be seen clearly from a mile away by a blind man any day of the week. Besides," she went on, "It's cold enough for me without having to wear a dress as well." She grooming her hair and tied it back in a ponytail for the time being as she ushered Mylia out the door. " Go show Ringulf and your friends what you look like. I have to finish dressing for the Revel."
"Okay. See ya later, Simone!" Mylia grinned impishly at her, then added, "And thanks." She turned and flitted away before Simone could answer.
The first person she found was Tory, talking with what appeared to be another Ranger apprentice--Another girl no less--in the front foyer outside the grand ballroom. She fairly danced up to them, her face alight with excitement. "Hi Tory!" Turning to face the other girl as well, she said, "Hello. Nice to meet you." then to them both in general, "Are you excited about this?" ---------------------------
Simone finished dressing and studied the finished result in the mirror. A dark green cotton shirt beneath a black wool vest, with black woolen pants; her brown leather belt and pouch cinched at her waist, ankle-high boots on her feet. It was a simple costume, but one she was comfortable in and one that she felt would be acceptable if she wandered into the ballroom for any odd reason. The clothes fit well and flattered her figure without restricting her movement. While she may have exaggerated the noticeability of her limp to Mylia, she had meant what she'd said about it being cold enough already without her wearing a dress and freezing her legs stiff as well.
She checked her image in the mirror one last time and noticed one last thing that needed to be taken care of before she left. Taking her hair out of the ponytail she'd put it in temporarily, she divided it into three parts and wove it into a long braid that went to half-way down her back. "There." she muttered to herself as she walked out the door.
She walked into the great hall where the vendors had set up their wears and wandered along the aisles, casually looking over the goods for sale. -----------------------------
The messenger strode through the crowds looking for the recipient of the message that he bore in his hand: it had just arrived by mail, and was addressed in rather sloppy (and very atrocious) handwriting, to Sir Katrina the Lady Knight. At last the man spotted her standing near a table loaded down with food. Approaching, he gave a short bow and addressed her. "Lady Knight, this just arrived for you." He handed her the message and departed.
The message read: To Sir Katrina.
I ment to appalagize sooner, but couldn't find yu after the Ball--yu was bizy the one tim I saw yu-- an I did not want to inturupt. Im sinding this to yu insted. Im sorry about falling on yu at the Ball-- I didn't mean to-- it was an axident. Hop yu understand this--my Menter--Rick-- says mi writting is a t r o c i o u s.
Yors sinserly, Tam
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Post by Ringulf on Feb 24, 2011 11:34:46 GMT -5
Ash pulled the blanket off Raven and tightened the cinch. He pulled the reins of the hackamore over the evil tempered horse’s head as Raven tried to take a chunk out of his chest and mounted. He whistled to Snowy who launched herself from the branch and glided onto his outstretched arm and then rode off toward the Baron’s Chalet.
He cantered Raven along the back trails, crossing the main road and came up behind the cabin, pausing to check the activity around it. Everything seemed normal and so he proceeded to the front door, dismounted and placed Snowy on the pommel and then knocked. If he was lucky he wouldn’t be too late for supper, he mused as he waited for a servant to open the door.
The large oak door with ornate iron work creaked open to reveal of all people Cyrus! He heard a voice from inside call to his friend,
"Who is that Cyrus? Who has come to the doorstep this evening."
By the robust baritone it was apparent that it was the Baron himself making the inquiry. In and about his query could be heard the melodious giggling of a feminine voice as well.
"It is Master Ash Your Excellency!" called Cyrus as he grabbed Ashes Arm and pulled him into the room hugging him tightly.
"I am glad to see you came..." he said in a low voice, "I have much to tell you when we can be alone."
Just then the Baron strode up behind Cyrus,
Ash! my good friend! come in, come in Bring the bird, my he is magnificent! do you hunt him or is he a companion? I will have to show you my mews some day I have a fondness for the prey birds myself! Come come don't stand there with the door open and I here in my robe! Cyrus would you be so good as to have the servants stable Ashes horse? Ash we have a roaring fire in the pit and mulled wine and cider to warm ourselves, some boar has just been taken from the spit and we are preparing to glut, come and warm yourself and Maureena will serve you while we talk. I trust your journey was not overly tedious but you do look rather cold."
The Baron was obviously in a rare talkative mood made more so by the mulled wine and the apparent ministrations of Maureena.
I have dismissed the house servants so that we might be a bit more intimate and comfortable but if you have luggage I will call them to put it in your room, Cyrus why don't you leave those accounts for tomorrow and come spend time with us now that Ash is here!
Cyrus smiled gratefully, "Very good Your Excellency, I will close thing up and join you momentarily, Ash I will remove your things from your horse and bring them up to your room." He said with a nearly imperceptible wink unseen by the Baron.
As he did so he took with him a scrap of parchment and scribbled a note to Ash that he stuck in his blanket roll, Then returned down the stairs to the others.
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Post by Ringulf on Feb 24, 2011 13:17:15 GMT -5
The puffed plume of icy breath came at regular intervals. The swish, swish swish of the wooden skis cut through the powdery snow as Gyr ran the course for the third time today. He stopped to unsling his bow as he neared the target area, He drew an arrow smoothly and let fly the shaft speeding it to the target almost willing it into the dyed red splotch in the center of the spirally twisted rope on the surface of the haybail.
He slung the bow back up and pumped his young legs in chorus with the ski poles and shot off toward the next firing point down the course.
As he rounded a bend he caught a glimpse of another man moving off to the right of him rather far into the woods. as it was nearing sunset, Gyr was curious as to the identity and purpose of such an individual.
"Well this may be a good opportunity to practice a bit of tracking, lets see what this fellow is up to!" thought Gyr to himself.
He unstrapped the leather bindings from his skis and leaned them up on the backside of a large tree that faces the trail then he set his pole wedged against them to keep them from falling. He took his bow from around his back and fitted an arrow to the string and made off in the direction he saw the dark shape moving.
He tracked the clear signs of the figure and as he followed notice that the footprints were strange. They were made by rather large boots, and the man was walking with a broad gaited limp. The depth of the prints suggested a rather heavy individual and at one point he came across a bit of his quarries spoor, which he then determined was not made by any common man!
The droppings were still hot and Gyr knew he was not very far from whoever had left them when suddenly, off to his left, he saw a large dark shape. The silhouette stiffened as he saw him. it seemed as though he was testing the air with his nose but then crouched and looked directly at him.
It was almost dark now and difficult to see but he could see the form was charging at him and the glint of the moonlight reflected off some large axe-like weapon in his hand.
Gyr took a bead on his attacker and aimed for his center, he loosed the arrow and it took the figure right through the neck. The arrow protruded wickedly from front and back and though it rocked the recipient he kept coming!
Gyr pulled another arrow from his quiver he would barely have time to fire, so he must make this count for there may not be enough time to draw his dagger. Again he fired smoothly showing the calm of a hunter, the arrow pierced the creatures throat again, for creature it was.
The beast was on him and bore him to the ground Gyr had just been able to free his dagger as he went down beneath the feted breath of the inhuman warrior.
As he grabbed the creatures weapon hand in his right hand he turned the cut of the menacing crescent shaped, hook-like axe to his right and stuck his knife up into the beasts stomach just below his rib cage and twisted.
They rolled for a few moments each trying to gain the upper hand but the creatures great strength was not equal to Gyr's wiry suppleness and the big axe not meant for close work such as this.
Gyr rolled up on top and plunged the knife repeatedly into the chest of his hairy foul smelling opponent.
With a gasp the creature gurgled it's last breath and succumbed to his many wounds.
"Damn what in the name of Hel is this thing, it surely was hard to kill!" Gyr heard himself say in his mind.
He got up and took the creatures axe and lopped off its hand then he took his own dagger and sliced off one of the creatures ears.
"A gruesome task even for a hunter, but this thing will need to be identified and I must not tarry here long there are surely more of them their stench is even now on the wind!" Gyr thought as he sniffed the breeze.
Just then sounds of grunting and shuffling came from the other side of the clearing which he had been fighting in.
He saw several of the same type of creature break out of the woods on the other side spotting him just as he saw them.
"Time to go!" Gyr said and stuffed the grizzly trophies in his bag sprinting back toward the course and his skis.
The creatures were in hot pursuit but he had a good lead on them and they paused briefly to see their maimed comrade and determine his condition. This of course whipped them up into a frenzy and they chased Gyr all the more heatedly for it.
Gyr made his way skillfully back to his skis dodging in between the thick trunks of the black trees in the moonlit, snow covered nightmare.
He stuck his feet into one and sped off carrying the other and the poles as he slid down to the course and pumped his unfastened foot to propel him on one ski swiftly over the icy, rutted course.
As he topped a hill he saw his pursuers break from the tree-line. Starting a down hill slide, he held his balance sliding on one ski and slipped the other on his other foot.
When he put his other ski to the snow he dug the ski poles into the ground on either side of him and he was off like a speeding arrow himself.
The creatures would have no chance to catch him at this speed! He raced with all haste back to the town, He must find Ringulf!
The pleasant Norgate Revel was about to take a vastly different turn!
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Post by Brandwyn on Feb 24, 2011 23:56:42 GMT -5
(OOC: Ash at Baron’s chalet)…
Ash was relieved when he saw his friend answer the door. "Who is that Cyrus? Who has come to the doorstep this evening."
By the robust baritone it was apparent that it was the Baron himself making the inquiry. In and about his query could be heard the melodious giggling of a feminine voice as well.
"It is Master Ash Your Excellency!" called Cyrus as he grabbed Ashes Arm and pulled him into the room hugging him tightly.
"I am glad to see you came..." he said in a low voice, "I have much to tell you when we can be alone."
Ashton returned the hug, albeit a bit stiffly, he wasn’t used to close human contact, but he was glad to see Cyrus. “You look well. I think this job is agreeing with you.” Ash said softly as he turned to face the Baron who appeared in an evening robe.
”Ash! My good friend! Come in, come in Bring the bird. My, he is magnificent! Do you hunt him or is he a companion? I will have to show you my mews some day I have a fondness for the prey birds myself! Come, come don't stand there with the door open and I here in my robe! Cyrus would you be so good as to have the servants stable Ash's horse? Ash we have a roaring fire in the pit and mulled wine and cider to warm ourselves, some boar has just been taken from the spit and we are preparing to glut, come and warm yourself and Maureena will serve you while we talk.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency” He said and shook Baron Rathbone’s hand, “I am sorry to have interrupted your evening.” He nodded to Maureena, “And my apologies to you as well, Ma’am.” He turned back to Raven and pulled out a wrapped package from his saddlebag and then motioned for Snowy to jump to his shoulder. The sun was pretty much down now and Snowy was quite alert now, looking around as if trying to decide where to hunt. Ash stroked his chest feathers and Snowy rubbed the side of his beak against Ash’s forefinger.
“He is my friend. I let him hunt when he chooses to.” Ash answered. “He has saved me from starvation on at least one occasion. As you see, I use no traces on him, so he is free to go whenever he chooses. For some odd reason he chooses to stay with me.”
The stable boy ran up and Raven laid back his ears in warning. Ash motioned the boy to slow down and walk up to Raven from the side. “Be careful with him. He bites and kicks and he will try to kill you if he doesn’t like you.” Ash instructed as he handed over the reins. He was a bit reluctant to let another care for Raven, but his hunger and the chill in his bones won out. He watched for just a moment as the boy expertly avoided Raven’s attempts to damage the kid.
Ash stepped into the door and followed the Baron as he explained about the roasted pig. Ash’s stomach betrayed him as it rumbled with hunger as the succulent smell of roasted pork hit his nostrils. “I would love to see your birds. I have been working on drawings of the birds of prey, identifying their muscle structure and other facts about them. I shall have to let you see what I have done so far. Perhaps there are some birds you have seen that I don’t have in my book.”
“I trust your journey was not overly tedious but you do look rather cold."
Ash chuckled, “Well I am cold, but I have actually been here for two days already. I spent one night in the local Inn but the bugs in the bedding were murder so I shared a blanket with my demon possessed horse last night. I am afraid I probably reek and I must apologize again.” He pulled off his riding gloves and tucked them into his belt, then stepped to the fireplace to warm his fingers. The package was tucked under his left elbow. It was about 8 by 10 inches and about 1 inch thick and wrapped in a waxed black cloth.
”I have dismissed the house servants so that we might be a bit more intimate and comfortable but if you have luggage I will call them to put it in your room, Cyrus why don't you leave those accounts for tomorrow and come spend time with us now that Ash is here!
Cyrus smiled gratefully, "Very good Your Excellency, I will close thing up and join you momentarily, Ash I will remove your things from your horse and bring them up to your room." He said with a nearly imperceptible wink unseen by the Baron.
As he did so he took with him a scrap of parchment and scribbled a note to Ash that he stuck in his blanket roll, Then returned down the stairs to the others.
“Just my saddlebags, bedroll and the cloths and weapons on my back,” Ash quipped, turning to warm his other side. Ash watched Cyrus give him a wink but he didn’t acknowledge it with anything more than blinking his eyes. So Cyrus had some information for him. Ash suspected the Baron might already know about that information. This could prove to be a very interesting evening.
Ash crossed to the Baron and handed him the cloth package. “I…acquired… this and I thought you might find it useful. I have studied it and gleaned what information I might need from it already.” Then Ash sat in an armchair that was fairly close to the fire. He accepted a cup from the lovely Maureena and sipped it gingerly. The hot mulled cider was delicious and Ash thought it might have a bit of rum or brandy in it. Immediately warmth radiated out from his stomach. Ash sighed in contentment and sat back, glad to be luxury for a change.
“That is a ledger of business transactions. You are listed in 3 places. I found the entries very interesting. It seems that the owner of this book may have duped you on a business deal, but I could not tell for sure.” Ash explained. “My brother-in-law and my Father are both in there as well. I found some rather interesting business arrangements with some key people. Some quite surprised me, such as Cardinal Winlow and the director of the Araluen hosipital, one Fistan Dobarton. There are others too you will likely recognize.” Ash took another sip of his cider.
Ash was reluctant to explain who was the owner of the book and where that man’s body was now. He knew the guy’s name, but he hoped the Baron wouldn’t be that interested in how he came into possession of the rather remarkable secret journal of one Sinbad Shantilly.
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