erevan
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 57
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Post by erevan on Aug 10, 2011 14:02:42 GMT -5
Walking through the camp, Al decided it would be good to introduce himself to his team leader. The only problem was, other than the name, he had no idea who the leader was or where to find him. He asked one of the other Rangers in the area, who pointed Dustin out. Running up to the older apprentice, he hoped this would not turn out badly.
"Are you Dustin?" he asked, coming even with the young man. "I'm Al, Al Stormrunner, Qwade's apprentice. I'm on your team for this bet between Bunt and Crowley, so I figured I would say hi. I can't say I exactly have a specialty yet, but I'd have to put archery as my strongest skill, in case you need to know." Al had no idea what kind of information the team captain might want from him, but decided he had nothing to lose by letting him know what his strong point was.
"Anyway, I'm sure you have better things to do right now than dealing with a brand new apprentice like me, so I should get going. Just wanted to make sure you knew me, seeing as we're on the same team."
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 10, 2011 18:17:49 GMT -5
Oh, Bunt," Jack began, his tone a bit more serious. "Crowley's having me take over for Harrison in Norgate, so at some point I'd like to meet with you guys who've been working up there lately; he said other than Harrison, you and Ringulf know the details. I'm thinking it'd be the easiest if all four of us met up at some point, in case information conflicts or someone knows more details about a particular issue. I'll talk to the other two about it, but how would tonight or tomorrow night work, after things slow down for the day?"
Bunt smiled at Jack, “Congratulations, my boy! Norgate, huh? Ya have yer work cut out fer ya. There’s been lots o problems in tha north this last two years, all across from coast ta coast.” Bunt’s smile faded. “Yeah, I think we should an’ it wouldn’t hurt ta have Gil there as well. He was covering Norgate afore Harrison took it on. Seems that fief has a tendency to wear out its rangers,” he observed.
Bunt thought for a moment about the time of the meeting. Today was packed with prep for the bet tomorrow and tomorrow evening he was just going to want to sit in front of the fire and soak up the heat. “How bout lunch day after tomorrow?” Bunt suggested.
"Well, much as I wish I could stick around, I got some people to find. Tory, I'll let you know when the knife class is.”
“Really?” Tory asked, “That would be great!”
“Dian, if you're interested, I can let you know too. I saw you perk up when I mentioned it earlier. Bunt, as soon as I find the others and get the meeting confirmed, or if something changes, I'll let you know. Oh, and Tory," he paused, but smiled. "Don't worry about your class. I'm sure you will do great. It's certainly not my best skill, but I'm not bad at mounted shooting either, so if you need someone to practice ideas on or want a hand refining your presentation, feel free to come find me alright?"
Bunt answered, “Sounds fine. See ya later this evening.”
Tory smiled at Jack, “Thanks. If I figure out what my ‘presentation’ is going to be, I might just take you up on that.” She decided that she liked Jack and filed his name away on her short list of favorite rangers. She watched him head off and then went back to her whittling, thinking about her class. After a few minutes the hair on the back of her neck stood up and she got the sense she was being watched.
Tory was about to say something when Bunt suddenly said loudly, “Hello Tam, ya can join us if'n ya like.” Bunt hadn’t even looked up and Tory wondered how Bunt knew anyone was there. She turned around, scanning the woods and finally saw Tam whittling on a piece of wood.
“Hi Tam, care to pull up a patch of dried leaves?” She laughed and patted the ground next to her that was covered with old leaf fall from last year as well as a few fresh leaves from this year that were just starting to turn colors. “Hey, what did you find down in the water behind the waterfall? You saw the coin I found didn’t you?” Tory fished it out of her pocket. “They say it is Hibernian or something I think. Personally I haven’t decided if Ringulf is pulling our leg or if there really is treasure up there under that waterfall.”
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Bunt listened to the youngsters for a bit as he carved and then saw Ben ambling over. Bunt stood up and moved his camp chair away from the teens and placed it next to a fallen log. “Hi Ben, care to rest yer bones in my chair fer a bit?” Bunt asked and then made a move to sit on the log so Ben could sit in his chair. “Red said ya wanna be on my team fer the bet tomorrow. We are havin a strategy meeting behind Rick’s tent right after supper tonight.”
Bunt resumed his carving and looked at Ben out of the corner of his eyes. “How’s things been, buddy? Ya look a bit down in the mouth today.”
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 10, 2011 19:35:09 GMT -5
Dustin was on his way from teaching a class on concealment and off to recruit some more apprentices for his team before lunch when he saw a young man approaching him. He hadn’t seen the youth last year, so he figured he might be a new apprentice.
"Are you Dustin?" he asked, coming even with the young man. "I'm Al, Al Stormrunner, Qwade's apprentice.
Dustin smiled, “Yeah, I’m Dustin,” he held out his hand and shook Al’s hand. “Qwade’s new apprentice huh? Boy, yer a brave lad. Please, please, please tell me you aren’t just like Red.” Dustin joked. “Don’t get me wrong, I love Red like a brother, but he is just too much energy packed into one little package and I so owe him for those frogs last year.” Dustin shook his head and looked at the ground ruefully. “Just don’t turn your back on Red, he loves to joke around. I have no idea how he survived being Qwade’s apprentice.” Dustin eyed the youth up and decided he appeared to be rather mature for his age. “So how long you been his apprentice anyway? And don’t you believe what some of them around here say about Qwade. He is rather surely, but he has a good heart and is a good ranger. Just don’t go hero worshiping Crowley around him. He and Crowley had a falling out a few years back and they aren’t exactly the best of friends.” Dustin chuckled, that was putting it mildly, he thought.
“I'm on your team for this bet between Bunt and Crowley, so I figured I would say hi. I can't say I exactly have a specialty yet, but I'd have to put archery as my strongest skill, in case you need to know."
“That’s great. I’ll take everyone I can get. We have our work cut out for us, you know. We are going up against Crowley and Will and Gilan, not to mention Ringulf and Red and who knows who else they’ve recruited by now.” Dustin shook his head. “Though you probably don’t know Ringulf or Gilan, do you? They are formidable. Gilan and Crowley are the best – I’m talking THE BEST in the Corps at unseen movement. Our job is to catch Crowley and you can bet he is going to have Gilan hunting us. It’s gonna be veeerrry interesting.” Dustin wasn’t sure how much Al knew about the other rangers. He did know Qwade wasn’t big on talking though, so he figured to fill him in a little bit. "Ringulf is just very unpredictable and always has some crazy trick up his sleeve, not to mention he is wicked with those Skandian axes and strong as an ox."
“So do you know Ringulf and have you met the girls?” Dustin asked him. “Look, here comes two of our team members now, Skinner’s apprentice Charley and his sidekick, Tadpole.” Dustin waved them on over. They were also in the group of apprentices that were going to be tested and most likely get their silver leaves at this Gathering. “Of course ‘Tadpole’ ain’t his real name,” Dustin slapped the very short, wiry-looking 18 year old apprentice on his back and Tadpole scowled at him in warning. “Fine. Fine!” Dustin raised his hands up in the air. “I’ll let him find out what your real name is. Lads, this is Al and he is on our team. Let’s go find those cute girls and we can all get acquainted. I saw Bunt leading them off into the deep woods over there.” Dustin set out for the area he thought Bunt had sequestered himself in, but he kept an eye out for the enemy team members on the way to make sure they weren’t followed.
In a few minutes he saw Tory and Dian talking with another apprentice while they were working on carving their practice knives. He saw Bunt and Ben with their heads together a few feet away. He led his little band of friends up to the girls and plopped down on the ground right next to Tory. Pounce raised an eyelid and glared at him and Dustin laughed.
“Okay gents, this is the beautiful, doe-eyed Dian, newly apprenticed, and this,” Dustin threw an arm around Tory who grinned back at him, “lovely creature is Tory, and you guys keep your mitts off her.” Dustin said possessively. “Tory, Dian, this is Al, Tadpole and Charley.” Dustin turned to Tam, “Who’s your friend Tory?”
Tory leaned against Dustin, pleased that he had made it known she was his. “Hi Dustin! This is Tam, he’s Rick’s apprentice and Dian is Bunt’s new apprentice. Are we all on the same team?”
“Well all of us are exceptfor one. I am not sure where Tam stands,” Dustin agreed and examined Tory’s carving. “You want to be on my team, Tam and test your skills against Crowley’s team?”
The other two boys sat down near Dian and said hello. “Bunt’s a great mentor.” Charley said loudly enough for Bunt to hear and with a wink to Dian. He was about 5 feet 6 inches tall with sandy blond hair and green eyes. He reminded Tory of a young-looking Patrick Palisade. She suppressed a chuckle at the thought. Charley’s personality was totally opposite of Patrick’s. “You are lucky to have him to teach you, Dian.” In her ear he whispered, "always a good idea to stay on Bunt's good side. He doesn't get angry very often, but the one time I saw him that way, I was sure glad it wasn't at me."
Tadpole was watching them carve and pulled out his own saxe knife. “Looks like you are doing a great job, but why are you making them out of ash? This will take all week!” He looked puzzled as Tory burst out laughing, then he shrugged and asked Dian, “Would you like some help?” He pulled out two nearly perfectly shaped wooden throwing knives from his belt. They had been made of pine, but the carving was superb.
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dian
Apprentice Scribe
this status thing reminds me of Facebook
Posts: 100
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Post by dian on Aug 10, 2011 21:06:14 GMT -5
Dian was whittling away at the ash branch. Maybe Tory was right, this could well take a week. She practically zoned out of the world when Jack left. Jack seemed like a cool guy and she was glad he had taken some notice of her, and he hadn't pushed her for much of an explanation when she trailed off. In the back of her mind Dian had noticed two others had joined them, Tam and some ranger she didn't know the name of just yet, but she wasn't too interested, the ash branch was taking way to long for her to get distracted. Though, of course, a bigger distraction came by in the form of Dustin and a few other apprentices. “Okay gents, this is the beautiful, doe-eyed Dian, newly apprenticed, and this,” Dustin threw an arm around Tory who grinned back at him, “lovely creature is Tory, and you guys keep your mitts off her.” Dustin said possessively. “Tory, Dian, this is Al, Tadpole and Charley.” Dian's eyes had already gone wide, but she forced her self to calm a bit. Dian's immediate reaction to the complement was to roll her eyes at Dustin, but she figured that wasn't the nicest thing to do in front of three new people. Instead Dian gave a light smile towards them, and put down her saxe knife for the moment. Tory made a quick introduction for Dian, which let her remain silent for a little longer.
When the boys began to settle down, Tadpole and Charley sat near Dian. She wasn't really use to attention despite being a child of nobles, she always shied away from the attention some got. She tried not to go to the big dinners at the castle, or get in the way of any business. So, in all honesty, she had gotten more attention here at the gathering, then when she still lived with her parents. Dian, trying to be social, said hello back to the two boys.
“Bunt’s a great mentor.” Charley said loudly enough for Bunt to hear and with a wink to Dian. He was about 5 feet 6 inches tall with sandy blond hair and green eyes. His eyes where a darker green then Dian's silver-green eyes. “You are lucky to have him to teach you, Dian.” In her ear he whispered, "always a good idea to stay on Bunt's good side. He doesn't get angry very often, but the one time I saw him that way, I was sure glad it wasn't at me."
"Well, I didn't think it would be a good idea to get on anyone's bad side after just a little while of knowing them, especially if I am going to be taught by that person for a good while." Dian said in a low voice, just loud enough for Charley, and maybe Tadpole, to hear. Instantly she was glad she hadn't even thought of joining the other team, commandant or not, she didn't want to anger Bunt.
“Looks like you are doing a great job, but why are you making them out of ash? This will take all week!” He looked puzzled as Tory burst out laughing, then he shrugged and asked Dian, “Would you like some help?” Dian stifled a laugh. If only Tadpole knew what Tory had said just minutes ago, then he would understand how funny it was. Before she lost herself in laughs Dian nodded. "Sure, I could use the help. If its going to take all week, then I need a LOT of help." Dian couldn't help from smiling now, though she did it absentmindedly.
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Post by Firehead on Aug 11, 2011 6:52:55 GMT -5
“Hi Tam, care to pull up a patch of dried leaves?” She laughed and patted the ground next to her that was covered with old leaf fall from last year as well as a few fresh leaves from this year that were just starting to turn colors. “Hey, what did you find down in the water behind the waterfall? You saw the coin I found didn’t you?” Tory fished it out of her pocket. “They say it is Hibernian or something I think. Personally I haven’t decided if Ringulf is pulling our leg or if there really is treasure up there under that waterfall.”
Tam gave Tory and the others a shy smile and edged closer to the main group. "I found a cave full a water an' dark." he told her. When she showed him the coin she'd found in the water, he leaned closer to study it, curiousity filtering through to the surface. "I'd need a few water-proof matches ta find out if'n they's anythin' b'hind that 'fall. I been thinkin' 'bout going back in ta have another look-see."
A group of boys walked up then, and one of them floped down between Tory and Tam. Tam, startled and immediately on his guard, quickly scooted away to put more space between himself and the new boy, and wound up retreating back to his tree trunk away from the group again. There he ducked his head and resumed his carving, hoping that they would overlook him. The lad by Tory introduced the others as Charley, Tadpole, and Al. Tory, who appeared to know the apprentice sitting next to her greeted him by name, thus giving Tam all four.
Dustin turned to Tam, “Who’s your friend Tory?”
Tory leaned against Dustin, pleased that he had made it known she was his. “Hi Dustin! This is Tam, he’s Rick’s apprentice and Dian is Bunt’s new apprentice. Are we all on the same team?”
“Well all of us are except for one. I am not sure where Tam stands,” Dustin agreed and examined Tory’s carving. “You want to be on my team, Tam and test your skills against Crowley’s team?”
Tam managed to say a half-ways audible, "Uh-huh." and nodded briefly, eying the roudy newcomers warily. ---------------------------
Mylia stood next to Pepper wearing a frown. After a moment, she turned to the older girl adn said, "Ya know what I think Pepper? I think that there should be just one apprentice team--the apprentices go after everyone on the other two teams, who are going up against each other and the opposing apprentice team, anyway. A three-way war.
"I mean, right now we've got you, me, and maybe Ivy and Ryan. We'd still be three short. And we don't have Kristen this year, either, 'cause she's....." Mylia gave a sigh. "It's up to you Pepper, but...I still think we should just combine the apprentice forces and make it a three-way war." ----------------------------
Bunt listened to the youngsters for a bit as he carved and then saw Ben ambling over. Bunt stood up and moved his camp chair away from the teens and placed it next to a fallen log. “Hi Ben, care to rest yer bones in my chair fer a bit?” Bunt asked and then made a move to sit on the log so Ben could sit in his chair. “Red said ya wanna be on my team fer the bet tomorrow. We are havin a strategy meeting behind Rick’s tent right after supper tonight.”
Ben took Bunt up on his offer and eased into the chair with a half-groan, half-sigh. He leaned back and closed his eyes. "Thanks." How is it, that you're older than me, and yet you're still as spry as when you were twenty, while I'm just gettin' old? "Yeah, it may be my last chance to get Crowley back for saddling me with Dalin. I want to make it count."
Bunt resumed his carving and looked at Ben out of the corner of his eyes. “How’s things been, buddy? Ya look a bit down in the mouth today.”
Ben opened his eyes and stared up into the treetops. He didn't really want to voice his plan, until after he'd spoken with Crowley about it. "Trying to talk to Crowley about it. Got interrupted, so I figured to wait til tonight. Or tomorrow night."
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 11, 2011 10:04:43 GMT -5
Mylia stood next to Pepper wearing a frown. After a moment, she turned to the older girl and said, "Ya know what I think Pepper? I think that there should be just one apprentice team--the apprentices go after everyone on the other two teams, who are going up against each other and the opposing apprentice team, anyway. A three-way war.
Pepper considered Mylia’s idea and a mischievous glint came into her eye as she weighed the pro’s and con’s of double-crossing the rangers.
"I mean, right now we've got you, me, and maybe Ivy and Ryan. We'd still be three short. And we don't have Kristen this year, either, 'cause she's....." Mylia gave a sigh. "It's up to you Pepper, but...I still think we should just combine the apprentice forces and make it a three-way war."
“I like that idea, but if we do it, we should keep it quiet and not let the rangers know what we are up to.” Pepper said softly, glancing around to see who might be able to overhear their conversation. They were relatively isolated, but there were a couple of rangers within earshot who seemed to be ignoring them. She moved Mylia away from them so they could speak freely.
“Let’s think about this for a moment, before we approach Dustin with the idea.” Pepper suggested. “I think he will like the idea too, but we need to think about the consequences of going up against our own mentors. Ringulf has already blessed you in that regard and my mentor is staying out of it, but some of those on Dustin’s team might have an issue.” Pepper thought about the new girl, Dian, whom she thought was pretty shy and that her mentor was Bunt. Now she knew Bunt was pretty crusty on the outside, but he really was a big softy at heart. Still, with Dian being new, she had no idea and Pepper doubted she would go up against her new mentor.
Qwade was another one. Pepper had no desire to go up against him and doubted his new apprentice would be too keen on the idea either. Still, it was all a game and the apprentices were supposed to be learning something from all of this silliness, so what would the rangers actually do to them?
After careful consideration, and several minutes’ silence, Pepper shrugged, “no matter,” she said as if finishing a thought out loud. “I think it is a grand idea and I think Dustin will like it. Now, we need the rangers to think we still have two separate teams so they don’t suspect anything, so we need to keep up the pretences that we are advisories. I think I have just the ticket too.” She grinned mischievously. “I am going to go pick a fight with Dustin at lunchtime. You go tell Tory our plan and see what she thinks of it. Just make sure you are well away from Ringulf and Bunt. Those two could hear a pin fall on a feather pillow three miles away.” Pepper shook her head. “Dustin and I will do some strategizing but make it look like we are arguing and that should keep the rangers thinking we are still two separate teams.” Pepper rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “We can all compare notes during the game tomorrow and update our plans based on what the ranger teams are planning. If we play our cards right, we could just outwit them and come out on top in this little game. Wouldn’t that get their goose, eh?” Pepper laughed. She could see the scowl on Bunt’s face now if he and Crowley both were to be captured by a bunch of apprentices.
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erevan
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 57
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Post by erevan on Aug 11, 2011 15:37:56 GMT -5
“So how long you been his apprentice anyway? And don’t you believe what some of them around here say about Qwade. He is rather surely, but he has a good heart and is a good ranger."
The last words echoed those Al remembered hearing from Jack a short while earlier. Clearly whatever the issue had been between his mentor and the commandant had polarized the Rangers. He made a mental note to figure out what he could about it, preferably without alerting Qwade.
"I actually became his apprentice just before the Gathering. I ran across an escaped criminal back home, tracked him down, and brought him in. It was luck mostly, the man thought I was a Ranger when I put an arrow near his feet, and he surrendered. Apparently Qwade had seen me, and he offered to take me on. Don't worry, I'm not another Red. Then again, from what I hear, he's hard to match."
“That’s great. I’ll take everyone I can get. We have our work cut out for us, you know. We are going up against Crowley and Will and Gilan, not to mention Ringulf and Red and who knows who else they’ve recruited by now.”
Al's ears perked up when he heard the legend's name. "Will? As in the Will? Will Treaty, who has singlehandedly ended conflicts across all of Araluen? How are we supposed to match him?" Surely the presence of such a legendary Ranger sealed the competition in Crowley's favor. Hearing the skills of the others only made the competition seem even more one-sided.
A few minutes later, after having been introduced to the other apprentices, he noticed a certain look in Dian's eyes, a look he knew well. It was the look of a person not entirely trusting of others, something he could understand.
'I wonder,' he thought, 'has she spent a long time alone too? The feeling of loneliness is not an easy one to handle. Perhaps we can come to understand each other.'
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 11, 2011 20:19:32 GMT -5
Al's ears perked up when he heard the legend's name. "Will? As in the Will? Will Treaty, who has singlehandedly ended conflicts across all of Araluen? How are we supposed to match him?" Surely the presence of such a legendary Ranger sealed the competition in Crowley's favor. Hearing the skills of the others only made the competition seem even more one-sided.
Dustin laughed and nodded, "yeah the Will alright, but don't be too discouraged, Will is good, but Bunt has years of experience on him and is a crafty old fox. Then there's Ben too on our side. That man has a few tricks up his sleeve too, I'm sure." Dustin patted Al on the back lightly, "Besides' it is all just a game anyway." Then he led Al and the others off to find Tory and Dian.
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erevan
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 57
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Post by erevan on Aug 12, 2011 13:56:41 GMT -5
"Yeah the Will alright, but don't be too discouraged, Will is good, but Bunt has years of experience on him and is a crafty old fox. Then there's Ben too on our side. That man has a few tricks up his sleeve too, I'm sure."
"I suppose you're right. Actually, I bet Crowley's counting on reactions like mine. He wants Will's reputation to make our team doubt our chances." Al found himself wondering if other apprentices had had the same reaction when they heard the famous Will Treaty was going to be on Crowley's side. He looked around at the Rangers and apprentices in the clearing. They certainly looked capable, and he knew he was not the only new apprentice on the team, so at least there was some comfort to be found there.
"Ah well," he said. "I should get going. I'll see you all around later I'm sure."
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 12, 2011 14:19:11 GMT -5
(OCC: Backing up just a hair here…)
Tam gave Tory and the others a shy smile and edged closer to the main group. "I found a cave full a water an' dark." he told her. When she showed him the coin she'd found in the water, he leaned closer to study it, curiousity filtering through to the surface. "I'd need a few water-proof matches ta find out if'n they's anythin' b'hind that 'fall. I been thinkin' 'bout going back in ta have another look-see."
"I don’t have water proof matches, but Fin made me this super match case that is supposed to be watertight. I haven’t put it to the test though. You would need some torches too, wouldn’t you? Maybe we could put a couple in my duffle bag and they wouldn’t get wet if we fill it up with air and make a balloon of it with the torches inside. The duffle is waxed pig skin and keeps the rain out of my clothes when I am travelling.” Tory suggested.
“You were down there a long time. Is it way back in there? I would like to explore the cave, but I am not too keen on the current from the waterfall.” Tory eyed Tam thoughtfully. “You sure can hold your breath for a long time.” She went back to carving. “I’ll help you go back for another look if you want. I was kind of worried you were down there so long, but Ringulf didn’t seem too concerned. Maybe we could have a couple of us stay outside and hold one end of a rope while the others go in exploring with the matches. That way if there was trouble we could pull on the rope for help.” Tory was terribly curious about the cave, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to swim into an underwater cave without some form of lifeline to the surface of the lake. She was pretty impressed that Tam had done so and was even thinking of going back, considering how shook up he looked when he had surfaced back at camp. Her first hurdle would be getting around that waterfall and the current it was generating in the pool, but she had pushed through fears before, she could do it again if she really wanted to. She wondered if she really wanted to.
Shortly after this Dustin and his friends showed up and Tory pushed the treasure to the back of her mind. There was so much she wanted to do at this Gathering and she felt she was wasting time carving up throwing knives from wood. She was very grateful when Dustin slipped her two throwing knives made from pine and picked up her other chunk of ash and began to shape it into a knife. He leaned over and whispered to her, “I noticed at the fair that you have no shortage of blades on your person,” he winked. Tory grinned shyly and nodded, but didn’t say anything back other than thanking him for the pine knives.
Charley was making fast work on one of Bunt’s sections of ash and looking sideways at Dian every so often. He could tell she, Al and Tam were a bit shy around the others, but Tory didn’t seem to be bothered by Dustin’s or his own boisterousness. Charley tried to take things down a notch and draw Dian out so he could learn a bit more about her. “So what does your ranger pony look like, Dian and what’s its name?” Charley was a fun-loving young man at 19 and was eagerly waiting for his silver leaf and his first assignment. Generally people liked him and he got along with most people most of the time. He was a smooth talker and known for having a silver tongue. He had won many an argument throughout his apprenticeship and often talked his way out of trouble. He liked to have fun, but he also liked to help people and tended to pick out people he thought needed something and work on them like they were a project that he was responsible for. He sensed there was a lot more to both of the new apprentices and wanted to get to know them both better.
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Ben took Bunt up on his offer and eased into the chair with a half-groan, half-sigh. He leaned back and closed his eyes. "Thanks." How is it, that you're older than me, and yet you're still as spry as when you were twenty, while I'm just gettin' old? "Yeah, it may be my last chance to get Crowley back for saddling me with Dalin. I want to make it count."
Bunt laughed, “I hear that.” He sat his knife down for a moment and rubbed his lower back and then resettled on the log. “I think I’m getting’ too old fer all this campin’ on the ground,” he muttered to his long-time friend. “You seen that bed Greenriver has in his tent? Sheer genious, that man is. First thing he done after he set his tent up was ta make that bed. I’m gonna have him show me how he does it. Softest camp bed I ever seen,” Bunt shook his head and picked up the knife again.
Bunt resumed his carving and looked at Ben out of the corner of his eyes. “How’s things been, buddy? Ya look a bit down in the mouth today.”
Ben opened his eyes and stared up into the treetops. He didn't really want to voice his plan, until after he'd spoken with Crowley about it. "Trying to talk to Crowley about it. Got interrupted, so I figured to wait til tonight. Or tomorrow night."
“Ah, well, good luck on tha’ one,” Bunt motioned toward the center of camp with his blade. “I spect he will be up ta his ears in rangers reportin and askin questions till supper at least.” Bunt glanced at Ben again. “Ya know if there’s anything I can do, ya jes have to ask, Buddy.” He was curious about the trouble, but it wouldn’t be right for him to hear it before Ben reported to Crowley. He decided to change the subject.
“So, I’m thinkin’ of slippin out o’ camp real early in tha morning and getting’ the jump on Crowley. Figuring tho that he is gonna do the same.” Bunt considered and glanced at the group of teens that had suddenly gotten twice as big. He watched them with a half smile on his face for a moment. “Remember when you was that young, Ben? Ever wish ya could go back to being a teenager again?”
“Anyway,” Bunt went back to his original thoughts. “Even tho the bet doesn’t start till sunup, I am bettin Crowley is going to be well away from his camp long afor then.” Bunt scratched his chin with his forefinger, coming amazingly close to gouging his own face with the saxe knife and yet managing not to so much as disturb a whisker. “I am bettin those youn-uns’ll be out there snoopin’ long before sun-up too, so I gotta have a diversion I think ta be able ta slip away unnoticed. What ya think? Got any other ideas on how ta catch Crowley?” Bunt had some plans, but a lot depended on Rick and Dustin. He was hoping Ben could engineer some tricks that the other two wouldn’t be aware of.
“We need ta take Will and Gilan out early if’n we can.” Bunt mused. “Gilan is tha one I feel is most likely ta find me and Will is just too damn brilliant fer his own good.” Bunt shook the knife at Ben to illustrate his point. “I’ll never hear tha end of it if’n that old buzzard wins this thing. Not ta mention I’ll be out my hard earned gold.”
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erevan
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 57
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Post by erevan on Aug 12, 2011 14:53:00 GMT -5
Jack came back to Bunt's area to find a much larger group than when he left.
"Wow Bunt!" he said jokingly. "You got a fanclub while I was away! Anyway, I know something you will want to hear." He leaned casually against a tree.
"When i was out looking for Gil to ask about the knife class, which is this afternoon by the way for any of you interested apprentices, I found him talking with Will about strategy. Didn't catch much unfortunately, but I did manage to find out they want to set an ambush at the sisters. So I'm thinking, if I get out early and stake out nearby with an apprentice or two, when the thing starts we can take out their ambush before they can spring it." He flashed a mischievous grin.
"If we pretend we don't know about it, and let them try to run us into it, we could thin their team a little before they knew what happened."
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Post by Brandwyn on Aug 12, 2011 15:01:10 GMT -5
"Heh, That sounds good, Jack," Bunt agreed. "Jes be sure it is no earlier than the crack 'o dawn afor ya take anyone out or Halt'll be all over us fer cheatin." Bunt winked. "Contest is from sun-up ta sun-down and anything is fair game in between." Bunt looked over at the group of teens. "I think all o' them over there is on our side, maybe ya can recruit a couple ta help ya."
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dian
Apprentice Scribe
this status thing reminds me of Facebook
Posts: 100
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Post by dian on Aug 12, 2011 19:32:37 GMT -5
Charley took the other piece of ash and started helping Dian. She cast a glance around the small clearing, which was getting more and more crowded. Her eyes lingered on just about every face, except Tory, Dustin, Tam, and Bunt's. She didn't know many of them, and it was sorta freaking her out, being with so many unfamiliar faces that is. Her eyes lingered just a second longer on the apprentice they had called Al. There was something... familiar about him. Not in looks, she had definitely only seen him earlier at the announcements. She couldn't really put her finger on it. She didn't have time to think about it though.
“So what does your ranger pony look like, Dian and what’s its name?” she looked a bit more intently on her whittling, and said, "I don't have a ranger pony just yet, I came here on a battle horse since it was the only one I could get." She didn't mention the one of reasons she could use it, that horse had a bad temper. It wanted to buck her every 5 seconds, and only stopped when she had gotten company. Dian had never ridden a horse that bad in her life, and she had ridden a good amount.
In the short silence, Dian heard Bunt and another ranger speaking. They where planning and plotting. Then when Jack came back, he came bearing news. "When i was out looking for Gil to ask about the knife class, which is this afternoon by the way for any of you interested apprentices, I found him talking with Will about strategy. Didn't catch much unfortunately, but I did manage to find out they want to set an ambush at the sisters. So I'm thinking, if I get out early and stake out nearby with an apprentice or two, when the thing starts we can take out their ambush before they can spring it." He flashed a mischievous grin.
Dian hoped she could join that class, but didn't show an outward expression as she tried to stay in the background. When Jack said he might take an apprentice, and Bunt motioned to the group of apprentices right there, Dian tried to shrink in her cloak even further. She was new to ranger's and not only did she think she would fail at most anything this early, but she figured everyone here was better then her at most things, and so made her presence little compared to the rest of the group.
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erevan
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 57
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Post by erevan on Aug 13, 2011 23:16:05 GMT -5
"I think all o'them over there is on our side, maybe ya can recruit a couple ta help ya."
"When I was coming up with the plan, I thought of taking Dian and Al with me." Jack noticed a few looks of surprise as he said this, including from the two mentioned apprentices. "Since they're both new, and their mentors are both on our side, they will be harder for Crowley's team to predict. Also, it leaves our more experienced people available for taking down the old man, Will, and Gilan. Would that interfere with any of your plans?" He picked up a nearby ash branch and joined ikn the carving.
"Will's brilliant at strategy, that's common knowledge," Jack conceded, grinning immediately after. "But we should be alright unless he uses his secret weapon. That song 'Greybeard Halt' of his could incapacitate anyone in earshot. We'd all be laughing too hard to continue the chase! Well, anyone except Halt." This drew a chorus of laughter from the Rangers and older apprentices. "More seriously though, I don't think even Will has had to come up with a plan for going up against a sizeable team of Rangers and apprentices, and one that outnumbers his own team at that. Sure, they got a brilliant strategist and the two masters of unseen movement on their side. We got our own advantages though, and they know it. We have two of the best trackers in the Corps with us, and two of us are or were Gil's apprentice. We know his tactics." His attention shifted to Bunt again.
"Bunt, I've got a few ideas I'm working on for teams to hunt down their biggest threats. I'll get those written out as soon as I finish them up. I hear the full team is meeting tonight at Rick's campsite to go over final plans? I'll bring my ideas then and we can bounce things around."
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erevan
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 57
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Post by erevan on Aug 14, 2011 18:48:29 GMT -5
"When I was coming up with the plan, I thought of bringing Dian and Al with me."[/b)
As Al was getting ready to take his leave, he looked up in shock when he heard Jack's words. Why would the Ranger want two people with no experience? Even after hearing his explanation, he was surprised.
'I see where he's coming from,' he thought, 'but why not split the two newest apprentices among the more experienced teams instead of putting them together? Then again, he wouldn't pick us if we couldn't handle it, right? Besides, maybe I can get to know Dian a little better, or at least begin to gain her trust.'
At the same time, he could not help wondering what Qwade would be doing, though he suspected that his mentor would be going after Crowley. He could hardly wait for that night's meeting, when final plans would be established, but for the moment he needed to get going.
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