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Post by rangerkaya on Jul 3, 2012 17:57:24 GMT -5
"Reafnskeld" try and remember you don't want to slip and call me something else and blow our cover. if it was found out that I was an impostor it would mean long periods of incarceration and heavy labor for us both. if they found out I was a ranger, that would be much simpler, we would just be dead." Thrandon straitened and looked at the girl.
Kaya sighed “I’ll try but lately memory hasn’t been serving me well” she tried to pull a weak smile “This body wasn’t built for labour” she said as she slowly gestured to the rest of her body weakened by not eating correctly for a number of years.
"You have been up and out for a while haven't you?....And why have you been running?
Kaya frowned, she didn't want to answer that question and she didn’t have to... she was allowed to run. Kaya had been running ever since she ran away, it helped clear the clouds in her mind for at least the morning and gave her a little bit of thinking space, time to be a reflection of her old self. No, she resolved after much thought in the space of a mere few seconds, I will not explain myself. Instead she chose to give a look of pure disgust.
He noticed the expression she gave him. No I am not really possessed of the second sight and the bird did not betray you. You see a ranger must be observant, that is one of the things that makes us seem to the world as if we do have magic. I noted that your boots are much wetter than a quick jaunt to the privy might have made them so you have been moving in the wet grass for quite a while. And the pattern of wetness on your clothes is heavier in the front than in the back, You were running...quite quickly I would say." He came and sat down in front of her.
She nodded slowly “Yes, I was running” she sighed trying to make up a lie fast “Just to improve my physical fitness and wellbeing” she mentally wiped herself that was the worst reason to give! She decided to tell a half truth “it clears my mind ready for the day” Kaya did not believe in the old folk tails saying that Rangers possessed magic, she instead chose to take a neutral stance, much more sensible.
"Raefnskeld....It is translated from the Skandian: Raven skald You obviously know what a raven is as you now were a little bit of him on your shoulder, sorry about that he gets excited when he meets new people."
Kaya nodded “I quite like the raven, reminds me of myself...” the raven really reminded her of how dark her mood could get like the birds jet black feathers.
Kaya saw the bird trying to shelter from the now prevailing rain under the horses belly. She then noticed there seemed to be an ongoing conversation between the Ranger and the bird, as it flew up she really knew who was the master of that group.
Now where were we... ah yes Raven...and a skald is a teller of tales and singer kind of the Skandian equivalent to a bard. I have been in this persona before up here and they know me as Raefnskeld."
Kaya looked over at him “better keep up appearances then, aye?”
"Now how are you set for weapons, what do you have what can you use?"
Kaya’s face turned into a look of pure delight, defence was her kind of game, she slowly pulled a knife out from her pack “I just have this, but trust me, it’s mighty useful”
"To answer your first question, we are headed for the Musky Tartan to meet a contact of mine and though he won't be expecting you, he will play along I think. Try not to get "involved" though, he is a hopeless flirt and womanizer and we don't need to get into any of that kind of mud...do we?"
Kaya’s face turned as quickly as it had to delight to horror, she realised her mistake as she tried to mask her emotions, she decided to make a joke out of it “Of course not, unless he’s around my age which I seem to doubt with... your state” Kaya winced, what kind of a cover up was that, she was losing her touch! She quickly gathered her things and stood.
“We’d better get going to meet your friend then Lord Reafnskeld, I say the sooner we go the better this day will be” and with that she started trudging in a particular way regardless to direction or pace.
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Post by Ringulf on Sept 19, 2012 16:42:36 GMT -5
The day did get a little better as the morning sun burned the fog away and dried up the drizzle. The saturated ground tended to filter it's moisture quickly through the spongy turf and into the chalky porous under layer beneath the rolling downs.
Thrandon looked from time to time at the girl who walked beside him. "We should be there in a few minutes, the Inn is just past that copse of trees. I expect that Heathbruin will be waiting for us in the common room."
"If you have any questions you should ask them now as we will be "in character" after that. Try to keep it all very simple so no one gets a chance to go too deep or trip you up. the less you say the better."
At that moment the Raven flew in and landed on Thrandon's shoulder, he ruffled his feathers preened a few and then nestled there contented.
"Well I suppose everything is quiet, he does not seem agitated at all. That's a good sign."
Moments later the pair was pushing through a crowd of horses that belonged to a Scotti warband who were provisioning for a foray into the south eastern Hills.. All this was reveled by a small man who was arguing with a large warrior, obviously one of the leaders about the price of the provisions.
Thrandon looked at the black bird now sitting in his saddle with an unconcerned look.
"Yeah, thanks for the recon you mouldy crow!"
Cro ack looked at them both with a dismissive croak and and flew off to a nearby gorse tree and lighted in it's gnarly branches.
"Sometimes I swear I think he does it on purpose!" Thrandon said to Kaya quietly through clenched teeth. "Come on let's get inside, stay close and make sure people know we are together."
They pushed in through the front door into the dark interior of the Inn. it took a few moments for their eyes to adjust. The they saw a large set of shoulders inside a natural off white baggy shirt, the back underneath them could have held a large map. The Kilt he wore was black with traces of green and yellow and it wrapped up around his left shoulder. His dark brown hair was close all around but cam down the back of his neck in curls.
As they walked up to him they saw him locked in an arm wrestling match with another big Beefy Scotti. Then Thrandon did the unexpected. He hauled off and smacked the back of the man's head and the beefy Scot slammed his knuckles to the table.
"Whu' th' bloody hell.." he said as he turned to meet the short man who had cost him the match.
Before he could get another word out the stout Lord Rafnskeld threw a sharp jab into the big mans solar plexis which was just below his eye level and when the tall, broad Scotti crunched in the middle expelling his wind a left upper cut laid him back onto the table demystifying any question to all what was worn beneath the kilt and why the Scotti were so very bold!
He grabbed the shaken Scotti by his collar and pulled him up so that they were face to face.
"Yew ware s'posed tew be watchin the dour, not payin yewr li'le games! Ah am not payin yew to play patty fingers with this shaggy ox!" he said and made a head feint toward his employees opponent, who despite his size finch back from the fiery impostor.
"Now say goodbay tew yewr little friend and show us tew the rewm you have us in...Yew di rent the room Ah trust?" Thrandon said with a raised eyebrow.
"Well..er...yes M'Lord Rafnskeld, Ah did bu this lot seems tew ave taken the whole of th' Inn! The tall and incredibly handsome man replied with an innocent look.
Thrandon looked as if he would explode with rage, but then a quiete, controlled look came over his face and he looked around at the great numbers of Scotti raiders.
"Very good Angus, then we will go elsewhere saddle up your horse and find a pony for the girl, I will get some supplies and we will push on toward the hills."
"Right M'Lord and this is?" The big man said with a dazzling smile as he looked at Kaya.
"My servant, Kaya...who needs a mount...get on it, in fact now that yew are acquainted you can take her with yew tew make sure it is tew her liking.
With that he turned and walked up to the bar leaving the big man looking down at the young girl and quite a few others seemed to have noticed her as well.
Heath looked around, at the others and bent down a bit toward the girl.
"Ah think we should be going young miss, Ah think the air is growin a bit stuffy in here don't yew think?"
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 1, 2012 21:16:03 GMT -5
The Large man escorted her out the door and to the stables. there were a few shaggy highland ponies that had come back without their masters from some of the raids that had been raging to the south.
"Ma'am If yew are travelin' with M'Lord yew are not altewgather whu' yewr makin out t' bee, am I correct?"
"Just how much do you know abou' this mission an whay dnt y' have a horse?"
"I am working with Thrandon to find out who killed m'brother, he was the Ranger of Marshwood Fife and his Apprentice is still missin. They say she might b' up here, bu' it has been a while an if she is she is most likely in th' ground."
"Tha' Black over there wi' the white fetlocks looks ta be in good shape with a thick coat," He indicated as he pointed out the three ponies in the corral, "the wee white star on the forhead remind's me of a miniature Banner! Then again, tha' cream is nice bu' is a little cresty, mey 'ave been gettin a bit too much clover takin his tame on th' way back. Th' paint looks a bit weak an is favorin' her left hoof in the rear. Well take yewr pick an' I will get some tack from the stablemaster for ye."
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Post by rangerkaya on Oct 25, 2012 0:58:06 GMT -5
At the sight of the large man she had shivered, trying to keep control and keeping her emotions in check. 'Men aren't always evil...' she tried to assure herself; but keeping with the usual trend of her mind of course she couldn't convince herself. But when the large man had asked for her to go outside she had begun to hyperventilate, her mind clouded with thoughts.
"Ma'am If yew are travelin' with M'Lord yew are not altewgather whu' yewr makin out t' bee, am I correct?"
Kaya bowed her head "Yes..." she mumbled, she picked her head up a little more, standing to her full height, she tried to look as intimidating as possible while trying to clear the clouds in her eyes, she decided he was trustworthy "Yes, I followed him 'round until he let me join his little 'pack'" she smirked feeling a little overconfident "I joined of my own accord and am most definitely not a servant!"
"Just how much do you know abou' this mission an whay dnt y' have a horse?"
Kaya looked up to him "I know some things..." she looked up at the mans face and could tell it was not enough "Yeah I know nothing" she said sheepishly. "I don't have a horse because I walked, I followed Thrandon all thew way down to the gates."
"I am working with Thrandon to find out who killed m'brother, he was the Ranger of Marshwood Fife and his Apprentice is still missin.
Kaya let out an involuntary shiver, a Ranger, dead? It seemed all but impossible, the Rangers always seemed to be invisible, immortal even.
"That's... horrible" she looked up "any idea where the apprentice is?" she'd really wanted to ask who the killer was but it was obvious that he didn't know, she was almost sure that if she saw the murderer she would not be able to pull herself together.
They say she might b' up here, bu' it has been a while an if she is she is most likely in th' ground."
She? It was a girl, Kaya smiled to herself smugly, so there was hope, a girl was strong, stronger than any man.
"Well then, I'd... love" she shuddered at the word "to join the mission" she nodded to herself."Do I get a horse or what?"
"Tha' Black over there wi' the white fetlocks looks ta be in good shape with a thick coat," He indicated as he pointed out the three ponies in the corral, "the wee white star on the forhead remind's me of a miniature Banner! Then again, tha' cream is nice bu' is a little cresty, mey 'ave been gettin a bit too much clover takin his tame on th' way back. Th' paint looks a bit weak an is favorin' her left hoof in the rear. Well take yewr pick an' I will get some tack from the stablemaster for ye."
Kaya immediatley fell in love with the the black pony although she would never admit it "the black one please?" she asked.
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Post by Ringulf on Jul 4, 2013 17:40:37 GMT -5
Inside the Musky Tartan Thrandin was gathering supplies and information from the Scotti innkeeper. He was known to him and though the man only knew him as Raveskeld, he had Thrandin sing and tell stories whenever he came through. With the crowd in here today, entertainment would have been a blessing, but Thrandin did not want to attract to much attention. And the scrawney old innkeeper owed him a few favors anyway.
Now that he had established his identity once more and seemed to have been accepted once again by the Scotti, it was time for them to press into the interior along the track that ran just north of the southern mountains that made a high wall between Picta and Northern Araluen. They would skirt these heading east on the track that made it's way toward the coast.
Thrandin packed the supplies on to his horse and avoided any of the carousing going on outside. His reputation seemed to already have proceeded him as being a "hard man" as several looks were shot his way, but no one seemed to want to open up this box of unpleasantness. If one could take out a Scotti warrior the size of Angus, a task most of the gathered assembly would think twice about, then that one would be best left alone.
"It is a good thing Angus can take a punch and think quickly enough to get right into character or I could have been flattened." He thought to himself.
He jumped up on Barrel and whistled for the bird who fluttered down and landed on his shoulder.
"Are you over your little hissy fit? Let's go find our friends." He addressed the raven, who gently sprung into the air and strait over the crowd toward the rear stables and perched on a rail right next to Kaya and her new pony.
Thrandin made his way to them and Angus gave him a smile.
"If you two are all set I would like to get out of here as quickly as possible" he said in a conspiritorial whisper.
"Yey M'Lord ah think ware readee tew go now, ere ye all set there Lass?" he said to Kaya.
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Post by Sycelus on Feb 10, 2015 11:23:18 GMT -5
It was wet. Not an unusual wet but the kind of wet that one gets accustomed to in a land that rains nearly every morning, afternoon and evening. Nothing heavy but enough to be a hindrance if a person was used to working with it. There were only a few puddles formed on the mountain road, if you could call it that. It was more like the only flattish area in the vicinity. This, however, made it one of the more easily followed roads. Dorcas barely had to guide his draft horses as they plodded along, partly because they knew the way fairly well and partly because horses flat puddle marked roads over rock filled slopes. Dorcas wore a hood over him to keep most of the rain off his head and back, nothing ornate, just a plain hooded cloak, dark brown in the same color of his covered wagon. Plain and ordinary that's how Dorcas liked it, unless it came to his smithing then there was a high reaching standard well above many other smiths. He was still in search of the perfect ore to make his master piece, a lot harder than one would think given how many caves, mines, and rocks there were found in this mountain range. It was time to travel again and as Dorcas was finishing loading his wagon he noticed a bird perched on top of the wagon with what looked like a scroll case on its back. He knew the drill and help out his arm after laying his smithing apron over it for protection from the birds talons. It flew over and allowed him to take the scroll case off of it. Inside was a simple note, it said, "Meet at the connecting caves between the valley and the fife. Find T. BoH" Dorcas didn't really want to follow these instructions left for him but the Baron of Highcliff, mainly because they were telling him to go back the way he had came to place he knew for sure didn't have what he was looking for, but when the Baron speaks one listens especially when it's to meet up with a ranger who happens to be a friend. "Maybe the old dwarf has found me a lead to follow about my ore," Dorcas thought to himself and finished strapping the harnesses onto his horses as the rain started. He sent the bird on his way back after giving it some jerked beef for its journey home. This was two days ago and just one more until he would be able to see where the caves mouth was on a clear day, but there are no clear days this time of year. With the weather as it was it would take him two more full days to reach the cave and another half to get through it with his cart. Still plenty of time to make the rendezvous point before his old friend and still have warm coffee waiting. The days passed without incident, no work to be had, no ore to be mined, just plodding along. However, Dorcas noticed more and more travelers on the roads. Many of them looked to be getting ready for a raid or war or even just a good old brawl, it was hard to tell since brawls sometimes lead to wars around these parts. He chuckled to himself, "All the more work for me." Arriving in the area near where he was supposed to meet up with his coffee loving pal Dorcas looked around for some sort of cover to dry his horses and setup his "shop" and found a fairly good spot. It was an overhang from where a shallow cave had been excavated and the mouth widened to accommodate large carts for hauling rubble away. It fit his needs perfectly. Ample space to keep his horses, cart , forge, and still left room for his ranger buddy plus his horse and two more persons comfortably. Now it was time to wait, so wait he did not. Dorcas setup his anvil and gathered some wood to start making some coals from his wagon. He also made sure to grab some coffee and put a pot on while he stoked his portable furnace. It took some time but everything was laid out and ready for his guest to arrive. He couldn't wait to show his old friend the gift Dorcas had made for the old dwarf. It was a new long knife complete with a ravens head in the pummel but it was of Dorcas' design which meant that it was lighter than a normal long knife but just a sturdy. He even went so far as to balance it for throwing. While he was still going over his check list of things to prepare he decided to get out his own gear and wares for inspection, to make sure nothing had been damaged or was in need of repair and to lay out his stock should anyone else pass by and be interested in dropping a few coin for a fine blade. Waiting, now it was all down to waiting. Dorcas didn't like waiting, he liked doing. Yet, waiting he did but not without jotting down a few ideas for later works and keeping busy making sure the coffee didn't get cold or stale.
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