a1ko4
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 77
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Post by a1ko4 on Mar 13, 2012 16:10:07 GMT -5
Tessa Reelwell sat in a forest. Sunlight filtered through the leafy trees. You might say that she really was in the forest. She was sitting in a large tree. The largest she could find actually. She sat on a slim bough near the top with the wind occasionally bouncing her branch. The breeze flowed through her hair, blowing it back from her evergreen eyes. The sun reflected off her hair, which seemed almost blue. Why was she there? She was simply waiting. She wasn't waiting for anything in particular, no, she was just waiting. Birdsong filled the trees, and Tess listened to squirrels scold and chatter. She watched the ground, the shadows seemed to flit and flicker over it, as though they were a river. Tess shuddered and pushed that thought away. She hated water, even thinking of it made the goosebumps on her arms raise up. She sighed and started to think of other things, adventure and discovery.
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Post by Brandwyn on Mar 17, 2012 23:50:26 GMT -5
Marcus was making his way from his parent’s home in Araluen City back to his assigned fief in the south of the Kingdom. He had skipped the Gathering because of the plague and came to check on his family. So far Araluen hadn’t been hit that hard. However his family was packing up to go move in with his uncle on an estate outside of the city, just to keep away from the plague that was sweeping the northern fiefs.
He was riding Sea Spirit at a walk and only half paying attention to his surroundings when Spirit flicked an ear and gave a slight toss of his head. Instantly Marcus was alert although he yawned and stretched so whoever it was in the area wouldn’t be aware he was onto them. Spirit snorted and tossed his head again, looking up at a very large tree just a little way ahead of them. Casually Marc looked up as he stretched and saw a figure perched in the upper branches. Marc and Spirit had come up behind her and were still a good ways away and he didn’t think they had been noticed yet. Marcus knocked an arrow, but left it pointing at the ground. So far the person didn’t look dangerous, but they did look as if they were a lookout for someone – or a group of ‘someones’.
He scanned the trees around him but didn’t see anything. A gesture to Spirit and the horse confirmed that no one was there. He decided to make his presence known as he rode up toward the huge tree. He began to whistle Old Smokey Joe as he covertly watched the figure in the tree. ‘It almost looks like a girl!’ he thought. ‘What would a girl be doing in a tree?’ If it was a girl the only thing he could make out distinctly from this distance was that her hair was so black it had a blue sheen to it when the sun hit it just right.
He heard the figure sigh and as he drew closer he could tell for sure it was a girl. He rode up to the tree and stopped Spirit, laying the bow over his lap, the arrow still knocked and pointing off about 30 degrees from Spirit’s head to his left side – pretty much straight at the trunk of the huge tree.
“Hello there!” He called out to the girl above. “I say, the view must be spectacular from up there.” He grinned up at her and then looked around again, sniffing the air, but still didn’t see anyone else. “Since you have such a good view, I don’t suppose you could tell me if there are any bandits lurking about, could you?” It was a stupid question, but he always enjoyed playing the idiot. It gave him an advantage if his foes thought he was a simpleton.
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a1ko4
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 77
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Post by a1ko4 on Mar 19, 2012 6:57:02 GMT -5
Tessa looked down in surprise "Hello." then she quickly jumped down from the tree. "There aren't any bandits that I see." This man seemed quite funny, though she noticed that his cloak was that of a Ranger's. She kept her bare feet tucked under her long green dress. Men usually didn't think it was right if a girl had no shoes. Under her dress she was wearing trousers that the stable boy was most likely missing. Trousers made it easier to climb the trees. Though this man probably wouldn't approve of that either. She noticed his nocked arrow, another reason to think him a Ranger. She had heard stories of the legendary figures, though mostly ones of Halt and Will Treaty. "Who are you?" she asked, hoping to get an answer.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Mar 26, 2012 19:32:59 GMT -5
Olivia side then cocked her head to the side has she heard voices or had it been her imagination? Slowly she walked into view of a Ranger and a girl. She paused in her stride not quite sure what to do. She was on her way back from the city to an outlying village the message tucked safely in her back. Her blue cloak and courier pin and white dress boldly marked her as a Courier in the Diplomatic Service.
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Post by Brandwyn on Mar 29, 2012 11:48:20 GMT -5
"Who are you?" she asked, hoping to get an answer.
Marc opened his mouth to answer her when another person stepped into view. This person was wearing the dress and insignia of a courier and that surprised Marcus since they weren’t exactly on a road. He wondered what she was doing out here and if these two were together.
He smiled at both of them, “hello Ladies! This must be my lucky day! Imagine running into not just one, but two lovely ladies in this lonely part of the woods!” He took his arrow off the string, but continued to hold the bow and arrow in his left hand hanging it down at his side. Then he swept his other hand out in an arcing motion, ducking his head and laid his palm on his heart in a grand bow – at least from the waist up since he was still mounted.
“It is a pleasure to meet you both. I am Marcus Christopher Blackwater, King’s Ranger of Coledale Fief.” His sandy blond hair spoiled the effect by falling across his eyes when he ducked his head, and he hastily tossed his head and brushed the offending locks away from his amber colored eyes. Marcus was wearing a dark brown sleeveless tunic that was covered in leaf-shaped, blackened steel plates that appeared to be armor. The tunic laced up the front and matched his dark brown boots that laced up to his knees. They had soft soles and the big toe was split out from the rest of the toes indicating that the boots were used for climbing rather than riding. Under the tunic he was wearing a light tan long-sleeved shirt with dark brown leather bracers on his forearms that matched the tunic. All that could be seen of his trousers was the light brown linen at the knees. On his hip was a double knife scabbard with a saxe knife and a throwing knife on one side and a quiver of red-fletched arrows on the other side. Over all of it was a strange looking green cloak that seemed to change shape as he moved due to the mottled green and darker green and brown splotches of color.
Marcus was riding a rather short, shaggy dark gray horse that was covered in lighter gray dapples. The horse had four black stockings up to and over his knees and a black nose as well as black tips on his ears. His long, shaggy mane and tail were of a lighter gray even than his dapples. The unruly state of the mane and tail seemed to match Marcus’s sandy colored mop giving them both a rough, casual look. Marcus patted the horse’s shoulder, “and this here is Sea Spirit, but you can call him ‘Spirit’ for short, and you can call me ‘Marc’ if you prefer.” He smiled warmly at them, but also took a moment to scan the area behind them with his eyes, still not entirely sure they were alone.
“So what brings two beauties out here in the woods on this rather chilly day?” He examined them both while trying to look like he wasn’t doing just that. The one girl that had been up in the tree seemed to be just into her teenage years and Marc had noted that she had looked as if she had not expected the other person to be there. He really wondered where her parents were and why she was just sitting up in a tree.
“That was some fancy climbing, my young friend. It has been some years since I myself climbed that particular tree, but it had been a favorite place of mine to elude my mentor when I wanted to get out of chores. It is a shame they cut down the other big trees in the area. Now it is almost right out in the open.” He looked around at the forest he used to play in when he was studying to become a ranger. Rick’s cabin was not terribly far away. He turned to Tessa, “aren’t your parents going to be worried about you, out here alone?” Then he glanced at the other girl – ‘woman’ he corrected himself, “or are you two together?” This he directed at Lady Olivia.
The one dressed in courier clothing seemed to be very close to his own age and Marcus found he liked the way she looked. In fact, he liked the way she looked a lot. He reined in his thoughts along this line, however, because he had vowed not to become like his mentor where ladies were concerned. He was having a hard time keeping that vow, but he was trying. Then he realized he had just winked at Olivia and he blushed slightly and looked away, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. ‘Rick is so much smoother with the girls,’ he thought.
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a1ko4
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 77
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Post by a1ko4 on Mar 30, 2012 6:58:21 GMT -5
Tessa smiled at the man, who she already liked immensely, but when he mentioned parents, her smile diminished. "I don't have any parents, I'm a ward." she said sharply then she swiftly turned back to tree and flew up the trunk "And I have never seen that woman in my life!" the words echoed down through the leaves.
Tessa sat in the tree, she was near the top now, higher than she had ever gone. She climbed higher, till the branches were little more then twigs that would crack and break when she touched them. She sighed, she had once more allowed her temper to control her. What would that ranger think of her now? Tessa wondered who that other lady was. She was wearing Courier clothing and that ranger seemed to like her. He did wink at her. Tessa shook her head, she had effectively ruined this whole thing..
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Mar 31, 2012 11:44:20 GMT -5
Lady Olivia stepped forward one eyebrow raised at the wink. "No I am not with the girl, I came here merely by chance." Her deep blue eyes sparkled slightly the only sign that she was amused at Marcus's blush. Her long brown hair hung down the curls masking how long it really was, she tossed it over her shoulder getting it out of her face. "Your ranger of Coledale feif, if I may ask, what are you doing all the way out here?"
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Post by Brandwyn on Apr 4, 2012 7:00:39 GMT -5
"I don't have any parents, I'm a ward."
Marc winced as she scampered up the tree, wishing he hadn't asked. Obviously the subject of parents bothered the girl and no wonder if she were an orphan.
Then he noticed how quickly she climbed and an idea began to form in his head as he studied her.
"No I am not with the girl, I came here merely by chance."
Marc turned his attention back to the courier. "Oh, that is interesting." He glanced back up in the tree and then swung down from his horse. Landing lightly on the ground he muttered more to himself than the courier, "I think I upset her, poor little bird."
"Your ranger of Coledale Fief, if I may ask, what are you doing all the way out here?" She asked him.
"A good question," he quipped, "to which I could simply answer 'Ranger Business' and be done with it, however the truth is, I am playing hooky." He grinned conspiratorially at her. But then his face grew serious. "I heard about all the deaths from the plague in Norgate and that it is starting to move into some other fiefs so I came to check on my family. They live in the outskirts of Araulen."
He patted Spirit on the neck as his horse attempted to sniff the lady's hair, arching his neck and prancing a little. "You’re such a flirt, Spirit1" Marcus said affectionately. "As to the 'here' here part, my former mentor's cabin is not too far from here. I figured that since I was in the area I would visit some of my old haunts from my agonizing years as an apprentice." He laughed. "This old tree is one of my favorites - an excellent climbing tree."
He looked back up at the girl perched on a thin branch and figured she was far enough out that the limb she was on probably wouldn't support his weight. She didn't seem the least bit nervous about it however. The idea began to coalesce. He called up into the tree, “My Lady Bluebird, please forgive this insensitive lout, I beg you. I cannot bear to see a pretty little lady in such distress!” Yeah, he was probably laying it on way too thick, but he was sincere. “If you would come down, I would like to discuss something with you, or perhaps I could come up?”
Turning back to Lady Olivia he said in a low voice, “Forgive me, My Lady, but I think I need to smooth things over here with the girl. Perhaps after you would grant me the honor of telling me your name and where you hail from?” He said hopefully, and then without waiting for an answer from either of the women, he jumped up and pulled himself up into the tree and expertly scampered up to the level where Tessa was perched. “Hi. I am sorry for asking about your parents. Won’t you forgive me?” He looked at her with big sad puppy-dog amber eyes.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Apr 4, 2012 8:12:19 GMT -5
Olivia smiled then gracefully swept her hair to the other side of her neck away from the horse. She patted the horses neck and rubbed his soft nose. Olivia had a hard time keeping the smile off her face as he said 'I could just say ranger business and be done with it.' Seems like that was a line all rangers knew, of course that never stopped her from finding things out but that was beside the point. One delicate eyebrow rose, so he was playing hooky was he? That seemed irresponsible of him seeing as he was a ranger and as such he had duties. Being brought up with younger siblings, Olivia learned at a young age all about being responsible and how to do work. She never played hooky, she wondered idly if Crowly knew about this, and if Marcus did it often. Olivia who was based in Norgate knew all about the plague and how it killed, she was distressed to learn that it was spreading. She had already lost a couple of good friends to the illness how many more was she going to lose? She was just happy that her family was safe, for now at least but she decided she would not think about it until she had to. "I suppose I could wait." She called up after him, then with a sigh she sat down on the ground to wait.
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a1ko4
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 77
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Post by a1ko4 on Apr 5, 2012 6:49:55 GMT -5
Tessa stared down at the ranger and the other woman. She could perhaps come down. She was still mad at him for asking about her parents, but how could he have known she was an orphan. Besides, he seemed nice enough. Tessa sat in the tree and thought a bit, then she scampered down the tree and stopped at one of the lower branches. She wondered what he wanted. She flicked the hair out of her face and said "You can hear me from here." then she sat cross-legged on the branch and waited for the ranger to say something.
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Post by connor on Apr 7, 2012 13:48:04 GMT -5
Snarken crouched low in the bushes. He unsheathed the heavy bladed dagger at his side. The diplomat would defiantly have cash, she would be easy. The girl was no problem at all. But the ranger made the bandit hesitat. Snarken wanted money, not an end to his life. He gripped his weapon. He couldn't allow the ranger anytime to take out his weapon. He stealthily snuck out of the bushes and moved his arm to put a knife at the mans throat.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Apr 8, 2012 18:44:13 GMT -5
Out of the corner of her eye Olivia saw movement, movement that could only belong to a person and it looked like they were intent on the ranger. She would never reach there in time and if she did what could she do? No much that's for sure. so she did the only thing she could do. She yelled a warning. "MARCUS LOOK OUT!"
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a1ko4
Apprentice Cook
Posts: 77
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Post by a1ko4 on Apr 9, 2012 6:43:04 GMT -5
Tessa jumped when Olivia yelled out the warning, she turned her head and saw the bandit that had been creeping up on the ranger. She usually kept rocks in her pocket in case she came upon a wolf or other predator, she took one of the heavier ones out of her pocket and threw it. Then she scampered up the tree to a safer branch.
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Post by connor on Apr 9, 2012 19:13:33 GMT -5
Snarken dodged the rock with ease. He wasn't totally inexperienced. But the sunden move made the theif's attempt to get a knife at the rangers throat clumsy. Instead he grabbed the courier and used her as a human shield. "Try and shoot me, ranger," he snarled. He kept the knife tight and angled at the Lady's throat.
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Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
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Post by Kallie on Apr 10, 2012 17:05:41 GMT -5
Olivia was not happy. No she was furious! Her mind raced with things she could do, but the cold steel on her throat urged her to choose wisely. She laid a hand on his wrist and tried to wrench his arm away from her even for a second then she could elbow him in the stomach or kick him or something!
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