|
Post by Ringulf on May 15, 2012 9:27:19 GMT -5
OOC: This thread is open but was created for Drake and Aribjorn during thier Battlefield commission as Guards During the plague crisis in Marshwood and Norgate. The flashback is from Norgate Winter Revel, Page 3, Reply #36. All information regarding the Fife of Marshwood can be found in the Marshwood Atlas and Ringulf's Journal.
Aribjorn had grabbed a two handed great sword from a standing set of armor that stood in the hall, it was not very sharp but would do the trick. He was trying to get to the shield wall to strengthen their numbers even though he had no shield, when he saw the wargals break through the gate in a solid press of hair and stinking muscles. out of the corner of his eye he saw Tory and the new girl Adrian making for the side door. The wargals would be on them in a second and the shield wall was defending the inner door! They were not going to get clear without help. Just then Ari saw one of the apprentice knights, Drake, that he knew trying to form into the shield wall, but he was in the back of the line.
"Drake!" Ari yelled at the squire, "Quvickly, Ramp vun...set!"
The young man responded to the command from hours of training in the maneuver without thinking. He planted the point of his shield and stuck it into the ground and put it up against his shoulder at a slant.
In a few quick strides Ari had covered the distance and leaped to plant his right foot on the shield as he threw himself forward on the next step with all the strength his right leg could afford him.
He sailed over the shoulders of the shield wall and landed none too steadily on the other side. Realizing he was not going to "stick the landing he tucked the sword across himself and dove into a shoulder roll. when he popped up and raised his sword he was behind the fleeing girls and much closer to the press of wargals than he expected.
The tactic had surprised the wargals as they saw the girls and the shield wall but had no idea some half crazed Skandian youth was going to fly at them like some winged demon swinging a huge sword.
Aribjorn started with great side to side sweeps to clear out the front line of creatures as they approached, they were almost inside his weapon arc so the last few actually got hit with the quillions of his crossguard rather than the blade anyway. The next row of beasts were so close he could not use the sword at all so he put his shoulder down and tried to bowl over as many as he could causing a massive knot of hairy squirming bodies to pile up trying to get through the gate. He heard a shriek from a female voice behind in the sheildwall calling for a charge as a forest of hairy arms fists clubs and so forth descended on him in a blur.
He fought with the sword almost like a quarter staff and gave as good as he got for some seconds until a sea of knights seemed to sweep over and around him like a great wave until the monsters were pushed back toward the gate.
Drake watched the scene as though it was in slow motion feeling his feet slowed like they were wrapped in thick gooey snow, He kicked to get his long legs free to join into the fray but they were wrapped up...
"Hey Vake up my freint you ver having dat "Knightmare" again!" said a warm freindly voice.
Drake, recognized his friend and Patrol leader's voice and looked up at Aribjorn clad in his armor. Then realised his bedding was what tangled his legs and that they were in a small camp on the edge of a forest.
The camp was set so they could watch over a road that was just visable a few hundred yards to the Northwest. It was night but the grey of dawn was starting to tint the eastern sky.
"It iss almost dawn "Sir Drake" I tink it iss time for you to go on vatch ant let me sleep a bit ya? Ari said Jovially.
|
|
Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
|
Post by Kallie on May 19, 2012 18:22:30 GMT -5
The rattle of hooves was loud in the courtyard, it was close to deafening. She reigned in Mara and suppressed a yawn, she was tired and really wanted a nap but she didn't have time. She took a moment to look at her surroundings, she needed to find the battle master. He had to be close to the castle, right? She put a hand to her mouth to cover a yawn. She hadn't gotten much sleep if any at the inn last night. Stiffly she dismounted and yawned yet again. Her white Courier dress was slightly wrinkled from all of the traveling and her blue cloak was dusty. She had her satchel full of important documents over one shoulder and a dagger was attached to her belt around her waist. She looked around trying to see if she could find anyone to help her.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on May 19, 2012 20:21:18 GMT -5
Just then a group of riders trotted into the courtyard of Stoneheath Castle. "All right Men, yew retearn to th' School good ride t'day dunna forget the test tomorra."
The man got down off his dark bay and walked over toward Olivia and bowed.
"Lady, Master Morgan MacFadden at your service, Yew air a Curier are ye not? Can Aye assist yew in some wey?"
|
|
Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
|
Post by Kallie on May 19, 2012 20:30:22 GMT -5
Olivia blinked at him once or twice taking a moment to process his speech and make out his words. If she had been fully awake it would have been easy but she was exhausted and hungry, and now that she thought about it a deep desire to have a cup of hot coffee. She gave was to tired to bow or curtsy so she simply inclined her head deeply. "Yes sir you can, I am looking for" She paused and struggled not to yawn. "The head of the battle school here in Marshwood."
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on May 19, 2012 22:20:16 GMT -5
"Well Lady y're in th' right place bu' Iam affraid yew are at the wrong tame. Yew Look awfully taired and most lakley could yews a bite t' eat. Let meh take yew down tew the Dancin Bear, Ole Kirby will hook you up with a room and a repast, I will be happy to take care o your horse fer ye. Then in the mornin Ahl have one of ma Squires come get you an take you to the Battlemaster, How would tha' be?" The man who stood before her was handsome in a rough kind of way, compact and not overly tall, exuded a confident masculinity but in every way was tempered by the manners of a gentleman.
|
|
Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
|
Post by Kallie on May 20, 2012 21:45:23 GMT -5
She nodded. "Yes that would me just fine. I would appreciate it. But please call me Olivia there is no need to stand on ceremony."
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on May 20, 2012 22:37:55 GMT -5
"As you wish my Lady."
|
|
Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
|
Post by Kallie on May 21, 2012 7:21:57 GMT -5
(ummm this?)
Olivia gave him a smile and suppressed another yawn. "Please call me Olivia I insist. And if you could point me in the right direction of the inn you mentioned I would be forever grateful." She patted Mara on the neck then a thought occurred to her. "Does the Dancing Bear have a stable I can put Mara in?"
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on May 21, 2012 19:24:10 GMT -5
"Does the Dancing Bear have a stable I can put Mara in?"
"Well yes "Olivia" ," Morgan said making a point to call the your lady by here common name. "The proprietor Kirby has a stable around back of the inn and a fine young lad named Kirk who would attend to your mount as well as look after any of your other needs, However my offer to stable your horse was not just a courtesy, as a member of the Kings Currier Service you are to be afforded a place to bed yourself and your mount at the expense of the crown." He said a bit dejectedly"
"Of course I mentioned the Dancing Bear because it is by far the best food and rest you will get anywhere in this town but your horse would fare much better in the riding my Academy's stables, where it would receive the best of attention feed and care."
" And I know you are rather weary so perhaps you did not fully understand, but I did say I would send one of my students to you in the morning, you would not have to walk,"
|
|
Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
|
Post by Kallie on May 21, 2012 19:43:11 GMT -5
Olivia briefly screwed up her face and shook her head roughly at her idiocy. Of course as an official Courier on official business the castle did have to care for her. She gave him a tired smile. " I am very sorry sir, I heard what you said, but my brain did not quite comprehend. I am very sorry you had to repeat yourself. I will take your recommendations for myself and my horse. If you would lead the way I will bed Mara down for the night then see about getting myself some food and rest. I very much appreciate your offer of sending someone for me in the morning." She covered up a yawn again then something he had said registered in her brain. He had said 'I will send one of my students to you in the morning.' That could only mean one thing. "Are you the Battle Master here?" She asked. If he was she was going to smack herself in the face. It made sense he had come in leading some men on horseback, was she really so tired that she didn't even comprehend simple things like that? Usually she didn't miss such simple things.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on May 21, 2012 20:34:46 GMT -5
" I am very sorry sir, I heard what you said, but my brain did not quite comprehend. I am very sorry you had to repeat yourself. I will take your recommendations for myself and my horse. If you would lead the way I will bed Mara down for the night then see about getting myself some food and rest. I very much appreciate your offer of sending someone for me in the morning."
"Ah will be happy to lead yew to the Dancing Bear, Lady Olivia, and introduce yew to Kirby, you will stay as my guest of course an there is no need to bed down Mara, I will bring her to the Academy stables as I said an yew will have her back rested and refreshed in the morning when you are as well!" He said with a bit of a chuckle.
"Are you the Battle Master here?"
"Me, the battlemaster?...No...No deary Ah am the Horsemaster, Morgan MacFadden, Ah thought they gave you Curriers breifings or guides or something when yew go on yer missions!"
"The Battlemaster is Clanneged MacMorne, Tha' should be right on the dispatch, Lady Olivia Ah must insist that I get you to the Inn Immediately, yew must be simply exausted!"
|
|
Kallie
Apprentice Messenger
Posts: 422
|
Post by Kallie on May 22, 2012 17:04:19 GMT -5
Olivia smiled at him again. "I do apologize, I'm not usually so slow." Mara gave a little snort as if to say. 'keep telling yourself that.' She ignored her horse. "Yes we do get dispatches but I read it a little too hastily and it has been some days since I have actually had the time to open it and read it. Of course once you said the name I remembered it. I am exhausted Master MacFadden, I do appreciate your offer to bed down Mara for me but I would really like to do that myself. It is not that I don't trust you, I'm sure you would take excellent care of her, but I would really like to do it. If you would be so kind as to lead the way I will follow." She patted Maras neck affectionately. It was true that he probably would take good care of her, but she had been with Mara for a long time and the horse had served her well, she felt it was her duty as the horses mistress to take care of her herself and not let some stranger do it for her. Besides Mara didn't like strangers touching her to much anyway.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Jun 5, 2012 1:14:35 GMT -5
As Aribjorn lay back and let the tension ease from his body within his bedrole, he felt all the spots that his armor had been digging into him all night. He felt as though his body would float up into the air now that all the metal had been removed from it. He heard the sounds of the night creatures in the forest behind him and the scree of the Nighthawks as they flew up suddenly from the grssy plains to ensnare another round of winged bugs. Then he heard another noise, a horrid raspy snarling noise, it was low and intense, but Aribjorn had heard this noise before and knew just how to silence it. Anger welled up inside him, he knew the blow must be descisive, he timed the rumbling snarles and just as they reached their peak....! A big Skandian foot flew out of nowhere and caught Drake right between the shoulderblades. "Vake up you lazy sack of dung! You fell back to sleep! Come on now! I vas all night vit da patroling and da vatching, get up so I can sleep a little ya?" Ari turned back over to face away from his Partner. "By Loki's hairy arse, somtimes I vunder iff dis guy iss gonna make it trough dis ting!" (ooc: Your turn Drake! )
|
|
|
Post by rangerkellen on Jun 9, 2012 0:20:02 GMT -5
"Ahhhhhhh thanks for waking me up Ari.... I would've been up earlier but I ... uh ... kinda overslept." There was a moment's pause as Drake glanced hopefully at Ari, trying to seek at least some sort of refuge in those eyes of his. He found none. "Anyway, now that I'm up, you really need to go to bed and catch some sleep. I'll wake you when I think it's time to head out or I sense danger lying in the darkness. But just remember to be prepared for anything because who knows what sort of wild creatures live in this part of Marchwood!" When Drake turned back around to see if Ari had comprehended what he just said, he found him asleep. "Oh, yeah, and I'm the sleepy one. Well then again, I did sleep three hours more than I should've..."
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Jun 9, 2012 13:42:17 GMT -5
"Ahhhhhhh thanks for waking me up Ari.... I would've been up earlier but I ... uh ... kinda overslept." There was a moment's pause as Drake glanced hopefully at Ari, trying to seek at least some sort of refuge in those eyes of his. He found none.
He found none as Ari had flopped down and wriggled back into his bedroll, closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
"Anyway, now that I'm up, you really need to go to bed and catch some sleep. I'll wake you when I think it's time to head out or I sense danger lying in the darkness."
"Ya OK you do dat I vill sleep a few hours ant ve vill be ready for dis mornings flood of refugees." Ari muttered as he rolled to his side away from Drake gave a slight cough and then loudly broke wind in his direction.
"But just remember to be prepared for anything because who knows what sort of wild creatures live in this part of Marshwood!"
"Ja I vill for sure! Vatch out for does big scary cows ant horses...ant make sure you steer clear of does sheep dey have big teeth ant bite too! heh heh"
When Drake turned back around to see if Ari had comprehended what he just said, he found him asleep. "Oh, yeah, and I'm the sleepy one. Well then again, I did sleep three hours more than I should've..."
It was just about dawn and the sky lightened behind the forest they had their backs to the High Road stretched to the north bending slightly into the interior.
Every day for the last few weeks it had been the same, weary, panicked refugees pouring down the High Road towards Bridledale, the gate they would need to pass through in order to get to the refuge of Marshwood Port and then escape on to a ship in the harbor.
Most of them going, who knows where. South to other fifes along the coast, East to Gualica or Iberia, panic and sickness drove them, it scattered them like a wolf among a heard of sheep.
Many fled into worse situations than they were escaping from. Most, to have gotten this far, were not the sick ones but many of the children or elderly they carried were.
They were unknowingly spreading the plague further and further. Ari had told drake just the other day to get ready, he said that it was just a matter of time til Bridledale became a closed door and one that would require much more costly defense than what they had already seen.
The first dribs and drabs of ragged weary people started appearing miles down the road.
Another day...and so it starts.
|
|