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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 29, 2009 18:08:51 GMT -5
(OOC- open to anyone - please join!)
(Setting: The Baron’s practice yard in Meric fief in the middle of royal scout schools fencing drill.)
Ian MacGreggor watched his new young apprentice practice her fencing drills against one of the senior apprentices in the Scout School. She had potential, he had to admit, and a natural ease with the lighter blades, but the saber was a bit heavier and giving her some problems. He watched her footwork critically.
“No! No! No! I told you to step like this, and then this!” Ian took her sword and demonstrated. “You stepped too far to the left and opened up your whole right side for a thrust like this-“ He nodded to her opponent, Duck, to demonstrate, “straight under your armpit and into you lung.” He stepped back and handed her saber. “Now do it again – slowly this time.”
Ian watched them begin the same drill again, but just as they reached the same point they were interrupted by the clatter of hoofbeats over the cobblestones in the courtyard of the Castle of Meric. Ian turned to see who was riding in such a hurry, with a slight frown at the interruption.
He saw Brandwyn’s sword fly up in the air and land quivering in the dirt, narrowly missing a groundskeeper. Ian tried to appear stern, but was wondering why a ranger had just come riding up to the keep doors in such a hurry. “Go pick up your sword and do it again.” Ian tried not to notice the smirk on Duck’s face that he was trying to conceal. That boy had certainly been a handful when he first became an apprentice at 13, Ian remembered. He would have to keep my eye on him around the girl. It was hard to concentrate on the swordplay with his mind wandering back to wondering what had brought the ranger here. It was usually not good news when a ranger showed up – especially when they were in a hurry...
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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 29, 2009 18:10:47 GMT -5
Brandwyn Elfstone hung her head at her Master’s rebuke, knowing he was right.
Duck and Brandwyn began the sequence again, only moving slowly enough that she could concentrate on her stance as well as the tip of her blade. Suddenly they were interrupted by the clatter of a fast moving horse bursting through the courtyard gates, heading towards the main keep. Brandwyn made the mistake of sneaking a quick glance at the rider and Duck took advantage of her distraction. Suddenly her saber was flying up into the air and arced downward some ten feet away, landing point down in the dirt with the hilt quivering back and forth. Lucky for her that Master Ian had also been distracted by the sudden appearance of the rider and his horse, and did no more than tell her to retrieve her sword and do it again. She could tell his head wasn’t in the drilling anymore though.
Brandwyn also had a hard time getting her head back into the drill, though Duck seemed to be totally oblivious to the arrival of a ranger and what news that might be bringing. He relentlessly attacked with a big, goofy grin on his face as if this were the best thing in the entire world.
After a few more minutes of the grueling drill, they were interrupted once again by a young page running from the keep full-tilt towards the practice yard. “Master Ian, Sir! Master Ian!” The page panted to catch his breath before continuing, “The Baron wishes to see you in his study at once, Sir!”
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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 31, 2009 11:48:57 GMT -5
Ian had been expecting this and turned to the girl and said, “come on, let’s go see what bad news this ranger has brought that His Excellency is calling on the head of his Scouts for.”
He ran his eyes up and down Brandwyn’s slight frame, taking in her overall appearance for a moment before turning towards the Keep door. She was a bit dusty and had a smudge of dirt on her cheek. The leggings she wore over her well-muscled legs were probably not the best attire for appearing in front of the Baron. He frowned at her as he turned away.
Over his shoulder he said, “put on that crazy skirt of yours if you have it handy,” and started moving towards the Keep.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 31, 2009 12:03:56 GMT -5
Brandwyn looked down at the black leggings and tall black suede riding boots she was wearing, wondering what was wrong with the way she looked. She looked up at Duck and he shrugged, handing her skirt and belt pouches to her that he had retrieved from the bench some feet behind him. “Better get going!” he said and nodded towards the retreating form of her Master. He held out her cloak.
She grabbed the blue skirt and slung it around her waist, catching the eyelet with the hook and quickly turning it so the slits hung straight in the front and back. The skirt concealed her leggings and boots, but with the slits she would be able to fight normally and ride a horse comfortably while still appearing that she was wearing a normal skirt and bodice. It was something she had designed and sewn herself and was quite proud of it.
Brandwyn slid her belt with her pouches and scabbaard back around her waist and grabbed her cloak from Duck as she sheathed her blade and took off at a run to catch up with Master Ian.
“What do you think is wrong Ian?” she asked breathlessly as they reached the door and entered the keep, walking briskly.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 31, 2009 12:20:01 GMT -5
Ian glanced at Brandwyn, and tried not to show his worry. “I don’t know, but given how fast he came thundering in here and how quickly the Baron sent for me, and it seems for his Battlemaster too it appears -” Ian nodded towards the Battlemaster who was walking calmly, yet quickly across the practice yard behind them, an apprentice on his heels. “it can’t be good.”
He marched down the wide hall, leading Brandwyn to the Baron’s study. “I guess we will find out shortly.”
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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 31, 2009 12:37:16 GMT -5
Brandwyn wasn’t sure if she really did want to find out. She had never seen her master worried before. Normally stuff just rolled off him like water off a duck.
She caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror they were passing and noticed that she did look rather unkempt. Not her best for going before the Baron, a ranger and the Battlemaster. She pulled the blue ribbon loose that was holding her long blond hair back and tossed her head, shaking her hair loosely around her shoulders in a small cloud of dust. Then she tied the ribbon around her neck with a pretty little bow at her throat, and grinned at her Master. The ribbon matched her skirt and vest as well as her eyes, and she thought she looked pretty in blue. Not to mention it was her favorite color. Hopefully Ian would like the accessory. She had missed the smudge of dirt on her face.
They were approaching the Baron’s study door now and Brandwyn felt very nervous. She had never had much contact with rangers before and wondered if all the stories about them were true or not. She wondered what this ranger was going to be like, since she had hardly got a glimpse of him when he had jumped off his horse and strode briskly into the keep, out of site.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jan 31, 2009 12:50:05 GMT -5
“Hmmmff!” Ian said as he watched her tie the ribbon around her neck, “nice touch.” He noticed that she had not done up the laces on her chemise-shirt and could just see the curve of her breasts peeking out from the collar of the chemise. ‘This girl is certainly too much of a distraction. I am going to have to watch her like a hawk over the next couple years to keep the boys off her,’ he thought for the tenth time at least. He slapped a bit of dust off himself as well before he stepped up to the door to the Baron’s study.
“Let’s not keep the Baron waiting any longer.” He knocked twice and at the grunted assent from inside, he pushed open the door and ushered his apprentice through it in front of him with a gentle pressure in the small of her back.
The Baron sat behind his desk, holding a dispatch and the ranger leaned up against the roll-top desk in the corner, looking out the narrow window. The ranger turned his head as they entered.
Ian nodded his head to the ranger, “Ranger.” He said, then turned to stand at parade rest in front of the Baron’s desk, elbowing Brandwyn to follow suit. “Your Excellency sent for me?”
(OOC: This is a good place for a ranger or battleschool person to jump in - or both...hint, hint...)
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Post by drenith on Jan 31, 2009 16:39:09 GMT -5
Drenith nodded back to Ian, he was there in Tandar's place for the moment and surveyed his apprentice, a girl about his age, she looked a bit formal for his tastes but she was probably dress like that because of the Baron, "hello" he acknowledged. Soon everyone had filled and Drenith had turned to inform Baron, "sir, I will be taking Ranger Tandar's place for the time being." Drenith wondered where his mentor was at the moment, he had told Drenith to go ahead and meet with the Baron and had said he'd catch up.
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Post by Tandar on Jan 31, 2009 20:20:50 GMT -5
Tandar pushed past the double doors leading into the kitchen of Castle Meric. His eyes darted from side to side, scanning for any sign of the head cook. "Negative," he mumbled to himself. "The coast is clear." The ranger moved up slowly, edging closer toward an oak table near the rear of the kitchen. A rack of mugs lined the wall directly above the table and a couple of sacks sat beside it on the floor. His gaze fell on one of the open sacks. "Target in sight." ******* Ranger Tandar entered the baron's study with a big smile on his face and a mug of hot coffee in his hand. He took a sip of the beverage. "Did I miss anything?"8
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Post by Brandwyn on Feb 1, 2009 7:44:15 GMT -5
Brandwyn had wanted to try to make herself inconspicuous as they entered the study, but her master made that impossible as he pushed her in front of him into the room. She quickly scanned the office, taking in the various desks and bookshelves. One wall contained a diamond-shaped rack that held rolled up pieces of paper. Brandwyn realized that they were probably maps.
At first she did not notice the ranger, but then he moved to say ‘Hello’ to Ian as the Baron made introductions, appearing to materialize out of the wall next to a roll-top desk.
He was young, about the same age as she, or maybe a year or two younger. He spoke with confidence to the Baron, though he appeared to be wishing his master would make an appearance. Then the door opened and the battle master and his apprentice strode into the room. They crowded into the other side and suddenly Brandwyn felt as if the oxygen supply in the room was running out too fast.
She squeezed around Drenith to get near the window, whispering to him as she sidled past, “Sorry! Too many people in here.” She smiled apologetically. “Mind if I stand next to the window?”
When she turned back Ian was frowning at her. She just pursed her lips and clenched her fists. She really hated crowds and especially crowds in small rooms. She thought if she was by the window where she could see outside, it might not be so bad.
Then the door opened again and another ranger sauntered in carrying a big mug of coffee. Brandwyn was surprised at his youth. She had been expecting someone closer to Ian’s age, but this handsome young man looked to be only a couple years older than she. He looked like a pleasant fellow and she managed a tense smile at him as he surveyed the room.
The pleasant aroma of the coffee helped to calm her nerves a little, but the addition of another person into the small study just added to her anxiety that there wasn’t enough air for all of them. She tried to concentrate on what was being said and forget about her nerves and her empty stomach as she squeezed up against the windowsill.
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Post by Brandwyn on Feb 1, 2009 7:47:51 GMT -5
Ian was waiting for the Baron to answer him when the door opened and the battle master and his apprentice entered the room and filled up half of it by their sheer bulk. He said hello to them and then noticed that his own apprentice was about to flip out. ‘I have to get her over that silly phobia somehow,’ he frowned in thought. He hoped she could keep it together. They probably wouldn’t be in here that long.
Then the door opened again and a ranger he knew and liked strode into the room with a big mug of coffee and a contented smile on his face.
“Tandar! Good to see you again!” Ian shook his free hand warmly. “No, you haven’t missed anything yet. His Excellency was just about to let us know what all the hub bub is about.”
Ian moved over towards the battle master to make room for the young ranger. “I see you managed to find the kitchen.” He grinned and nodded towards the mug of coffee.
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Post by drenith on Feb 2, 2009 19:01:39 GMT -5
OOC: I'll do it but who will be the batllemaster and apprentice? and Drenith can now be called Dren for short if you want to
"No its fin with me" Drenith muttered in a hushed tone as he'd seen Tandar do with many people and as if on que the man himself walked through the doo carrying a large mug of coffee due to the aroma that had suddenly filled the room.
Drenith stared mouth agape at Tandar, who had sent him ahead so he could get coffee. Dren had thought it was somthing important like taking a secret message to someone but nooooo he goes off and gets coffee, "wa w-wait you tell me to go on a head and meet with the baron for a meeting that may put all of Araluen in danger just to get a mug of coffee?" Dren had thought himself carless but this was astonishing.
The Baron greeted Tandar and stated "Thank you for coming everyone I have important bussiness for all of us. As the rangers know Araluen is in danger of war. Gallica is under attack by the Aslavian army and as allies we are supposed to responed with support but we have also heard that if Gallica falls Aslavian will march straight to Araluen crushing everything in their way" The Baron didn't hide the worry in his voice. He knew what was going to happen soon if they didn't help Gallica.
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Post by Brandwyn on Feb 2, 2009 19:30:35 GMT -5
(OOC: If no one jumps in right here, I can cover them.)
Brandwyn shot a shocked look towards her master. She noticed he appeared just as shocked. They had not heard anything about Aslavia invading countries along its western border. Normally they focused their raids to the east and south. This was bad news indeed.
She wondered how this was going to alter her immediate future.
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Post by Brandwyn on Feb 2, 2009 19:44:29 GMT -5
Ian was shocked. He glanced at Brandwyn to see how she took the news. ‘Bout the same as me,’ he thought. Then his military training kicked in and he suddenly had a bunch of questions.
“What kind of intel do we have on the situation? Where is their army and how many of them are there?” Ian paused, looking abashed. “Sorry, I was expecting bad news, but I must admit this threw me for a loop.”
Ian turned to Tandar, “Do you have more information about this?”
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Post by drenith on Feb 2, 2009 20:27:32 GMT -5
The Baron answered his questions "We know that they have a large force moving fast and we need to rally our troops ASAP"
Dren had been taken aback by the new he had know somthing bad had happened in Gallacia but he didn't think it was of its magnitude.
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