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Post by ivory on May 7, 2009 16:48:43 GMT -5
Galen kept to the shadows as he made his way to the docks, stopping every once in a while as soldiers hurried to find him. He’d taken a giant risk coming for the item in his pouch, but he’d always lived for the thrill, even more so for the close encounters of getting caught.
Seeing that his way was once again clear, he began the thirteen mile trek to Stormwhite Sea. If his luck held, he’d be there in two days time, but he’d learned never to count on the unpredictable line of luck. Too many of his carefully thought out plans had gone wry at the last or the most vital, moment.
He kept up the stop-and-start until dawn. Because of the adrenaline urging through him, he only needed a few hours rest, but knew that he’d have a much harder time in the daylight. Normally, he would’ve chanced it just for the heck of it, but he didn’t want to risk being caught with the item. And besides, it’d bring in a fortune from the right people and luckily for him, he knew who those were. Then there was Jock to think of. Poor boy wouldn’t survive in this world without him.
He put all thoughts of the boy – and though he was somewhere near seventeen-years-of-age, Galen still thought of him as a boy – aside as he climbed into the highest branches of one of the tallest and densest trees. He tied himself securely to it so he wouldn’t accidentally fall off and closed his eyes in a light sleep, waiting once again for darkness.
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Post by ivory on May 10, 2009 12:25:18 GMT -5
He woke a few hours later to the sound of hurried footsteps beneath him. The fingers of his right hand fingered the knife at his belt, but other than that he didn't move. He waited fifteen minutes after they'd left before climbing into the tree beside his own. He crossed seven of them before dropping to the ground and making his way back to the beginning, making sure not to disturb any of nature's greeting.
His amber eyes searched the ground at the sign of the stranger's passage. He'd purposely chosen a tree where moss grew beneath it and by the indentions, he'd bet his life that it wasn't a child - too much weight. Only one set of footprints and they'd been too hurried to check their surroundings as they headed to the west, the same direction he'd travel during the night.
A frown settled on his face at his findings. He'd learned never to try to group things together as innocent coincidences and he didn't do so now. Whoever had passed beneath him had been in a hurry. But why? To warn those at the docks? Or because he/she was fleeing too? And if the later were true, then where were the pursuers? Too busy trying to find him? It was a possibility, but he only traded in all or nothing.
Thinking he'd spent too much on the ground already, he reached to the lowest branch to pull himself back up. He dropped back down when a hand touched upon his back, pulling the knife from its sheath and rolling on the balls of his feet within a second. He muttered an oath before re-sheathing the weapon and glared at the boy before him.
"I though I told you not to follow me."
Jock stared at him with his blank eyes before lifting one shoulder as he'd seen Galen do whenever he didn't want to give a direct answer.
Galen's glare extinguished itself and with a sigh he gestured at the tree. "Well don't just stand there. Climb up before someone sees us."
He emphasized his words by reaching for the branch again, only to have Jock hurry past him and slither up the tree like a snake, nay a branch or leaf moving. He frowned again at the thought, well aware that Jock had seen too many snakes already both in human and animal form. Instead of causing himself to anger at the memory of when he'd found him, he forced himself to think of the boy's progress.
He still wasn't sure if he could understand the words said to him, but even without it, he'd come a long way from before. He'd only talked in the grunts and growls of animals, and hadn't listened to a word from anyone. Now, he could talk with his hands, gesturing to make his point known, though only a few people actually understood the lad: himself, Teresa, and Malleus. And where he'd repeated the single word of 'jock' like a mantra, he now only said it whenever there was danger - a trait that really came in handy.
Jock had a way of knowing things that other's would deem as only a sorcerer could know. It was as if he talked to nature and though Galen knew that was false, he didn't know how the boy went about doing it. He'd asked once and Jock had replied with his hands, telling him that the animals told him. They had specific ways that they did things and when they altered something, there was reason to be on guard, unless the other signs contradicted it. Like the sky or the wind or the trees. Galen was as clueless as before, but he'd nodded as if he'd understood and Jock had mimicked his movement, adding it to his list of gestures.
He pulled himself up to the branch directly beneath the boy and tied himself back to the tree. He didn't bother to tell him to do likewise, for he'd learned early on that Jock had taught himself to sleep without movement - a technique he had needed to survive in the wild. If he didn't move when he was sleeping, he was less likely to be seen by other animals at his moment of highest weakness. Though Galen doubted that he was weak even then.
He drifted back into sleep, certain that he'd be warned if danger arrived and that Jock wouldn't leave without him.
Sometime later he was awaken by a single word, "Jock."
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Post by Cutebabys on May 13, 2009 6:43:00 GMT -5
(OOC: Who is Galen? Is he a ranger? Am I supposed to recognize him?)
Dalin heard the rustle of leaves as he tried to find his way around.He had lost his way from his mentor two days ago. Since then, he had been exploring the forest.Suddenly, he heard voices and stopped to listen. He moved forward. Two strangers were standing under the tall tree. They were muttering indistinctly. He strained his ears to listen. They weren't talking anymore, he realized. He looked at them,or rather where they were standing, surprised that they were gone.
Stupid me, he thought. His mentor had always told him not to look and listen at the same time, but he had always failed to do so. He sighed for his carelessness. He was suspicious of the two men. As he had been walking for the past three hours and it was dark, he decided to sleep for a while. He looked at the tree the two men had been standing under. It was a good place to sleep, he realized, starting to climb up it. However, once he got up, he was greeted by the sight of the two men, one fast asleep. Now that he looked closely at them, one seemed to be pretty young, about his age, actually.
Ahhhh! he screamed, frightened. He definitely was not expecting this as he fell onto his back from the tree. Thankfully, he had not climbed that much and the thick grass underneath him cushioned most of the fall.
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Post by ivory on May 13, 2009 18:32:27 GMT -5
(Galen's a mercenary/theif/whatever-suits-his-fancy, Jock is kind of like his 'shadow'. Oh, and thanks for posting! :-)
Galen rolled onto his stomach and flicked his eyes to the boy that now sat on the branch below him. He quickly moved to tap the boy's shoulder, signaling that he should stay where he was. Jock didn't like the idea of not being able to eliminate a threat, especially one that threatened the man above him. Still, he sat frozen on his branch and waited for the next order.
Galen quickly untied himself from the tree and eased down beside his comrade. At Jock's pointed finger, he looked toward the trunk of the tree and hardened at the sight of a shadow moving beneath them. His eyes had long adjusted to the darkness and he easily made out that it had the structure of a human body. He turned his face to look at Jock and blinked his left eye, telling him to stay hidden in the shadows.
As Jock complied, he lowered himself one more time before doing the same. And then he waited. Waited until the shape was directly below him before rolling of the branch, hands shooting out to wrap around the hulk of it. He muttered an oath as a scream rocked the night, no doubt loud enough to alert every guard within a hundred yards. They’d have to move fast after they eliminated this certain threat.
He twisted as he swung for the branch beneath, bringing his knees up to touch his chest before lashing out at what the chest of the threat. Even as he did so, he sensed Jock to be moving though not a sound had been made to alert him to the fact. He noticed the boy scaling down the tree, the rope looped around one of his shoulders, to place himself in a position where he could catch the threat should he manage to get away.
His eyes held a coldness that would only warm with the touch of blood and Galen felt the usual pride in his companion. Never would he trade for anyone else to back him up, not even Teresa - though she'd probably skin his hide for not doing so. But even as he felt that pride, he knew that he had to curb it. Jock had to learn that he wasn't living in the wild anymore, but a sort of civilied life. A weary sigh slithered through Galen's head as he realized what he had to do - he had to take the shape prisoner.
If he turned out to be more of a threat than a product, then they'd kill him later. If not, then they'd sell him to the whoever wanted a slave. Either way, a lesson was learned and a price paid.
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Post by Cutebabys on May 14, 2009 5:43:20 GMT -5
Dalin had recovered from his earlier shock. Instinctively, his hand went to his quiver and he drew an arrow. He stepped nearer to the two men. The older of the two was watching him, he realized. Were they dangerous?the unspoken question stayed in his mind.Or were they harmless? He definitely did not want to harm an innocent person. However, one of the men stepped forward threateningly. He hesitated. Unfortunately, this was his biggest mistake ever. All he saw next was blackness as he fell back, unconscious.
( A bit short, but I can't control what you do next)
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Post by ivory on May 14, 2009 19:02:51 GMT -5
( you do know we're in a tree right? lol. It's fine though, I'll work it; and you did control Galen 'hitting you on the head' but maybe if I change it and make it seem as if your character 'thought' that's what happened then maybe the administrators would be kind enough to let it pass. So what say you, administrators? lol. :-)
Galen swore as a sharp branch scrapped along his thigh, tearing through the clinging clothing and catching at the end. He twisted to free himself and for it, he missed his mark, landing instead a few branches away. He'd wonder how a bow had materialized in his hands later. With the passing of their enemy's shock, he had to move fast.
His eyes flicked to the branches beneath him and like a cat, he moved across them, carefully placing his foot and shifting his weight, but in the time of a fraction of a second. Still, he moved to slow and doubted if he'd force his way through the dense foilage in time. Luck seemed to smile on him though, as he noticed the slight hesitation in the figure before him, granting him all the time he needed to close the distance.
When he was finally within reach, his arm snaked back and met the confines of more brush. The distance was short, but he figured he could put enough power into the punch to at least knock the man out. Before his thinking could be made into a reality, the man collapsed before him.
Galen's shock was just momentary as he watched the male's sudden reaction. Then he saw the boy behind him and grinned as he shook his head. Jock, seeing that his friend was in trouble, had shot back up the branches and snuck up behind the foe. Unfortunately though, he'd only been able to hit him with enough force to knock him out. He moved as his target started to fall, hands gripping both his chin and the back of his head, ready to snap the neck.
"No. He's to stay alive."
Jock cocked his head in the gesture of asking a question, but Galen just shook his head. Shrugging, he released him slowly and figuring what his friend wanted, he slung the unconscious over his shoulders and made his way down the trunk of his tree. Galen followed after him, picking up the bow and arrow that'd fallen loose from the fingers of the KOed.
Jock climbed through the branches of other trees before dropping to the ground where no moss lay and before Galen could stop him, he dislocated both shoulders of the prisoner. If he couldn't kill him, he'd at least make it where he wouldn't be much of a threat. But unsure of what Galen wanted him for, he didn't dare to break them.
Galen nodded his agreement though. He'd always be able to pop them back in and this way, Jock would be at least half-satisfied. Pride also glowed within him at the thought of the boy thinking of such a solution. It was a hoping promise of his future.
Jock took his nod as a sign to thoroughly frisk the body. He removed the shoes and searched inside them, felt along it for any sign of false bottom. He did the same with the seams of each article of clothing, checking to make sure there wasn't a hidden pocket. He even ran his fingers through his hair after patting him down, remembering an earlier time where a small blade lay hidden within the hairtie of a woman.
Satisfied, he handed Galen all the weapons who quickly distinguished them on his own body, and lifted their prisoner back into his arms before heading toward the docks. The sun wasn't yet set, but only an hour or so was left of its light settling amongst the earth, and they'd keep to the treeline so they wouldn't be more easily spotted.
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Post by Cutebabys on May 16, 2009 4:41:42 GMT -5
Dalin groaned in pain as he regained consciousness. His shoulders hurt and he turned back to see why. His face fell as he realized what had happened. Who did this to me?,he wondered,it must be the two men. He looked down at his empty waist. They had taken away his belt which had all his weapons. Dalin wished his mentor would hurry and rescue him. He felt so vulnerable and helpless, unarmed like this. He had grown to be fond of the bow on his back and the two knives which he had scorned at at first.
There was nothing he could do other than sit there and wait, or plead them to let him go. He tried to stretch his arms but was painfully reminded of his dislocated shoulders. Again, he groaned, pitying himself. How did I end up here, like this?The question stayed inside his head. He hated to call for help, Rangers were not exactly supposed to call for help, he thought wistfully. However, he had no choice but to do so.
"Help! Is anyone here?" He sincerely hoped that someone would hear him, other than his captors. However, after screaming for some time, he knew he would get no such luck. It was about an hour before dawn, and most people would be in their beds, leaving him to the dangers, especially here, where no one would come.( I'm not sure if that helps, but I have no idea where I am because she didn't state it.)
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Post by ivory on May 16, 2009 11:48:44 GMT -5
[that's okay Brandy. It kind of helps to know what's okay and what's not. :-) At least for me it is. I don't want to 'assume' cuteboys is the same way. lol. JK. :-) Srry if I'm being too sarcastic. The excitment from yesterday's play is still with me and we're doing it again tonight so I'm a little excited. lol. :-) ]
Jock sat amongst the shadows of the cave, unseen by their prisoner. He waited, hands empty, but still highly dangerous. He'd grown up amongst the wilderness and didn't need weapons to make a kill unlike most.
His position allowed him to watch both the entrance and their captive so he'd know when Galen came back and if the prisoner decided to bolt, though he wouldn't make it far. Galen hadn't bothered to tie him, knowing that Jock was faster than more-than-the-average-man and confident that one in pain wouldn't give him much trouble if any at all. Though he'd made his concern clear before he left, telling him that there was something different about this one. Jock had nodded in understanding and though he never underestimated an enemy, having gained one too many scars from snakes not even half his size, he doubted that the prisoner could do much harm. His arms were useless afterall and probably in terrible pain.
"Help! Is anyone here?"
Jock moved with the speed of a striking snake, one hand lashing out to cover his mouth and his other to rest over the back of his head. He couldn't speak, but he made his intention clear, giving a sharp twist to the side, though not quick enough to snap the lad's neck. Galen had made it clear that he wanted him alive, but in a decision against their skin and his, he'd kill him without hesitation.
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Galen's position high up in a tree allowed him too to see the entrance of the cave Jock had picked out to wait until night once again. He looked back toward the east and noted that he only had half an hour to get back inside. He dropped to the ground a few trees over and headed back, checking for any sign of their passage and satisfied that he'd covered them all, he parted the brush hanging over the entrance and slipped inside.
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Post by Cutebabys on May 19, 2009 9:04:30 GMT -5
The next thing Dalin knew after the words left his mouth was a huge hand twisting his neck.(OOC: That's what happened right? Not exactly sure) For the second time that day, he blacked out. When he woke up, his shoulders were still dislocated. His mind was racing as he tried to think of a way to escape. He could not run away by himself because of his shoulders.He needed someone to help him, but he couldn't shout. He was a Ranger, albeit apprentice, therefore he was supposed to be smart. The only thing he could hope for was that his mentor or anyone else would come and save him. What will they do to me?,he wondered, not that he was complaining of course, Why haven't they killed me yet? He looked around, trying again to make up a plan. There was nothing here he could use, mostly due to the fact that he could not reach out his hands to grab anything. (OOC: I feel so useless,you know? And, by the way, its cutebabys not cuteboys. I'm a girl )
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Post by ivory on May 19, 2009 14:26:49 GMT -5
[oh. Srry, my eyes have a tendency to trick me now and then. Horrible eyesight I have. And just in case you didn't know, if you 'reply' then you can scroll down and see the other posts so you're not 'posting in the dark'; and the useless part is kind of the point. That way, you don't kill us. lol. But if you just be patient for a little longer (and if it plays out in the right way) you're character won't be so helpless. hahah I'm devious am I not. lol. JK. :-)
Galen immediately spotted their captive on the floor and after Jock made himself known from the shadows - knowing that his friend never would have seen him if he didn't - he squated down beside their prisoner. He took his time looking him over, hardly surprised that he was only a lad of fourteen. It wasn't that he'd thought him so, he just made it a habit to never judge anything without facts he'd gathered from himself or directly from his Family.
The boy was too scrawny to be the average knight and his ability to climb the tree without too much racket cast further doubt on that theory. Galen frowned in thought though his face stayed expressionless.
He looked toward the shadows to ask Jock's opinion and had to turn forty degrees to face him. The boy moved too quietly for his taste - but only if they were practicing and on different sides. He actually respected the boy though he was a good amount of years younger than him.
He fingered an invisible piece at his neck as if wearing a necklace. 'Ranger'
Galen's face did change this time, his eyebrows drawing tight together in closer speculation. He raised an eyebrow asking, 'Are you sure?'
Jock nodded before moving to pretend he was holding a bow. He pulled his arm back as if it held an arrow between the fingers, but he didn't draw back to full length and Galen nodded at his 'word': 'Apprentice.'
He was the right age he supposed. The right build. He'd seen only a few Rangers before, had battled some and dealt with some, but he'd never seen one of their apprentices. He took his time studying him before prodding him awake.
"What's your name son?" he asked in fluid Arlaleun, but didn't wait for an answer as he continued with one more, "What Ranger are you studying under?"
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Post by Cutebabys on May 20, 2009 5:10:49 GMT -5
"What's your name son?" Dalin was shocked that they could understand Araluen. He was unsure whether or not to answer him. Never let your enemies know you too well.his mentor used to say. However, the one who asked the question did not wait for and answer and continued. "What Ranger are you studying under?" This question he definitely would not answer. (OOC: More like its because I don't have a mentor. "Dalin Bonagle Pringsdale, sir." He added the last word, not sure. He thought it would be more polite and maybe he would be shown some leniency. He thought about lying and saying that he was not a ranger, but they would not buy that. Instead, he said,"Please, sir. Can't you let me off , just this once?" It was only thing left and as much as Dalin hated it, he started to plead. "Or at least just fix my arms?" However, as the words left his mouth, Dalin did not have high hopes.
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Post by ivory on May 20, 2009 18:28:00 GMT -5
(I thought - Ah, you mean actually not having one. Gotcha. Maybe yiou could just make up a name?)
Galen stared blankily at him though his mind raced through the possibilites. The boy could be lying about his name, but it didn't really matter. He hadn't heard of many Ranger Apprentices anwyays. He inwardly grinned at the adression of 'sir'. Not even the first members of his Family called him that. They had adressed him as Father, not that he was anyone holy. Far from it, he thought with a broader grin of his mind. He seriously doubted any holiman would sneak into Teutlandt, steal from them, kill a few guards, and then harm a lad. And that was only counting the last forty-eight hours of his existance.
As the boy started to plead with him his face stayed frozen with that same blankness. His mind on the other hand, seriously thought about the request. He flicked his eyes to Jock's and asked his silent question. Jock grinned a not so nice grin. He won't be a problem, hands or no.
Galen was glad Jock wasn't his enemy and at the same time, frowning at the thought of being his friend. Because he was his friend, Jock had decided that any possible threat to Galen had to go through him first and Jock was a violent lad. His frown deepened at the thought, but before he could work it over, he reached toward the boy's left shoulder and quickly popped it back in place. This way, he wouldn't be able to use a bow. He wasn't sure that he couldn't fight with left-handed, but figured that two against one didn't have much of a chance, especially if he was using a hand he wasn't used to using since his other was dislocated.
(Galen doesn't think your character's left-handed (and I don't know) because for that time left-handed people were thought of as 'cursed')
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Post by Cutebabys on May 21, 2009 8:58:03 GMT -5
Dalin was surprised. They had actually listened to his pleas! For this, he thanked the Gods profusely. Now that he looked closer at his captors, they didn't look so bad. They looked quite pleasant, actually. However, the fact that he was still a prisoner did not help them seem nicer. The man only popped his left shoulder back into place. "What about my right one?" he was about to ask.(OOC: No, he didn't actually ask, so you don't have to answer.) He stopped. Of course,he thought,they don't want me to run away.He could fight with his left hand, of course, but not against two people. In fact, when he was 9, he broke his right arm and had to train with his left hand.
Now that they had released him from his suffering, he felt he owed them a favor. "Ranger Sorrel is my mentor."(OOC: I can change it right? I mean like if I get my REAL mentor?)He looked curiously at the two men," What's your names?"He waited for the answer, unsure that they would reply. He wanted them to be friends, but maybe two of them wouldn't allow it.
(I was thinking that they could have a similar-to-friend relationship, maybe not friends, but not exactly a relationship between captor and prisoner.)
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Post by ivory on May 21, 2009 14:43:29 GMT -5
(That's good because Galen wouldn't have answered anywaya. And I'm not sure about the second one; you'd have to ask a mod. Unfortunately, I can't answer your last one. It's Galen's choice and yeah, that probably sounds weird since I'm controlling Galen, but once I start writing, it's not 'me' anymore if you get my drift. lol. :-)
"What's your names?"
Galen answerd the question easily, pointing first to himself and then to Jock. "Gregory. Noel." He wasn't lying when he said them either. They'd both been known by multitudes of names, neither of them ever being true. Even Galen wasn't his real name and the same went for Jock. He'd known his parents for only a few weeks at the most and didn't remember what name they'd given him. Jock didn't speak so no one knew his real name either. These were just the names they used within the Family.
Galen (OOC: or would it be easier to write Gregory and Noel since that's what you'll be calling them?)rose to his feet as he pulled out eight pieces of dried beef from his pouch. He headed toward Jock and gestured them toward him. After four left his hand he quickly ate the rest.
He looked back at their prisoner and figuring that he might be hungry as well, he tossed him an apple. Neither of them liked apples, but they were easy to eat and their food supply had been running low. So they'd snagged a few apples for later, but then had the luck to chance upon an unguarded kitchen. Not wanting the apple anyways, he figured it wasn't much of a lost.
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Post by Cutebabys on May 24, 2009 3:00:01 GMT -5
(Yeah I get it. Ask Galen for me, will ya? You should just use Galen, I'll use Gregory.)
"Gregory. Noel." Gregory answered easily. Dalin raised his eyebrows, a trait learned from his mentor. He was not sure.They can be trusted, their eyes don't look like they're lying. He thought.
Gregory rose to his feet as he pulled out eight pieces of dried beef from his pouch. He headed toward Noel and gestured them toward him. After four left his hand he quickly ate the rest. For Dalin, he tossed an apple. Only now did Dalin realise his stomach was growling. He accepted it gratefully and started eating.
While eating, he studied the two of them. Well, he wanted to be friends, particularly with Gregory, but was afraid to suggest it. He might get a cuff on the ear if he said it. He looked at them, trying to figure out their personality. Finally, bravely, he said in a small voice, " Wanna be friends?" He waited for their response and finshed the apple.
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