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Post by Richard Blakely on Apr 15, 2007 12:10:56 GMT -8
Reynaldo rushed to the merchant area. He figured there would be the most likely source of transport to Hawksnest. He approached many of the caravaner's seeking passage to Hawksnest. All where headed elsewhere it seemed, most to Soldrien, a few to Mandrakes and beyond. Undaunted he continued his quest for passage. Near the stables to his surprise he overheard someone asking directions to Hawksnest. Luck was with him as he rounded the corner to book passage. His whiskers dropped as the person asking wasn't a merchant but a soldier of sorts by the sword and armor he had on, not to mention the multiple scars that were visible on his hands. He gave a nod to the tall, human fighter and stable boy. "Sorry to interrupt squeak, was hoping you were squeak merchant headed to Hawksnest" The fighter looked over the strange man with glasses, whiskers, long tail and large book. "We be not from these parts and are headed to Hawksnest. You have business there ..." he pauses for a moment. "Greetings I'm Henry and perhaps we can talk about Hawksnest over a drink" he smiles and turns to the stable boy. "Stock the wagon with enough feed and water for the horses, also write down any hazards between here and there we should be aware of lad and I will be sure to make it worth your while." He then turns to me. I pause for a moment then smile. "My name squeak is Reynaldo, yes I have reason to go to Hawksnest" We head toward the Broken Wheel tavern.
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Post by Richard Blakely on Apr 16, 2007 18:55:38 GMT -8
Hitomi sat a table, her blue eyes meeting the gaze of those who openly stared, she was used to this as her ebony skin set her apart. Her curved ears match those of her companion though her skin was tanned. She nudged her wild elf comrade and whispered. "Doe.. what is he doing? we were supposed to leave already" she says to her. Doe looked up to see Henry enter the tavern with what looked like lunch to her once you got rid of the clothes, glasses and comically large book. "Not a clue, guide maybe?" she quipped. Hitomi did not look amused, in fact she rarely looked anything but disappointed. The dark elf gave a sigh as the third person at the table, a large 1/2 ogre, made some grunting noise and tossed dirt over his shoulder. Kodiak disliked undead and this town tried on his nerves greatly. With every undead he saw he made a sign and completed the ritual of cleansing with tossing of the sacred ground. Hitomi brushed her cloak clean and waited. Henry approached the table with a easy going smile. "Hey there and yes we are leaving soon Kodiak, in fact we may have a passenger" he nods toward the rattish man in glasses. "Reynaldo these are my men, Hitomi, Kodiak, and Doe" as he points to each one at the table. Reynaldo squeaked his greeting to each as a short wide man stepped up to the table. "We offering transport services now sir?" he says with a grin. Henry groaned as a hobling took a seat "So what you paying to have us take you Hawksnest good man Reynaldo?" Henry rolled his eyes "Did I say we were charging?" and the hobling frowned "What we working for free now?" he grumbled. Doe quietly left the table as she spied Kodiak tossing more dirt and the dwarf in the corner was telling a story she hard far too many times to be of interest and pardoned herself on her way to the door. "We are leaving soon!" said Henry " so don't go far" as he, Reynaldo, and Fair Deal Dan were in the midst of the bargaining. It took under an hour for a deal to be agreed upon that paid upon them arriving into Hawksnest. Reynaldo stood firm on not paying until reaching the town as he picked up on the term 'needed' from Henry in regards to himself. This group talked like military but there attire and attitude seemed more like adventure types and heeded closer attention.
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Post by Richard Blakely on Apr 16, 2007 19:30:26 GMT -8
Reynaldo was amazed how fast the group collected gear and was on the road. By the time he purchased some food for the trip the others were waiting except for Doe. He climbed the buckboard wagon and sat behind as Henry took up the reigns, Hitomi at his side in a large hooded cloak. Guess what they said about dark elves and sunlight was true he thought. With a flick of the reigns the wagon moved out. Sitting in back with him was Kodiak who seemed to take extra care as he laid out a bow, slim looking sword and a quiver. He then got out a large sword and begin to sharpen it with could only be called glee in his eyes. Reynaldo blinked and squeaked as a dwarfish man climbed up into the wagon. "Not be leaving me now are you?" he said with a grin as he took a seat and then held out a large hand. "I'm Granite Crater and if you get any owies leave em to me" he said with a laugh. "Reynaldo he is a caster of earth magic, he means no disrespect I assure you" says Henry as he shakes his head at the dwarf with a why me? look on his face. At the town gate we are met by Doe and a lean, mean looking human with many scars on his bare chest. He and the wild elf reach into wagon as she grabs the laid out sword, bow and quiver, he in turn pulls out a studded maul of sorts. I sit up and watch those two take point and was about to ask his name when Granite shakes his head. "No need to ask you'll get his name when he is ready" That first day was quiet as the group I was with seemed on edge and I didn't want to intrude. I did notice that they must have been a group for awhile as Doe and Charging Buffalo I would later pulled back at half day and Granite and Dan took over leading the way. The day ended with us camping in a clearing just off the road. One that seemed to be used often. They pitched camp in what seemed like moments and to my surprise Hitomi the brooding dark elf was humming. She turned out to be the cook of the group and I donated the food I bought for the trip to the pot. Doe laughed as I she mentioned what I bought was what city folk thought they needed and would be bad in a few days. I tried to hide my bruised ego by saying it was only a few day trip but that fell on deft ears. My ego recovered quickly once dinner was served. I had no idea what made that stew so good or why a bottle of good ale had to go into it but I didn't care after my first bite. I took to cleaning up from dinner and getting odd looks for it, though cleaning was something I felt comfortable with. Doe and Dan slipped into the night and Granite warned me not to leave camp with a grin. Hitomi I suspected would be on watch for most of the night. I slept in the wagon wondering about every sound in the night. Charging Buffalo must of noticed my discomfort but eased my mind with a few words. "Only worry when outside is quiet". I did eventually succumb to sleep and was grateful to wake the next morning before light. My breakfast was waiting for me once I returned from morning duties and the wagon was packed. So started the second day towards Hawksnest.
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Post by Richard Blakely on Apr 18, 2007 14:57:08 GMT -8
Reynaldo smiled up at the grey sky. Not too cool, not to hot. This was nice weather if a bit on the dreary side. He watched the branches pass over head as the wagon meandered thru the hilly forest. One side was sloping wall dense with foliage and trees seeming about to topple over. The other was a panorama view of the forest top and rolling woods across the way. Lovely scene to behold ugly fall if one were to stumble near it's edge. He pondered the upcoming meeting, would there be a test involved? Who other than Jean did he need permission from? What cost would he have to pay? Was this position going to be more trouble than it's worth? Well trouble is what you make of it so that won't be a issue. Access to libraries is what he needed and this position would give him that. He grinned as he recalled his days cleaning and dusting the books of the royal library, none knowing he could read, many seeing him as less a man and more a part of that large catacombs of books. Yes those were the days in which he cleaned, dusted, read and made notes for those that didn't have access to such books. Maybe he went to far when he put books back where they belonged, or flipped them when upside down. That must of been what gave him away, sigh the habits of keeping things organized and clean. At least they didn't kill me he mused and now to be working with a Noble's permission. His musings were cut short when the wagon stopped abruptly. He sat up to see Doe talking to Henry as the others were casting glances around them. He heard one word that made him take up book and channel magic to his hand. Gnolls! Sure enough three of the shaggy faced humanoids broke thru the foliage to the right and front of the wagon wielding rusted swords and spears. Then another three came from behind the wagon, there muzzle like faces with terrier grins and feral eyes gleamed at us. Dan to my confusion threw two globes at the horses of all things, Hoblings are so strange, before turning to face the charging gnolls. Charging Buffalo well charged the group in front with a mighty yell, his studded maul in both hands. To my surprise he charged past the first gnoll and swung at the second taking a blow from the first in his side. I soon realized what happened as no wound appeared and Doe right behind sliced into the gnoll from behind as he fell from her quick deft slashes and stabs to kidneys and arteries. Charging Buffalo's maul slammed into the second gnoll who in his surprise didn't get his spear up to block and he went down several blows later as he tried to retreat, only to be blocked by the third gnoll who aptly used him as shield before fleeing into the woods. I looked to my back to see the three gnolls down, Kodiak grinning with a would to his side and Granite alongside applying healing magic. Fair Deal Dan who was in front with the horses was back there also retrieving a dagger from the back of a gnoll. Our quick victory was quenched when from the forest came another pack of gnolls. This group counted five and I suspect the one who fled earlier was in there midst. What got my attention wasn't there number but that one among them was a real monster of a gnoll. Instead of a mangy terrier like look this one had a mastiff look about him. No taller than the other but shoulders like a ox and in his hands/paws was a ugly two handed sword. Those mangy curds slammed into the wagon, the blow sending me over the edge and knocking down Hitomi. I landed on my feet and rushed under the wagon thankful the horses were asleep thru this. Being run over was not in my plans for the future and living was. With book in hand I slammed it into the knee of one of the gnolls who yipped in pain before thrusting a spear at me. The wheel blocked my evasion and thankfully the feeling of it entering me was negated by the tingly of magic. I was glad that my diversion made him unaware of the maul that clipped his shoulder and set him down hard and glassy eyed. From my vantage I could see the muscled legs of Charging Bull and Kodiak around the monster gnolls. There blows and yells deafening. Doe and Dan kept close to there friends there sword or dagger blocking blows and getting in a hit here and there to the unwary. I could see Henry's shadow as he stood on the wagon with Hitomi shouting out warnings and orders. I saw a opening when one of the three circling made a quick dash for Dan. I was out from under the wagon book raised and brought it down on the head of the gnoll with the satisfying crunch of teeth slamming into teeth and he went down cold. My tail tingled as the other two turned and charged me. It was all I could do as I kept the book between me and there weapons. Each blow driving me back toward the wagon, there feral look saying they had easy prey. Those looks died as Doe and Dan tore into from the back. I was relieved to see those foul breathed furred things down. The large one gave a final yell before dropping from a maul slamming into his gut and a sword cutting in at his knees. Granite for being so wide and short was quick in the aftermath going to each fighter and saying there name. Charging Buffalo gave no response and a heal spell was cast with same question, nod was enough before the dwarf was off. The others called out there names and he seemed to mark off names in his head as they were called out. I had the good sense to call out my name, though only after he turned and started to approach. Henry and Kodiak kept watch as the rest of the group begin to bandage the gnolls. This shocked me, but Charging Buffalo's wide grin kept me silent and I just observed. Once those that could be bandaged were the two large fighters cleared the road of the fallen tree around the bend. Dan and Doe were close by and every so often nap tapped one of the gnolls. Protectives were quietly cast on the others except the barbarian duo, Doe and Charging Buffalo, theres would come in there sleep I was assured by Hitomi with a wink. Of the still living gnolls Charging Buffalo and Doe begin to extract a tooth from each. This grisly scene made my teeth ache as they took a canine, root and all. Henry smiled "Better than waking up in a circle and this way the tooth doesn't fade after they begin there circle walk, plus killing doesn't leave em a lesson on who not to attack in the future" I nodded at this but my teeth ached as I watched. Charging Bull approached me and handed me a still bloody tooth. "Book good, words bad, I'm Charging Buffalo and your worthy" he then turned and went back to taking up point as we begin the rest of the journey to Hawksnest. Hitomi smiled "You won his approval on his name, well done" she then glanced at my book. "Just a field researcher?" she asked without expecting a answer. "Would hate to see what a adviser can do in battle" she quipped as I just went back to lounging and running my tongue across my teeth to soothe them.
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