Rise of an Empire

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc looks behind him, and sees that Angus has followed. Angus also expresses an interest in seeing the horse that Logan picked out for him. Rhuarc squints past Angus and sees that Dust has attempted to follow them to the stable also. Oh My , what a drunken lummox

Seeing Dust trip over a rock and land on his face, Rhuarc leaves the stable and goes to help pick up his fellow dwarf. He helps steady Dust and gives him a supporting shoulder into the stable.

 

[Darklord]

Logan

Being outside seemed to help his temper a little bit as he listened to the dwarf's question, smiling down at him he replied.

"Of course you have a pony, there he is, a Westfall moutian pony, bred for moutains and long miles, he'll take you anywhere you want to go. As for you youngun, I got the boys to buy old Firebrand from Mr. Whithall the liveryman, he's a now retired, but still strong stallion, that was used for a few years as a post horse running the mail route from here to Gunnar's Ford up the river about 30 or so leagues."

After he finished speaking he gave the stableboys a few Ducats and tying the satchel to the back of the horse, he began to inspect the bags on it to make sure nothing was missing before he left.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc looks at the pony with appreciation. He can see by the withers that it is a strong and fine pony. He turns to Logan " Have you been able to secure another pony for our newest member? If you like, I will have him ride double with me until we can find him a pony. "
Rhuarc waits for Logans reply.

 

[crysede]

River and Leaf:
Inclining his head gracefully to Devin in a gesture of thanks, Leaf indicated to River that he wished her to follow him, then strode a few paces away from the group. Noticing her wariness, he smiled reassuringly to her, his blue-grey eyes sparkling. "I must thank you for agreeing to speak with me River. I sense power near you young one," he continued, then reached out with one hand and touched the stone that hung about her neck with two finger tips. "Tell me, how long have you had this gem?"

River smiled wryly, the stone seemed to have a knack for drawing other people to her: first the bounty hunter and now this elf. . . . "Not long, in fact, only just over a week." Glancing back to the table, she noticed the others leaving - accept Devin of course, who was not about to let her out of his sight.

Leaf looked surprised, "You've only recently acquired it then? Forgive me, I mean no disrespect," he looked somewhat uncomfortable, "but you do not look like one with the means to purchase such an item." He glanced to the stone, his eyes seeming to glow with excitement.

Laughing at his concern over giving her insult by recognizing her lack of wealth, River wondered how Leaf would take to the less than genteel truth. "Your observation is quite correct, I could never hope to come by something like this honestly." She did not bother to conceal the loathing in her voice as she continued: "I stole it from its pig-of-a-noble owner, and taught him to think twice before assuming every common woman is but a whore, and at the beck and call of his 'noble' cock." She nearly spat the word 'noble' in disgust, but her tone then returned to normal. "Truly, the amulet means nothing to me, nor do I care anything for its power. I would gladly give it to you, however, that man you spoke with," she indicated Devin, "has been charged with the duty of escorting myself and the gem on a journey of sorts."

Leaf was taken aback somewhat by her reply, but did not let it dissuade him from his goal of uncovering the source of the stones power. "Yes, I heard that you and your companions are preparing to leave. I wonder if I might be able to accompany you in order to study your," he paused, recalling the means by which she had come into possession of it, "to study the amulet?" He finished, his speech so fluid that one would be hard pressed to notice his hesitation. "Perhaps your group would have room for a healer? I am quite gifted in the arts, and have no need for pay: the chance to study the amulet would be enough for me."

"I don't know, the leader, a man by the name of Logan Farstrider, seems willing to accept anyone who is interested, but you had best speak to him yourself. I certainly have no objection to you studying the thing."

Smiling broadly, Leaf thanked her for answering his questions and suggested that they had best be on their way to catch up with the rest of the group. The last suggestion directed to Devin as well, after Leaf explained to the man his intent to travel with the group in order to study River's amulet.

 

[SpectralDragoon]

He watched them converse, him reach out toward the amulet that she had stolen, her anger and disgust, a brief exclamation of shock on his face.

Devin sighed and nodded reluctantly, thinking "Nothing's ever easy. Interesting though, maybe it is only as he says, seeing that he has no interest in the payment or treasure involved with the quest."

"I see no problem in it really, as long as you don't interfere with me fulfilling my contract. I've got a job to do, and I just want to do it."

Devin finished his ale and rose slowly, unfolding his very toned frame, unconsciously using his height to intimidate the newcomer. He touches a hand to the small of River's back to set her moving and guide her toward the door of the inn and then their horses. It would only take a few minutes to catch up to Logan and the others.

 

[Darklord]

Logan

Pursing his lips, Logan considered the situation of the newest member. Looking at Dust he asked him..

"Do you by chance have your own steed or will I need to stop and purchase one from the livery stables?"

As he finished speaking he saw the others come trooping out of the Inn, and nodding at them to get along he motioned Devin over and asked..

"Everything alright?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Dust

"I apologize, good sir," I responded, holding thankfully to the other dwarf's shoulder for support. Soon, the root would take abetter hold, but until then, I would be a little less graceful than usual. "But I have no pony. I traveled here on foot."
I wasn't sure if he was even listening, his attention drawn to other coming down the road.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Seeing the plight of this poor dwarf, Rhuarc turned his back and reached into his pouch. He was never want for coin, not with a successful shop. He pulled out a few gold coins and stealthily placed them into Dusts pouch. Rhuarc turned to Logan.

"I am sure that our new friend Dust will have the coin to pay for his own pony if you will help him pick it out. "

"Dust, why dont you check and see if you have enough.?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Dust

This other dwarf was helpful indeed, and kind. I removed his coin from my pouch and handed it back, nodding appreciatively. I couldn't afford to purchase the land, but to buy a pony, that was well-within my means.
"I can handle the price of a pony," I assured them. "If you would point me in the direction of the stable-master..."

 

[SpectralDragoon]

Devin altered his path as he saw Logan motioning him over.

"Yes, everything is in order. The elf wants to come along, supposedly to study her amulet, and expects no pay for making the journey with us, and yet offers his services as a healer."

His eyes met Farstriders, trying to gauge what he was thinking, and shrugged easily. "I didn't figure you'd have a problem with it, but am clearing it with you first."

 

[Gaston_McBain]

Angus

"As for you youngun, I got the boys to buy old Firebrand from Mr. Whithall the liveryman, he's a now retired, but still strong stallion, that was used for a few years as a post horse running the mail route from here to Gunnar's Ford up the river about 30 or so leagues."

As soon as Logan pointed out his steed, Angus went over and began to inspect it. He had grown up among horses and was a fairly good judge of quality. The horse was solid and healthy which reassured him greatly. Post horses were often mistreated, but this horse looked fine. Of course, this horse was nothing spectacular and was not nearly as good as his old mount but it would do the job.

While engrossed in the horse examination, Angus overheard the bounty hunter talking about some elf who wanted to accompy the party. He figured that must have been that stranger from the tavern. As he pondered about the new addition, Firebrand became a little agitated. "So the stallion still has spirit in him" he thought, "this horse may be better then I thought"

Angus easily settled down Firebrand and surveyed the party. It seemed that everyone was there and ready to begin.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc cautiously aproaches the pony. The pony turns its head to regard the dwarf, chuffing its lack of interest. Rhuarc grabs onto the reins,puts his foot in the stirrup and tries to pull himself up. Not quite. He tries again,but is not able to get his leg over the ponies. Rhuarc asks Dust for help. Dust comes over and gives Rhuarc a push as he tries to pull himself up.

Ahhhhhhhhh, Dust has pushed with such force, Rhuarc flew right over the pony and landed on his back. "OUCH" Rhuarc cried. He gets up, brushes himself off with injured dignity and tries to get back up on the pony. He shooes Dust away this time. He still cant get himself up in the saddle. He looks at his companions for help.

 

[Darklord]

Logan

Nodding first at Dust's insistence on being able to buy a pony he replied..

"That will not be a problem since we have to pass Whithall's stables as we leave the North Gate so we can pick you one up in about a minute."

Then he turned back to Devin who informed him of the Elf's desire to join them. Shrugging he answered..

"It is alright with me as long as he doesn't get in the way. As for his not taking payment, that may change once we're under way, but who knows. As for you, glad to have you along. As soon as we're mounted, we'll buy a pony for the dwarf there and we're off."

After he finished speaking he walked over to where Rhuarc was, and squatting down picked the dwarf up and set him in the saddle, and nodding to him went ot his own horse and tying a last few straps swung into the saddle.

 

[Moneytalks]

Whithall's Stables

At the stables, a woman stands with her hands on her hips and a very unimpressed look on her face as she stares grimly at the stable master.

"Listen you sodden piece of horse manure, I'm telling you that ain't my horse!" Her voice was calm enough but there was a decided edge.

"Lady... this is the horse you came in with... I can as," He was cut of abruptly by a sharp blade pressing into his throat.

"Let me just explain something to you my good man..." she purred softly into his ear, "I rode into town on a stallion... NOT a mare... if you think I don't know the difference... you are SORELY and I mean SORELY mistaken."

He gulped, beads of sweat appearing on his forhead.

One of the stable hands came running up panting and pulled up to a quick stop seeing his master being held up by a woman dressed in leather. He screamed at the top of his lungs and ran back out before she could stop him.

"Damn it!" She cursed... this didn't bode well.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Dust

As I hear the man screaming, my first instinct is to cover my ears. Doesn't he realize that some people around here have headaches?
Then alarm sunk in, and since we were moving towad the stable anyway, I took off at the closest I could manage to a sprint, weaving back and forth en route to the livery.
A pony would be good, I thought. This walking and running bit isn't working out in my favor.

 

[Gaston_McBain]

Angus

It was good to be on horseback again, Angus thought as he rode Firebrand down the road toward the liveryman. The sun was on his face, wind was blowing through his short hair, he was beginning to feel happy for the first time in weeks.

His happy thoughts were interupted by sudden screaming. It sounded to be that of a lad. "Probably some apprecite catching it from his master" Angus thought, "Still it is a shame the lad takes his punishment in such a womanly fashion".

As he considered the clearly faulty character of the distant screamer, the alcoholic dwarf whose name Angus could not remember started to run for the stables. For what reason, Angus did not know. The screaming was a private manner, no concern of theirs.

 

[crysede]

River:
At Devin's impatient gesture she quickly stashed her few belongings in her saddle bags and carefully strapped the hardened leather container holding her most precious possession, her lute, to the back of the saddle. Dawning her thick grey cloak against the early morning chill, she mounted her mare with practiced ease. Although it had been several years since she had been on horse back, the skills of her youth had returned swiftly in the days following her capture by the bounty hunter.

Despite her drab appearance and slight hay belly, the mare was a very sound horse and was clearly well trained and adapted quickly to the elfin style of riding: responding swiftly to pressure from River's knees, or the shifting of her weight in the saddle. She still kept a hand on the loose reins however, not trusting the mare completely as of yet.

Elves generally use body or voice commands to guide their mounts, disdaining reins as inelegant and marring the unity between horse and rider - something humans tended to view with tolerant amusement (although some humans had taken to using this method themselves), and dwarves as just one more example of elfin pretentiousness.

Leaning forward slightly, River steered the mare toward the stables, their next destination. She heard the scream, but did not quicken her pace: to do so would only irritate her captor, and Leaf's presence had made him edgy enough already.

 

[Moneytalks]

Surrounded...

Vixen sighed as three of the older stable hands arrived surrounding her and the stable master menacingly.

This was getting to be more trouble than it was worth she thought grimly.

She tried a different tact.

Smiling sweetly she turned to the men confronting her and blinked innocently.

"I'm... sooooo sorry!" She gushed, her voice soft and well modulated. The one who appeared the oldest frowned. Her knife seemed to have disappeared and it seemed that she was just pressing herself against the stable master, not threatening him with a knife.

"Is... there a problem? I was just explaining to the master here that my horse was a boy... not a girl... as this one clearly seems to be." She smiled again, her teeth flashing.

The stable master looked at her in consternation before finally finding his voice.

"She ATTACKED me... with a KNIFE!" He shouted, "take charge of her lads!"

She smiled again, meekly. The men looked to their boss with something close to wry amusement. "Err... she... threatened you?"

"Joshua Brown... don't you DARE take tone with me... I said take charge of her, she's a menace!"

Joshua shrugged apologetically as he stepped forward. She continued to smile at him as he took her by the arm.

"Ouch!" She complained looking up at him appealingly.

"Sorry!" He blushed loosening his hold on her by still keeping his large hand around her upper arm.

"Take her to the guard house... tell them she was trying to get out of paying her bill!" The stable master growled.

Again Joshua shrugged and started to lead her out following his master's orders.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc thanks Logan for the help getting into the saddle, he will have to get used to them again. He hears a scream that seems to be coming from the direction of the stable. Rhuarc sees Dust react to the noise and then drunkendly start to walk, stumble really, towards the stables.

Oh Great, now what is he trying to get into to?

Rhuarc chucks the reins to get the pony moving, using the pressure of his legs to guide the horse in the direction that he wants it to go. His skills had lain dormant for many years, but his body would soon remember how to ride. Rhuarc rides towards the source of the noise.

 

[SpectralDragoon]

"It'll be good to get on the road. It's chilly out here, but it's a welcome change from the Stuffy Wastrel," Devin thought as he stepped into the stirrup and lifted his leg easily up and over the saddle. He took a moment to balance his weight evenly and was looking about at his companions when he heard the young man scream from somewhere down the street.

The stables were in that direction, so naturally he urged his horse toward the sound in pace with the others as the saturated little man weaved down the street at a sprint. Devin slipped his pack onto his lap and opened a flap. He produced a few small daggers, slipping one after the other into sleeves in the saddle on each side of the pommel, and one just behind it. These weapons were always there when he was travelling by the horse. They were inconspicuous, the two on the sides easily concealed by flaps of leather that looked ornamental, and the third in the middle was hard to see when he was mounted.

He wondered what could be happening as he maneuvered his mount alongside River's and a couple of minutes later they came upon the stables.

 

[poohlive]

"You didn't think you'd get away with it, did you?"
The fairy moved around quickly, as Roc bore down on it. She was flying in circles purposely, the blade of his sword following every move.
"Prepare to die, earth maiden."
"No... no!!!" she wailed like the dickens, pretending to scream, then faint, fall down to the ground, only to fly up, scream, and faint again.
Roc lifted the blade up high in the air, both his eyes focusing on the creature, who had now stopped, paralyzed with fear.
The blade came down, hard, slicing through the air with a familiar sound. As it reached the small ball of light, it stopped. Roc didn't stop it, it had just stopped. As if he had embedded it deep into a tree. There was no bounce, no slowing of any kind. Just a high arc followed by an abrupt halt.
"Very good," he said, lowering the sword, "You've got it now."
The fairy circled once more, laughter on the wind.
"I've been practicing. It's hard to do it, and not have the person get hurt."
He nodded, his hands vibrated slightly from the recent attack.
"Well, don't worry about it, if you were in danger, you should be able to hurt your attacker just a little bit. Then put a pertification spell on them."
Lyt smiled, moving onto his massive shoulder.
"I'm thinking lunch," she said, near his ear, he definitely couldn't complain.
"Come, let's go to the stream. I saw a couple of fish in their that are just dying to be eating."
She licked her lips in anticipation.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

"But... I HAVE got money to pay my bill!" She smiled again at Joshua, this time with a flirtatious sparkle in her eye.

The large man blushed again but managed to keep enough sense in his head to continue holding her arm.

The stable master glowered at the woman who had just recently threatened to slice open his throat. Money was a strong talker though and he hesitated giving her the benefit of the doubt.

"The bill was two and a half silver!" He growled.

She continued smiling unpreturbed. She reached into her vest and the stable master tensed visibly. She pulled out three silver pieces and a gold sovereign. The stable masters eyes widened greedily.

"Plus you have to pay for inconvenience of my men." He was quick, swiping the coins from her hand.

"Go on then... take your horse and get out of here."

"But, I've already told you... that's not my horse..."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Dust

I was almost to the stable when I finally lost my balance and landed on my side. I managed to get into a sitting position andwatched as the others came closer, not daring to just jump to my feet again for fear of falling right off.
"Often, when you help strangers they are grateful and offer a favor in return," I explained. "I don't believe I am in any condition to be of help. Perhaps I should wait here until you find a suitable pony, Logan?"

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc sees Dust fall to the ground. He shakes his head in disgust and almost stops to help the dwarf up, but he is worried about gettin back into the saddle again. He continues onto the stable and comes upon the present scene. He sees a beautiful young lady being accosted by a stable hand and the stable owner, a man known throughout town to be a swindler, trying to get money from here.

"Unhand that lady, you young varlet, or face my wrath." Rhuarc charges his pony towards the young man holding onto the lady. When he gets there, he tries to glide out of the saddle. All he accomplishes, is getting his foot caught in the stirrup and falling out of the saddle to the ground. He quickly gains his feet and approaches the young man with a menacing expression on his face.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

"Unhand that lady, you young varlet, or face my wrath."

Vixen watched curiously as a dwarf riding a horse charged towards them. The 'would-be' magnificent entrance ruined however, as incredibly he managed to fall off his saddle. Unpreterbed by the fall it seemed he continued on foot towards them.

Vixen sighed inwardly. Well, this was as good a distraction as any. Taking the opportunity in hand she stomped hard on Joshua's foot causing him to grunt in pain and thus she was out of his clutches.

She strode up to the stable master who she decided wasn't worth negotiating with any longer. Her elbow made sharp contact with his jaw. She was satisfied to see his look of shock before he crumpled into a heap on the floor. The other stable hands seemed at a loss as she walked past them in search for her horse.