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Post by EK - Shadow of Death on Oct 10, 2004 11:32:08 GMT -5
<-- To K'Zan, Selenya, and Spec the Damned only -->
The brightness dies away from around you and you look take a look around your surroundings. You are standing on sand-covered ground, within a large circle drawn in the sand, interspersed with various sigils and glyphs. The room in which you are in is a dome-shaped tent of some sort made of white canvas, and supported by what appears to be the bones of some gigantic creature. There is no furniture in the room, and the door to the room, a wide slit cut into the wall, is slightly open, showing groups of people milling about in an orderly, almost militaristic fashion.
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Piper Silverstream
Squire
Always look behind you, you never know what will catch you unawares.
Posts: 81
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Post by Piper Silverstream on Oct 10, 2004 13:41:36 GMT -5
*Piper watches as Naylo leaves the tent, then goes to retrieve the tunic and cape from under the bed. After putting on the new attire, she sits for awhile and wonders what to do next. It is upsetting to her knowing she is in a strange land, where she does not understand the language, nor the people. She shudders as she thinks about what beasts roam this land, and if they would do worse to her than Naylo did, she decides to stick around the encampment and learn what she can. Maybe she can find someone to teach her the language, and maybe even help her find the portal that will send her home. With those thoughts turning about through her head, she leaves the tent, ever mindful to stay out of the troops way and not call anymore attention to herself than she already has.*
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Post by Spec the Damned on Oct 10, 2004 14:54:34 GMT -5
Spec walks over to the slit in the tent and peers out.
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Post by EK - Shadow of Death on Oct 10, 2004 19:24:59 GMT -5
<-- To PiperSilverstream only -->
Piper sticks her head out of the tent and looks around. The crater extends far and high on either side, showing that it was actually far deeper than could be seen from above. Tents of varying size and shape are spread throughout the crater, creating something of a medium-sized city. The roads are wide, possibly to feasibly allow the movement of large weapons or troops, and it is unlikely that Piper will bump into any of the small platoons marching through them unless she actively attempts to.
Not far from where Piper is standing is what appears to be an armory and blacksmith. The resident smith, a young man covered with soot, sees Piper and flashes her a quick smile before turning back to his work. Directly across from the armory is a string of small tents that appear to be officers' quarters. Next to those is another low, wide structure that appears to be a kitchen and cafeteria of sorts. A few platoons are currently occupying the cafeteria, eating their meals loudly and cheering on a pair of meaty soldiers arm-wrestling.
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Post by EK - Shadow of Death on Oct 10, 2004 19:28:08 GMT -5
<-- To K'Zan, Selenya, and Spec the Damned only -->
As Spec moves towards the slit in the door, he is immediately repelled back, as if walking into a wall, as he attempts to leave the circle drawn in the sand. He feels a force on his front and is pushed back towards the center of the circle.
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Post by Spec the Damned on Oct 11, 2004 1:56:31 GMT -5
Spec's eyes widen in surprise. A small snarl forms on his face as it reddens slightly. "I will not be caged." He simply states to himself but out loud. He looks around at the circle drawn into the sand searching for a place to desecrate it and does so if he finds one. He'll pick up rocks to try and throw at the designs, or whatever means possible to break the art.
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Piper Silverstream
Squire
Always look behind you, you never know what will catch you unawares.
Posts: 81
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Post by Piper Silverstream on Oct 11, 2004 13:55:19 GMT -5
*As Piper looks around, she is curious about her surroundings. It doesn't seem to look as if the troops are hostile, but then they have not seen her yet, except for the smith. Popping her head back into the tent, she takes her finger and rubs it around her lips, as she does when she is deep in thought, and wonders if maybe she can get some useful information by talking with the smith. Deciding on this is what she will do, she leaves the tent and heads in the direction of where the smith is working*
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Post by EK - Shadow of Death on Oct 11, 2004 14:26:16 GMT -5
<-- To PiperSilverstream only -->
Piper steps out of the tent and steps into the armory adjacent to the forge. The smith, a strong, young man covered with black soot, is hard at work on a long, curved, vicious-looking blade.
Jus' a minute, ma'am! calls out the smith, finishing up the last few touches on the blade. He dips it into a cold water bath and hangs it up on a rack. Wiping his off hands on a rag, the smith heads towards Piper.
Wha' can I be doing for ye, ma'am? he asks, politely
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Piper Silverstream
Squire
Always look behind you, you never know what will catch you unawares.
Posts: 81
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Post by Piper Silverstream on Oct 11, 2004 17:06:13 GMT -5
*Piper gives the smith a friendly smile*
I was just wondering if you can answer a few questions for me. I am new here to your encampment, and I was wondering what is the closest town or city from here? Also, what can you tell me of this place? Is it military, and are the troops friendly or hostile to newcomers?
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Post by EK - Shadow of Death on Oct 11, 2004 18:51:15 GMT -5
<-- To PiperSilverstream only -->
The smith looks at Piper with a look of genuine understanding.
Sure thing, ma'am. We're the Abyssal League, a mercenary company for hire. I'm their smith, as you can see he says with a smile, holding up his forge hammer We're neutral as far as the Blood War goes, but a few weeks ago, our high-ups had the entire unit move out here, right outside Ribcage by the River Ma'ar. As for why, its any berk's guess, but they're having all the smiths step up production and the grunts are doing a lot more formation drills than normal, so everyone's tense. They say that we're here to lay seige to the town, powers forbid.
He turns around to make sure that no one's looking
I told you that we're right outside Ribcage, and though I shouldn't give a mephit's arse to stop a clueless like you from going on a cakewalk, I'll lan you some: stay the bloody hells away from it. They've hired their own mercenary company, from the Astral no less, the Astral! Bloods like that are as tough as they come. he says, as the color drains from his face.
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K'Zan
Squire
(pl/m/gz/W4/Du/CN)
Posts: 106
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Post by K'Zan on Oct 12, 2004 5:03:55 GMT -5
K'Zan looks at Spec with an expression that is almost reproachful - patronisingly so.
'It does not seem that we have much choice in the matter. Although...'
He turns to Selenya.
'Selenya:you appear to be the most powerful of us. Can you escape this circle and break the wards?'
Bending down, he examines the symbols.
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Selenya
Squire
Planeshifter
Posts: 138
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Post by Selenya on Oct 12, 2004 8:16:24 GMT -5
"I can try to dispel this invisible wall, but truth to tell, I don't think we were sent here in such a haste only to be left rotting in a magical prison." Selenya replied to K'Zan "And anyway, if this invisible wall is what I think it is, I fear I don't have the right spell with me at the moment. But if the worst comes, I will be able to take us away from here, though this way we will be stuck at Prime Material for some time; for such a case, if I ever ask you to take my hands and form a circle - do it. Either way, let me look at these glyphs first..."
After saying so, Selenya followed K'Zan's example and started to examine the glyphs...
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Piper Silverstream
Squire
Always look behind you, you never know what will catch you unawares.
Posts: 81
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Post by Piper Silverstream on Oct 12, 2004 8:46:18 GMT -5
So I've ended up in the middle of someone's war. Well at least I ended up here, I guess it could have been worse. I'll take your advice and stick around here, for now. Thank you for the information, and I can tell your very busy, so I think I'll just walk around a bit, and see what comes my way next.
*Piper walks away from the smith, headed over towards the cafertia, thinking to get something to eat, and maybe listen to some of the troops talk so she can perhaps find out more about what is going on around here.*
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Post by EK - Shadow of Death on Oct 12, 2004 10:38:04 GMT -5
<-- To K'Zan, Selenya, and Spec the Damned only -->
Spec attempts to throw small rocks or fistfuls of sand at the circle surrounding the three of you, but the small pieces are knocked back by the unmoving force and fall jus short of the glyphs.
K'Zan examines the glyphs, but cannot determine anything other than the fact that they are most likely magical. Selenya, on the other hand, can easily tell that it is a summoning circle, drawn using a magical base and system that she does not understand, However, she is able to determine a basic geometrical flow to the circle and can tell that it was created by a novice. In a single letter defining the warding effects of the circle, she finds a miniscual flaw. It is possible that she can pass weak magic through the circle's barrier.
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Post by EK - Shadow of Death on Oct 12, 2004 10:48:11 GMT -5
<-- To PiperSilverstream only -->
Before Piper leaves the armory, the smith turns back to her
Hey, ma'am. Have ye a chiv? A real one? he asks, not really expecting an answer, based on Piper's appearance Take this here dagger. Baatorian green steel. Most Outlanders just shrug off the effects of lesser weapons.
The smith takes a dagger from his weapons rack. The hilt is flared outwards and ribbed for an easy grip. he blade is nearly a foot long, has an inward curve with light serration near the point, and has an odd blue-green tinge to it. He pushes it into a black, leather sheath and hands it to Piper.
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