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Post by Caelen on Aug 8, 2007 1:16:11 GMT -5
Krenaian finished fastening the spearhead to his favorite spear with great care. He was astonished at the perfection of the fit, and mildly ashamed at his inability to create one with such a perfect fit in the past. After fastening it, he spun it about. Not only had it fit perfectly, but the balance was better than it had ever been. It was almost as if the spearhead corrected every tiny flaw in the spear itself. He smiled absentmindedly as he twirled it about. He almost dropped it however when something caught his eye. Stopping to see what had distracted him, he realized it was Coda walking past. He looked at her with a confused look, unsure of what had happened. Deciding to ignore it for now, and accepting that it could just have been a flash of her aura, he turned away and gathered his belongings.
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Post by Rosy on Aug 8, 2007 8:41:34 GMT -5
Coda noticed Krenaian fumble his spear as she walked past and blushed slightly as he stared at her. she sat down on a rock a few yards from him and unfastened her belt. She reached into the deer bag for a few moments, amazed by the perfection of the stones. ((WILL CONTINUE LATER)
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Post by lighthawk on Aug 8, 2007 11:59:58 GMT -5
The shaman wandered over to where the chosen had gathered in final preperation. He stood a moment, watching Krenaian test his spear and Coda look over her stones. He scratched at his chin thoughtfully as the man almost dropped his weapon as the woman passed by. " It is time," the shaman announced as four villagers came up from behind him, laying full packs of supplies down for the chosen.
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Post by Rekona on Aug 9, 2007 3:29:54 GMT -5
Vinanti's outlandish fashion sense reared its head once more. Her cheeks were slathered with a dark, thick plaster and a single vertical line of sanguine ran down her lips. The marks were temporary and gaudy, to the sensibilities of most, but the old ceremonial paint her late teacher used when preparing for a difficult operation (usually something invasive such as childbirth or the extraction of poisons). It took some self control to keep from licking the fruity nectar from her mouth, the woman concentrating on the crowds surrounding her instead. Four birthings, six fevers, 14 cleansed wounds stared back at her. She had no successor. In her absence the townspeople would have to rely on their memory of herbs and flowers, knowing nothing of the ritual surrounding healing.
The woman put a hand to her breast before reaching down to find her comfort. Fastened thrice with a rope made, as a gift for good luck, spun from the hair of the first child she helped deliver, was the soft leather covering of the spirits' flask. She couldn't quite tell, as blaspheming as it was, if the solace seeped through her fingertips from the pungent medicine or the kind gesture from one of her beloved tribefolk. The path looked longer than it normally did, even though she had many times passed over it beyond the horizon visible from where she stood. Daunting, indeed. Vinanti's heart felt as if it had stopped. She prayed that her face didn't belay her doubt.
With a deep breath, her adept hands lifted the pack intended for her, grunting with the weight, as she pulled it to rest over her bare shoulders. Really she should have inspected its contents, to be certain that there was enough to sustain them and protect them on this perilous mission. Her mind, alas, was elsewhere.
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Post by lighthawk on Aug 9, 2007 18:54:56 GMT -5
The chosen set out to subdued goodbye, the situation was too grave, and the path too dangerous for anyone to offer a happy farewell with hopes of their return. The shaman stood, silent and watching, until they had passed from sight, even from the sight of his missing eye, and then still he stood and watched, as if he would wait there for their return.
It was a hot day and the sun beat down on the four travelers without mercy. The weather had become hot since the star fell, scorching the earth, turning the grasses yellow and withering. Twice the chosen passed drying mud that marked the spot a pond had been, and they crossed a barren stream bed that didn't even have mud left. Berry bushes were browning, their fruits shriveled and unappetizing to look at. It was a bit after midday when they came upon the Mother River, and though it was weakened by the heat, water still flowed in the Mother, though it wasn't as clear as it usually was. The water was still cool though, and a welcome relief.
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Post by Caelen on Aug 9, 2007 22:25:28 GMT -5
((So... do you not have a character lighthawk?))
Krenaian waded through the water, careful not to allow his weapons to touch it. His face twisted a little in disgust. "The river bed is slimy, and the slime is unnatural. Watch your step" he called to the others. After he crossed, he set his gear down, careful to make sure the spear was on top. He looked up at the mid-day sun. Then his stomach spoke for him with a rather loud growl. "Is anyone up for a hunt? I could use something to eat, and I'd rather not dip into our supplies unless we have to."
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Post by lighthawk on Aug 9, 2007 23:03:30 GMT -5
(Nope, I'm merely GMing this one. I've laid out the path for you, now it's up to you entirely how to walk it.)
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Rogue Girl
Novice
Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all.
Posts: 40
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Post by Rogue Girl on Aug 11, 2007 14:28:25 GMT -5
Aiyana easily picked her way through the river bed, pausing next to Krenian as she glanced about the area. Slipping her bow from her shoulder, she ran a finger lightly over the fine bowstring that had been her gift absently feeling it's strength as she surveyed the area for food.
"We're not likely to find much... but our rations will not last for very long." As she spoke, she slowly began to walk the area, checking for tracks or signs of animal presence within the area.
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Post by Rekona on Aug 12, 2007 4:45:25 GMT -5
"You won't find much at all." Vinanti echoed the tracker. The woman lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped over the water. Generally she would have waded for it, preferring smaller steps to large ones. "There haven't been useful grasses here in two months time. If there isn't any plant life, there isn't any fauna." She frowned a bit, realizing she was overstepping her bounds. She bowed her head towards Aiyana. "But I've not been gathering here in some time. Its best to leave the final word to one with more authority in the subject."
She reached back, brushing her fingers over the pack that was to sustain her. "I'm already dreading this..." The woman muttered to herself.
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Post by lighthawk on Aug 12, 2007 8:56:19 GMT -5
Vinanti proved to be right, the only tracks Aiyana found were in hard, dry dirt that were at least several days old, wolf prints most likely, or wild dogs. There was no sign that any herbivores had been to the river. The tracks came in from the forest side of the river, milling about the bank, and then lead off back the way they came. They didn't go much further, Aiyana found the remains of the creature sprawled in the tall grass. The wolf looked like it had been stretched over a drying rack, its flesh was shriveled and stretched to the point of peeling, it's fur looking as dry and brittle as the grass around it. Sunken holes in its face were all that remained of the eyes.
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Post by Caelen on Aug 12, 2007 13:14:31 GMT -5
Krenaian sat near his pack and began to open it up. He wasn't sure what to take out first though. "What supplies should we use first? I have dried meat, hard breads, and dried fruit." He dug through his bag a bit, checking the contents. He looked up at Aiyana, hoping a skilled hunter would know what would be best. "...I hope none of this needs to be cooked" he said as he pulled a wrapped up piece of dried meat out. After looking over the package, he put it back in his pack. He seemed more than a little vexed about what to do.
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Rogue Girl
Novice
Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all.
Posts: 40
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Post by Rogue Girl on Aug 14, 2007 15:45:09 GMT -5
Aiyana reached over him and took a piece of dry meat and a bit of bread, taking a bite of the jerky as she returned to the group. Once she'd finished her bite, she leaned back against a tree, still sweeping her gaze over the area, senses alert.
"None of this food should need cooking." She said, not condescending, simply pointing it out to him as she took a bite of the bread, having to work at it a little before she was able to really get anything off it.
"We'll make this last as long as we can... if we can find rations, we'll use what we can." Glancing over her shoulder, she looked off to the location where the wolf was stretched out.
"Everyone keep your eyes open..."
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Post by lighthawk on Aug 14, 2007 16:38:54 GMT -5
Just beyond the heat mummified wolf, the tall grass stirred and swayed. It took Aiyana a second to see it, but she suddenly noted that the grass was not moving with the wind, but against it.
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Post by Rosy on Aug 14, 2007 18:14:06 GMT -5
Coda had wondered a bit from the group, wishing to herself that something would pop up. It seemed to be a vain hope; the ground was cracked, what few plants weren't shriveled up and brown had an ill shade of green to them; the tall grass in particular. She sighed and sat down, resting her back against a rock. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Aiyana staring at the grass. Coda took a cautious peak. Some kind of animal was walking in there, and Coda could see that Aiyana was eager to get it.
Moving slowly, Coda got out her sling. She nodded at Aiyana and slowly got up, hoping the woman would realize what Coda was going to do. She slipped out a special stone and slipped it into the sling, careful not to make a noise. Holding up three fingers, catching Aiyana's attention, she counted down. Three, two...
On one, Coda let the stone whip out of the sling. It hit something with a dull thud and a terrified yelp proceeded. The movement in the grass ran towards Aiyana.
"It's coming to you!" Coda yelled, chasing after it.
((Sorry for my absence XD))
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Post by lighthawk on Aug 14, 2007 20:46:35 GMT -5
A powerful burning smell brought Coda up short in her chase, making her gag and cough as if she had inhaled smoke and ash from a fire. The movement in the grass suddenly stopped with thud of a body falling heavily to the ground. From the spot, flames rose.
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