"Well, I'm, um, I'm really not sure." Ariel stumbled with her words for a moment. If she was honest, she was rather scared of going to Black Marsh for all the dangers it presented, not just the diseases. Then again, she believed that probably wouldn't need a way of dispatching the thralls if she and Ahnasha were only going to be employing stealth, and Ariel wasn't much of a fighter in the first place. Her mind went over to what Ahnasha had mentioned the previous night. Maybe I should take more risks, Ariel thought to herself. Looking to Meesei with a more decided expression, Ariel answered. "I think the disease resistance would be very useful, Meesei. Thank you."
Feeling quite humbled by the assistance, Ariel stood up and held one of her hands in the other in front of herself. "Is there any way I can assist you today? I might be able to brew you something if we have the right ingredients on hand."
Fendros nodded patiently as he took the mace back. After taking a moment to slowly try out the movement Lorag had demonstrated a couple of times, he lowered himself into a fighting stance again to face Janius.
Janius took the first swing this time, bringing his arm over his head and striking high at Fendros' right. Fendros ducked the blow, turning to raise his shield just in case. The mace hit the top of his shield, but swung over his head. Fendros came up and attempted to swing as Lorag instructed. It felt uncomfortable, but far more effective. The blow caused Janius to raise his shield and block it directly. The mace rebounded and Janius wasn't put off balance, but the force it produced was more pronounced. Fendros followed up with a similar swing, this time it wasn't quite so well formed. Janius deflected the blow and pushed forward, bashing his shield into Fendros and forcing him back.
At the end of that quick bout, Fendros put the mace under his shield arm for a moment to shake the soreness from his wrist. He winced, those swings were really quite jarring, perhaps his wrist was too tense in trying to control the mace.
Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
- Last Seen: 4 mos ago
- Old Guild Username: Muttonhawk, probably.
- Joined: 12 yrs ago
- Posts: 7613 (1.67 / day)
- VMs: 0
-
Username history
- Muttonhawk 12 yrs ago
-
Latest 10 profile visitors:
-
Most recent →
StarfrostedFox,
Scrawl Banditta,
Lord Zee,
SkyeOfStars,
Vec,
corneredbliss,
abc,
LaserGunPewPew,
EliteCommander
Status
User has no status, yet
Bio
Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
Most Recent Posts
"Hm, those all sound like wonderful options," Ariel agreed, "Thorn does sound like a beautiful place, and I suppose I don't much mind the weather, it's more to do with whether there will be a place to set up. I can't really know that without going to one of the cities, but I'm just concerned that I might catch something in Black Marsh-" Ariel was starting to talk faster again, but she was interrupted by a sound behind her before she could overwhelm herself.
Ariel looked over to the clattering sound of bones hitting the ground. Meesei proudly held up a necklace that was still glowing with conjuration magic. "Ah, brilliant!" Ariel said, glancing to what used to be the thrall. She stood up, now completely distracted and walked over to the bones, kneeling down to inspect them. There was nothing left of the souls bound to it, "Amazing. To think that the enchantment could be broken so easily." Ariel looked up at Meesei with an entertained grin, "They'll not see this coming, Meesei."
Fendros, Janius and Lorag emerged into one of the larger chambers in the cave and stopped. After handing out weapons, they were ready to spar for a time.
As Lorag was supervising, and likely going to be coaching them, Fendros and Janius stepped up first. "Remember, try not to give an injury that'll take us out for too long." Janius reminded Fendros, pointing his mace at him. Fendros nodded in acknowledgement, then it began. They started in fighting stances, their shields ahead and their maces back, ready to swing. As they made tiny feints towards each other, Fendros tried to adjust to the weight of the mace. They were used to each others' movements from sparring previously, but not with their weight distributed as such.
Fendros swung first, stepping up and going for Janius' right shoulder with an overhead swing. Janius raised his shield and blocked the blow, and Fendros reared to follow up with a swing around and to his left. Janius took the opportunity and thrust his mace toward's Fendros' centre, forcing him to stop his planned swing and deflect Janius' blow with his shield. Janius spun his mace and put his weight into a swing on Fendros' left and Fendros responded by jumping back, the mace only swung through air.
And just like that they were back where they started, circling and feinting. "These things are harder to control than I thought," Fendros commented. Janius seemed more comfortable with the mace than he was, probably because his regular weapon was an axe with a similar distribution of weight. Fendros, however, had little experience with such weapons. As such, his form suffered.
Ariel looked over to the clattering sound of bones hitting the ground. Meesei proudly held up a necklace that was still glowing with conjuration magic. "Ah, brilliant!" Ariel said, glancing to what used to be the thrall. She stood up, now completely distracted and walked over to the bones, kneeling down to inspect them. There was nothing left of the souls bound to it, "Amazing. To think that the enchantment could be broken so easily." Ariel looked up at Meesei with an entertained grin, "They'll not see this coming, Meesei."
Fendros, Janius and Lorag emerged into one of the larger chambers in the cave and stopped. After handing out weapons, they were ready to spar for a time.
As Lorag was supervising, and likely going to be coaching them, Fendros and Janius stepped up first. "Remember, try not to give an injury that'll take us out for too long." Janius reminded Fendros, pointing his mace at him. Fendros nodded in acknowledgement, then it began. They started in fighting stances, their shields ahead and their maces back, ready to swing. As they made tiny feints towards each other, Fendros tried to adjust to the weight of the mace. They were used to each others' movements from sparring previously, but not with their weight distributed as such.
Fendros swung first, stepping up and going for Janius' right shoulder with an overhead swing. Janius raised his shield and blocked the blow, and Fendros reared to follow up with a swing around and to his left. Janius took the opportunity and thrust his mace toward's Fendros' centre, forcing him to stop his planned swing and deflect Janius' blow with his shield. Janius spun his mace and put his weight into a swing on Fendros' left and Fendros responded by jumping back, the mace only swung through air.
And just like that they were back where they started, circling and feinting. "These things are harder to control than I thought," Fendros commented. Janius seemed more comfortable with the mace than he was, probably because his regular weapon was an axe with a similar distribution of weight. Fendros, however, had little experience with such weapons. As such, his form suffered.
*Accepts tea and drinks* Good night Ayleth! *Goes to sleep because timezones*
Glaring at Malachi, Sara slowly put the pin back in her hair and placed her hat back on her head. It seemed like lockpicking wasn't an option either.
Before Sara could think of anything else, she froze and frowned, trying to discern a sound pointed out by Red. It was getting closer. Sara wasn't sure that she wanted it to be what she thought it was, and Malachi's yapping on top of Red's yelling wasn't helping her to confirm anything.
Suddenly the door to the cell block failed. Loudly, and with a lot of smoke. Sara stepped back and shielded her face with her hands, shocked by the explosion. When she lowered her arms there were a bunch of armed strangers in blue uniforms. Sara didn't recognise anything about them, but they mentioned breaking them out, and that was enough for her. Shooting out the locks certainly made them more believable.
Sara was at a loss for words at first, she glanced around and came to her senses after being asked if she had any weapon proficiency. "Whatever polearm you've got, preferably a halberd," Sara replied. It was wishful thinking to hope that they would have anything other than spears on them in terms of polearms, and she would manage well enough with a spear, but it didn't hurt to try. "Who are you guys?" She asked with a mix of confusion and confidence.
Before Sara could think of anything else, she froze and frowned, trying to discern a sound pointed out by Red. It was getting closer. Sara wasn't sure that she wanted it to be what she thought it was, and Malachi's yapping on top of Red's yelling wasn't helping her to confirm anything.
Suddenly the door to the cell block failed. Loudly, and with a lot of smoke. Sara stepped back and shielded her face with her hands, shocked by the explosion. When she lowered her arms there were a bunch of armed strangers in blue uniforms. Sara didn't recognise anything about them, but they mentioned breaking them out, and that was enough for her. Shooting out the locks certainly made them more believable.
Sara was at a loss for words at first, she glanced around and came to her senses after being asked if she had any weapon proficiency. "Whatever polearm you've got, preferably a halberd," Sara replied. It was wishful thinking to hope that they would have anything other than spears on them in terms of polearms, and she would manage well enough with a spear, but it didn't hurt to try. "Who are you guys?" She asked with a mix of confusion and confidence.
Not at any point thinking it odd that a lycan that lived in the wilds would speak so confidently of business, Ariel found the structure calming. The whirlwind of anxiety-inducing possibilities started to calm and fall into something resembling a set of goals. The instructions helped in no small part for Ariel to properly compose herself in front of everyone. Ariel wiped her eyes and continued to look into the fire. "That... makes a lot of sense actually," she said in a more even tone, "I didn't think about it like that." Ariel looked at Ahnasha and smiled gratefully. She put her plate of breakfast down for a moment, then moved forward toward Ahnasha and brought up her arms. "Oh, Ahnasha, thank you," she gave Ahnasha a brief hug, then pulled away, "I think that was what I needed to hear."
"One more thing, Ariel," Fendros chimed in, "I don't know about other cities, but in Cheydinhal, the count occasionally gave out loans with which to purchase shops and pay him back over time, if the prospective shopkeeper proved to be building a business that could do so. Ahna is right about you having a valued skill. Wherever you end up heading to, it might be worth asking about such an arrangement."
Ariel nodded, "I'll do that." She reached down to pick up her plate and begin on her breakfast. Before she took her first mouthful, she smiled as she looked around at the pack. They had been nothing but generous, caring and hospitable once they had gotten over their initial suspicions. Ariel hadn't felt this warmed in the heart for a long time. "As for help, Ahnasha," Ariel looked to Ahnasha again, this time with a less wide, but still warm smile, "Thank you for the offer, but I've already imposed so much on you and your pack. I'll take the next ship to the mainland tomorrow and maybe accompany a caravan somewhere. I don't know where exactly I'll end up, but I'll find another city."
Silently, Sabine had been at the fire with them all and didn't seem to be reacting to the conversation, but she hung her head and stared at the base of the fire as if she was bothered by the prospect of her sister leaving.
After Janius and Fendros finished up with their breakfast, licking the sweet spice from their teeth, one gestured with his head to the door and they proceeded outside with Lorag. They brought their shields with them, but it seemed like Lorag had picked out a couple of maces for them both.
"One more thing, Ariel," Fendros chimed in, "I don't know about other cities, but in Cheydinhal, the count occasionally gave out loans with which to purchase shops and pay him back over time, if the prospective shopkeeper proved to be building a business that could do so. Ahna is right about you having a valued skill. Wherever you end up heading to, it might be worth asking about such an arrangement."
Ariel nodded, "I'll do that." She reached down to pick up her plate and begin on her breakfast. Before she took her first mouthful, she smiled as she looked around at the pack. They had been nothing but generous, caring and hospitable once they had gotten over their initial suspicions. Ariel hadn't felt this warmed in the heart for a long time. "As for help, Ahnasha," Ariel looked to Ahnasha again, this time with a less wide, but still warm smile, "Thank you for the offer, but I've already imposed so much on you and your pack. I'll take the next ship to the mainland tomorrow and maybe accompany a caravan somewhere. I don't know where exactly I'll end up, but I'll find another city."
Silently, Sabine had been at the fire with them all and didn't seem to be reacting to the conversation, but she hung her head and stared at the base of the fire as if she was bothered by the prospect of her sister leaving.
After Janius and Fendros finished up with their breakfast, licking the sweet spice from their teeth, one gestured with his head to the door and they proceeded outside with Lorag. They brought their shields with them, but it seemed like Lorag had picked out a couple of maces for them both.
"Thanks for breakfast, Ahna," Fendros said in reply to Ahnasha's kiss. He nodded back to Lorag and sat down properly next to the fire once Ahnasha had gotten up to serve Ariel. He carefully took one of the pieces that Ahnasha had prepared and took a bite. So that's what that smell was, Fendros thought immediately. The meat was sweetened, very sweetened. While he didn't think he would be able to eat more than just his portion without starting to feel slightly sickened by it, it was a tasty and interesting change.
Ariel looked up at Ahnasha from where she sat and took the meal gratefully. Her chewing was slow while Ahnasha tried to cheer her up. Her words were appreciated. "Thank you, Ahnasha, I think I'll be alright," Ariel reassured, smiling and nodding in lieu of her worries, "I just..." She looked forward, "I worry too much sometimes. There's a lot going through my head at the moment and..." Ariel's sentence fell into a chuckle that quickly choked up and cause her eyes to go red. She stopped and sniffed.
Janius came by, having finished donning his armour, and took up the other cooked guar cut and furrowed his brow with an "Ooh," on his first bite. He looked at Ahnasha with a half-smile, "Haven't had Khajiit style cooking for a while, thanks Ahnasha!" Janius took a seat and continued eating, but cocked his head at Ariel, who appeared to be on the brink of crying. "You alright there, Ariel?" He asked, drawing the attention of everyone else by the campfire towards her. Both Janius and Fendros held expressions of concern.
"I- I'm fine, I'm fine," Ariel tried to say to everyone, overwhelmed by the attention towards her less composed self. Janius turned his head slightly while looking at her, clearly showing his disbelief. "It's just," She paused and tried to keep herself together, "I'm going to be moving my shop after tonight. The coven might come looking for me after all this. I've been worrying about where to go."
Ariel looked up at Ahnasha from where she sat and took the meal gratefully. Her chewing was slow while Ahnasha tried to cheer her up. Her words were appreciated. "Thank you, Ahnasha, I think I'll be alright," Ariel reassured, smiling and nodding in lieu of her worries, "I just..." She looked forward, "I worry too much sometimes. There's a lot going through my head at the moment and..." Ariel's sentence fell into a chuckle that quickly choked up and cause her eyes to go red. She stopped and sniffed.
Janius came by, having finished donning his armour, and took up the other cooked guar cut and furrowed his brow with an "Ooh," on his first bite. He looked at Ahnasha with a half-smile, "Haven't had Khajiit style cooking for a while, thanks Ahnasha!" Janius took a seat and continued eating, but cocked his head at Ariel, who appeared to be on the brink of crying. "You alright there, Ariel?" He asked, drawing the attention of everyone else by the campfire towards her. Both Janius and Fendros held expressions of concern.
"I- I'm fine, I'm fine," Ariel tried to say to everyone, overwhelmed by the attention towards her less composed self. Janius turned his head slightly while looking at her, clearly showing his disbelief. "It's just," She paused and tried to keep herself together, "I'm going to be moving my shop after tonight. The coven might come looking for me after all this. I've been worrying about where to go."
Ugh, group projects. That took longer than it should have and there's only more joy to come x(
Red, Malachi, Tyme, Sara repeated in her head. If she were honest, she didn't much trust any of them. Except maybe Red, but he wasn't exactly threatening. "Now what?" she thought out loud, looking around her cell once more. The lock on her cell door caught her eye.
Sara stood up and walked over to the lock, kneeling down to get a closer look at it. She was quickly reminded how little she knew about lock picking, and it looked sturdy. A couple of solid tugs on the door as well as futile attempts to bend the metal bars confirmed its strength. She put one hand on her hip and the other up to itch the back of her head. That rules out the door, Sara thought.
She proceeded to then pace around her cell, occasionally tapping her heel against the floor. It was all stone, no wood or trap doors. A look up at the ceiling didn't seem to show any other exploits in her cell. It doesn't look like this was adapted from a building with a different purpose, She thought, A solid cell, nothing else to it. This is either a governmental setup, or they knew we would be survivors. She quietly chuckled to herself, Unless of course they just happened to have some cells lying around.
After successfully establishing that her cell was secure from the inside, Sara let out a long sigh through her nose, then looked over to her fellow prisoners. "Anyone here know how to pick locks?" Sara hazarded, removing her hat and producing a hair pin from nearby her ear.
Sara stood up and walked over to the lock, kneeling down to get a closer look at it. She was quickly reminded how little she knew about lock picking, and it looked sturdy. A couple of solid tugs on the door as well as futile attempts to bend the metal bars confirmed its strength. She put one hand on her hip and the other up to itch the back of her head. That rules out the door, Sara thought.
She proceeded to then pace around her cell, occasionally tapping her heel against the floor. It was all stone, no wood or trap doors. A look up at the ceiling didn't seem to show any other exploits in her cell. It doesn't look like this was adapted from a building with a different purpose, She thought, A solid cell, nothing else to it. This is either a governmental setup, or they knew we would be survivors. She quietly chuckled to herself, Unless of course they just happened to have some cells lying around.
After successfully establishing that her cell was secure from the inside, Sara let out a long sigh through her nose, then looked over to her fellow prisoners. "Anyone here know how to pick locks?" Sara hazarded, removing her hat and producing a hair pin from nearby her ear.
If anyone was sleeping by the time breakfast was beginning, they were woken up by the smell of cooking. Ahnasha's movement had woken Fendros and he arose feeling fresh. While Ahnasha was cooking various breakfasts, Fendros wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Good morning, Ahna," He mumbled into her ear.
Looking around, Fendros observed that everyone else was similarly refreshed. This was except for Ariel, who ironically for the one who was not a lycanthrope, had trouble getting to sleep. She was kept awake thinking firstly about the logistics of moving her shop, from what stock she would keep to how she would transporting it. The thoughts had progressed to worrying about the infiltration the following day, whether anyone in the pack might be harmed or whether any witches that she was still fond of would be killed. She couldn't tell the time, but she felt as if she had her eyes open in the early hours of the morning.
Fendros noticed Ariel looking quite tired. "Didn't sleep well?" He asked over Ahnasha's shoulder.
Ariel looked up, looking as if it took her effort to do so. "I'll be fine, I just have to take some time to wake up this morning." Ariel replied, dismissing Fendros with a wave of her hand.
Shrugging, Fendros dropped the issue, oblivious to the more severe topic of conversation from last night. Instead, he turned his head to Lorag, who had recently woken up as well. "Hey Lorag, how are you preparing today? I was wondering if you could supervise some sparring between Janius and I today."
Looking around, Fendros observed that everyone else was similarly refreshed. This was except for Ariel, who ironically for the one who was not a lycanthrope, had trouble getting to sleep. She was kept awake thinking firstly about the logistics of moving her shop, from what stock she would keep to how she would transporting it. The thoughts had progressed to worrying about the infiltration the following day, whether anyone in the pack might be harmed or whether any witches that she was still fond of would be killed. She couldn't tell the time, but she felt as if she had her eyes open in the early hours of the morning.
Fendros noticed Ariel looking quite tired. "Didn't sleep well?" He asked over Ahnasha's shoulder.
Ariel looked up, looking as if it took her effort to do so. "I'll be fine, I just have to take some time to wake up this morning." Ariel replied, dismissing Fendros with a wave of her hand.
Shrugging, Fendros dropped the issue, oblivious to the more severe topic of conversation from last night. Instead, he turned his head to Lorag, who had recently woken up as well. "Hey Lorag, how are you preparing today? I was wondering if you could supervise some sparring between Janius and I today."
Classes are bearing down today. I'll be a few hours xP
© 2007-2026