Hmm, I'm pretty sure Janius has been idly practicing wards since page eighteen. A good thing too.
I've written up the response to what you've but up, but I'll wait until tomorrow before I post it so we don't have to worry about backtracking posts. Either that or I'll stay up until the wee hours again. G'night!
Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
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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!
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Nah, I don't mind if you want to sleep. Just copy and paste what you've got into a text file and do it tomorrow.
While Kaleeth stayed tense, Janius kept fairly calm. The situation was under control unless the ogre woke up. The sense of control started to crumble when they found that the ogre would not be waking up at all. It shattered when the large shape of the wamasu blotted the light from the cave entrance. Janius didn't need see Kaleeth's reaction to have his own heart rate begin to soar. Thankfully for them, the wamasu's eyes would need to adjust as well, so it didn't spot them immediately.
Janius snapped out of an initial freeze of fear with Kaleeth's footsteps leading further into the cave. He followed her tentatively, but wondered what they would accomplish by trapping themselves further in. The hiding place that Kaleeth slid into made more sense. It wasn't a guarantee that they would survive, but it was probably better than trying to fight the beast, especially in its own nest. Janius followed Kaleeth's instruction and slid himself into the narrow passage beside her. The hiding place was small and they were bunched up close. Janius could feel Kaleeth's heart racing as fast as his, but he was too distracted with trying to stay silent and listening to the wamasu's movements to feel awkward about their position.
Slowing to a stop, Sabine turned around to look at Shaleer-Za and Thorantilth, breathing heavily. Completed? Sabine was confused at first. She did not complete the course, how could she have completed the trial? She walked back and looked on with a mix of astonishment and relief as the illusion sustaining Tunxeek's apparent wounds were dispelled.
As Shaleer explained the trial, it began to make sense. Sabine listened while she caught her breath properly, not knowing whether to feel relieved or betrayed. Honestly, she felt both, mixed with fatigue.
Tunxeek smiled at Sabine reservedly. "Sorry for... pretend... pretending. Thank you for carrying me, though." he chucked, "I was surprised. You are stronger than you look."
Deciding that the event was overall a good one, Sabine's mouth twitched into a smile while she looked to the ground. She started to come down from her rush of adrenaline and felt exhausted. Still looking at the ground, she turned to Meesei, wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tightly. Sabine didn't sob with sadness or panic, but she started to sniff as tears streaked down her cheeks. In her mind, she had been so close to failing, or worse, alienating the village by transforming. Everything turning out okay out of nowhere was overwhelming.
Janius snapped out of an initial freeze of fear with Kaleeth's footsteps leading further into the cave. He followed her tentatively, but wondered what they would accomplish by trapping themselves further in. The hiding place that Kaleeth slid into made more sense. It wasn't a guarantee that they would survive, but it was probably better than trying to fight the beast, especially in its own nest. Janius followed Kaleeth's instruction and slid himself into the narrow passage beside her. The hiding place was small and they were bunched up close. Janius could feel Kaleeth's heart racing as fast as his, but he was too distracted with trying to stay silent and listening to the wamasu's movements to feel awkward about their position.
Slowing to a stop, Sabine turned around to look at Shaleer-Za and Thorantilth, breathing heavily. Completed? Sabine was confused at first. She did not complete the course, how could she have completed the trial? She walked back and looked on with a mix of astonishment and relief as the illusion sustaining Tunxeek's apparent wounds were dispelled.
As Shaleer explained the trial, it began to make sense. Sabine listened while she caught her breath properly, not knowing whether to feel relieved or betrayed. Honestly, she felt both, mixed with fatigue.
Tunxeek smiled at Sabine reservedly. "Sorry for... pretend... pretending. Thank you for carrying me, though." he chucked, "I was surprised. You are stronger than you look."
Deciding that the event was overall a good one, Sabine's mouth twitched into a smile while she looked to the ground. She started to come down from her rush of adrenaline and felt exhausted. Still looking at the ground, she turned to Meesei, wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tightly. Sabine didn't sob with sadness or panic, but she started to sniff as tears streaked down her cheeks. In her mind, she had been so close to failing, or worse, alienating the village by transforming. Everything turning out okay out of nowhere was overwhelming.
Janius looked at the cave entrance and considered for a moment. "We'll try to sneak in to try and kill it quickly, but at the first sign of danger, get to the entrance of the cave. If it charges at us, we'll have no way to avoid it if we are inside. The ogres I've faced can sometimes lash out if they are cornered. You can strike when that happens, but it doesn't guarantee that they won't hit you as well."
Carefully, Janius slid his axe from its loop on his belt, took one last look to check that the coast was clear, then crept up to the cave, motioning for Kaleeth to follow. Peering into the cave from the outside didn't help Janius much. It was too dark. They stood side by side as they entered the cave and allowed their eyes to adjust. The scent was getting stronger.
As soon as Sabine carefully put Tunxeek down, she took a moment to take a few short breaths. Her expression was still frantic. "I found him." Was all she said before she began to run back down the track again. This time, she was in full sprint. She didn't have time to stay around. Tunxeek would be safe, if not with Thorantilth, then with Meesei. Sabine knew that her pack leader was a skilled healer. She intended to transform as soon as she was out of sight, if there were no more interruptions.
Carefully, Janius slid his axe from its loop on his belt, took one last look to check that the coast was clear, then crept up to the cave, motioning for Kaleeth to follow. Peering into the cave from the outside didn't help Janius much. It was too dark. They stood side by side as they entered the cave and allowed their eyes to adjust. The scent was getting stronger.
As soon as Sabine carefully put Tunxeek down, she took a moment to take a few short breaths. Her expression was still frantic. "I found him." Was all she said before she began to run back down the track again. This time, she was in full sprint. She didn't have time to stay around. Tunxeek would be safe, if not with Thorantilth, then with Meesei. Sabine knew that her pack leader was a skilled healer. She intended to transform as soon as she was out of sight, if there were no more interruptions.
As far as time spent tracking, if the ogre turned out to be in the cave that Kaleeth had pointed out, then it would certainly be a short hunt. Though, ogres were dangerous if they didn't handle this correctly. It would be harder to go unheard without the crickets and frogs to mask their movement, and they wouldn't have much room to move around in a confined space. If they were unlucky, either Janius or Kaleeth would be pinned against the wall and crushed. There was of course the possibility that the ogre was not in the cave at all, but Janius doubted that. Its smell was particularly strong around the cave.
After a moment curling his lips and assessing the space they had to work with outside, Janius replied in a whisper. "The cave might be too small to fight the ogre if we fail to sneak up on it. It might be a better idea to fight it out here. I don't know, though. If it's sleeping, we could get at its neck. We'll keep outside as an option, but, do you know this cave? How big is it? Draw me a picture on the mud."
Sabine fell to her knees with an open mouth, fast breathing and wide eyes. Tunxeek had clearly been attacked. All of the blood came as a shock to Sabine. Between Tunxeek's wounds and failing the trial, She became scared. She frantically scanned her surroundings for any plants that might help treat the cuts, but there was nothing she could immediately make use of. If only she had more time!
She had to move, she knew it. She was at the halfway mark, so she could still complete the trial without backtracking if she picked one of the divergent paths. But Thorantilth and Meesei might not be at the point in the village that she completed the course. They could help Tunxeek, they could heal him. If she took the path back the way she came, there was less chance of any danger, and she could hand Tunxeek over. With the pace she had made, there was a chance that she could still complete the course. She might just have to transform to speed up. That seemed like the only chance.
Sabine stood up and shifted around. She positioned herself properly and hefted Tunxeek up over her back. Once secure, she set off on a jog as fast as she could back through the first half of the course. Sabine was moving at a pace that suited her strength, but Tunxeek was still slowing her down. Her hopes of completing the trial were fading.
After a moment curling his lips and assessing the space they had to work with outside, Janius replied in a whisper. "The cave might be too small to fight the ogre if we fail to sneak up on it. It might be a better idea to fight it out here. I don't know, though. If it's sleeping, we could get at its neck. We'll keep outside as an option, but, do you know this cave? How big is it? Draw me a picture on the mud."
Sabine fell to her knees with an open mouth, fast breathing and wide eyes. Tunxeek had clearly been attacked. All of the blood came as a shock to Sabine. Between Tunxeek's wounds and failing the trial, She became scared. She frantically scanned her surroundings for any plants that might help treat the cuts, but there was nothing she could immediately make use of. If only she had more time!
She had to move, she knew it. She was at the halfway mark, so she could still complete the trial without backtracking if she picked one of the divergent paths. But Thorantilth and Meesei might not be at the point in the village that she completed the course. They could help Tunxeek, they could heal him. If she took the path back the way she came, there was less chance of any danger, and she could hand Tunxeek over. With the pace she had made, there was a chance that she could still complete the course. She might just have to transform to speed up. That seemed like the only chance.
Sabine stood up and shifted around. She positioned herself properly and hefted Tunxeek up over her back. Once secure, she set off on a jog as fast as she could back through the first half of the course. Sabine was moving at a pace that suited her strength, but Tunxeek was still slowing her down. Her hopes of completing the trial were fading.
I honestly don't mind what dialogue you give Tunxeek. I haven't really developed his personality beyond being a little apprehensive at times.
Now that they were in the hunting grounds, Janius became more alert to reflect Kaleeth's demeanour. It took a short while for Janius to think of what advice to even give. He wasn't clear how much or how little Kaleeth knew, so it wasn't really obvious. "Um, I'll point things out as I see them or think of them, but there's probably quite a bit that you know already." Janius stopped on the spot and looked around the canopy of the large trees, trying to focus on the scents in the air. "I think there's an ogre somewhere," he murmured, beginning to move again. By habit, he wet his finger in his mouth and pointed it in the air to get the rough direction of the wind. Today, as usual in the marsh, it was fairly stagnant. Not of much help to see if the ogre was upwind, but it meant that the ogre, or something smelling of the ogre was nearby.
"Outside of the marsh, where there is more wind, your own smell can be carried on it, and your prey might smell you sooner. It's better to move upwind as much as you can." Janius mentioned while it was in his mind, deliberately skipping the boon of smelling the prey downwind to keep track of them. "Not so useful today, but if there's a day with a breeze..." Janius shrugged. "Also, I noticed to take a look at any water nearby, whether it be puddles or ponds. The mud makes footprints clearer, and if the water is murky, there might have been movement in it recently. You know, if it isn't already flowing strongly or filled with feeding fish."
Still looking around the ground, Janius kept his eyes out for any sign of the ogre, but came across something else instead. There were some reeds that were slightly bent next to the body of water that Janius had gestured to. At first, Janius thought that it was the ogre and they were closer than they thought, but upon reaching the reeds, he found a heavy, clawed inprint in the mud with a smoothness to its right. By the angle of the print, it looked like something sliding on its belly. It wasn't a scent that Janius was particularly familiar with though. The last time he smelled it was only hints on the air when hunting with the pack, and something cooking at Thorn's day of feasting. Janius squatted down and hazarded a guess to Kaleeth. "Crocodile?"
When the path finally split, Sabine slowed down to a stop to try and scrutinise each path. It looked as if both had their upsides and downsides, but she didn't get to think about it for long. She heard and smelled Tunxeek at the same time. Her eyes snapped across to find him. He was in pain, but Sabine couldn't see why. Her first instinct was to help him, but she stopped herself for a moment, suspecting a trick. She glanced at the two paths for a moment. What if she wouldn't have time to help? She only had one shot at this trial. If she didn't make it through the paths, she would never reach the ritual and she would never be free of her terrors.
She glanced between the path's and Tunxeek with a pained and worked up expression. If Tunxeek was to die where she could have helped, would that not make it worse? Would Thorantilth even perform the ritual if she had left his son to die? And Tunxeek was a nice person, he didn't deserve to die here, not in the way that he had been afraid of all along.
In defiance to the unfairness of the situation, Sabine screamed, then ran up to Tunxeek tried to pull him by the arms out of the bush. If there was anything holding him, she would deal with it. If he was wounded, then she would try her best and carry him if needed.
"Outside of the marsh, where there is more wind, your own smell can be carried on it, and your prey might smell you sooner. It's better to move upwind as much as you can." Janius mentioned while it was in his mind, deliberately skipping the boon of smelling the prey downwind to keep track of them. "Not so useful today, but if there's a day with a breeze..." Janius shrugged. "Also, I noticed to take a look at any water nearby, whether it be puddles or ponds. The mud makes footprints clearer, and if the water is murky, there might have been movement in it recently. You know, if it isn't already flowing strongly or filled with feeding fish."
Still looking around the ground, Janius kept his eyes out for any sign of the ogre, but came across something else instead. There were some reeds that were slightly bent next to the body of water that Janius had gestured to. At first, Janius thought that it was the ogre and they were closer than they thought, but upon reaching the reeds, he found a heavy, clawed inprint in the mud with a smoothness to its right. By the angle of the print, it looked like something sliding on its belly. It wasn't a scent that Janius was particularly familiar with though. The last time he smelled it was only hints on the air when hunting with the pack, and something cooking at Thorn's day of feasting. Janius squatted down and hazarded a guess to Kaleeth. "Crocodile?"
When the path finally split, Sabine slowed down to a stop to try and scrutinise each path. It looked as if both had their upsides and downsides, but she didn't get to think about it for long. She heard and smelled Tunxeek at the same time. Her eyes snapped across to find him. He was in pain, but Sabine couldn't see why. Her first instinct was to help him, but she stopped herself for a moment, suspecting a trick. She glanced at the two paths for a moment. What if she wouldn't have time to help? She only had one shot at this trial. If she didn't make it through the paths, she would never reach the ritual and she would never be free of her terrors.
She glanced between the path's and Tunxeek with a pained and worked up expression. If Tunxeek was to die where she could have helped, would that not make it worse? Would Thorantilth even perform the ritual if she had left his son to die? And Tunxeek was a nice person, he didn't deserve to die here, not in the way that he had been afraid of all along.
In defiance to the unfairness of the situation, Sabine screamed, then ran up to Tunxeek tried to pull him by the arms out of the bush. If there was anything holding him, she would deal with it. If he was wounded, then she would try her best and carry him if needed.
Even though Janius had seen his fair share of stomach churning sights in his life, he had to admit that a mental image of a creature dissolving its prey in its spat out bile was a repulsive one indeed. The other things that Kaleeth described were more or less known to Janius, except lamias. "I had only heard myths about lamias. Very old myths. I didn't even know that they existed. You say they are intelligent? Has anyone in your tribe tried to reason with them before?" Janius asked.
Hearing a telltale distant call over the chirping of insects and frogs around them, Janius looked up and spotted a small flock of hackwings up in the air in the distance. They were too far away to catch, but it was a reminder to keep an eye out. He felt a twitch in his mind from his beast spirit now that he was in the mindset to hunt, but it was not a problem. Sorry wolfy, this isn't your show.
Sabine didn't show any clear reaction, but she was slightly annoyed at Shaleer-Za's answer. It was to be expected. Perhaps it would become more clear when she arrived at the fork in the road. She didn't like going into the trial so blind, but Meesei's encouragement helped.
With nothing else for it, Sabine stepped up to the starting line. The only belongings she carried were a few skins for clothing. Everything else was back at the common hut. Sabine glanced up at Shaleer-Za's light, then ahead. She could see a few of the ribbons already. The path was clear. A moment passed where she started to breathe faster, but not in panic, in anticipation. She knew things would only get worse if she stalled, so she bolted off from the spot with haste before she could get any more anxious. She ran at such a speed that belied her slight figure, but she wasn't worried about disguising herself if it meant some extra time. However, she stopped short of transforming; she would need all her judgement and a clear mind.
The cloths continued through scrub and low branches, across small bodies of water that were swum. Apart from keeping track of where she was and finding the next cloth down the path, it didn't seem too hard. Sabine was making good time before the second half, whatever that entailed.
Hearing a telltale distant call over the chirping of insects and frogs around them, Janius looked up and spotted a small flock of hackwings up in the air in the distance. They were too far away to catch, but it was a reminder to keep an eye out. He felt a twitch in his mind from his beast spirit now that he was in the mindset to hunt, but it was not a problem. Sorry wolfy, this isn't your show.
Sabine didn't show any clear reaction, but she was slightly annoyed at Shaleer-Za's answer. It was to be expected. Perhaps it would become more clear when she arrived at the fork in the road. She didn't like going into the trial so blind, but Meesei's encouragement helped.
With nothing else for it, Sabine stepped up to the starting line. The only belongings she carried were a few skins for clothing. Everything else was back at the common hut. Sabine glanced up at Shaleer-Za's light, then ahead. She could see a few of the ribbons already. The path was clear. A moment passed where she started to breathe faster, but not in panic, in anticipation. She knew things would only get worse if she stalled, so she bolted off from the spot with haste before she could get any more anxious. She ran at such a speed that belied her slight figure, but she wasn't worried about disguising herself if it meant some extra time. However, she stopped short of transforming; she would need all her judgement and a clear mind.
The cloths continued through scrub and low branches, across small bodies of water that were swum. Apart from keeping track of where she was and finding the next cloth down the path, it didn't seem too hard. Sabine was making good time before the second half, whatever that entailed.
Just finished watching a movie when I found your post. Got one reply in before bed. G'night!
As they proceeded out of the village, Janius kept his eyes peeled and his nose up as he usually did when travelling the marsh. However, this time he was not only looking for threats, but also prey. He tried not to emphasise sniffing the air so as not to look odd, but even so, Kaleeth probably wouldn't know the average Imperial's sense of smell even if she did notice.
Kaleeth's words made Janius smile. He wondered when he would have to inevitably clash with the Master-Hunter. "Well, spears and bows are all well and good, but I was never very good with either. A bit of destruction magic can work just as well though, depending on what you hunt," Janius explained. To Kaleeth's question, Janius felt more confident than with his marsh hunting experience, but kept an open mind. "I can track well enough, but I'm always willing to hear new tips." Janius said, glancing to Kaleeth with a curious smile. Honestly, he wondered how anyone survived in the marsh without a keen sense of smell. Even if the visual signs to track with were harder to spot in the marsh, smells still lingered.
Sabine looked ahead from the start of the trial. It seemed simple as well, but she wondered what exactly would be tested. Her judgement? Her speed? What did she have to judge?
"Only one. What is the difference between the paths?" Sabine asked monotonously. She didn't expect a clear and complete answer if the policy was similar to the first trial, but she didn't want to have to choose between seemingly identical looking paths because she missed a detail by mistake. Especially if she only had one chance at this trial. Other than that, the rest seemed clear to her.
Kaleeth's words made Janius smile. He wondered when he would have to inevitably clash with the Master-Hunter. "Well, spears and bows are all well and good, but I was never very good with either. A bit of destruction magic can work just as well though, depending on what you hunt," Janius explained. To Kaleeth's question, Janius felt more confident than with his marsh hunting experience, but kept an open mind. "I can track well enough, but I'm always willing to hear new tips." Janius said, glancing to Kaleeth with a curious smile. Honestly, he wondered how anyone survived in the marsh without a keen sense of smell. Even if the visual signs to track with were harder to spot in the marsh, smells still lingered.
Sabine looked ahead from the start of the trial. It seemed simple as well, but she wondered what exactly would be tested. Her judgement? Her speed? What did she have to judge?
"Only one. What is the difference between the paths?" Sabine asked monotonously. She didn't expect a clear and complete answer if the policy was similar to the first trial, but she didn't want to have to choose between seemingly identical looking paths because she missed a detail by mistake. Especially if she only had one chance at this trial. Other than that, the rest seemed clear to her.
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