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L'Aurel's Journal (A Kingdom of Ashes) -updated 3/23
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<blockquote data-quote="Laurel" data-source="post: 1688376" data-attributes="member: 17067"><p><strong>Chapter One- “Shadows of the Past”</strong></p><p></p><p><em><span style="color: lemonchiffon">Day Three- Road South of Thanesport</span></em></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">The day seemed to be perfect. The birds sang a greeting to Anon, thier joyful wing beats knocking the marron and dead leaves from thier perches. One falls crunched unoticed beneath black hoof. Anon brightly lit our way, and brought a disturbing contrast to the dense forest just beyond. The metal jingle of the horse’s bits and harness' ring in the quiet peace around us.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">I wrap the worn brown cloak around me, the smell of horses, blood from the battle on the wharf, added to days of dirt and sweat reminding me that a bath is required. The streams are running colder, and within a few weeks ice will surely cover them. Braving the icy waters would be preferable to going with out dinner because of our ripe stench. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">I glance forward seeing the narrow ridgid back of Justice. She occasionally pauses without comment to glance off the path. Then somehow satisfied starts on her way again. She is a soldier, and seems at ease with taking as wel as giving orders. The captain in the jail had given her orders to follow whatever the merchant told us. It seems so far she will go to the ends of the earth to fulfill those orders. The Apectin priests in Greenwood, the closest town to my home, were withered old humans, but though thier bodies had started to decay thier minds were kept active as the gathered anyone close to hear of thier travels through the kingdom defending and enforcing the king's law. I tried to listen, to gather what I could from their lives, but I quickly learned Michael could actually teach me what they could only now speak of. The one thing that finally drove me away was their almost blind sense of duty and calling. Justice seems to follow in those footsteps, knowing her ordered place and following within it. She is an Apectin after all warrior, leader, and law of light.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">Glancing through our ranks I see each in a hive of thier own. Our only common goal to find the caravan and to return to Thainesport and for the others to get on with their lives. I still had no idea what those lives really were. I looked behind me and saw Arfin his armor shining like a beacon in the afternoon light. Pulling out his water skin, he throws back his head burnt red hair flying and worked his throat muscles quickly gulping down half the bag. As he lowered the bag, I caught his eyes they were red rimmed again and from the smell he had filled the bag with ale. Michael had said drink was a weakness. Dink could make you slow by seconds, and is all it took to take a life. Arfin stayed in the saddle somehow, though he always on the brink of some unknown void. Drinking was a large part of his life, but he just happen to stumble into Thanesport? What would he do once back there- would he simply loose himself in the spirits once again.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">For me, I finally had a goal. I finally had something to do. It had been a long time since I had purpose, since I had someone around who I knew. It was…. All those months ago before Michael was taken from me, I had a purpose then. All our kills we cleaned and skinned for trade in the small community of Greenville. Every feast day I went to the Amastatian temple to sit an let their teachings flow over me. I had always been to nervous to approach those of the order. They wore white gauzy robes and had such beauty and elegance. They had a freedom of heart, body and mind that I envied. I saw them comfort anyone who needed it, and bring words of life and love to those who survived because of it. Michael new that I went there, but he did not stop me. He was just glad I remained un-noticed. Maybe that was why I liked it there amongst their wooden walls. With them I could- *snap* </span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">I snap my horse's head around forcing him to stall as a series of snaps are heard dircelty ahead followed by a scream and a deadly thud. I stand up in my stirrups to see the blonde head of the Apectin has disappeared. I jump from my horse and with the others run to the edge of the pit. Edriss thinking ahead pulls a rope out of his sack before going to the edge. Once there we see Justice, she has managed to pull her body free of the horse. She has calmed it some. Edriss throws the rope down to help Justice, and she lashes around her arm and starts the accent. The horse is in pain, and even more fearful when the paladin starts to leave her. I move quickly to the other side catching the wide eyed stare of the horses large brown eyes. Not letting it see as the other reach down to grab Justice’s arms and heave her the rest of the way up. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">A dart hits a tree to our right, and I dive to the ground. As more darts come from the woods, I crawl back to the edge of the pit as the horse starts to thrash again. The dwarf starts yelling at them to show their cowardly faces each time getting redder in the face. The paladin now on her feet quickly drops to the ground drawing her sword at the same time. Edriss with cross bow ready crouches by a tree. With lightning speed he points at a tree across the pit and pulls the trigger. A violent shaking starts at the center of the bush and a piercing squeal is heard. Edriss pulls his lips back in a what passes for a smile. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">The pitter patter of little feet running off though we can see nothing. As Brad stands up, Justice grabs his arm, “This was a well devised trap, we stay low until we know for sure they are gone.” Brad bristles, but hearing the controlled politeness he settles back down. I look to Selura who is next to me on the ground, “We must get the horse out of there if we are to save her.” The others over hear this, and the paladin tells us multiple times that it is her responsibility and her horse that she will think of a way.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">The horse is getting anxious again and is starting to move again. I look over the edge of the pit and try to calm her some more, while Justice tells everyone else how to make a rig. When it is done I see she has devised a set of pulleys that just may work. Arfin continues to stand apart from Justice trying to anticipate her every order. The first was when he heard her say she needed wood and as she turned to him, he pulled his axe blade out and went to the first log he saw. I don’t really know what to attribute this to, but so long as the work is being done.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">With the rope lassoed around the horse and each end wrapped around two opposing trees we manage to pull the horse up. Justice runs to the horse checking her over for injury. I move quietly to the other side, double checking just in case. Luckily it just looks to be a sprain of the ankle. Brad suddenly asks “What’s down there Edriss?” Edriss reports with slight mocking “Just a man, but he looks a little flatter then he was.” Seeing Justice cold face he continues a little more seriously Edriss, “He must have died approximately two days ago. There are no markings or badges and he wears only peasants clothes.” Edriss and Brad convince us to leave the body as it is, undisturbed.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">Looking down in the hole one last time I shiver pulling the thin brown cloak tightly around me. I slowly back up trying to not think of loss, of death. I can feel the sunset coming, and with it will come ever cooler air. Soon nature will enter its sleeping death. The world will be held in white and gray, but for now I simply ease into the saddle letting my hand rest on my horse’s neck feeling his heat, his pulse, his life. For Michael showed me long ago, all of life is a cycle. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">With nothing better to do we ride a few more miles south, till we stop. No one wants to stop long enough to build a fire or heat the rations we brought. None of us think to forage or hunt, we are already at our deadline and no closer to an answer. I again check the wound of the monks hands which have almost completely healed. I go to the Paladins horse, and with a fierce look she tells me she has seen to her blocking my path. She does not need to tell me, out here her horse is her life. She doesn’t know me, she can not trust me that far. I walk away turning my back on the paladin, Michael would have said I was being weak. I could only hope she understood that I was giving her my trust. I automatically tread lightly for my larger size and move to stand beside where the monk is happily chewing his food. He is not one for conversation, but seems happy enough to answer questions when asked them. It just takes me a while to sort through how to ask him what I am wondering and then sort through how he meant the answer. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lemonchiffon">I almost jump when a voice over the monks shoulder calls to us, “We are rested. We must continue the search.” I tip my head back and see beyond Kareth’s uncovered green shoulders, Edriss barely outlined in the shade of the tree. Brad rushes forward to his horse, “We should set out. There is still a lot of distance to cover.” His face slightly split with a cocky confident smile. As we move to our own horses, I hear Justice mutter, “We don’t know how far, imbicile.” It seems the road just got longer, and we still have seen no signs of a caravan.</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Laurel, post: 1688376, member: 17067"] [b]Chapter One- “Shadows of the Past”[/b] [i][color=lemonchiffon]Day Three- Road South of Thanesport[/color][/i] [color=lemonchiffon]The day seemed to be perfect. The birds sang a greeting to Anon, thier joyful wing beats knocking the marron and dead leaves from thier perches. One falls crunched unoticed beneath black hoof. Anon brightly lit our way, and brought a disturbing contrast to the dense forest just beyond. The metal jingle of the horse’s bits and harness' ring in the quiet peace around us.[/color] [color=lemonchiffon]I wrap the worn brown cloak around me, the smell of horses, blood from the battle on the wharf, added to days of dirt and sweat reminding me that a bath is required. The streams are running colder, and within a few weeks ice will surely cover them. Braving the icy waters would be preferable to going with out dinner because of our ripe stench. [/color] [color=lemonchiffon]I glance forward seeing the narrow ridgid back of Justice. She occasionally pauses without comment to glance off the path. Then somehow satisfied starts on her way again. She is a soldier, and seems at ease with taking as wel as giving orders. The captain in the jail had given her orders to follow whatever the merchant told us. It seems so far she will go to the ends of the earth to fulfill those orders. The Apectin priests in Greenwood, the closest town to my home, were withered old humans, but though thier bodies had started to decay thier minds were kept active as the gathered anyone close to hear of thier travels through the kingdom defending and enforcing the king's law. I tried to listen, to gather what I could from their lives, but I quickly learned Michael could actually teach me what they could only now speak of. The one thing that finally drove me away was their almost blind sense of duty and calling. Justice seems to follow in those footsteps, knowing her ordered place and following within it. She is an Apectin after all warrior, leader, and law of light.[/color] [color=lemonchiffon]Glancing through our ranks I see each in a hive of thier own. Our only common goal to find the caravan and to return to Thainesport and for the others to get on with their lives. I still had no idea what those lives really were. I looked behind me and saw Arfin his armor shining like a beacon in the afternoon light. Pulling out his water skin, he throws back his head burnt red hair flying and worked his throat muscles quickly gulping down half the bag. As he lowered the bag, I caught his eyes they were red rimmed again and from the smell he had filled the bag with ale. Michael had said drink was a weakness. Dink could make you slow by seconds, and is all it took to take a life. Arfin stayed in the saddle somehow, though he always on the brink of some unknown void. Drinking was a large part of his life, but he just happen to stumble into Thanesport? What would he do once back there- would he simply loose himself in the spirits once again.[/color] [color=lemonchiffon]For me, I finally had a goal. I finally had something to do. It had been a long time since I had purpose, since I had someone around who I knew. It was…. All those months ago before Michael was taken from me, I had a purpose then. All our kills we cleaned and skinned for trade in the small community of Greenville. Every feast day I went to the Amastatian temple to sit an let their teachings flow over me. I had always been to nervous to approach those of the order. They wore white gauzy robes and had such beauty and elegance. They had a freedom of heart, body and mind that I envied. I saw them comfort anyone who needed it, and bring words of life and love to those who survived because of it. Michael new that I went there, but he did not stop me. He was just glad I remained un-noticed. Maybe that was why I liked it there amongst their wooden walls. With them I could- *snap* [/color] [color=lemonchiffon]I snap my horse's head around forcing him to stall as a series of snaps are heard dircelty ahead followed by a scream and a deadly thud. I stand up in my stirrups to see the blonde head of the Apectin has disappeared. I jump from my horse and with the others run to the edge of the pit. Edriss thinking ahead pulls a rope out of his sack before going to the edge. Once there we see Justice, she has managed to pull her body free of the horse. She has calmed it some. Edriss throws the rope down to help Justice, and she lashes around her arm and starts the accent. The horse is in pain, and even more fearful when the paladin starts to leave her. I move quickly to the other side catching the wide eyed stare of the horses large brown eyes. Not letting it see as the other reach down to grab Justice’s arms and heave her the rest of the way up. [/color] [color=lemonchiffon]A dart hits a tree to our right, and I dive to the ground. As more darts come from the woods, I crawl back to the edge of the pit as the horse starts to thrash again. The dwarf starts yelling at them to show their cowardly faces each time getting redder in the face. The paladin now on her feet quickly drops to the ground drawing her sword at the same time. Edriss with cross bow ready crouches by a tree. With lightning speed he points at a tree across the pit and pulls the trigger. A violent shaking starts at the center of the bush and a piercing squeal is heard. Edriss pulls his lips back in a what passes for a smile. [/color] [color=lemonchiffon]The pitter patter of little feet running off though we can see nothing. As Brad stands up, Justice grabs his arm, “This was a well devised trap, we stay low until we know for sure they are gone.” Brad bristles, but hearing the controlled politeness he settles back down. I look to Selura who is next to me on the ground, “We must get the horse out of there if we are to save her.” The others over hear this, and the paladin tells us multiple times that it is her responsibility and her horse that she will think of a way.[/color] [color=lemonchiffon]The horse is getting anxious again and is starting to move again. I look over the edge of the pit and try to calm her some more, while Justice tells everyone else how to make a rig. When it is done I see she has devised a set of pulleys that just may work. Arfin continues to stand apart from Justice trying to anticipate her every order. The first was when he heard her say she needed wood and as she turned to him, he pulled his axe blade out and went to the first log he saw. I don’t really know what to attribute this to, but so long as the work is being done.[/color] [color=lemonchiffon]With the rope lassoed around the horse and each end wrapped around two opposing trees we manage to pull the horse up. Justice runs to the horse checking her over for injury. I move quietly to the other side, double checking just in case. Luckily it just looks to be a sprain of the ankle. Brad suddenly asks “What’s down there Edriss?” Edriss reports with slight mocking “Just a man, but he looks a little flatter then he was.” Seeing Justice cold face he continues a little more seriously Edriss, “He must have died approximately two days ago. There are no markings or badges and he wears only peasants clothes.” Edriss and Brad convince us to leave the body as it is, undisturbed.[/color] [color=lemonchiffon]Looking down in the hole one last time I shiver pulling the thin brown cloak tightly around me. I slowly back up trying to not think of loss, of death. I can feel the sunset coming, and with it will come ever cooler air. Soon nature will enter its sleeping death. The world will be held in white and gray, but for now I simply ease into the saddle letting my hand rest on my horse’s neck feeling his heat, his pulse, his life. For Michael showed me long ago, all of life is a cycle. [/color] [color=lemonchiffon]With nothing better to do we ride a few more miles south, till we stop. No one wants to stop long enough to build a fire or heat the rations we brought. None of us think to forage or hunt, we are already at our deadline and no closer to an answer. I again check the wound of the monks hands which have almost completely healed. I go to the Paladins horse, and with a fierce look she tells me she has seen to her blocking my path. She does not need to tell me, out here her horse is her life. She doesn’t know me, she can not trust me that far. I walk away turning my back on the paladin, Michael would have said I was being weak. I could only hope she understood that I was giving her my trust. I automatically tread lightly for my larger size and move to stand beside where the monk is happily chewing his food. He is not one for conversation, but seems happy enough to answer questions when asked them. It just takes me a while to sort through how to ask him what I am wondering and then sort through how he meant the answer. [/color] [color=lemonchiffon]I almost jump when a voice over the monks shoulder calls to us, “We are rested. We must continue the search.” I tip my head back and see beyond Kareth’s uncovered green shoulders, Edriss barely outlined in the shade of the tree. Brad rushes forward to his horse, “We should set out. There is still a lot of distance to cover.” His face slightly split with a cocky confident smile. As we move to our own horses, I hear Justice mutter, “We don’t know how far, imbicile.” It seems the road just got longer, and we still have seen no signs of a caravan.[/color] [/QUOTE]
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L'Aurel's Journal (A Kingdom of Ashes) -updated 3/23
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