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Maissen: Shades of Grey [UPDATE 12/12, post 199]
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<blockquote data-quote="Beale Knight" data-source="post: 1800027" data-attributes="member: 7033"><p><strong>01-04 A peculiar institution illustrated</strong></p><p></p><p>01 – 04</p><p></p><p>The rest of the night did indeed pass peacefully, and morning found the quartet, and goat, marching on toward Kern. The road, at least this stretch of it, was familiar to all of them and they made good time. Focused on reaching Kern, and trying to beat the rain that was threatening, they spoke little. </p><p></p><p>That made it easy to hear the fight up ahead.</p><p></p><p>“Wolves,” Bessie said. “Quite a few.”</p><p></p><p>Madge nodded. “And they’ve got something cornered.”</p><p></p><p>“I’ll take a look,” Ren said. He sped up the road, then ducked off into the brush just before the bend. A short climb up a rise and he could see the others were right. Madge’s call really impressed him. He had guessed wolves, but the ranger had the situation dead on.</p><p></p><p>A pack of a dozen wolves had a huge man surrounded. The man, dressed in nothing but furs, was holding them at bay with a large club, but there was no doubt he wouldn’t last long. Blood trickled down his legs and forearm. Even in the moment Ren took in the scene another wolf lunged at the man, nipping his calf. </p><p></p><p>Ren dashed back to the road and signaled the others to hurry. Bessie ran up and off into the bush. Madge, leading Jimmy the goat, sped her pace and drew her sword, Killian right beside her.</p><p></p><p>By the time Ren got back to his position on the rise and readied his bow, Bessie was striding up, her unique crossbow out and loaded. Ren smiled, then turned his attention to the fight. </p><p></p><p>His first arrow plunged into the closest wolf. It yelped and turned. The big man took the opportunity to smash it with his club. Bessie’s bolt landed in the leg of a second wolf. It turned and snarled, looking for the new threat. The attacks against them, and death of one of their own, threw the pack into disarray. About half lunged and bit at their target, only one drawing blood. The rest shuffled around, sniffing the air and trying to take in what had suddenly changed. </p><p></p><p>Ren and Bessie coordinated their next attacks on the wolf Bessie had just wounded. With an arrow and second bolt in it, the wolf fell. The big man was smiling now; it was clear the tide had turned. He swung at an attacking wolf, hitting its snout and sending a splay of blood flying. </p><p></p><p>Suddenly a fan of flame burnt through the air. Thin shoots of fire scorched three wolves, with one actually catching fire. All three turned and fled. Ren glanced to the bend in the road and saw Killian standing statue-still, hands out, thumbs together, and wearing a smile bigger than last night’s. Madge had dropped Jimmy's lead rope and was now charging into the wolf pack. With a single deft stroke she sliced open the side of the wounded wolf. The predator took a step and fell dead on the road.</p><p></p><p>Ren and Bessie took another set of shots. Both just nicked their target. The wolves’ would-be victim smashed another with his club. It staggered away, limping on a broken leg. The remaining five wolves realized they couldn’t win the fight, and turned tail. Killian looked ready to begin another spell, but Madge waved him off. She caught up with the last wounded wolf and put him to death with a quick, merciful, swing of her sword. </p><p></p><p>She then turned to the man with the club. “Do you want healing?” </p><p></p><p>He shook his head. “Its look is its worst.” As Ren and Bessie came down from the ridge, the man looked over the four. “I am Leggend of the Berku. Who may I say rescued me?”</p><p></p><p>Ren waited, but no one said anything. He nudged Bessie. Only she and Madge were full Maissen blood, and that made either of them the natural speaker for the group. The druid caught the hint and ran through introductions, adding at the end the fact they were working for Popa Thorson. </p><p></p><p>Leggend nodded at that with a frown. “Heroes then. Bear in mind what all Maissen really means when you return in glory.” With that he pulled his furs down enough to reveal a brand on his torso. “I leave you in peace and with thanks.”</p><p></p><p>Ren felt the bile rising in his throat. He’d seen the slave brand too many times before, and it made him feel sick each and every time. If he had the brand on him, Ren knew he’d certainly try to escape and join the Berku in the swamps too. The Councils called them rebels, but to Ren they were people who decided slavery wasn’t right for them and took their chances to be rid of it. </p><p></p><p>“Let’s get going,” he said. </p><p></p><p></p><p>The rain began to fall soon after their fight with the wolves, and it matched Ren’s soured mood. Over a cold meal that night, he explained his feelings to the others, along with his sympathy to the Berku. He wasn’t surprised that Madge and Bessie had only a faint awareness of the group, though he was pleased to hear that neither of their families were slave owners. </p><p></p><p>What surprised him was Killian. The sorcerer was at least half Churky blood, which made him legally a potential slave as much as Ren was. Yet he was as ignorant of the Berku as the others, and even parroted the official line of their being rebels. All he would say to Ren’s questions about it was that he had, “never had opportunity to give it real thought.”</p><p></p><p>“You do indeed have something strange about you,” Ren said.</p><p></p><p>Killian shrugged. “Are y’ sure we can’t work up a fire?”</p><p></p><p></p><p>The rain did not stop through the night, and it fell all the next day. Time and distance were impossible to accurately gauge. Only that they were both passing was certain. Finally, with no other indication than they were all tired, they decided to see to camp. Finding a good spot was a challenge, everyplace was either too rough or a mud pit. </p><p></p><p>They at last found a passable place, tied Jimmy in place, and started to work on shelter. That task had just gotten underway when it was interrupted.</p><p></p><p>By screams.</p><p></p><p></p><p>[continues on post #17]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Beale Knight, post: 1800027, member: 7033"] [b]01-04 A peculiar institution illustrated[/b] 01 – 04 The rest of the night did indeed pass peacefully, and morning found the quartet, and goat, marching on toward Kern. The road, at least this stretch of it, was familiar to all of them and they made good time. Focused on reaching Kern, and trying to beat the rain that was threatening, they spoke little. That made it easy to hear the fight up ahead. “Wolves,” Bessie said. “Quite a few.” Madge nodded. “And they’ve got something cornered.” “I’ll take a look,” Ren said. He sped up the road, then ducked off into the brush just before the bend. A short climb up a rise and he could see the others were right. Madge’s call really impressed him. He had guessed wolves, but the ranger had the situation dead on. A pack of a dozen wolves had a huge man surrounded. The man, dressed in nothing but furs, was holding them at bay with a large club, but there was no doubt he wouldn’t last long. Blood trickled down his legs and forearm. Even in the moment Ren took in the scene another wolf lunged at the man, nipping his calf. Ren dashed back to the road and signaled the others to hurry. Bessie ran up and off into the bush. Madge, leading Jimmy the goat, sped her pace and drew her sword, Killian right beside her. By the time Ren got back to his position on the rise and readied his bow, Bessie was striding up, her unique crossbow out and loaded. Ren smiled, then turned his attention to the fight. His first arrow plunged into the closest wolf. It yelped and turned. The big man took the opportunity to smash it with his club. Bessie’s bolt landed in the leg of a second wolf. It turned and snarled, looking for the new threat. The attacks against them, and death of one of their own, threw the pack into disarray. About half lunged and bit at their target, only one drawing blood. The rest shuffled around, sniffing the air and trying to take in what had suddenly changed. Ren and Bessie coordinated their next attacks on the wolf Bessie had just wounded. With an arrow and second bolt in it, the wolf fell. The big man was smiling now; it was clear the tide had turned. He swung at an attacking wolf, hitting its snout and sending a splay of blood flying. Suddenly a fan of flame burnt through the air. Thin shoots of fire scorched three wolves, with one actually catching fire. All three turned and fled. Ren glanced to the bend in the road and saw Killian standing statue-still, hands out, thumbs together, and wearing a smile bigger than last night’s. Madge had dropped Jimmy's lead rope and was now charging into the wolf pack. With a single deft stroke she sliced open the side of the wounded wolf. The predator took a step and fell dead on the road. Ren and Bessie took another set of shots. Both just nicked their target. The wolves’ would-be victim smashed another with his club. It staggered away, limping on a broken leg. The remaining five wolves realized they couldn’t win the fight, and turned tail. Killian looked ready to begin another spell, but Madge waved him off. She caught up with the last wounded wolf and put him to death with a quick, merciful, swing of her sword. She then turned to the man with the club. “Do you want healing?” He shook his head. “Its look is its worst.” As Ren and Bessie came down from the ridge, the man looked over the four. “I am Leggend of the Berku. Who may I say rescued me?” Ren waited, but no one said anything. He nudged Bessie. Only she and Madge were full Maissen blood, and that made either of them the natural speaker for the group. The druid caught the hint and ran through introductions, adding at the end the fact they were working for Popa Thorson. Leggend nodded at that with a frown. “Heroes then. Bear in mind what all Maissen really means when you return in glory.” With that he pulled his furs down enough to reveal a brand on his torso. “I leave you in peace and with thanks.” Ren felt the bile rising in his throat. He’d seen the slave brand too many times before, and it made him feel sick each and every time. If he had the brand on him, Ren knew he’d certainly try to escape and join the Berku in the swamps too. The Councils called them rebels, but to Ren they were people who decided slavery wasn’t right for them and took their chances to be rid of it. “Let’s get going,” he said. The rain began to fall soon after their fight with the wolves, and it matched Ren’s soured mood. Over a cold meal that night, he explained his feelings to the others, along with his sympathy to the Berku. He wasn’t surprised that Madge and Bessie had only a faint awareness of the group, though he was pleased to hear that neither of their families were slave owners. What surprised him was Killian. The sorcerer was at least half Churky blood, which made him legally a potential slave as much as Ren was. Yet he was as ignorant of the Berku as the others, and even parroted the official line of their being rebels. All he would say to Ren’s questions about it was that he had, “never had opportunity to give it real thought.” “You do indeed have something strange about you,” Ren said. Killian shrugged. “Are y’ sure we can’t work up a fire?” The rain did not stop through the night, and it fell all the next day. Time and distance were impossible to accurately gauge. Only that they were both passing was certain. Finally, with no other indication than they were all tired, they decided to see to camp. Finding a good spot was a challenge, everyplace was either too rough or a mud pit. They at last found a passable place, tied Jimmy in place, and started to work on shelter. That task had just gotten underway when it was interrupted. By screams. [continues on post #17] [/QUOTE]
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Maissen: Shades of Grey [UPDATE 12/12, post 199]
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