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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: 1803597" data-attributes="member: 7033"><p><strong>01 - 05 River Rescue</strong></p><p></p><p>Ren grabbed his pack and weapons as he tried to pin down the location of the screams. The wind and trees were distorting everything. He saw the others doing the same, and it was Madge that finally pointed and said, “That way!”</p><p></p><p>The group slogged their way through the mud back to the road. There the going was easier and Ren broke into a sprint. Mere moments later he saw dots of light ahead. The screams continued, but now he could make out other voices, shouted words lost to the wind. As he ran closer, the screams formed into words too. </p><p></p><p>“My baby!”</p><p></p><p>Ren suddenly found himself fighting for footing on a slick slope. The lights were showing him people standing clustered together in knots as their torches and lanterns struggled to stay lit. Buildings came into focus and suddenly it all fell in place.</p><p></p><p>They were at the river, at the ferry stations across from Kern. The buildings were the ferrymen’s shacks. The group had stopped for the night not a quarter mile from the river and decent shelter. </p><p></p><p>Ren stopped at the closest group of people and asked, “What’s wrong? We heard the screams.”</p><p></p><p>One of the strangers pointed to the river. “Tav’s ferry rope broke. Anna’s three year old is trapped out there on the platform.”</p><p></p><p>It took a moment of scanning the river for Ren to see what the man was talking about. His gaze followed the line of shacks and rows of ropes running from this side of the river to the other. At the end of one was a woman that had to be Anna. She was still screaming and tearing at herself and pointing out to the river. </p><p></p><p>Tav’s ferry rope had broken almost right in the middle of its length. The current had naturally carried the rope, and the ferry platform, down river. Cruel as that was, the gods had given the girl a chance. The platform was still connected to the ferry line, and had gotten caught on an outcropping of rock. </p><p></p><p>But it was slipping. </p><p></p><p>Ren heard Madge’s gravely voice from beside him. “Did that Tav person fall?”</p><p></p><p>“No,” one of the bystanders answered. “He climbed the rope back.”</p><p></p><p>“HE LEFT THE GIRL?” Madge yelled. “AND NONE OF YOU ARE DOING ANYTHING BUT WATCHING?”</p><p></p><p>Someone said something about sending someone else for help, but Ren didn’t hear it all. He shook his head and sprinted to Anna, trying to gauge the distance to the ferry platform. He felt like beating the tar out of this Tav, but there was no time for that. Bessie came up behind him and they were both suddenly assailed by pleas from Anna.</p><p></p><p>“Please save her! She’s all I have.” Her face, already rain drenched, was streaked with tears. It was heartbreaking. </p><p></p><p>“We’ll get her,” Bessie said. She embraced the soaked woman and looked with wide eyes at Ren.</p><p></p><p>“Seventy, eighty feet maybe,” he said. “More than I’ve got rope.” He bit his lip. “Killian, what about your magic?” </p><p></p><p>The sorcerer shook his head. With a sigh he said, “I’ve gone over my spells three times all’ready. Nothing I can do’ll reach out that far.”</p><p></p><p>Ren ran a hand through his hair. He had an idea but didn’t like it a bit. He dropped his pack and dug out his rope. Fifty feet. More than enough by far. </p><p></p><p>“I’ll go. I’ll get this looped around the ferry line on one end and me on the other,” he said. “Can’t get swept away that way.” He could still drown, but there was no point in bringing that up.</p><p></p><p>“A good plan,” Madge said as she walked up, “but for one thing. You’ll tie me on and I’ll go.”</p><p></p><p>Ren started to protest. “I can swim….</p><p></p><p>“So can I,“ Madge interrupted. “And I’m the better choice.” She began to strip her cloak, weapons, and armor away, and Ren saw her point. Her arms and legs were far more muscular than his. The power in those limbs was plain. She was undeniably the strongest of the four. </p><p></p><p>Ren nodded and tied the rope around her. He looped the other end around the ferry line, checked it, and nodded. “Tight as I can make it.”</p><p></p><p>Madge dove into the river without hesitation. As soon as she did, Ren slapped the side of his head. “More fool me,” he muttered. </p><p></p><p>Some of the bystanders had wandered close by. They apparently wanted to be useless a little bit closer to the action. Ren pointed at one. “Get me some more rope, and something that floats.” The man he pointed at glanced at the others nearby, who were glancing at each other, confusion written on their faces. </p><p></p><p>There was a BANG and flash of light right before them. “Y’ all hear him,” Killian bellowed. “Go get it.”</p><p></p><p>In the river, Madge was making slow progress toward the trapped child. She was fighting a strong current, along with the rain and wind. But she was getting there. </p><p></p><p>Suddenly a wave crested beside her and she went under. </p><p></p><p>On shore, Ren, Killian, and Bessie held their breath. They waited. An eternity passed in just a few hearbeats.</p><p></p><p>Then Madge surfaced. </p><p></p><p>“Where’s that rope?” Ren shouted over his shoulder.</p><p></p><p>Someone, Ren didn’t notice if it was man or woman, ran up and tripped, dropping a coil of rope at Ren’s feet. He grabbed it and asked, “floats?”</p><p></p><p>A few corks, bottle stoppers, were thrust into his hand. It would have been funny if the situation hadn’t been so desperate. </p><p></p><p>“I’ve got something,” someone else said.</p><p></p><p>“Fine. Get it.” Ren spat. He stepped over to his pack and dug out his grappling hook. It’d always been very useful to get into trees without lower branches. He hoped it would work if Madge needed some help. </p><p></p><p>“She’s down again!” Bessie cired.</p><p></p><p>Ren tied the rope to the hook and stood. Madge was nowhere to be seen, and it was too dark to see where the rope was looped to the ferry line.</p><p></p><p>"Where?” Ren asked.</p><p></p><p>“Thirty span – feet” Killian said, “And ten out.”</p><p></p><p>“Mind the wind,” Bessie added.</p><p></p><p>Ren nodded as he wound his arm around. He let the rope fly and it hit almost exactly where Killian directed. He saw the splash, felt the rope slack and then move with the current. </p><p></p><p>How much time had passed since she went under? Longer than last time, that was certain. How much longer did he dare let the rope linger out there? Another toss might get it right to Madge, or she might be about to grasp it right now. </p><p></p><p>It tugged. </p><p></p><p>Ren tugged back, and was answered with another one. </p><p></p><p>“She’s got it!” he yelled.</p><p></p><p>A moment later Madge’s head was above water again. Ren and Killian pulled on the rope and she swam toward the ferry line. She lost some relative ground, but made it safely there. More than halfway to the ferry platform, Madge traveled hand over hand along the ferry line to reach it. </p><p></p><p>She climbed up onto the platform, and her weight made it shift. Madge reached out and grabbed the child, pulling her close. Holding the three year old with one arm, Madge looped the rope around the both of them twice. From the shore, Ren saw her say something to the child before plunging back into the river. </p><p></p><p>The ranger was moving slower and more carefully now that there was no danger of the girl being swept away. There was still the chance Madge might lose her grip and go under again, so Ren stood ready with the extra line. </p><p></p><p>When Madge at last made it to the shallows and stood, a great cheer erupted. Ren turned to see all the bystanders had gathered close by. He let his anger at them go, and just helped Madge to shore. He and Killian undid the ropes, and Madge handed Anna her child. </p><p></p><p>There was another round of cheers. As they died down, a voice rose above the din. “Well done! Spectacular! Heroic!”</p><p></p><p>The four looked over to see a portly, balding man striding over to them, a young lantern bearer beside him. The man reached out and took Madge's hands in his own. “You’re a hero,” he said, looking her right in her acid scarred face without flinching. “You all are,” he added, casting glances at Bessie, Killian, and Ren. “And you will be celebrated as such, oh yes you will!” </p><p></p><p>He released Madge’s hands and shook the accumulated rain from his shoulders. “But let’s get you out of the rain. Follow me.” He turned and stepped away.</p><p></p><p>“Uh, don’t mind me asking, but…” Ren started.</p><p></p><p>“Just who are you?” Madge finished.</p><p></p><p>The man came to an abrupt halt and turned back around to them. “Of course, you wouldn’t know would you? I am Portis, Mayor of Kern. And you four are most honored guest of my fair town.”</p><p></p><p>[story continues at post 22]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Beale Knight, post: 1803597, member: 7033"] [b]01 - 05 River Rescue[/b] Ren grabbed his pack and weapons as he tried to pin down the location of the screams. The wind and trees were distorting everything. He saw the others doing the same, and it was Madge that finally pointed and said, “That way!” The group slogged their way through the mud back to the road. There the going was easier and Ren broke into a sprint. Mere moments later he saw dots of light ahead. The screams continued, but now he could make out other voices, shouted words lost to the wind. As he ran closer, the screams formed into words too. “My baby!” Ren suddenly found himself fighting for footing on a slick slope. The lights were showing him people standing clustered together in knots as their torches and lanterns struggled to stay lit. Buildings came into focus and suddenly it all fell in place. They were at the river, at the ferry stations across from Kern. The buildings were the ferrymen’s shacks. The group had stopped for the night not a quarter mile from the river and decent shelter. Ren stopped at the closest group of people and asked, “What’s wrong? We heard the screams.” One of the strangers pointed to the river. “Tav’s ferry rope broke. Anna’s three year old is trapped out there on the platform.” It took a moment of scanning the river for Ren to see what the man was talking about. His gaze followed the line of shacks and rows of ropes running from this side of the river to the other. At the end of one was a woman that had to be Anna. She was still screaming and tearing at herself and pointing out to the river. Tav’s ferry rope had broken almost right in the middle of its length. The current had naturally carried the rope, and the ferry platform, down river. Cruel as that was, the gods had given the girl a chance. The platform was still connected to the ferry line, and had gotten caught on an outcropping of rock. But it was slipping. Ren heard Madge’s gravely voice from beside him. “Did that Tav person fall?” “No,” one of the bystanders answered. “He climbed the rope back.” “HE LEFT THE GIRL?” Madge yelled. “AND NONE OF YOU ARE DOING ANYTHING BUT WATCHING?” Someone said something about sending someone else for help, but Ren didn’t hear it all. He shook his head and sprinted to Anna, trying to gauge the distance to the ferry platform. He felt like beating the tar out of this Tav, but there was no time for that. Bessie came up behind him and they were both suddenly assailed by pleas from Anna. “Please save her! She’s all I have.” Her face, already rain drenched, was streaked with tears. It was heartbreaking. “We’ll get her,” Bessie said. She embraced the soaked woman and looked with wide eyes at Ren. “Seventy, eighty feet maybe,” he said. “More than I’ve got rope.” He bit his lip. “Killian, what about your magic?” The sorcerer shook his head. With a sigh he said, “I’ve gone over my spells three times all’ready. Nothing I can do’ll reach out that far.” Ren ran a hand through his hair. He had an idea but didn’t like it a bit. He dropped his pack and dug out his rope. Fifty feet. More than enough by far. “I’ll go. I’ll get this looped around the ferry line on one end and me on the other,” he said. “Can’t get swept away that way.” He could still drown, but there was no point in bringing that up. “A good plan,” Madge said as she walked up, “but for one thing. You’ll tie me on and I’ll go.” Ren started to protest. “I can swim…. “So can I,“ Madge interrupted. “And I’m the better choice.” She began to strip her cloak, weapons, and armor away, and Ren saw her point. Her arms and legs were far more muscular than his. The power in those limbs was plain. She was undeniably the strongest of the four. Ren nodded and tied the rope around her. He looped the other end around the ferry line, checked it, and nodded. “Tight as I can make it.” Madge dove into the river without hesitation. As soon as she did, Ren slapped the side of his head. “More fool me,” he muttered. Some of the bystanders had wandered close by. They apparently wanted to be useless a little bit closer to the action. Ren pointed at one. “Get me some more rope, and something that floats.” The man he pointed at glanced at the others nearby, who were glancing at each other, confusion written on their faces. There was a BANG and flash of light right before them. “Y’ all hear him,” Killian bellowed. “Go get it.” In the river, Madge was making slow progress toward the trapped child. She was fighting a strong current, along with the rain and wind. But she was getting there. Suddenly a wave crested beside her and she went under. On shore, Ren, Killian, and Bessie held their breath. They waited. An eternity passed in just a few hearbeats. Then Madge surfaced. “Where’s that rope?” Ren shouted over his shoulder. Someone, Ren didn’t notice if it was man or woman, ran up and tripped, dropping a coil of rope at Ren’s feet. He grabbed it and asked, “floats?” A few corks, bottle stoppers, were thrust into his hand. It would have been funny if the situation hadn’t been so desperate. “I’ve got something,” someone else said. “Fine. Get it.” Ren spat. He stepped over to his pack and dug out his grappling hook. It’d always been very useful to get into trees without lower branches. He hoped it would work if Madge needed some help. “She’s down again!” Bessie cired. Ren tied the rope to the hook and stood. Madge was nowhere to be seen, and it was too dark to see where the rope was looped to the ferry line. "Where?” Ren asked. “Thirty span – feet” Killian said, “And ten out.” “Mind the wind,” Bessie added. Ren nodded as he wound his arm around. He let the rope fly and it hit almost exactly where Killian directed. He saw the splash, felt the rope slack and then move with the current. How much time had passed since she went under? Longer than last time, that was certain. How much longer did he dare let the rope linger out there? Another toss might get it right to Madge, or she might be about to grasp it right now. It tugged. Ren tugged back, and was answered with another one. “She’s got it!” he yelled. A moment later Madge’s head was above water again. Ren and Killian pulled on the rope and she swam toward the ferry line. She lost some relative ground, but made it safely there. More than halfway to the ferry platform, Madge traveled hand over hand along the ferry line to reach it. She climbed up onto the platform, and her weight made it shift. Madge reached out and grabbed the child, pulling her close. Holding the three year old with one arm, Madge looped the rope around the both of them twice. From the shore, Ren saw her say something to the child before plunging back into the river. The ranger was moving slower and more carefully now that there was no danger of the girl being swept away. There was still the chance Madge might lose her grip and go under again, so Ren stood ready with the extra line. When Madge at last made it to the shallows and stood, a great cheer erupted. Ren turned to see all the bystanders had gathered close by. He let his anger at them go, and just helped Madge to shore. He and Killian undid the ropes, and Madge handed Anna her child. There was another round of cheers. As they died down, a voice rose above the din. “Well done! Spectacular! Heroic!” The four looked over to see a portly, balding man striding over to them, a young lantern bearer beside him. The man reached out and took Madge's hands in his own. “You’re a hero,” he said, looking her right in her acid scarred face without flinching. “You all are,” he added, casting glances at Bessie, Killian, and Ren. “And you will be celebrated as such, oh yes you will!” He released Madge’s hands and shook the accumulated rain from his shoulders. “But let’s get you out of the rain. Follow me.” He turned and stepped away. “Uh, don’t mind me asking, but…” Ren started. “Just who are you?” Madge finished. The man came to an abrupt halt and turned back around to them. “Of course, you wouldn’t know would you? I am Portis, Mayor of Kern. And you four are most honored guest of my fair town.” [story continues at post 22] [/QUOTE]
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