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Post by Indy Libero on Jan 23, 2015 15:52:39 GMT -5
It's a bright summer's day. Birds are chirping, the grass rustles with the passing of a light autumn breeze. Hold on - autumn? Wasn't it summer? Or perhaps it was spring? I consult my wrinkled old map for advice, but apparently it doesn't have any to give me. In acknowledgement of my own stupidity, I heave a sigh; I really do rely on this thing far too much. A real shame they can't forecast weather or anything, though: they'd be even more useful then.
Thud thud. It's a bright summer's day. My thick traveler's boots liven the empty highway. My package keeps getting tossed around the inside of my rucksack - I really should try to hold it still.
Judging by the terrain, there's about three miles until I reach Bahdahgadahga. To clarify, that's about three miles until I stop being broke. And to lay the egg on the silver coin (I don't even know what this means), I'll have a beastman-style breakfast waiting for me when I arrive. Simplistic pleasures, they might be, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying them. To truly make the most of life, you must take everything as it is; do not reject the present, but embrace it. By doing that, you will achieve a sense of enlightenment they call, "living the dream".
Rustle rustle. Something's pulling a sneaky on me. But you see fellows, nobody ever pills a sneaky on the legendary Indy Libero! There it is, at the side of the path! I turn towards the closest entanglement of trees in an exaggerated manner.
Nothing.
"Must be a wild deer or something," I nod to myself, making a quizzical pose. I feel like this is the part where I get knocked out from behind.
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Post by Rowan Wyrmtooth on Jan 23, 2015 17:39:24 GMT -5
PREVIOUSLY ON ROWAN’S LIFE How exactly did this happen? Rowan could barely remember the previous night but he did know it included copious amounts of alcohol. Following the success of the goblin slaying quest, Rowan squandered gold in the bars of Ba’dagar with an unlikely drinking buddy; Aun d'Chison, an elven warrior part of the fancy group that fought beside him in that cave.
He woke up the morning after on top of a horse, being carried out of the city with that elven lady holding the reins. Apparently he had promised to help her out with some mission or something, a promise made during his drunk haze. Knight types really put a lot of weight on words and it had been heavily implied that she would hunt him down if he tried to run. After what he had witnessed in that cave, he would not want to fight that woman. This was obviously not a good situation...
Now was the time! If he was able to dig up some money somewhere, finding a form of transportation wouldn’t be that hard. Had he not squandered all of the quest reward in the night before, he could just run back to the city and hire a carriage to take him far away from his captor. She had left him alone for a while, thinking him asleep… This was the perfect opportunity! He would find a way to evade her through any means possible. Waiting in a bush, he hoped some traveler would pop out. Anyone! If they were mounted he’d ask for a ride, if not he’d rob them blind and hire a carriage; Perfect. The ginger currently walking down the road was the perfect mark, carrying a sack that was most likely filled with gold. Jumping out of the bush with his sword in hand Rowan immediately begun his plan- “ Okay punk, let’s get this over quickly. I need everything of value you have” He usually didn’t outright state things like this, but he was both desperate and in an area without any law enforcers in sight. “ Normally I’d be more subtle but I can’t afford the pleasantries… Just play this easy, Kay?!” |
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Post by Indy Libero on Jan 24, 2015 19:20:41 GMT -5
Its armor makes a dull "clunk" as the wild deer dramatically leaps out the bush to face me. Something sharp and shiny is pointing in my general direction now. Apparently that wild deer finally decided to jump out of its hiding place, but much to my fervent surprise, said wild deer wasn't actually a wild deer at all. Actually, I think it might be the opposite way around.
It's a bright summer's day - and I'm about to be robbed.
I scratch my head. My assailant is shooting a really cheeky grin at me that I swear I've seen somewhere before, though as well as that, my Indy senses detect some sort of sense of urgency from him. I think he's waiting for me to respond. That can't be good. I'd rather not let this encounter get awkward, so I'll need to think of something... Oh! I know! That's perfect!
"--Punk? Hey, before that, do you have any idea what season it is? You see, I've been out of town for a while lately, delivering packages and all," I jollily take the parcel out of my bag and raise it to him as proof of my endeavors. "You know, the courier life. So I haven't really had the time to go properly visit a town yet - well, I mean, I've been there, but not properly. See, when you properly visit a town, you want to do all the essentials, like read the Daily Dragon, get ripped off by a merchant... all that! And so I was on my way to this Bahdagagaga-place down the road with this package, and the birds were chirping, and so I thought, 'Hey Indy, you should go have some fun when you arrive; it's a bright summer's day!' but then I thought, 'Wait, summer? What season is it again?' and I was in a total daze!"
I make the most forced laugh possible, as if I were a jester trying to tell the Beastfolk Representative a knock-knock joke. "And that's when I encountered you! So I was like, 'You know, maybe I should ask this bandit?'"
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Post by Rowan Wyrmtooth on Jan 24, 2015 22:16:48 GMT -5
What? What was happening? There was no time for this and Rowan was getting impatient. Although his sword was out already, to stab this person right there and then would be more of a mess than he initially wanted. It’s not like he wasn’t used to killing people -He was- but murdering someone that wasn’t even intelligent enough to fight back was just pathetic. In the right circumstances he’d be able to overlook that detail, but it seemed right now he was felt above killing a dumb courier, a statethat could easily vanish without a trace.
Not understanding what the ginger was saying, he approached him with malicious intent.
“J-Just hand me that damn bag right now!”
His stance wavered a bit, but one couldn’t really blame him. Although he had no issue slaying bimbos and goblins, a trained elven knight MIGHT be able to topple him. If he had to guess he would have to say it was a 50/50 chance of him ending 6 feet under. Not good odds consider what was at stake.
Moving quickly, his free hand went straight for the bag to try and rip it away from it’s holder.
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Post by Indy Libero on Jan 25, 2015 10:14:21 GMT -5
It seems like negotiations have failed.
I feel my expression darken; the birds aren't chirping anymore. A hand is extending towards me aggressively, likely with the intention to rip the bag away from my person. Intuition tells me I need to act, but how? I've faced bandits before, so I should have enough experience to appropriately take action, but this particular foe is... strange, to say the least. For one, he's much more clumsy than the norm - and for another, I don't think I've ever seen a bandit act so carefree.
Do I try running? No, he might have some sort of ranged alternative besides that sword to incapacitate me with. I'll need to take him out first. Gauntlets reveal themselves from under my travelers' cloak.
"Ah, right! Where are my manners? I forgot to introduce myself," as it is just about to reach my bag, I grab his free hand and shake it enthusiastically, as if I were making a new friend. "The name's Indy! It's good meeting you, bandit sir." Now. In the midst of his surprise, I swing my right leg around and aim a kick directly for his face.
With armor like that on trying to topple him wouldn't be an option, especially with that sword in his hand. If this kick hits the mark, it should be able to knock him out here and now - giving me leeway to escape to the city where he can't catch me. The off-chance that he does manage to get around this kick however is when things will get problematic; being locked in this handshake with my leg five feet in the air, I'll be almost completely open for a slashing.
Well, we'll see what happens. To truly make the most of life, you must take everything as it is; do not reject the present, but embrace it.
That is what they call "living the dream".
Actions: Extended hand for a handshake; kicked Rowan in the face (5 damage)
Indy: 50 Health, 1 Mana
Rowan: 50 Health (Targeted)
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Post by Rowan Wyrmtooth on Jan 25, 2015 13:03:29 GMT -5
A kick. A fast moving, out of nowhere, boot to the head. The raw momentum of the thing was bad enough but that soulless bastard had to be wearing lead on his shoes, otherwise there was no way a kick could hurt that much. Surprised by the hit, Rowan’s body was thrown to the ground, for a second barely retaining conscience.
Time slowed down as his muscles lost strength and his body plumeted down....Was this the end? He could his heart beating...
*thump*
*thump*
*thump*
NO!
A normal, fodder level thug MIGHT have been defeated by that measly kick but not Rowan. No... Rowan was the mighty king of the fodder level thugs! Gripping his sword tightly in his left hand, he gathered his senses and cushioned the fall with his other arm. “God dammit you!”
With a sudden burst of energy he got up and swung his sword horizontally, in a large arch. Not giving the opponent time to res,t he immediately went for a stab, gaining balance and thrusting the tip of the sword right where his opponents stomach was. The ravaging bandit would give his prey no rest!
-Kicked by Indy (5 damage - 4 armor)
Actions: Attacked Indy with his sword, twice
Indy: 50 Health (Targeted)
Rowan: 49 Health
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Post by Indy Libero on Jan 25, 2015 14:13:29 GMT -5
Is it over? The kick seemed to have been a perfect hit; my assailant's balance has been thrown off, and he's about to hit the ground with a fierce tumble.
I lower my leg out of KO-ing position and turn left towards my original destination. At this point, I think it's safe to assume he's out cold. The birds are chirping again. That's great: now I can dash back to town, deliver my package and go read The Daily Dragon in peace. Thinking about it, I must be blessed by the Lady of Luck to land a solid hit on a guy like him; for a bandit, he was quite heavily armed, and he looked durable--
"God dammit you!"
Durable--
Whoosh. The sound of a blade splitting the air. I turn to meet it, raising my gauntlets to take the brunt of it for me - but it's too much. The damage is absorbed, but the raw power behind the hit almost knocks me off my feet. He's powerful. Way more powerful than I predicted.
He's at perfect hacking distance now. Here, he can just slash at me and I'll only be able to parry the blows. I need to change this. His next strike looks to be lunge a to my stomach, so I take the sane option: I duck under the blade and strafe slightly to the right to prevent it from piercing my forehead, then charge at him like a beast; the blade still grazes my shoulder as I run, but the pain is nothing compared to the blow I'll be dealing him soon.
Here it is. I pull back my arm then slam my fist right where his solar plexus is. There's plating there, but a blow like that should still hurt - armored or not.
-Grazed by Rowan's sword (5 damage)
Actions: Blocked Rowan's attack; sucker punched him in the gut
Indy: 45 Health, 1 Mana
Rowan: 49 Health (Targeted)
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Post by Rowan Wyrmtooth on Jan 25, 2015 15:15:00 GMT -5
The sneaky courier was better at this whole fighting thing than Rowan initially predicted. He didn’t seem to be armed, but his bare-handed fighting skills were sharp; sharp enough to be a problem...It seemed he was wearing some sort of cobalt coloured metal gauntlets that had already proven hard enough to block the initial cut.
He attempted to avoid the thrust by dodging left and quickly closed in. Despite the blade having grazed him he had begun reeling a punch, putting his full force into his right arm. Throwing a mighty right hook, it had quite the speed for a punch, and he went right for Rowan’s lower chest. There was no time to respond. The impact made him stop breathing for a second, feeling as if his insides had be shook Bar fights were no stranger to the man, but this sort of hit wasn’t a common occurrence.
He tried to gather himself, but he knew that wasn’t a good situation. Bastard swords were very versatile, but at that distance it, trying to stab someone with it without getting interrupted was a near impossibility.
Quickly drawing air into his lungs, Rowan held the sword on it’s side and went to slam the hilt right into the side of the boy’s face. A quick jab, followed by a kick. Although the kick lacked the strength to do much damage, it was mainly meant to create some distance between the two. Following this notion the bandit backtracked as quickly as possible, ready to dive in again sword first.
-Hit by Indy's right hook (1 damage)
Actions: Hit Indy with the hilt of the sword
Pushed him away
Indy: 45 Health (Targeted)
Rowan: 48 Health
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Post by Indy Libero on Jan 25, 2015 16:13:54 GMT -5
The blow connects, and my foe's face morphs into an expression of shock. It seems I took the wind out of him a bit - but only for a brief second. I've noted this before, but considering how he's taken my gauntlets, this man is ridiculously tanky. I'm no expert, but I'd say it would take about forty-eight more of those before he drops.
Well, he may overcome in terms of strength and tenacity, but I have speed. At this short distance, I should have him in a corner now; like this, there's no way his bastard sword would be able to manage a proper stri--
He's done it again.
I feel my jaw shift a bit as something collides with my cheek, and then I'm knocked away. Dizziness overcomes me; actually, I think I'm about to collapse.
Gritting my teeth, I stumble further back to prevent myself from tripping over on to the dirt road. I prod my now-swollen cheek curiously. It must have been something blunt, like his sword hilt - explains why it was such a heavy hit. I'm guessing the burly bastard used it to push me away, which explains why the distance between us has increased so much. Now, I'm about just outside his blade's range - but that doesn't mean he can't just step forward slightly and hack me in two. I need to back up and wait for an opening; hit-and-run style.
I begin to retreat further and further away from him towards more preferable terrain. Luring him to a forest area would be preferable; the addition of trees would be quite the handicap, considering his large bastard sword.
-Butted in the face (5 damage)
-Kicked away
Actions: Regained balance; backed off slightly
Indy: 40 Health, 1 Mana
Rowan: 48 Health
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Post by Rowan Wyrmtooth on Jan 25, 2015 16:35:53 GMT -5
The situation was dangerous. For both parties. While Rowan had the clear advantage, he could not let himself get locked into a close range battle again or let the courier escape, and his time was probably running out. The opponent had also retreated slightly, maybe even considering fleeing? Obviously a quick end to the fight was necessary. The red-headed boy didn’t seem to be wearing any armor, meaning if he was dealt a clean hit, the fight would likely be settled. Although getting bludgeoned to death by those punches wasn’t a tremendously likely event, they were both fast and capable of deferring sword blows -courtesy of the strange gauntlets- . He would need to pull off some sort of trick to win this before the elf woman showed up. Gripping his blade with both hands, he held it tilted to the side. This was gonna be a heavily risky tactic but it was sure to work! He charged forward in a mighty sprint, tilting the blade down; A massive slash was about to take place for sure. A mighty blow capable to sweeping the enemy off it’s feet. Faced with something like that, an enemy had to either run, block it, or forfeit their lives. A tremendous charge that defi- What?! Not three steps in had been taken and Rowan’s entire stance had shifted dramatically. His charge had been for show, and his left hand had already gone for the side-weapon strapped on his belt. Using the momentum accumulated, he threw the that axe spinning towards his opponent. It’s speed and strength were amazing, and that coupled with the well pulled off feint made it virtually impossible to dodge. "Gahahahahaha! Take that!"
Actions: Attacked Indy with his MARTIAL ABILITY, The ol' switcherooIndy: 40 Health (Targeted) Rowan: 48 Health |
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Post by Indy Libero on Jan 25, 2015 17:55:43 GMT -5
A straight forward charge. That was what I had anticipated. The moment I see him begin his demon-like dash at me, I take a deep breath and raise my gauntlet-clad fists in preparation for a counter-strike. However, it appears an axe has been thrown into my plans.
Literally.
Spinning. It's spinning at a blinding speed, trajectory leading right to my head. Even the birds aren't chirping anymore - instead they are watching in anticipation. To block and to dodge. It's still possible to work around a solution if an attack can prevent just one of these actions. However, when a move is both immensely powerful and dangerously unpredictable - that's when you have your problem. There are no other options then; you're essentially forcing your opponent to tank the hit.
And tanking the hit is exactly what I'm going to do.
It's closing in. Any second now, and I'll be mincemeat. I raise my arms above my head to meet the strike, feeling my brain freeze up.
It's cold. A storm passes by me. It's cold, it's really cold. Something sharp and transparent starts emerging from my body. First it manifests on my shoulder, then my back, then chest, upper arm, lower arm, wrist, it's cold it's cold it's cold it's cold IT'S COLD IT'S COLD IT'S COLD-
Losing all momentum, the axe quietly drops to the floor. I'm not cold anymore; the sharp icicles that were once fused with my body have dissipated into the air. "I hope you won't be needing this," after taking a long deep breath, I pick up the axe before me and toss it into the nearest bush.
I'm tired, so I think I'll wait for him to move again. I raise my gauntlet-clad fists once more, prepared for another round.
-Tanked Rowan's The Ol' Switcheroo (5 damage - 10 shield)
Actions: Casted the spell Diamond Dust (10 shield) on himself, costing 1 mana; chucked Rowan's axe into a bush
Indy: 40 Health, 0 Mana, 5 Shield
Rowan: 48 Health
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Post by Aun d'Chison on Jan 26, 2015 10:08:31 GMT -5
"CEASE THIS MADNESS, ROWAN."
For an elf Aun had a surprisingly bellowing and powerful tone. Aun said stepping out of the bushes, her silvery hair flowing and looking very dishevelled. Her red eyes looking more than a bit pissed off. It didn't help that for an elf she stood nearly higher than six feet tall. There was a reason, there was a really good reason why she was mad...
Previously in Aun's life
After the wonderful evening of questing with the illustrious Beastfolk representative hunting Goblins, Aun sorta aimlessly ended up drinking with the human warrior Rowan. The drinks were just alcohol, nothing like the sweet drinks of her elven homeland. The beastfolk drinks were just crude, strong but crude. Though Rowan looked like a crude barbarian, to Aun's surprise he was not a strong drinker.
How sad that she won on that front against a barbarian.
Eventually they talked about Aun's reason for travelling. Her quest for the her ancestors blade. As a polite whim she offered Rowan to join her up, and he agreed much to her inward regret. So come the morning and getting a lame horse by Rowan's suggestion, she carried the drunk silly Rowan out of Ba'dagar. She left him near a camp she set up so they could rest, and went to a stream so her "new" horse could drink water.
Of course that's were things went wrong. Besides being a lame horse, the horse was the most skittish horse in all of Terra. A jumping fish spooked it and it bolted off.
Seriously, and Aun chased after it, across bushes, tickets of dry wood, rocks and until the horse outran her.
Aun was pissed. That was the worst horse ever. If only she had her Autelin, her precious white horse...
So Aun was tired, sweaty, her beautiful hair was uncombed and now she had to babysit two children.
"Must you humans be the same always?"
"The horse you told me to buy just bolted on me, with my purse and our supplies, and what do you do? Go mug a stranger, by the Red Knight." Aun said, frowning and cracking her fingers.
Then her red eyes glared at Indy and his crystal covered form, then back Rowan."That's a mage, not a cultist, why in heroes name are you attacking a mage, there's no bounty on mages?
How did Aun know the difference. Well she was an elf and she was a trained in the Cydonian army, she knew a mage when she saw one and she knew an pact maker when she saw one.
"Its a wonder how your people ever manage to invent things, with all the mistakes you make."
Aun said now rubbing her frown with one hand. Clearly trying to calm down.
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Post by Rowan Wyrmtooth on Jan 28, 2015 13:38:54 GMT -5
The whole situation had left Rowan a bit speechless. Although he seen people use magic before, the Mages he had seen were a lot more frontal about their abilities. Normally, They’d wear robes and, engage in fancy scholarly activities like reading; Street figthing was not part of the skill set. To add to that, he had been able to survive the ol’swicheroo, Rowan’s most reliable trick since his childhood. Of course the elven lady popping up meant even worse news! It seemed even if both had been left standing, the spellcasting punk had won the battle....
“I...Uhm… Well I saw this iffy mage go by!”
- Amazing improv by the bandits part. If there was one thing he knew knights didn’t approve off, was mugging the innocent. Thank god he had a completely plausible excuse. After all, the fact remained that one should not underestimate the resourcefulness of a con-man/bandit/mercenary/No-gooder.
“How did you want me to know he wasn’t one of those pact freaks! All these fire-throwers smell the same to me! I wasn’t mugging him, nuh uh, nope, not that…” It was true that he had some trouble setting the two apart, but in that situation he hadn't even considered that possibility. Well, If this was taken to the authorities, he'd atleast be better off if he had a patriotic excuse; Hell, Dracon's guard might even take his word for it and execute the ginger man just the same!
“Pffft. I-I was just...Eh.. doing my civic duty! Trying to apprehend an evil doer and stuff”
Now he just needed to hope his clever ruse went by unnoticed...
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Post by Indy Libero on Jan 28, 2015 15:19:35 GMT -5
It's great like this: since they're the ones fighting now, I don't have to worry about engaging in a fight to the death with that burly bastard at all - this gives me the chance to sit down on the road and warm myself up. I glance back and forth between Mr. Bandit and the cold-eyed Elven lady as they continue to bicker. I'm not too sure on the specifics, but something about "mugging" and "iffy mages" passes by my ears.
"Fire-thrower? Me?" I look down and give my overalls a quick pat. "I don't smell any coal on me; maybe it's hiding under my cloak..."
That entrance of hers before was quite the sight: despite not being an especially masculine voice, it was powerful enough for me to almost piss myself when she interrupted us. And those red eyes... I don't think I want to be caught in a glare by those again. A dangerous woman, and standing a few inches higher than me, certainly not my type. Man, tall women are the worst...
Now, enough of being quiet and aloof, Indy. It's story time. Mr. Bandit has you stamped as an "evil-doer". Thus, you must confirm his theories and confess. Also, clearing things up would be nice.
I tilt my head to the sky, adjusting my volume so I'm loud enough for all to hear. "Well, I guess you could call me that... an evil-doer. If a man who commits many sins is what they call an evil-doer, then I am indeed one. You know, the life of a courier is quite the hassle, as in, you get dragged around the craziest places. I've been held up for a long good time in some pretty high mountains, cold even for my standards, and I've also bared witness to the pain-in-the-ass desert down east, courtesy of a certain old man; I've even been to that dragon place - you know, the one with the rumor of that legendary sword said to be guarded by a dragon? That place."
I curse back on those early days; I wasn't nearly as much of a handsome, witty chap as I am now. In fact, I don't even think I had my cool traveler's cloak yet. Shame on you, past me - shame on you.
"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is: it isn't rare for me to witness the odd robbery, so don't worry too much about it. It was good fun fighting that burly bastard, and neither of you seem like bad people."
I stand up. If they don't have anything else to say to me, I'll probably get going. My client is waiting for me, after all.
"Also," I turn my head to Mr. Bandit. "About kicking you in the face. No hard feelings, alright, bandit man?"
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Post by Aun d'Chison on Jan 31, 2015 14:13:29 GMT -5
Aun arched her eyebrow at Rowan's stutters and excuses. Who did he think she was? How old did he think she was? Regardless her only answer was a long sigh. If she wasn't annoyed by the fact that she lost her rented horse, she would have found the mage's quip about being allegedly capable of fire throwing and coal smelling funny, but alas no the six feet tall Elven lady in a battle dress was not in her usual fun loving mood. However, the mage then began rambling about his "evil" past, something about a Dragons lair and a magical sword. Honestly she thought he was rambling.
"I think being in those high mountains and then in a desert might have done bad to that man's wit." Aun briefly thought.
Then the mage courier got up, said he would keep no quarrel which was good. Aun hated the idea of her journey with others to start by running from the law. What manner of Cavalier would she be if she did that? How could she face her brother and father like that? Aun sighed again this time less stressed out and more relieved.
"Well aren't you lucky Rowan?" Aun said, in the most condescending elven tone possible. The idea of being kicked in the face, by a MAGE was a little funny even Aun's sour mood found that amusing.
Aun walked nearer to the two humans and doing nod of her head she introduced herself "I apologize for my companion's lapse in judgement, I am Aun d'Chison, who might you be courier?"
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