Camulous stood in front of justice hall fidgeting with a leather strap on his bracer that had bent during yesterday's fight and refused to tighten properly. As usual he was waring his full armored guardsman's uniform, sans helmet, with a longsword strapped to his left side and a still newly acquired doodad, called a pistol, strapped to his right.
This time he also had his shield with him, strapped to his right arm. A favorite of his, most guardsmen didn't use them because their added bulk was impractical given the types of jobs they usually had to do. Today was different though. Today he was working with a battlemage, and that meant he wanted all the protection he could get.
The street and apparently justice hall were empty, and he could hear the usual afternoon bustle coming from Main street. Horses and people talking, the occasional yell of something going on. He didn't have time to investigate it today. It was unseasonably warm and a gentle breeze carried his hair into his face. His horse, a powerful white beast with muscles like an ox, huffed and looked around for something to eat.
A group of children ran down the other side of the street and when they saw Camulous they all waved and a few of them called out greetings. He smiled and gave them a stiff, military quality salute in return. They all looked human and elven to him. Representing what he considered to be the reason for all his hard work and dedication, they were the only uncorrupted souls on all of Pal Tahrenor.
Once they ran off he checked the sky. 3:00. Where was that battlemage? He needed her to tell him what the scryers had to report on the girl.
Another Day, Another Mission...
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Camulous Smithson
- Guardsman
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:59 am
- Name: Camulous Smithson
- Race: Human
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Blood Ravenous
- Battlemage
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:23 pm
- Name: Ryxa
- Race: Human
Ryxa turned the corner onto the street where the Justice Hall's entrance was. She saw the Captain of the Guard already there, waiting with a white horse. Her own horse was brown and unnamed. Ryxa didn't have much interest in animals, and hardly even knew how to ride. But they were traveling far enough that a horse would be needed. She was glad to see that the Captain had thought to bring one, at any rate.
The scryers had been cryptic enough as usual. "They are in the woods," he said, bent over some strange object.
"Would you mind being more specific?" Ryxa replied, annoyance entering her voice. She had already waited more than she wished. She was still covered in blood, none of it her own. She was itching to go home and clean up, but the scryer had been along the way. The scryer looked at her without expression. "There is a man with the woman. She is injured, so they haven't gotten very far. All I see are trees. They are in the woods."
At home after cleaning up, getting small provisions together into a saddlebag, and putting her battlemage armor on, she borrowed a horse from a stable-master with the sole power of her office. The man had a whine that grated on her nerves, but it excited her to have such power over him and him being unable to do anything about it. The horse had already taken a disliking to her, but that was why she had a riding crop. For now, however, she wished to not test it and lead the mare to the Justice Hall where the Captain had said to meet him.
Ryxa had taken her time in walking up to the Captain, giving him ample time to see her coming. She fixed him with her trademark stare and skipped over a greeting, just saying, "The witch is in the woods. There is a man with her."
The scryers had been cryptic enough as usual. "They are in the woods," he said, bent over some strange object.
"Would you mind being more specific?" Ryxa replied, annoyance entering her voice. She had already waited more than she wished. She was still covered in blood, none of it her own. She was itching to go home and clean up, but the scryer had been along the way. The scryer looked at her without expression. "There is a man with the woman. She is injured, so they haven't gotten very far. All I see are trees. They are in the woods."
At home after cleaning up, getting small provisions together into a saddlebag, and putting her battlemage armor on, she borrowed a horse from a stable-master with the sole power of her office. The man had a whine that grated on her nerves, but it excited her to have such power over him and him being unable to do anything about it. The horse had already taken a disliking to her, but that was why she had a riding crop. For now, however, she wished to not test it and lead the mare to the Justice Hall where the Captain had said to meet him.
Ryxa had taken her time in walking up to the Captain, giving him ample time to see her coming. She fixed him with her trademark stare and skipped over a greeting, just saying, "The witch is in the woods. There is a man with her."
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Camulous Smithson
- Guardsman
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:59 am
- Name: Camulous Smithson
- Race: Human
He noticed her arrival right away. She was one of the more distinctive looking humans in the whole city. A battlemage, female, wearing makeup and carrying herself with so much superiority it was tangible in the air. He didn't like her very much, but that was a rule not an exception when it came to mages. Only Lucas had managed to make a good impression on Cam, and since Moryldar had sent him off the other day there was no sign of him.
He slowly walked down the steps to meet her, and she started talking without even bothering with a hello. He liked it that way, and went with it looking not the least bit bothered.
"He's still with her then. Some vagabond she bumped into on the street from what I've seen. Nobody important." he said, while walking to his horse to untie it. "Searching the woods is trouble. I don't suppose you know a little more detail?"
He had worked with the help of scryers many times, and while they were often indispensable, their information was always old and not always accurate, as Chrishton had proven.
He mounted the horse with ease, even in his armor, and looked at her expectantly.
He slowly walked down the steps to meet her, and she started talking without even bothering with a hello. He liked it that way, and went with it looking not the least bit bothered.
"He's still with her then. Some vagabond she bumped into on the street from what I've seen. Nobody important." he said, while walking to his horse to untie it. "Searching the woods is trouble. I don't suppose you know a little more detail?"
He had worked with the help of scryers many times, and while they were often indispensable, their information was always old and not always accurate, as Chrishton had proven.
He mounted the horse with ease, even in his armor, and looked at her expectantly.
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Blood Ravenous
- Battlemage
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:23 pm
- Name: Ryxa
- Race: Human
Ryxa watched critically while the Captain mounted his horse. She had never worked with the man despite her few years of service, but now they had just exchanged more words than they ever had before. She hoped he was smarter than he looked. All of that armor would do no good against a witch if he couldn't use his head.
When he looked expectantly at her she said, "They haven't gotten far. The witch is injured." She offered no further detail, because there was none. The scryers weren't exactly dependable, but at least she and the captain had a starting place. Once they reached the woods it would be up to her amazing intelligence to deduce where the prey was hiding, or running to.
Her gaze went to her own horse, who had, this entire time, been dancing around anxiously. It seemed unused to the bustle of the city, and she guessed the stable-master had given her one that was not ridden, or even taken out of the stables, very often. She patted its neck half-heartedly, but it did no good to calm it. She wasn't going to look incompetent in front of the Captain, however. If the mare doesn't cooperate I'm going to kill it and walk, she thought darkly.
Ryxa put her foot in the stirrup and, as gracefully as she could, threw her leg over the mare's back. She scooted forward in the seat to get in the right position and wiggled to get comfortable. She patted the horse's neck again for staying relatively still.
"Well, lead the way Captain," she said, flourishing her hand. She never put her back to anyone she worked with.
When he looked expectantly at her she said, "They haven't gotten far. The witch is injured." She offered no further detail, because there was none. The scryers weren't exactly dependable, but at least she and the captain had a starting place. Once they reached the woods it would be up to her amazing intelligence to deduce where the prey was hiding, or running to.
Her gaze went to her own horse, who had, this entire time, been dancing around anxiously. It seemed unused to the bustle of the city, and she guessed the stable-master had given her one that was not ridden, or even taken out of the stables, very often. She patted its neck half-heartedly, but it did no good to calm it. She wasn't going to look incompetent in front of the Captain, however. If the mare doesn't cooperate I'm going to kill it and walk, she thought darkly.
Ryxa put her foot in the stirrup and, as gracefully as she could, threw her leg over the mare's back. She scooted forward in the seat to get in the right position and wiggled to get comfortable. She patted the horse's neck again for staying relatively still.
"Well, lead the way Captain," she said, flourishing her hand. She never put her back to anyone she worked with.
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Camulous Smithson
- Guardsman
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:59 am
- Name: Camulous Smithson
- Race: Human
With a sigh and a shake of his head, he kicked the sides of his horse and was off.
She was right of course. They wouldn't have had time to get very far, but the woods were not a fun or friendly place to search for people. The woods in thar shaddin were not like the woods he heard in childhood stories; filled with elves and faeries and the peace and quiet of nature. The woods were as haunted as any place could be, arguably more so than the cemetery in Shim, and he rarely went into them. Certainly never alone if it could be helped.
Most people felt the same way, of course. It was common knowledge that the people of Shim were more accustomed to the ways of the wild than people like Camulous who spent his time within the confines of a large city. They practically lived with the woods, and Camulous suspected some of them of possessing the ability to talk to the trees, particularly the elves.
Yet even they stayed out of the woods as far as he knew.
With a tug on its reigns, he rounded his horse onto Main Street and toward the old bridge. As always it was busy and full of people - people who either nodded and waved when they saw him, or turned away to hide their faces. He didn't have time to harass them now, and everyone knew better than to stay in his way when he was in a hurry, so the street ahead of them cleared like a parting sea.
He said nothing to the battlemage, and glanced at her only occasionally to make sure she was keeping pace.
She was right of course. They wouldn't have had time to get very far, but the woods were not a fun or friendly place to search for people. The woods in thar shaddin were not like the woods he heard in childhood stories; filled with elves and faeries and the peace and quiet of nature. The woods were as haunted as any place could be, arguably more so than the cemetery in Shim, and he rarely went into them. Certainly never alone if it could be helped.
Most people felt the same way, of course. It was common knowledge that the people of Shim were more accustomed to the ways of the wild than people like Camulous who spent his time within the confines of a large city. They practically lived with the woods, and Camulous suspected some of them of possessing the ability to talk to the trees, particularly the elves.
Yet even they stayed out of the woods as far as he knew.
With a tug on its reigns, he rounded his horse onto Main Street and toward the old bridge. As always it was busy and full of people - people who either nodded and waved when they saw him, or turned away to hide their faces. He didn't have time to harass them now, and everyone knew better than to stay in his way when he was in a hurry, so the street ahead of them cleared like a parting sea.
He said nothing to the battlemage, and glanced at her only occasionally to make sure she was keeping pace.
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Blood Ravenous
- Battlemage
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:23 pm
- Name: Ryxa
- Race: Human
Ryxa followed with her horse a pace behind Camulous. As they passed the crowds of people on Main Street she reveled in her obvious higher status, making sure everyone saw her red leather gloves if they looked her way. Anyone who made eye contact, mostly by accident on the part of the commoner, received a glare, to which they responded by hurrying away. One particular young child was standing by his mother, who was talking, and stared at Ryxa with a thumb in his mouth. Ryxa glared at him but still he stared, unperturbed, until his mother quickly snatched him up and ran off. With a self-satisfied smirk at scaring the mother, Ryxa turned back to following the Captain as they approached the bridge.
Once over the bridge the woods would be directly ahead. Ryxa ruminated about what the witch and her companion would have done once near the trees. Would they have gone straight in, or perhaps more carefully tried to hide their tracks by going in a random area and direction?
The thought of the witch distracted her momentarily. Her hands on the reins flexed at the exciting prospect of torturing her. The battlemage was sure that the Captain wouldn't mind if she put the witch through some excruciating pain before they brought her back to be judged. And her little friend, whether he had magic or not, would definitely get some special treatment; perhaps even enough to murder him. After all, they only needed the witch, and his aiding the fugitive was a criminal act. Her face looked radiant then, though her mouth and eyebrows were relaxed in her usual rigid demeanor. Her eyes were out of focus as if she was daydreaming as the hooves of the horses tramped over the bridge.
Once over the bridge the woods would be directly ahead. Ryxa ruminated about what the witch and her companion would have done once near the trees. Would they have gone straight in, or perhaps more carefully tried to hide their tracks by going in a random area and direction?
The thought of the witch distracted her momentarily. Her hands on the reins flexed at the exciting prospect of torturing her. The battlemage was sure that the Captain wouldn't mind if she put the witch through some excruciating pain before they brought her back to be judged. And her little friend, whether he had magic or not, would definitely get some special treatment; perhaps even enough to murder him. After all, they only needed the witch, and his aiding the fugitive was a criminal act. Her face looked radiant then, though her mouth and eyebrows were relaxed in her usual rigid demeanor. Her eyes were out of focus as if she was daydreaming as the hooves of the horses tramped over the bridge.
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Camulous Smithson
- Guardsman
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:59 am
- Name: Camulous Smithson
- Race: Human
The look of anticipation in Ryxa's eyes was palpable and Camulous spotted it immediately when he glanced back at her next. She had a reputation and he was trying to gauge her. It was a look not too different from the blood lust he so often saw in his men's eyes. Before a fight everyone had his own way of reacting, either coping with stress or having none. He didn't want to think about what would happen to the witch if things went badly.
He wouldn't let things get out of hand while he was around, but later she might end up like Chrishton. A simple death penalty was not the biggest threat, and even that prospect revolted him...
But what had to be done, had to be done. If they decided she had to die, she had to die. And if she fought back the wrong way, she'd pay some dire consequences.
Running was fine. As long as all she did was run she might make it out in one piece.
A part of him wanted her to escape so that could happen. It would make some things so much easier.
Once across the bridge they were at the edge of the woods and at the limit of the information they had. He was no tracker and she was no scryer.
"We'll have to do this the old fashioned way." He said, slowing his horse to a slow walk. "Might as well start south and work our way back north."
His eyes scanned the road while he spoke but untrained as they were he could not find any clear suggestion of where their prey might be.
"Perhaps she's bled a trail for us."
He wouldn't let things get out of hand while he was around, but later she might end up like Chrishton. A simple death penalty was not the biggest threat, and even that prospect revolted him...
But what had to be done, had to be done. If they decided she had to die, she had to die. And if she fought back the wrong way, she'd pay some dire consequences.
Running was fine. As long as all she did was run she might make it out in one piece.
A part of him wanted her to escape so that could happen. It would make some things so much easier.
Once across the bridge they were at the edge of the woods and at the limit of the information they had. He was no tracker and she was no scryer.
"We'll have to do this the old fashioned way." He said, slowing his horse to a slow walk. "Might as well start south and work our way back north."
His eyes scanned the road while he spoke but untrained as they were he could not find any clear suggestion of where their prey might be.
"Perhaps she's bled a trail for us."
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Blood Ravenous
- Battlemage
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:23 pm
- Name: Ryxa
- Race: Human
Since Camulous' horse slowed, Ryxa caught up and ended up alongside him. This snapped her back to reality and, with a grumpy look, she directed the mare away to put some space between them. At his suggestion that there would be a trail of blood to follow she cast her eyes around at the ground. There were some dark dots mixed with the beige dirt, but they could be rocks. She squinted and leaned over to stare at the ground as they got close and, indeed, they seemed as if they were three drops of dried blood spaced fairly large apart. It was very strange for Ryxa to see blood on a dusty road rather than carpet or wood, but she was fairly sure it was what she thought it was. However, this blood may not be the witch's, and she didn't see any more.
She straightened atop her horse and glanced at the line of trees. "How large are the woods?" she asked, not mentioning the blood. It wasn't enough to lead them in any direction, especially since their quarry could have changed direction suddenly. Their hunt wouldn't be so easy. "Perhaps it would be better to enter the woods straight ahead and follow the easiest path through. Since the witch is injured, apparently badly, they'll try to make it easy on her."
She straightened atop her horse and glanced at the line of trees. "How large are the woods?" she asked, not mentioning the blood. It wasn't enough to lead them in any direction, especially since their quarry could have changed direction suddenly. Their hunt wouldn't be so easy. "Perhaps it would be better to enter the woods straight ahead and follow the easiest path through. Since the witch is injured, apparently badly, they'll try to make it easy on her."
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Camulous Smithson
- Guardsman
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:59 am
- Name: Camulous Smithson
- Race: Human
Camulous handled his horse until it was fully stopped and looked at the steady line of trees running both sides of the Ofriyu Mar, cutting off visibility to a few meters. The woods were criss-crossed with beaten paths just wide enough for one horse, but the land was anything but flat. It was the only place in Thar Shaddin where there were actually significant hills.
"Several hours along the river, but they would not go to the edges in those directions." He answered, leaving out that the woods were only half as wide since she would surely know that.
He glanced down to see what she was looking at and saw it too. Blood. It was almost too easy. He looked up in the direction it was leading and wondered whether it could be a setup, but the odds of that were slim.
"Right, come on."
He navigated his horse into the woods on the path closest to the blood.
(( This topic is continued here: http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?t=516 ))
"Several hours along the river, but they would not go to the edges in those directions." He answered, leaving out that the woods were only half as wide since she would surely know that.
He glanced down to see what she was looking at and saw it too. Blood. It was almost too easy. He looked up in the direction it was leading and wondered whether it could be a setup, but the odds of that were slim.
"Right, come on."
He navigated his horse into the woods on the path closest to the blood.
(( This topic is continued here: http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?t=516 ))