Hidden 12 mos ago 12 mos ago Post by Soldat Elf
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"So you believe it was a mistake to stop a crime that can start a war?" he asked looking at her, "That wasn't a mistake on my part, but yours, and everyone else's... Most of them are here for money, we are not here for that Louise. That man, that creature of an ancient time will create a war worse than the one we are headed into."

"To be honest with you. I don't have a place to judge you and others... I am here to learn just like what Lord Thernous said... Sorry, I am not a better person like someone else.” She replied in gloomy way. Not looking on him straight and kept holding the box.
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Erwin


Erwin sighed a bit as he looked at her, and he reached his hand out towards her, "You are a good person, but you have plenty of place to judge others. You have watched me judge plenty, you have seen justice in it's honor. You have been with me and uncle for a year and seen several arrests. You have seen what has happened to traitors, human or not. They are the same under the law my love..."

He slowly smiled a bit, "But what is wrong?"
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"You are a good person, but you have plenty of place to judge others. You have watched me judge plenty, you have seen justice in it's honor. You have been with me and uncle for a year and seen several arrests. You have seen what has happened to traitors, human or not. They are the same under the law my love..."

He slowly smiled a bit, "But what is wrong?"


"Well..." Louise felt sleepy. She had been awake since the early morning before she woke up Erwin. She was tired from outriding the convoy until the camp for a lot of hours. Keeping up made her more and more sleepy. Her hand became relax resulted by juggling the box trying to catch it when the time it slipped from her hands. Last of her energy has been spent. Her feet went out of balance. Gravity itself made her drop down physically. She was defined fall asleep after she drop like a ragdoll.
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Lily and Rose had settled into the wagon bed long before Lord Thernous's own return, though sleep had evaded them. They were still quite awake, when the old man climbed up into the wagon, then nestled himself between their silent forms, and under their brother's overly large robes once more.

There was a long, awkward silence, before Lily broke it, and Rose followed after.

"you realleh 'at boy's papaw?"
"Ifn' ya is, ya shoulds has a word wit' im, afore he git himself killed."

They were a bit incredulous that a seemingly nice, and polite old man like this one, could in any way be related to that hot-headed man that had nearly gotten them all turned into red goo on the highway.

That pause returned-- and rather than endure it, they broke it themselves once again, this time with more intensity.
In their view, it was very important that the man, whatever relation he was to this one, very much needed to learn that fighting was not always the correct answer, and that really, fighting should be avoided altogether, whenever, and wherever possible.

It didn't matter if you "could win or not"-- if you wanted to assure survival, you did not needlessly engage in combat.

"He need learn-- 'eres bigger thangs in dis worl' 'an he is. Bigger-- moar dang'rous thangs."
"We gits it-- We's bears-- Fer de mos' part, we's da bigges', mos' dangr'us thangs in da wood."
"But what he need learn-- E'en big ol' bears, dun really like tuh fight. E'en ya win-- Ya git hurt?"
"Good chance ya gunna die af'er. Wil' bears? Ain' noone ta helps ya."
"He may be big'n strong, an; usta gittin 'is way, but all at can change.."
"When he lose bot' his eyes, 'en starve ta death."
"Discression da bigger part a valor, or somat-- Paps said at oncet."
"Yes'm."

The man in turn, finally responded.

" I am, and he is fine... He has not experienced many ancients in his life, and the last one went much better for him. But he did not shoot because it was an ancient. But he had his heart in the right spot." he said quietly looking over at the two girls, "if he had weapons, it would have both caused a war, and whomever got those weapons would have killed more people if they got into the wrong hands."

"But... he has won and lost many fights, he is used to having men at his side in brawls and fights. He is not used to being alone. He assumes since we are all doing the same thing, that we will stand with each other regardless of if they believe in it or not. But he is new to the world away from humans and those he sees in court. He is used to you both, and others like you. He does not care, he sees you as people, he sees you as people to protect if you live in the land."

"I learned the hard way, and I am much better for it... though I have magic on my side, he has a sword and a gun."

Quite likely, the importance of the message did not sink in-- as the old man veered the concept in a different, altogether alien direction-- That if the merchant was carrying weapons, and heading in the direction he said he was, that killing him was justifiable. Further, that his grandson, Erwin, was used to performing these kinds of actions, albeit with significant backup assistance. He was not used to engaging, and then having everyone else refuse to join. This kind of concept was completely antithetical to their more baseline natures.

The idea that Erwin at least considered them "people" was a nice change at least, and they decided to approach that. Maybe help him understand that despite this-- they were still very much bears as well, and behaved and acted like bears-- that this was very important to understand.

That using violence to solve your problems, was something that they had observed, made people even less favorable to having them around-- and that this did not just apply to bears either.

Even more, the way a thing or person looks on the surface, may not mean or be what you expect it to be, and this was a thing they were intimately familiar with.

Deciding without the kind of discernment actually needed, almost always met with very bad, very real consequences. It was something that should always be avoided, if-ever, and when-ever possible.

"Well, 'ats nice he see us as peoples et least-- but we's still bears tuh."
"It be doe's little thangs, as makes a big diffrence, ya knowed."
"An frum what we heared-- settlin' e'ry dispute wit' ya teeth, only make people wish ya's dead."
"Appearances is decievin'. We strips bare butt nekid? Mos' folks caint tell us from wil' bears."
"Shoots on sight."
"Sames at poor merchant fella prolly. He's gotta carries whats peoples wants er needs-- He go ou' inta the deep wood, 'eres thangs out ere as is older an 'e is. We knowed, we met one oncet."
"It don; think likes yous, er us's does. Don't give no shits. An' if he thinkin a tiny lil gun gunna do it in?"
"Boy he ever in fer a worl' a hurt."
"An asides-- Killin it? What it gunna do?"
"Just gunna sets da whole area outta whack, so bad nobody kin lives 'ere-- man nor beastie."

"Nothing except for kill anyone ancient thing." he said quietly as he looked at her, "there are things now that can lay him low in a moment without magic now."

He said cryptically. They didn't understand what he meant, but he continued unabated.

"But, the thing is... when I was younger I did something similar in Tregator, I went place to place trying to be helpful, I was born right after a massive war and still the realm was reeling from it. I studied books and did my good, I used weapons as bribes to get through an area full of those who were meant to save the peace, in reality they just wanted weapons. That was on the way to a village that needed help, my first wife was living there. I got there and left the next day, I returned a week later, and they had been killed by the same weapons I gave away as a bribe."

"Most things that aren't civil looking get killed unless if they prove otherwise. Erwin, when he was maybe fifteen, when he first became a squire, he almost killed a man for smuggling just like he almost did today. If he had the right ammunition, the ancient would have been dead with one shot. Luckily, I tell him he only needs led and sometime steel shot for those with armor... but... want to learn of his point of view, and some of mine? I understand yours, I think more like that compared to my younger cousin, and his son. Tradition, and balance is what I desire now... for I have seen progress and it disgusts me with how violent it is."

The full implication of what they were trying to tell him had not sunk in. Simply because something LOOKS scary, does not mean it *IS* scary. Like themselves-- Big, sharp teeth. Huge muscles and bodies. Sharp claws on their fingers and toes-- and all they liked to do is pull pranks, and study magic together. For their trouble, people judged them immediately by what they look like, and if they didn't wear clothes to confuse people out of that immediate response, it was met with immediate violence. People had to LEARN to understand and comprehend these scary things in order to live along side them, and if they did not, the violence always seemed to happen eventually. They KNEW people could learn this-- their did LIVED with an actual, WILD bear. Every single day. Basically everyone in the village thought he was insane, or worse, and most could not understand why their mother had not killed and eaten him yet. Sure, their mom was a bit temperamental, and prone to snapping if her boundaries were crossed, but if you knew her tells, you knew when you were getting into trouble long before that would happen. Humans just seemed.... Blind.. maybe even willfully so... to these. How could they make him understand?

Further, the story he told sounded a lot like the one their dad told, only with some different context. Their dad said similar things, about the same place-- but about how he did everything he could not to be involved-- ever-- because of how insufferably destructive all the people were to each other, all the time. From their perspective, this old man had just made bad choices-- that just meant he needed to learn from them better.

Then he went off on some tangent about "Progress". That derailed the conversation-- what the hell was he talking about? Maybe they could understand what he meant, and then veer it back on track some...
"'Progress'? tuward wut? Ya gots ta has a goal, to makes progress, righ?"
"Suh what ya thinkin in min? Tuh maneh times, folks' jus 'wan'' somethun."

They were trying to help him understand that they were aware that humans did unbelievably dumb things, but that it was usually just an ignorant want, borne from not understanding the consequences of that want, that caused those kinds of problems. That understanding the want, and balancing it with the consequences, could lead to a workable and enjoyable compromise, so they broke into an example. Something they heard *A LOT* about at home. Their dad never shut up about it, in fact.

"Takes backs homes-- 'Eres some hansome fellas as only thinks 'bout how many coins somethin' worth."
"Sees a place full a woods-- thanks 'Oh boys, Is kin git rich! People buy all dat wood, an' 'en Is has da good life!" er summat."
"But en all ats lef-- empteh hole were all em trees was-- "
"En de dirt wash inta da crek, kill all da fish, an' da animals all dies."
"En mr rich man? He starve-- or spen all at moneh he made, buying da food he usta get fer free."
"Wantin sumthin aint bad--"
"But ta gotta think 'bout what ya might be losin, tryin ta git it."
"pops harps on us all da time 'bout dat. Says we dun think 'bout it 'nuff, hows we pulls our pranks."
"but soun like your gran-sun? He dun think 'bout it all."

They had hoped that this would clear it up; they lacked the experience and vocabulary to better explain that "Hey, your grandson's desire for border security, is going to make lots of people suffer ultimately, maybe even himself, and ourselves too, if he does not start using his brain for more than just thinking about what he wants, and what it takes to get it." ... More, that he REALLY needed to start thinking about what the consequences of his getting it, would be.

It wasn't to be though. Polite as ever, the kindly old man just breezed right past that very important point, like it didn't matter. He did better clarify the idea of "progress" though, but only in a cryptically human way. No explanation for WHY anyone would want those things-- only that they did. It was so... Frustrating... trying to understand humans some times. The explanation he did give, didn't make a lot of sense either.

"Progress as in things that can make a man like Erwin collapse a city's wall in minutes, or demolish the ancient he just fought, and its cousins standing near it with a moment pause." he said quietly, "progress as in the ability for things to die. The trade is good for everyone, but once you start letting ideas flow freely, people develop things they desire out of greed, the betterment of man, or sadism. It becomes something else besides hope."

"But, going back to the topic... See that lass Erwin is talking to, he cares about her like a mate... Imagine if someone came down burned your forest, killed your friends, and then killed your mate. Imagine if you could have stopped the forest from being burned or cut down. He doesn't want to risk any chance of going to war. He has seen Tragator, he has seen the destruction there. He doesn't want that here."

He *NEEDED* to understand, that "wanting it all", with such blind want, would result in having NOTHING AT ALL. How could he NOT grasp this? How could he not understand, that just because you CAN do something, does not mean you should!? That the urge NOT to do something, is what THEY had-- that the urge TO do something, is what humans had!? That one way led to a silent but workable peace, and the other led to utter ruin?

Moreover, this avenue of thinking was WAAAAAAAAY too much like the preachy lectures their dad and their brother gave them when they misbehaved. It was all just too much. Maybe explaining how their dad and brother wanted to work with the villagers, and why, would get through? It had a shot, as much as they hated to admit it.

"Protectin ya home, fine an' dandeh--"
"Buh bein' all selfish 'bout it jus' as wrong."
"Dammit-- why you makin us has to side with our damn brudder?"
"At fuddy duddy-- ALWAYS harpin on hows stuff more complicat'd an' deeper'n we wants em tuh bes--"
"Haireh rat-bastah'd..."
"Likes em pretty men as wants tuh cut trees-- Cedah say at it aright fer em to cut daown suma dem, jus' not alla dem."
"Trees kin git sick, er gets bugs in em suh bad as dey cause problems aroun' em. Sos, cuttin em daown a good thang-- So 'e says."
"--Easy nuff fer 'im tuh says-- he jus plant anothern, and growed on it a bit-- make anothern tuh replace da ol' one."

There was a pregnant pause, where they tried to recollect, and steer this their way. In the INTENDED way.

"Buh stills-- he dun stop em all comin' in, he jus' insis' dey only takes certain ones-- an deys gets all uppiteh about it. Says EM ONES ain't as val'able. Cause muh brudders an muh paps tuh has to whollop em and sen' em home-- but ne'er kills em. Says ya cain't brings back da dead--"
"Em lots always thinking too far outs-- but all da sames, ifn' dey din' let em fellars in, ere wou'ldn' be no village tuh buy stuffs in!"
"Suh dey caint all be stuffed up nonsense, now cain it?"
"When any one sides tries to makes it say wit'out any thoughts' t'all, ya ends up with ei'er no village--
"or an empteh hole, an' a dead crek."

There-- Maybe that would do it? Was it really so hard to understand? It was second-nature to the two of them-- why was this so hard for this man to grasp?! You NEEDED to let the other half the the arrangement do and have what they need, in order to mutually benefit from the relationship. Simply excluding them straight up, just because you don't agree, or understand them, only served to cut you off from the good things those others could provide. If there were no trees cut, there could be no village. With no village, there were no iron workers. There was no library to read amazing books in. There was no apothecary to learn about amazing potions from-- So many things... JUST NOT THERE. Was this SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND!? Likewise, if the village just had its way-- there soon would be no forest at all, and all the "wealth" the villagers thought they would gain, would just get pissed away, importing the things they used to have right outside their doors, at many many times their real valued prices. It was in the village's fucking INTEREST not to over-harvest! But they seemed incapable of grasping it! It was impossibly frustrating!

"I believe you see at least some of my point. Erwin, reckless as he may be, has both a brain and a heart. Mostly the latter, but he will fight anything to keep his form of your forest safe and protected. He doesn't mind a few trees being lost, as long as he gets something back in return."

Said the man, before he slowly rubbed both of their heads with a smile, "you are both smart, and gentle creatures. But, the thing is, sometimes killing is a necessity, Erwin sees that more often than not like his great uncle and cousin. He was grown into a lifestyle where death is common, his mother died, his grandmother died, his father is stuck in a bed and a chair for the rest of his short life. He looks up to his uncle... He takes after him, but he is young, youthful and zealous. He takes everything seriously because needs to. Will anything come back to the crown for this, no. Honestly it will likely be favorable, I have trained my disciples well in government, and in the printers guilds. It will be a positive reaction for the kingdom, and a death sentence for the ancient in question if he wants to enter Kindeance through legitimate ways again."

This was just incredulous. Was it so hard to understand, that just because the old man with the cart had lots of power, and was hauling weapons (akin very much to their SIMPLY BEING BEARS, with TEETH, and CLAWS), it did NOT mean he was in any way hostile, or intended to use those for any kind of hostile purpose?

After a moment, they decided to try finding out why he was so adamant on murdering that old man. Things like him were rare and special, and often times, removing them would have very large, very extreme knock-on consequences, far larger than people even cared to consider. Further, they were very powerful beings in their own right, and fighting them was simply a dumb idea unless you had a VERY VERY specific, and poignant reason for doing it-- "Could maybe cause problems" was not suitable. Especially for something that in all evidence, was not going to in any way cause them any kind of harm, as long as they did not pose it any. That instinct for not acting. It serves very well, both ways. If neither acts, there is never violence, and the difference in strength is meaningless.
"Bu' he ways tuh happeh tuh does at ol' merchan' fellar in, ya asks us."
"At kin? Dun make babehs at off'n. Killin; em, no' a good ideah."
"Our' real points tuhnight fellar--"
"He 'bout got da lot a us killed, in a fight as didn' really need tuh happen--"
"Ifn' wes thinks about it like em woodcuttin honehs..." started Lily, with both girls giggling mischievously at the thought, before she continued. "--En dis like seein one fellar wit' a big ol axe, just walkin through--"
--"while all his buddies jus' saunters in elsewhere, while ya busy, and makes at big ol' hole."
"Firs fellar big as a barn-- He lop ya head off, but he only cut suh many trees ya let him be-- Only one."
"But oncet ya dead? All hims friends-- cuts da whole damn place."
"Doc say it right-- Picks ya battles, yeah?"

"I would have stepped in before anyone got hurt. It is not my first tussle with an ancient, because unlike Erwin and his father." he said smiling a bit, "I have a bit of magic up my sleeve, and with a bit of refinement, you can control it in dangerous ways."

"But, as I said... there are things that would lay him and his cousins low in moments." he said quietly, "magic can do so much, but the destructive force of progress is far worse. A single good mage can destroy an army, imagine a weapon that can do the same."

"But as I also said, he is used to running with a pack that will back him no matter what. He is not used to working with mercenaries and those who see gold as a desire before they see motherland and honor. But, honestly he picks any battle he can. He will defend his honor, and country before he thinks of what might happen. Only difference is, he usually is better than everyone else. When he shot, it looked like he hit a man, not an ancient. Moments later, his true form was shown."

This man, and his grandson, were dangerously overconfident. Having power was not something they were ignorant of, nor were they ignorant that having it, did not mean you were invulnerable. This man really needed to learn that just being big and powerful, and used to getting your way, did not mean you should always, and without fail, try to bull your way through. NOT ACTING was the better instinct, could he not understand? This was getting incredulous to the point of humor.

So much so, that both of them let out an absolute cackle, before Lily took over again.

Hot to explain this? Why not talk about Dad... He was a human who had it fucking RIGHT.

"Oh honeh-- We knowed ALL ABOUT pow'rful magic."
"Our paps, he gut so mucha dat shit flowin' in hims, he practically shit da stuffs!"
"Get hims excited 'nuff, all da grass goes inta corkscrews, and da trees preten it a dance parteh!"
"Funneh as hell!"
"E'en so-- he dun wan' no trouble ei'er. Simpleh because ya big, --er has enough magic ta gag a moose--"
"Dun mean 'ere ain't summat bigger fella."
"We's bears-- but e'res bigger stuff an us. As we said."

But he just chuckled a bit and scruffled their heads again then looked at them, in a far more serious tone. "I hope you both never see the next war that is fixing to happen." he said in a deadpan voice, "I hope you never have to see any war. I can only do so much with my magic, but few magi in this world can do what machines can do. They are built to destroy as much as possible, you don't even have to be in it's vision and it will strike you. It can cut buildings down in a single hit, and blast a cities fortications in hours. It is worse than magic, it does not need mana, it does not need anything but to be reloaded. Erwins rifle, if we waited a week you would have seen what I am talking about."

He looked at them both and just smiled bit as he got cozy for a moment closing his eyes. "When it comes to it, there are few thigns the man wants anymore. Today, he got the opposite of it, those he considered allies turned on him in an instant. The threat was seen as some form of hero, and he was villanized for somethig that he had done many times before. You four are innocent, young, and have not experienced many hardships in life. You both, Erwin and Louise I will do my best to protect, but at the same time, protect each other. If you watch his back, he will have yours forever. He is a good soldier to have at your side, but he is also a pain in the ass the other way around."

This was just more rhetoric about people wanting things without stopping to think about what the consequences REALLY were-- Being met with things trying to stop them, and just looking for bigger and bigger teeth, trying to force the issue. Bigger did not mean you were right. Getting what you want, would still kill you in the end. WHY EVEN SEEK IT!?

Clearly, he just did NOT understand. Being irrationally unsatisfied, --and unsatisfiable-- only results in self destruction. And it makes you act like an asshole, too. Nobody likes assholes.

"Oh yous silly ol' mans..."
"--At's peoples wantin sheit 'gins."
"Thanks we dun knowed? Em pretteh boys ag'in-- As we saids-- em bunch ne'er happeh wit whut dey gits."
"--An dey always lookin' fer ways tuh put a stop tuh our pa, an' our brudders."
"Not tuh nice tuh us ne'ers.. Shames em boys don' wan come play wit' us astead."

Both of them let out a weary, dreamy sigh, and lamented in unison--

"... --Eh IS real purdy boys..."
"... --Eh IS real purdy boys..."

"Buh as'long as em boys be like at-- aint no rest for any uh us. Sound da same ou' here, but with hotter heads. --Ya gonna end up wit holes."
"an missin vllages."

Thernous stared at them both, and just smiled, "you don't know... If you did, you would be as scared at Erwin."

He patted their heads gently and nussled back into his place yawning, "but I'll keep you both safe from it, I'll make sure war doesn't happen... I don't want to see a beautiful forest brought down in poison, fire and smoke."

This conversation was just too exhausting. Maybe in the morning. Maybe.

They sighed, rolled over in opposite directions of the man, and just tried to sleep.
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Erwin





Erwin caught the woman, and the box in her hands, he pressed his lips together and rested her head against his shoulder as he would move his rifle to her chest, and he pulled her up into his arms and carried her towards where he put up a bedroll and tent. He laid her down and kissed the top of her head gently.

"Sleep well..." he said as he slowly moved a few cloths over her before taking his musket, and getting his pouches for it. He saw his grandfather and the bears sleeping, and he would stay up relatively uneventful for the rest of the night.
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Nothing happened for the rest of the night save the howling of the winds and the harrowing sounds of birds and night creatures alike. Athena and Erwin were on their boring and stiff watch. Hours upon hours passed, cold and quiet until the first ray of light came and filled the valley with its grey light. The day started slow and lazy, some were already awake, and some were still curling in their bedroll. It took the party quite some time until the sun was fully rising for everyone to fully awake from their slumber.

As soon as they had cleared their camp, completed their preparation, and had their breakfast the party was ready to set out again. Jazdia volunteered to be one of the outsiders this time, replacing Athena.

"You should rest some more," she said, grabbing the reins of her black stallion and patting the beast's nape. "You earned it, and that's... a strong recommendation."

Behind that chuckle, Jazdia simply didn't want to be in close proximity to Erwin, though the man was also one of their outriders yesterday, she figured Thhernous wouldn't be that merciless to let him ride after spending the night without sleep.
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Thernous


"Get on your horse boy... you are up front, learn to talk to people and find their thoughts out, learn not to be an idiot, and learn what everyone can do, these here are your unit now." he said as he was standing at the shotgun side of the carriages seat. He stared and looked at everyone as he pressed his lips together, "Miss Jazdia, feel free to hit him, but talk to him. You can learn things from him, and him from you. After all he helped make half the laws in the land that are new. But he can learn the old ways of non humans from you."

"Now..." he said as he made sure the horses were on tight and he climbed up, "who's driving?"

He looked back at the Bears, "today you get to see what a strong mage can do, what your brother did when we get to the village. It will be a lesson for you dears."




Erwin





Erwin just sighed as he continued to saddle his horse, and he made sure his packs were on it, he was drowsy, but it is something he has done plenty of times before, he was thankful he was youthful. He slid his rifle into it's place, and pouches onto their dry bags.

He did not like the words his grandfather said, but there were a few that he might enjoy. So far he believed everyone to be money grubbing mercenaries, and those who cared not for order. Which in some aspect is true, but he could not fault them for that. He took a deep breath and mounted Bread, as he looked around, his grandfather singled out a name, and he despised it."
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Shifting from Athena to Thernous, she said, politely yet bluntly.

"I disagree. The last thing we need is an exhausted person riding in front. We are traveling fast, and having keen-eyed outriders is important. Not to mention, if something goes wrong, our wagon can't make a sudden stop. Sending him to outride further forward is equally inadvisable. He is tired and might lead himself astray from the convoy. Placing him at the rear is not an option either because entrusting our back to a fatigued rider is dangerous if something goes wrong and we might not be able to react in a timely manner.

Jazdia shifted to Erwin, who had mounted his steed, and he was looking at her disdainfully.

"I suggest you get down from your horse, Kid," she said in a monotone, uninterested in reciprocating the sentiment. "And don't give me that look. Yes, this is not your first rodeo, but this however is your first cross-country riding in a nation that is on the brink of war. Do not take this lightly."
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"Look like he gits da bed." Drawled Lily absently, piling off the right side of the wagon.
"Don' skunk up da sheets naow." Chided her sister right after, bouncing off the left, sending the wagon several inches higher on its leafsprings without them in it.

"We kin walk"
"We kin walk"

came the by now almost expected, but still curiously odd synchronous declarative, as they both fell in, on either side of the wagon.
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Solomon Sparrow & Athena Voltspear

Location: Kindeance




Athena shifted in her spot once the sun was well over the horizon. She let out a huge yawn, raising her arms high above her head, while also standing on her toes. They slept in longer than what was probably planned, but the disturbance last night had taken its toll. Athena picked up her spear and shield when Jazdia rode up upon her horse. The elf suggested Athena rest more, a suggestion she readily welcomed. She walked around the carriage, and climbed in shortly after the two bear sisters had climbed down. Once she was inside, she all but disappeared. Items were still shifted as though someone was moving about, but after the noise settled, it was hard to see if anyone was actually in there.

Elsewhere in the camp, the party packed up their supplies, completely extinguished the barely smoldering remains of the fire, and mounted their steeds. The horses well watered and fed, it was time to get a move on.

“I think I’m getting the hang of driving.” said Solomon as he passed by the carriage, “If you don’t mind my learning curve.” Jazdia stopped her horse nearby to speak with Thernous as he climbed into the drivers seat. He took a moment to look around trying to find the reigns, eventually finding them looped on hooked portion of the seat. Someone else made sure the horses were hooked up properly. Solomon noticed that Erwin was taking position near the front upon his horse. Solomon didn’t hear Thernous’ order before, but upon seeing Ewrin, what Jazdia said was making sense. Solomon turned in the seat to better face Thernous.

“I have to agree with Jazdia. Sleep deprivation is not healthy. He will be risking impaired judgment and poor coordination. As an outrider, he will be less perceptive. For a mission like this, we need to as many of our comrades as able bodied as possible.”

Solomon turned back forward, readjusting his comfort on the wooden bench. His eyes fell upon Erwin once again. It was clear this wasn't the guard's first time keeping awake through the night. However, now was not the time to display his endurance.

“You best listen to her.” he affirmed.
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Hidden 12 mos ago 12 mos ago Post by Soldat Elf
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Erwin laid her down and kissed the top of her head gently.

"Sleep well..." he said as he slowly moved a few cloths over her before taking his musket, and getting his pouches for it. He saw his grandfather and the bears sleeping, and he would stay up relatively uneventful for the rest of the night.


After some unspecific timeline. Louise just rose from her bed for the cause of uncomfortable feeling because the armor wearing. Half sleep and also pissed, hurriedly stripping all the armor pieces that resulted a more time of spend. After took that moment, she quickly went back from her bed roll, wrapped herself with a cloth like a burrito.

As the time has passed. It was like zero six hundred hours was time she woke up. She rose half of her body and stretched follow with a yawn. Untied her fancy braid, brushed her hair and then tied again with her usual braid. Folded the cloth, rolled her bedroll, packed her tent and sorted all out her stuff and put all of her stuff on the wagon.

She walked into the river along with her mess kit. Within few minutes, she walked back on the camp relit the fire and boiled her water. Putted something that turned into a chocolate and have herself sometime to drink her hot drink. Afterward, she then took care horses for a maintenance to prepare them for the departure. Sorted the food supplies and brought it on the campfire so that the party just take it from it. She then helped herself with a breakfast.

Louise is all pack and fully armor along with green forest coloured scarf and cape and equip with broadsword,shield and musket for the departure.
Hidden 12 mos ago Post by Jamesyco
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Thernous


"He is a soldier, he is fine." he said looking at the woman, "he has medication that can keep him up for a while, made right in the capital. It is used for productivity in factories, and he found another use for it. It makes him alert even in a drowsy state, he climbed into the carriage and pulled out a small pouch and bringing out a tiny brown ball the size of his pinky's fingernail.

Erwin rode up and took it before taking his place in line, and then he chewed it for a moment before swallowing it.

"Give him a minute and he should be fine... don't mind the mania if he starts talking. You might find him more agreeable, he is more open with it."




Erwin





Erwin rode over and got the pill, he chewed the bitter paste but he swallowed it after a moment, it would be a while before it really got in the way of things. He smiled a bit, "I thank you for your concerns, but I'll be fine, I made a mistake I will not make again, and I will pay the punishment for it. Plus, we are on our own roads, there should not be much of a problem. When we get closer to our objective, I will swap out when we tend to the animals needs."

"But I do thank you both for your concern," he said quietly looking between the two trying to get him down, he looked drowsy, but he perked up and rolled his shoulders, he knew it didn't kick in yet, but it would eventually.
Hidden 12 mos ago 12 mos ago Post by Nightknight
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Varya Chandrar

Varya awoke from his slumber, groggy but still rested enough to have enjoyed it. he exists the mini-cave, enjoying a good stretch in the warmth of the sunlight. He then gave his salutations to the sun. "Praise the Sun!" After eating breakfast he walked barefoot with the earth's embrace a small ways along the river, so that he may bathe and wash his clothes downstream from where the horses drank so as not to contaminate their drinking water. As he skinny dipped in the river he shivered the cold water that had melted from the previous winter's snow. He was thankful his earthing spell worked underwater. All that was needed for the spell to function was a magnetic connection with the earth, so even if the soil was submerged it still had the charge that connected with Varya's skin to carry the electric current across his body. While the spell did reduce the discomfort from siting in the icy waters, it was still bloody cold! He would endure however if it meant cleansing himself physically and spiritually in the river. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, even if maintaining his image was closer to his real motivations. That being said, after bathing in the cold waters with soap in hand and shampooing his hair with lavender oils, he felt fresh as a daisy.

Varya took a minute to admire his handsome face in his handheld mirror. He was proud of his body and his appearance that he had spent years cultivating, for he was both the marble and the sculpture, and he loved his work dearly. Others may work with wood or stone or paint or paper, for Varya his body was his artistry, his flesh a monument to his aesthetic expression. It was a shame he did not feel confident or comfortable enough to flex to others his material vessel, but that may be for the best, for he didn't want to indulge too much in the other extreme.

Varya reluctantly prys himself away from the mirror, remembering he had duties to fulfill. He put on his metaphorical mask of stone as he returns to camp to help pack everything up and prepare to sally forth. He got his things together and saddled up upon his horse, approaching Sir Erwin and Lord Thernous. He had wanted to vocalize his concerns about pushing Erwin beyond what was necessary, though it seemed that Jazdia and the mysterious man in the dark robes had already voiced similar concerns. There was something about the shrouded figure that did not sit right with Varya, though he seemed friendly and cordial enough that Varya could overlook it for the sake of the mission. Th elf was glad that Erwin at least had something to keep him stimulated. "Good morning Lord Thernous, Sir Erwin, Jadia, good sir." Varya rode next to Erwin, wanting to introduce himself more properly. "Sir Erwin, my apologies for not giving you my name last night. I am Varya Chandrar of Varenheim. I do hope I can be of service to you and your grandfather. Please, allow me to accompany you as we take the van." Varya felt pity for Erwin and felt that offering help could make Erwin's situation more bearable. It was often a war inside of Varya whether he would allow himself to believe what he did came from his warm empathetic heart and what was a play of cold, pragmatic logic, the later of which he was far more willing to share with others than the former.
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A new day arrived, yet the tension from the previous night remained. Yvonne for the most part decided to stay away from it, ain't her job educating some noble brat. Personally if the peace was so fragile that a single merchant can topple it then the conflict was inevitable. No matter how much stronger his wares could make someone, a mortal was still a mortal in the end. If it could bleed, it could be killed. Just ask the pompous prick whose remains was scattered for miles and miles all over Fanghorn.

And professionally, well, they risk their mission with every high-profile act their little group commit. What were they gonna do, arrest every criminal between Rascade and the border? That just ain't happening, yeah?

"Same formation?" She said, just so others hear it instead of needing any confirmation. "We dont have all day, so let us depart."

She can munch on the travel ration on the way. Hot meal would be great, but eh. Time was a pressing matter, no? They'll live.
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Hidden 12 mos ago 12 mos ago Post by Mas Bagus
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Jazdia regarded Varya with a smile. "Good morning," and returned to the matters at hand.

"I still don't recommend it," she said to Thernous, squaring her shoulder and guiding her horse toward the group's frontmost position. "I have said all the things you need to consider, the choice is ultimately yours."

She then shifted to the two juvenile bears and sighed exasperatedly. "You two should stay inside. Fanghorn is just ten kilometers away, best not to attract too much attention from the locals."

"Same formation?" quipped Yvonne behind her. "We dont have all day, so let us depart."

"Indeed. The sooner we get on the road the better."
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Louise was on her family styled armor set. Her visor slit armet has forest green plume same match color with her cape and scarf. As it was all packed up her things on the wagon. Put her horse it's armor and ride into it. Keep her shield on her arm and grabbed her cavalry spear. Musket were put on her horse bag.

(I always going to watch your surroundings, Mother.)

(As always. Thank you, Sylphy.)

She then proceeded to join on rallied people to hear out some plan or conversation.
Hidden 12 mos ago 12 mos ago Post by wierdw
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"Whaddya mean, 'stay inside'?"
" Ya mean, hide in da wagon?"

The to bears trundled a little ahead of the front of the wagon, to look at each other between the straps, and over the tongue, momentarily getting eye contact, then both looking to try and take in the source of the voice talking to them.

"Is de peoples 'ere really 'at flustered buh bears?"
"E'en dress't, talkin ones?"

It was the elf woman-- From listening to others talk her name was Jazdia. It would be a lot easier if people introduced themselves. Regardless, she seemed to be --if not THE person in charge, at least *A* person in charge--

"YES-- Get inside you two."

The idea of being shot at did not sound appealing-- and if that idiot was not going to get some sleep, that left the "bed" free. Assuming they weren't sharing with the handsome cat-lady-- but if they were, at least there would be company.

with a huff, the two fell back a few paces to catch the moving wagon, and hop in, one then the other, sending it lurching side to side a moment, and the leafsprings fully squashed once more.
Hidden 12 mos ago 12 mos ago Post by Mas Bagus
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It was 9:03 AM when the party departed. Jazdia took the frontmost position and began guiding the convoy out of that small valley and return to the main road.

The terrain was mostly flat, just like what she remembered four months ago, however, the route was significantly more curved than before, with several unfamiliar turns here and there. If one would spare a moment to look closer at the blocked road, there were some unnatural formations of barbed ivies conjoining themselves together to form a thorny blockade so thick and persistent government inspectors and travelers alike would rather open a new route to get around them.

And considering it was a newly beaten path, it was fortunate that they did't start this journey in a rainy season.

Besides the unexpected detour, there was nothing else happening. Fanghorn was ahead; soot and dried ivies were still tainting its decrepit walls, its great gate was closed, and although Jazdia could see activities inside, half of the city's population had been relocated to the field outside the wall. Sheltering in tents, or wooden hovels for those who can afford it.

The last four months hadn't been very kind to them. To say the disaster was happening at the worst moment possible was an understatement. Not only did they lose their lodging, holdings, and even loved ones in the fire, the hailstorm and hard rain that came after also damaged what was left of their food supply. Winter being just a short month after was the final nail in the coffin. If not because of Fredricus' quick response, the casualties might be more exponential.

They were welcomed by a cavalry soldier who seemed to have been informed about their arrival. He guided them to the left, through the road where the refugees erected their inadequate abodes.

"Anything happened?" he said, offering a small talk out of courtesy.

"No."

"Good then, some of our supply convoy was not so lucky."

"Why?"

"Brigands, bandits, or just hungry civilians seeking the opportunity," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "We had the entire wagon raided three days ago just a few miles from Pesti, and it was the fourth accident this month. Couldn't believe it myself! How can people be so cruel as to steal food in the middle of a crisis like this? Many times me and my boys had to share our rations with the locals. We get hungry together with them, but that's the right thing to do, aye? I just hoped His Highness would assign more soldiers to secure our supply lines. But that seemed impossible eh? Day by day more soldiers are being recalled and sent either to Rascade or the Border these days."

Jazdia didn't answer, in front of them, three children and one adult woman blocked the way. One of the children, who seemed to be the eldest stepped forward and languidly reached out his hand. "Spare some gruel, Sir? Ma'am?"

The soldier rubbed his forehead before slowly walking his horse toward the children, intending to disperse them aside. "Come one Tomson, Brenda take your boys out the road!"

He then turned to the party, "Sorry you all have to see this."

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Hidden 12 mos ago 12 mos ago Post by wierdw
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The wagon started moving in earnest after they had bounded in.

The tent they had erected over the top of the wagon had to be taken down, as it was too tall, and would catch the wind like a sail out on the open road. Instead, it was stretched over the contents of the wagon like a tarp, with them forced to huddle underneath it like part of the baggage.

It was not the best way to travel.

It was not long however, before they started seeing some of the signs the silly old man they had bunked down for the night with had been going on about earlier that morning. First, there were obvious signs of their brother's handiwork. They themselves could not perform this kind of magic, but they had grown up seeing it done more times than they cared to dwell on. He had clearly blocked the road with green brier and rose brambles, much like the bridge they had passed had shown indications of. Why had he barricaded the road? The magic that had been driving it was no longer active-- the plants could easily be removed now, but it seemed the people living in the area felt it was just easier to cut a detour around the obstruction instead. It was their guess that the road needed to be passable BEFORE the winter snows killed the silly little supplement plantings he used to drive these kinds of setups-- probably because they didn't know to clear them before removing the thicket. Regardless, their brother was not an ass; he had used annuals, not perennials; The winter snows had done what the villagers had not thought to do, and had killed all the driving plants quite effectively. Those vines and brambles in the thicket were just vine and bramble now. An axe and a bonfire would remove them quite effectively-- Though, those particular plants could be hard to remove if not dug up afterward.

But then, as they kept moving, all the trees began to show signs of having been ravaged by ... something. At first, just branches down, shorn off the sides of the trees they had once been part of; but as they continued, the damage got worse... and worse.. Where it was initial just branches snapped off, it became whole limbs thrown down. Then half-tree trunks ripped off. Then whole trees uprooted and pushed over; The damage was unspeakable. It would take all three of their men-folk working every day, all summer to correct this much damage! WHAT had gone through here? It clearly had been a storm of some kind, but the severity! Cedar couldn't do THAT-- ..could he?

... If he did... why would he?...

What happened here?

The thought stuck like a splinter in their minds, as they reached the town proper. Clear signs of both vine magic and raging fires decorated the tall wooden walls of the central embankment. Scarred earth where homes had once been littered the environs.

And then there were these poor people.

How? --- Why?

They waited in silence, afraid to be seen or heard.

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