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 Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 11:40 am
“Crap.” Ifan muttered, watching the smoke wafting out from under the bonnet of the vehicle he was driving. It had once been a military jeep, after the ravages of decay they had patched it up with bits and pieces of other cars. That made it unreliable and prone to breaking down. Grumbling to himself, Ifan slipped down from the driver’s seat and put his hands on his hips. He was miles away from anywhere, not even sure he was on the right track.
“Market of the gods my arse.” He kicked the tyre and ran his fingers through his floppy, dark hair.
What he was doing was pretty dishonest. He had taken Wyn’s map, the little creature and embarked on a wild goose chase. All because –he- wanted to be the first one to discover this amazing place of plenty. He wanted the glory because he worked damned hard and was fed up of getting nothing in return.
As the grey smoke dispersed he let out a sigh and glanced to his shoulder where the floox had perched itself. It gave a squeak and looked up at him as if to say. ‘Nice one idiot.’
“You can shut up.” Ifan replied, shaking his head. “Which way to civilisation?”
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:42 pm
Vehkal's hooves drummed against the turf as the tainted kirin bore her mistress onwards, Greed laughing low and clinging to the creature's back. The goddess rode bareback, exhilarating in the sense of speed, of Vehkal's tension and movement. Phaedra often worked to please only herself, but even so it was rare that she allowed herself true wild abandon. Abandoning the Pantheon and charging out into the once-wastelands on Vehkal's back had been an impulse, and no doubt even her divine muscles would be aching powerfully the next day, but for now she had the purest sense of freedom one could get without having wings.
The tang of smoke caught her attention and Vehkal's at the same time; the kirin turned her head, tilting her muzzle up as her nostrils flared. "Machine... which means, most likely, an operator," Phaedra murmured, as one of Vehkal's ears flicked back to catch her words. "Shall we, pet?"
Vehkal's pace slowed to a trot, and they turned back towards the road, where - yes - there was indeed a vehicle, clearly the source of the smoke. Strange, even in these slightly more enlightened times, to find someone out on the open road alone...
"Engine trouble?" Phaedra called out as the kirin came up to the road; Vehkal stopped about fifteen feet from the car and its former driver. The goddess had a lazy, amused smile on her face. "You're a long way from help, boy..."
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Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:46 am
Ifan had not been expecting to see anyone as he gaze off down the road he had been travelling on, so the sudden appearance of the two unusual creatures surprised him a little. He looked them over as they came closer, of course he had seen non-humans before, but there was something different about these two. He couldn't put his finger on what, but he could feel it. Much like his grandmother knew when it was going to rain.
"So it seems." He agreed, stepping up to the vehicle and opening the bonnet. More smoke drifted up and out, he waved his hand at it and peered into the machinery. "Have you come far? Is there a town or village near here I might be able to get help?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:01 pm
"To come this far, I rode like the wind for a few hours. I doubt your vehicle could match Vehkal's speed - at least not in its current state," Phaedra said, grinning. "Where are you bound, traveler? You seem a man of some purpose." Her power extended, subtly, feeling at his psyche, seeking to know of his desires...
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 3:35 am
"Yep, you're right there." Ifan laughed, looking at the stupid machine, then to the strange creature she was with. It was his fault for taking off without telling anyone. "I'm on a scouting mission. My friend told me about a place, around here somewhere. Aparently the land is rich and there are creatures that think they're gods ... or something." He shrugged, as it came out of his mouth it sounded even sillier than when it had come out of Wyn's. This woman was going to think he was nuts. "I came to see if it was true."
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:18 am
"Gods? How... terribly droll," Phaedra said, her tone light and amused. "Are you a religious man? Or have you some other motivation to seek out the divine?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 3:46 pm
Edited
"Me?" ifan gave a snort of laughter. He hand't been near a church since he was about ten years old and that was for a wedding so really didn't count. "I don't believe in god, gods, whoever. I'm looking for resources really. Anything we can sell or use. Something to give us a competitive edge at the market." he shrugged a shoulder. "I've got no interest in gods. I came to see if there was any truth about this place being better than others. More prosperous."
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:14 pm
Ah. She could feel the shape of his desires now, so nicely illuminated by his words. "You are a merchant, then? No... perhaps a craftsman?" Phaedra grinned. "It's all true, wanderer. There, the trees grow stronger, taller; they probably burn brighter, too." Take that, Glyph. "Many influential minds have congregated there, with all their resources and retinue. You'll find what you seek, make no mistake. If you can get there, of course." She glanced back at the smoking vehicle, shaking her head with a loud sigh.
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 12:13 pm
Craftsman, he quite liked that description though there was not much craft to standing on an assembly line, part of a uniform process.
"Engineer really I suppose. Engineer and merchant." He smiled a little as she confirmed the truth. He knew where others would be happy at the beauty of a lush forrest, Thom would see fuel and building materials. some never learned from their past mistakes.
"Yeah. There is the problem." He looked at his transportation, he doubted he would find the means to fix it in the middle of nowhere as they were.
"Don't suppose you'd be able to help me out." he paused, realising they had yet to introduce themselves. "Sorry, you must think I'm rude. My name's Ifan." he held a hand out to her.
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 2:41 pm
"Phaedra," she said, taking the offered hand, pleased at the touch of his skin against hers. "I have only my... steed, shall we name her... but she will bear anything I wish. Have you ever ridden a living thing, or do you use only metal and fire as your servants?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:22 am
Ifan gave her hand a firm shake with his own calloused one an glanced to the creature she had been riding.
"I've ridden horses." He answered simply. Before they had the means to run the cars again horses had been their lifeline to the markets and other villages.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:51 pm
"Ride with me, then~ you'll sit behind me, of course, though not too far behind. Those spikes on her tail aren't just for show." Phaedra gestured with one hand, and Vehkal crept closer, dropping sullenly to her knees to permit her riders to mount without difficulty. The goddess climbed up first, settling herself in front, balanced just behind the wicked horns.
Then she turned and grinned at Ifan. "Your turn."
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:50 am
Yikes. Ifan thought as he looked at the spikes at the back of the creature.
He watched Phaedra climb up and then did as she asked, climbing up behind her and making sure that he was nowhere near thise killer spikes.
Gingerly he put an arm around her waist, hoping that was not too bold, though he would surely fall off if he didn't.
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 10:41 am
Phaedra smirked at the boy's careful touch. So innocent, in some ways. Fun. "Hold on tight~ Vehkal, home."
The kirin rose to her hooves at once, turned back the way she'd come, and sprang forward, her stride opening up as she gained speed. Phaedra lifted her head up, fearlessly peering between the bobbing horns. Her fingers wound into Vehkal's mane. "Don't fall, Ifan."
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 10:57 am
As they jerked forwards Ifan held tighter. It was absloutely nothing like riding a horse. Well, not any that he'd ridden. Everything around them moved past in a blur, not that he was really looking at it, he was trying far to hard to keep balanced.
"I don't plan on it!" he shouted over the rushing of the air.
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