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Flynn MacCumhaill Captain
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 Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:39 am
It took a few moments for Rachael to get her breath back after Elizabeth had helped her up, but she managed to slip in an "I'm fine," before Selden the Snide offered his opinion. She shot him a look over Elizabeth's shoulder, but made no comment, as he went on: "And we're leaving for the castle very soon."
------
Before she really knew what was going on, Rachael was being laced into leather armour that didn't quite fit perfectly, a too-large chapel de fer dropped on her head, herself dropped into the saddle of a chestnut horse, riding out next to Elizabeth, she and her white horse armed to all rights and glittering in the thin sunlight.
Sitting there in her oversized armour, hand-and-a-half sword across her back, and cut-off cloak arranged rather less than majestically, she felt very, very small.
"Just stay close to us and you'll be fine," Elizabeth murmured.
Rachael's hands were shaking, but other than a few minor hiccoughs, she managed to keep the chestnut pony under tight control. ((For what it's worth, that was 16 on a D20)) ... Although she did feel herself going red in the face. It took her a moment to realise that that was because she was holding her breath.
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:40 pm
Scarlette peered around her and slowly quirked a raven brow, heavy sigh parting those soft pink lips of hers, crimson eyes falling closed. "Why haven't I left yet?" She asked herself, turning her attention to the bard beside her and then letting her eyes travel away from him and to the other's. Her right arm hoisted up the elfling on her hip a bit more, being sure he would not fall. Her crimson eyse turned to the boy and a smile traced her lips. She leant up and placed a light kiss on his forehead before continuing on.
She did seem to be a little bit nervous at the moment. Maybe it was impatience or just unsteady nerves. Whatever it was though, it showed more hten she wanted and well, she could not help that at the moment. She was thinking of far too much to think of her appearance.
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Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:45 am
The streets were far to muddy for Lillan's liking today, and the crusty brown skin of the earth clung to her shapely clothes. The crowded street in which she had decided to make her profit was filled with a variety of people, but more times than not, even after thorough searching, not a penny could be found. "Oh drat.." she muttered, wiping fresh dirt from her face as she was once again clumsily swept to the side by a human, to large and introverted, to notice her small frame. As she pulled a rather sad looking cloth from one of the many pouches at her waist to help rid her of at least some of her messy predicament, her dark eyes caught the sight of a small entourage of horse backed, and amored, humans, looking quite large and powerful, with the exception, of course, of the small child included. "Ohhh today might be profitable after all" Lillan whispered with a grin, slipping once more into the crowd, riding it's hectic wave while still managing to pop out from time to time, to check on the groups whereabouts.
((Yell at me if anything needs to be changed, the story so far still confuses me a bit. x_x wink )
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:22 am
{*pat pat* Any questions; don't feel afraid to ask.}
The small chestnut horse didn't seem too pleased about all the noise, the animal occassionally throwing its head high up in the air to show its discomfort with the entire situation whilst trying to press itself into the side of the great white beast beside it. This seemed to have a negative affect on the white horse, its head shaking back and forth slightly whilst its ears pressed back against its head.
The crowded street parted for the knight convoy, albeit begrudgingly, although they pressed the formation tighter together. Elizabeth was uneasy about the number of people, for good reason for it was only the other day that she had been attacked by a mob. People were beginning to show open hostility to the soldiers of Isyl, particularly the knights with their shining armour, some members of the crowd shouting or signing taunts or obsceneties at them as they were forced away or to the side by the horses.
The road that had previously been snow that morning had turned to a muddy slush from all the feet trudging through it. The busy street they were travelling along was a main one, one primarily used for trading and market stalls - not the best choice of route on Selden's part, but it was one of the quickest ways to reach the castle.
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Flynn MacCumhaill Captain
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:14 am
Rachael scarcely noticed the tense atmosphere, she was so caught up in her own nerves. Slowly, though, she became aware of the bubble of silence that surrounded them, broken only by jeering taunts and obscenities. She swallowed hard, and began to wonder just what she had walked into.
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:21 am
It took roughly half an hour to reach the gates to the inner city of Isyl, the old city. The gates were smaller that the outer gates and looked ancient, as if they hadn't been used for a hundred years. The wood looked frozen in place and didn't seem as intimidating as the other gate, yet it had a sense of foreboding about it. Standing one on either side at the base of the two towers supporting the gate were two mounted guards. They were sat on Yesoppes and their armour looked distinctly fancier that the armour of other guards. They also wore rich blue cloaks with the symbol of Isyl emblasoned in white.
The convoy was let through without so much as a word passing between Elizabeth and the two guards.
Up ahead the streets still had a white layering of snow across it, the ground looking mostly untouched. It was almost deserted, a ghost town sprinkled with snow - it was almost beautiful.
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The castle was big, but wasn't very decorative. It served its purpose well, that was all. Although there were multiple blue banners with the one horn of a stag in white hung across the stone, particularly on either side of the portcullis and heavy oak doors that led into the courtyard of the building. There the convoy of knights stopped, Elizabeth peering up dubiously at the tall building.
"Right then!" Selden exclaimed, moving through towards the doors, "I presume you'll stay outside and make sure nothing happens out here, Elizabeth?" She gave a small nod, not looking down at the bard, "Good. Come along you lot, then!"
Adonnith walked his dark horse past Elizabeth and Rachael, pausing to lean down to hiss a remark at Elizabeth. "... because it's where you belong, Squire." were the only words that could have been heard by anyone but she, the young woman looking rather pale all of a sudden. The black and golden knight was soon moving off after Selden, waltzing under the arched doorway and past the fancy guards.
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:22 am
Lillan muttered to herself as her richly draped friends entered a part of the town she herself had been known to avoid. Not only becuase of it's sheer size compared to her own, but the guards always seemed to tense a bit more when she was around, no matter how much speed she could manage to muster, and hence, she took no chances. Shivering from the slush that had seeped into her clothing, she perched on a nearby box, wrapping her tattered cloak around her and breathing heavily into her hands to keep the circulation steady and her heart warm. These strange people had caught her interest like a fish to a baited hook, and now she was most willing to suffer the cold to satiate her hungry curiousty. If only there were a hole somewhere that she could slip her slimy little self into, for if then, she would not only help lighten the load of these travelers, but of the castle as well. Chewing on already worn down nails, Lillan's hyperactive concious started to form ideas. One way or another, she was going to get in.
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:38 pm
The ride to the inner city gates seemed to take forever to Rachael, maybe because the route was unfamiliar, maybe because of the tense atmosphere, maybe because of her own nerves. The uncomfortable eternity ended abruptly, though, as they came upon the grave gates to the citadel. Rachael took in the ancient, solemn things, flanked by the two blue-cloaked guards, twisting around in the saddle to take in the sight even as they passed through them.
The sight beyond was almost as stunning: the quiet inner city dusted with virgin snow. Unlike the bustle outside, here within the inner walls, Isyl was almost deserted.
The castle itself when they reached it chilled Rachael utterly: huge, strong and practical, it was meant for business. And that business was holding out against attackers. It looked impassable, immovable, eternal.
Selden almost managed to break the glamour, as he ushered all but Elizabeth on. Rachael remained by Elizabeth, uncertain whether she was supposed to stay with the knight -- as she suspected she was -- or to follow Selden. She was therefore, close enough by to hear Adonnith hiss to Elizabeth, "it's where you belong, Squire."
Rachael bowed her head to hide her face as her lip involuntarily curled back in anger and disgust.
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Flynn MacCumhaill Captain
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Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:55 pm
Roughly ten metres down the wall was a large gaping hole in the masonry, a ruin that never got to be repaired from the advance of the dragons fifteen years back. The large hunks of masonry that lay scattered inwards built up a large mound on one side of the wall. The building that had been on the other side of the wall had mostly caved in, the remaining structure dissappearing into the mound of fallen masonry. Of course, most of the blackened stone had been frozen fast and dusted almost carefully with snow.
Inside the confines of the inner city Elizabeth and her cavalry were left standing outside, guarding the trio of supposed criminals, whilst Selden and his enourage of foot soldiers, as well as Adonnith, was talking within with the lord that had summoned them. Elizabeth sometimes wondered if the man in there even knew she existed. Or if he did whether he realised that she was part of his army.
Shaking her head, the knight turned her horse about to peer down at the three they had now been set to guard, wondering what they had done in the first place. To her they looked cold, hungry and were probably confused as to why they were here. She couldn't complain about it or do anything to set them free for fear Adonnith's threat came true. Her eyes dropped to the mane of her white steed as she thought about it, a worried frown settling itself on her brow. Everyone was out to get her this week it seemed.
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Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 1:13 am
Rachael looked around at the alternating glory and ruin of the inner wall. Even where the stones lay tumbled, blackened and destroyed, there was an almost artistic dusting of snow. No, not artistic: had a painter tried to show what he saw here, he would be accused of making it look to ideal.
She walked her horse a few yards away from Elizabeth, as the knight was turning her steed around, marvelling at the immensity and grandeur of the place. She could not imagine ever really getting used to this city.
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Flynn MacCumhaill Captain
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Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:02 am
It took no longer than half an hour for Selden and company to march back out of the castle. Adonnith looked entirely too pleased with himself and Selden looke a little troubled. They were escorted by two Followers of the Flame, robed in blank and red. Elizabeth swallowed hard at the sight of them, remounting her steed. Selden beckoned Rachael over, waiting for her before speaking to both her and Elizabeth.
"They're treating this as a crusade, sending us off as heroes and whatnot. So that means full armour and all the fancy stuff. We'll have one cart for supplies and tents, but I advise keeping your blankets close to hand. We leave as soon as possible." Elizabeth gave him a nod, "I'll stay here and try to.. Well. To clear the details out. I might tag along, alright? And I expect to see that horse swathed in black and white, Elizabeth. Take his shield too. And his sword. It brought him luck 'till the end and by lord if they get their way you're going to need it." The knight threw him an odd look, but got no chance to question him about it, the elf smacking both horses at the rear and sending them swiftly off. The rest of the guard had to catch up. When they did they managed to loosely form some sort of order as they galloped through the streets, civilians only just getting out of their way.
~----------~
Elizabeth was decidedly quiet when they had returned to the barracks. She reluctantly untacked Katie and replaced the brown leather with the black leather of Sir Tripwood's tack. In the end the white horse looked rather menacing, outfitted with a quartered black and white blanket that ran all the way up her neck and over her head. Over this was a full set of heavy-looking armour that clinked quietly with every movement of the animal. The headpiece had a gold plated horn or spike at the centre, giving the horse the appearance of a unicorn. The crow in flight was a recurring symbol throughout.
She even went on to help Rachael change the tack and armour of the chestnut. The horse was meant to match and so black leather replaced the simple brown and a half blanket covered the hind quarters of the animal, being black and white to match. The leather armour was replaced by plate mail although it wasn't as fancy. There was also a black and white plume on the small headpiece that looked slightly too large for the animal, the metal shifting about slightly as it moved about.
~----------~
The knight was still quiet when they were parading towards the gates.
Adonnith, of course, had taken up the lead of the column with his two squires flanking him. They had considerably less armour, but they still bore his colours - each having their own family symbol emblazoned on the back of their cloaks. The remaining six mounted cavalry seperated Adonnith and Elizabeth, the colours of the horses' blankets and the knights' cloaks matched that of Isyl, although they each had their family crest to show off to the crowds. Behind the column marching two abreast was the cart, a large, lumbering thing with four wheels, hauled forward steadily by two oxen and driven by two foot soldiers. The rest of the tag alongs were hidden in the canvas structure of the cart.
They were off on a quest and it seemed the entire city knew about it. Funny how word travels so quickly.
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