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 Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:58 pm
T’was the glorious evening in the country of Mordache… Well, it was not really glorious in the country. But the sun setting was glorious. The sun was setting behind the great castle of Mordache, giving the sky the color of royal blood and royal orange. Before the grand, magnificent castle laid hundreds of small, poor buildings in this city. The walls were covered in cracks and broken skins of the walls. The dirty streets of the cities were covered with few poor beggars covered in rags, begging for either food or money. Marching down the streets were the soldiers of Mordache. With cold, grunted faces and broad, muscle arms, either they chased or sneer picked the beggars.
Now, away from the city and away from the castle, there was a figure on the edge of the cliff. Now, this figure was a strange fellow. Indeed he was. For he came from another country called Learania. Dressed in red, foreign clothes and riding his horse with no armor and a bow in his hand, one could imagine that he came from another world. As a matter of fact, he DID come from another world. With a beautiful scenery right in front of him, he was mostly focusing on the Mordache castle.
What was he doing? No one knew for sure. Why was he far from the country Learania? Again, it was unknown. Some may think that this fellow loved to travel. From one country to another, his heart would never settle in one spot. Others thought he had a burden in his bosom, trying to escape the dark past that he did not want to live. One may even suggest that he was on a mission. A mission to seek what the country’s dark secret could be. Though no one but he knew what he was up to, he was about to have a company.
“My, my. Never have I seen you before.” A voice spoke from behind him.
The horseman turned around and drew out his bow and arrow, readied to strike his pierce to those who would not give warning. As his green, lone wolfish gaze scanned across the area, he spotted a figure, kneeling sitting on the tree branch.
Who was this fellow? He must have thought. And what did that fellow want? Well, if we wished to know who the fellow this horseman spotted was, let us had a look at this fellow.
Now this fellow didn’t look like the type you would rather fight. For this fellow was dressed as a jester. All dressed in black and orange as if Hallow's eve would come. With his jester shoes and his hat with bells at the ends, one would surely wonder what would a jester be doing on the cliff. With few of his white hair sticking out of his hat and squirting eyes that looked to be closed, the jester gave a Cheshire smile to the horseman.
“Usually, we have thieves and assassins to spy on Baroness Charolias. But you, my dear fellow, are a strange one indeed. Never would we have a horseman with strange clothing and no armors to spy on her. And that weapon, oh dear, that is a bow you've carried. Never have I seen a mounted man carries a weapon. So tell me, what are you really?”
[A thousand pardons for you, my dear audience. However, you have no permission to act but to watch this play. But if you are that fellow actor I'm speaking or in Mordache, come. Come and play with me.
In addition, this scene was taken place during the Guildaversary event.]
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:01 pm
The nomad kept the strain on his bow firm, ready to release the arrow at any given moment, if the man did something suspicious. No ordinary person could sneak up on him in such a way. There had to be something special about him... and not about the way he dressed like what seemed to be the outfit of a simple entertainer of a royal court. ....Court? Could this man be from Mordache castle? First thought would lead to that not being a good thing for him. The nomadic man narrowed his eyes, after the strange one had finished speaking.
".... ....Strangers should not appear from nowhere and then ask someone their name after having a bow pointed at their head. Now who are you...? Speak."
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:05 pm
The jester grinned his smile so wide. It may look like his mouth reached from one cheek to another. Oh, what entertaining it would be! He thought. For it had been ages since he had last shared his stage with an actor. And what an unusual actor this fellow was. A man in strange, foreign clothes and riding a mount with a bow.
He let out a chuckled and flung himself backward, letting himself fell off the branch. With a twirl and a flip, he gave out an acrobatic stunt. He landed his feet on the ground so lightly, as if he was a cat who fell off a building. He took off his hat and gave out a bow to the gentleman who was in front of him... And not even caring about the weapon before him.
"Welcome, strange fellow, to Mordache, where brute strength and wild beasts live. Though my homeland may look poor and depressing, I can assure you that this country is powerful, being ruled by my fair baroness Charolais. Now then..." The jester greeted as he stood up and placed his hat back on top.
Oh, it felt so wonderful to gave a proper greeting to a fellow actor. Especially if this fellow loved to share the stage with him. It was enjoyable to have a merry conversation with the audience. However, sharing it with the actors or actresses was ten times more jolly.
He pranced to the right. He pranced to the left. He pranced around as if they were having a festive holiday. Though this jester was having a jolly day, that arrow the strange horseman had continued to follow his steps. He stopped for a moment and placed his hands behind, letting out another Cheshire smile.
"You've asked who I am, you say? Hmm? Well, we might as well give each other a proper introduction. After all, a player must be noticed to the world, especially when sharing with another player.
"I'm afraid I can't give you my birth name. Oh no, siree. For you see, I have forgotten mine for oh so many years ago. Though I cannot remember what my birth name it be, my dear beloved baroness has given me my name. My name, dear sir, is Pietro de Janus. Part-time royal court jester to the Mordache baroness......"
Then out of a whim, he pulled something from behind his back. In each hand were four knives, each between his fingers. He crossed his arms with the knives underneath him, as if he was a bird just perching on the perch. He opened one eye to reveal his amethyst pupil. If one looked so closely, you could see a small glint of sinister in it.
"And full-time assassin. Now that I've given my proper greetings, care to tell me what's yours? Hmm?" He smiled so humbly.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:06 pm
The nomadic one did not choose to fire when the stranger suddenly moved, for he still wanted information from him. He did strengthen his grip on his bow, though, and followed the man's movements with it.
The stranger then confirmed his first thoughts. He was part of the court of Mordache castle, having direct contact with the baroness herself. But something still bothered the nomad. This stranger was able to sneak up upon him, after being out this far away from the city. Ordinary men do not stray far out from the cities with these beasts wandering around. But this man showed no sign of concern for that threat, let alone the bow that was being pointed at his heart. No, there was more to this stranger than met the eye... he-
The nomad's thoughts paused as he saw the stranger make suspicious movements with his hands. He then saw the man pull out knives from behind his back and restrengthened his grip on his bow yet again, not ready yet to release his arrow on the man who obviously still had information that could be gotten from him. But if he was an assassin from the court of the baroness as he said, it was very possible that he had come to take his life. It also explained all the concerns the nomad had just thought about, concerning the stranger. He had no choice but to believe him. But now, the strange man had inquired about him.
"....Not really." He coldly responded.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:07 pm
Hearing that respond, Pietro closed his eye back and gave out a pout. Oh pooh! Another prima drama actor. They were always stingy about their space. Never wanted another player to stick into their business nor corporate with them. They surely did act like snobs.... And yet, that what made them so fun to interact.
"Oh, come now, my dear strange fellow. An actor must always introduce himself before the play begins," He announced, placing his right back hand against the hip and waved his left hand to him. A pout changed into a smile. "At least give me your name. For surely, that won't hurt to tell."
Though this jester didn't expect to run into this strange fellow, at least it was better than his duty he tried to do. Running mandatory reports from mercenaries was a dull job for this jolly fellow. Oh no, siree. It would not do. This job was more proper for the sentry type. But then again, these sentries were alway scared of facing the brutes and the beasts.
He then tapped his knife onto his chin, figuring out this strange mounted man. Surely, this fellow was not from his homeland. Oh, no. Indeed not. For if he did, he would have recognized him. So what country was this strange man from? After all, no man would dare try to spy from afar.
Could he be from Estarcia? No, they were more of a pansy to fight. And surely, this fellow didn't look like a pansy. Or maybe, he came from Sentria?.... Nah, that place was too hot and dry. There was no way a man with light skin would come from the desert land. What about that long island Aeris?... Then again, that place was mysterious and barely none came out of that island. Surely, it couldn't be from that place where the strange fellow came from. How about Adliana Plains? He sure looked like the type who would came from the plains... Then again, there were no capital from the plains. Surely, that would be useless for a man to spy for a country with no capital. That would only leave one country.....
Smile curled up more as he let out a chuckle. He jumped up and down as he pointed his knives to the horseman. "Alas, alas, I figured you out! A mounted spy who carries a bow. Indeed, you are a strange fellow to me. However, I figure you out that you've come from Learania!"
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:08 pm
The nomad did not answer the entertainer, as he asked for his name. He had no reason to give it, and he did not want his name going around, for people to hear. Making up a name was also out of the question, for it went against his tribal upbringing. Sacaeans never lied.
The strange man then began hopping up and down, as if in some newly found joy. The nomad's confusion was taken away, when the strange man uttered four simple words. The nomad's eyes widened as they were spoken. "You've come from Learania".
With that, the nomadic man's face grew frightfully serious once more. If he was able to figure out where he came from, it wouldn't take too much thinking to figure out that he was the vice captain. After all, it's not like there was an abundance of nomadic people in Learania. And if that was discovered, it could ruin his entire secrecy, and even place Nino, Sue, all of FEF in danger. This man was proving himself more and more to be a threat. There was nothing left for the Nomadic man to learn. This stranger was an assassin of the Mordache court, who reported directly to Baroness Charolais. If he were to be let go, it would prove deadly. The nomad decided to oblige the man.
"...It's Rath." He then fired his bow, the arrow speedily racing toward the assassin's heart.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:09 pm
If there were things the jester was too proud, it would be his skills and speed. After all, a performer like him needed those to act on stage. There were no special effects in the theater. No trapdoors, no smoke. Not even the on and off switch of the lamp when changing the lighting.
And not to mention, his other job. Oh, he loved his job ever since working for the baroness. Once a small lad as a thief who worked for the wretched and no longer existed Cloaks and Daggers guild. Now, he was on top of his game. To disappear and reappear whatever he like. To be so quiet as a mouse. And when time had come, he would strike those with his blade. His job, his goal, and his life as the Masked Phantom, top assassin and captain of the Devil's Advocate guild clan.
As the arrow flew, ready to strike a pierce, the jester smiled gleefully and did a backflip. The arrow flew over his chest, about a centimeter from where it would strike. He giggled and laughed as he landed on his feet, his Cheshire smile had never left his face.
"Rath, Rath, what a wonderful name! Why, it almost sound similar to wrath." He gleefully said. It seemed he had angered his player, after informing where he was from. He couldn't blame him for shooting the arrow. Oh, no. And based from his name, it came with a click. He must be the vice-captain of this FEF guild, that his spy had told him. Oh joy! Oh jolly! What a splendid day it was! To come face to face of a powerful foe.
"Never would I expect you to be out here from Learania." Pietro smiled so heartily. "All alone in this dangerous country."
He then took a bow. What an odd way to do in front of a foe. But what did you expect from this strange, jolly joker. He opened both eyes, showing menacing in it, as he spoke to the nomad. "I hope that you are as strong as me. But if I've found out that you are too strong for me, then I may have to pull the Final Curtain on you."
Then, all of a sudden, he was split into five. Each with the similar face, the clothes, and the knives. Though it looked like a magic trick that the jester pulled, it was not really magic at all. It was one of his skills that he had pulled, Ripple Mirror.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:10 pm
After the nomad had fired his bow he dismounted, and pulled out his talwar blade. He held it up, facing Pietro. He listened to him speak, but made no reaction. Any trick he had, would not matter.
Rath then lowered his blade somewhat and looked around at each image the assassin had made of himself. With his bow still in one of his hands, having not placed it back upon his back yet, he took it back up, and after a brief pause, swiftly flung arrows at four of the images, leaving just the real assassin left. He then placed the bow onto his back, and held up his blade once more. It was not hard for Rath to understand the trick. Though, it could be proved tricky, if the images were allowed to move around, the skill was useless if dealt with right away. And perhaps the man would hesitate trying to use it again, after seeing that Rath could see through it.
"Petty tricks have no effect on those who can see through them... assassin." The blade shined as the sunlight struck it through the trees.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:11 pm
If you looked so closely with a microscopic magnifier, you would be able to see a twitch in the assassin's Cheshire smile. Petty tricks, he says... The jolly jester thought. No one dares call my tricks petty.
It seemed that he had underestimated the nomad's eyes. Oh, yes. Indeed, he did. For he had never met this type of fighter before. Perhaps going too easy on him was a wrong choice to make. He thought. However, one should never underestimate a player.
"Indeed, you are corrected." Pietro replied. "With your eyes so trained, it would seem foolish of me. But, nevertheless, maybe I shouldn't go too soft on you."
Then, with a quick of a flash, he pulled his Ripple Mirror again. Only this time, he made eight instead, surrounding the strange man in foreign clothings. Suddenly, Pietro's images began to move, circling around Rath with each different pose.
If this Rath could see my trick so well, let's see how quick would he respond. He thought. Before giving his opponent a chance to grab his bow, he and his images let out a barrage of knives speeding toward him.
If this man is able to dodge this attack, oh I hope he will, this will be an interesting battle. In fact..... I might bring out my trusted friends if we continue to play. Pietro thought. Oh, how many years had it been since he brought his friends out? Three? Four? Maybe Five? Oh, who cared of how long it would be. The jester was having so much fun.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:12 pm
Rath knew that they were only images, but if he got hit by one of the knives, it was the same as if he were really struck by one. He couldn't let that happen. And he wouldn't.
As the images began to circle him, he kept his eyes firm upon the real one, watching his movements. Spooked by the sudden movements, the horse trotted into a cluster of trees, away from them all. He noted the glass that the man took out, and pondered shortly about its effects. He stopped thinking, when he saw the images pull out their knives to throw them. As they did, he jumped high into the air, and drew his bow swiftly, as he had done many times before. As he was in the air, he drew several arrows, and fired the four of them. As he landed, he grabbed four more and fired those as well, to get rid of the remaining images.
When the dust cleared, the bow glistened, as it was held sideways, with one hand, the Talwar in the other, revealing the type of bow it was. A brave bow. Of course, he had fired eight arrows, and one of the eight assassins was the real one. Rath looked over to the remaining assassin to see what happened to the arrow. Was he hit, or wasn't he? This would prove just how tough this opponent would be.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:13 pm
When the area was cleared from the dusty smoke, there was no jester in sight. Gone. Disappeared. Out of sight. The only remainings were the four arrows sticking out of the ground. As if flowers were blooming in springtime.
Not far from the area and hidden so deeply in the tree branches was Pietro watching from the view. Two more seconds and he would have catch me. The jester thought. Oh, this foe was powerful indeed.
T'was good that the assassin decided to pull his other trick, Fading Image. If he had not, that arrow would surely strike his arm so well. If this strange fellow had good timing, oh...... What a dangerous foe he would truly make.
"Well then...." Pietro muttered so quietly as he pulled out more knives. "Let's see how good are you as a seeker, my friend. Surely, you must be good at a game of hide and seek."
In a matter of seconds, he suddenly disappeared from where he was at. That made the forest even more quieter.
As the horseman waited for Pietro to show up, carrying both the bow and the sword. Oh, what was that jolly rascal planning? Then all of a sudden, knives flew out from five different trees, all in different directions at the same time.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:15 pm
After noticing the man had vanished, Rath's eyes scanned the entire area, trying to locate him. His stopped in the upper left corner, as if it had caught sight. But then the sight vanished again. The forest grew quiet, and Rath closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them again wide. Knives flung out from nowhere, but Rath hardly reacted. He simply swung his sword, to block some of them, and moved his body, to block others. He swung his sword again, and deflected one knife into another, diverting it straight down, off its course. The last knife, he caught in his hands, then spun around and flung it out to where the assassin was hiding. It was as it were only one swift movement, really.
He's testing me.... Rath thought. But sooner or later... he'll mess up. All assassins do, no matter how good. He loses his stealth a split moment before he acts. I'll have to take advantage of that.
Rath looked up to where he had flung the knife. "If you're done... ....I have business to do. Do not waste my time."
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:15 pm
Sitting down at the base of the tree nearby, the assassin listened to what Rath had said. The smirk never left his foxy face. Nice reflexes, Rath my boy. However, that last knife you've thrown was nothing but a miss of a mile. Pietro thought.
If the nomad had good hearing, surely he would have caught him here instead of the tree he flung the knife earlier. He admitted that the horseman had good sight and reflex. However, Pietro's speed was too quick for the horseman to keep track of the hearing. Oh..... how prideful that jester was of his speed. Now it was time to use his other trick, Echo.
"Oh, but the show is not over till the fat lady sings." Pietro cried out before disappearing from his hiding. It was unknown where he was now. Indeed, it was. For like his stage, every prop was like a hidden place for him. And the trees and the thickets were the props.
"Oh course, we don't have a fat lady here with us, my fellow actor." His voice echoed in a different location.
"So it seems that our show is not over... Yet." Again, the voice was in another place too. Where was he? Only the jester knew. Sometimes, he stayed in the spot he was at, throwing his voice to another location as if he was a ventriloquist.
If the nomad could spotted him through the sense of hearing, maybe.... Just maybe, he would bring out his trusted friends out. Oh..... What enjoyable it should be.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:16 pm
Over at the spot where the knife had been thrown, a crow was now dead, struck through and pinned to the tree by the knife. Pesky extra noise makers.
Rath glanced around, as the man's voice traveled from one place to the next. Clearly, it was a new trick. And a very handy one. It would easily trick people, and leave them vulnerable... well, most people anyway. Nomads were certainly not like most people, and Rath certainly wasn't like most nomads. He closed his eyes and raised his bow, aiming an arrow.
"You know..." He calmly started. "Echoes are a strange feature. People are so preoccupied with trying to locate where the sound is in the distance... that they forget... it's really just sound traveling back to the original source."
crack
It got to him. With that sound, Rath opened his eyes widely and fired an arrow into a tree behind him. It moved... he fired another arrow to his left. His right. Behind him again. No, this was useless, even if one had hit, it wasn't enough. Simply keeping up with the man in the trees wasn't going to do much. Rath paused a moment, remaining focused on wherever the man went, aiming his bow, following him every which direction. He then suddenly aimed ahead of where the man was, and fired an arrow swiftly toward that location. One who was able to go that fast, one so prideful of his speed, probably wouldn't think something could hit him. So long as he stayed a step ahead, nothing would touch him, right? No need to look where he's going, of course not. And why would anybody not aim directly at him? But this arrow... this arrow was headed right for where he would be, instead.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:17 pm
The jester smirked as he moved from one place to another. So I was right. He thought. This strange fellow doesn't have a keen sense of hearing.
Althought this jolly jester was correct after seeing the nomad made some misses, he was taking cautious. After all, he underestimated the nomad once for going too easy. He would not do the same again. Oh no. Indeed, he won't.
Before he could move to the next spot, he felt an arrow sped past him behind his back about half a foot. He hid himself behind the tree and stayed. Oh, the nomad nearly caught him again. Even without using his sense of hearing, it seemed that the strange fellow was using a different sense. What could it be? Could it be his instinct? Or something he did not know about this horseman. Whatever it was, it was too good to end it.
"Time to bring my friends out," Pietro murmured before he disappeared. The forest became silent again.
The nomad pulled his arrow back, but had not released it. Could it be that the nomad hesitate? Or was he waiting for the time to come? As they said, only fools rushed in.
While the nomad was waited, the jester suddenly appeared behind him with his hands tucked inside his sleeves.
"Oh HAPPY DAGGERS!" Pietro cried out as he swung his arms out. Normally, thieves and assassins tended to be quiet when sneaking up enemies. But, oh no. Not Pietro. This jester wanted his audience and actors to know his presence. The nomad jumped and turned to face him. If one looked behind the nomad, there was a large cut behind him.
In the hands of this smirking assassin were two daggers. One was covered in poison. The jester lifted one of the daggers to his face. "Meet my most trusted friends and greatest prop treasures: Comedy and Tragedy. They have been dying to meet you."
The jester knew he had cut off the quiver of arrows from the horseman's back. In addition, he knew that he saw a slice against the cloth. But did Pietro cut and pierced the nomad's skin? And if so, which one of his daggers made the cut?
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