Mintagerun the Ruthless sat on a big bolder outside his camp watching Salamandastron's flares shoot up against the night sky. The fox was thinking about how he could get into the great mountain. He knew that there wasn't any firedragons or monsters in the fortress, but he didn't know what was in there. Suddenly he sat bolt upright as an idea struck him: He couldn't get his soldiers into the mountain for information, but he could sent his slaves that he had gathered up and once they came back he would have more knowlage on how to attack. "Cringe! Get over here." he yelled. Cringe came running towards the bolder " Yes Chief?" he said. "Get me the slaves and line them up here." " Right away Chief," And he scampered away to fufill his orders. The slaves were push into a line in front of Mintagerun, all with their eyes downwards and chained hands behind their backs. Mintagerun walked down the line of slaves, looking them over. Then he barked at some of the slaves. "You 5, get over here. The rest of you go back to the kitchens." Once he was alone again he started conversing with the remaining slaves on how to get to the fire mountain.
Jasmine stood staring at the ground, in front of Mintagerun the Ruthless. She had always been frightened by the fox, and now was no exception. She scuffed the dirt with her footpaw, not daring to look into his face. We're going to the fire mountain? she thought.But what's in there? Jasmine had seen the legendary mountain eight seasons ago before she was captured, and had always wondered what was inside. And now she was going there, not at all sure if she wanted to or not. But she had no choice.
Arya has right behind Jasmine, her eyes downcast, listening to Mintagerun the Ruthless, shellshocked. The fire mountian? Why? What's so special about a big mountian that shoots flame out the top? Is it even safe?? She wondered, daring to look up at the Ruthless, and a rat wielding a whip lashed at her back. She flinched, dropping her eyes.
OOC: Lady Amber, perhaps Jasmine and Arya could be friends?
"Now, what you'll do is you will walk over at noon so they'll see you coming. you'll have to camp for the night, but mind! I'll be watchin' you so do even think about runnin' away. Got that?" Amaranith nodded quickly but kept her eyes downcast. "Now you won't be chained up 'cause that will give ya away, but if you so much as put a paw off course I'll come out there meself and whip you 'til you screem for mersy! Cringe!" he called. The rat came to him and said "Yes Chief?" "Take these away and put them on their journey at noon and not a moment sooner!" "Yes Chief." and he lead the slaves away.
Arya was now really, really connfused. She nodded in time, but just barely. Then she was lead away, shaking with fear, anger, and bewilderment.
OOC: I forgot to menchin that they were supposed to find out what was in Salamandastron, but consider it menchined.
BIC: Amaranith was staring blankly down at the ground, trudging behind the other slaves and Chinge. We're going to the fire mountain? But nobeast hass gone there before. How are we going to do this? Will we be given food for the journey? All these thing and many more she wondered about in the next couple hours, waiting for the time to come.
OOC@Cornflower: Sure, Jasmine and Arya can be friends!
BIC:
Jasmine walked slowly away, her thoughts all mixed up. What am I going to do? she thought. What are we going to do? she thought again, staring miserably back at the other four slaves who were going to accompany her. There was nothing they could do, she realized, except wait for noon and the journey ahead.
*It's noon*
"Alright stir your stumps! It's time to go." Cringe poked his head into the tent where they were preparing with everything they had. Amaranith stood up and slung her bag of belongings (which was very light) onto her sholder.
Arya had had her things ready and on her back, wrapped up in the filthy rag she used as a blanket oin her back for a long time. When Cringe said it was time to go, she stood, and waiting for Cringe's command to start walking.
"come on, you'll each get half a loaf of bread for the journey but no more. It's time to go." Amaranith was a little slow with starting so Cringe said "hey start goin'!" and whipped her back with the willow cane switch. Amaranith flinched started moving quickly to avoid the cane.
Vargha strained on his chains, the hordebeasts struggling to keep control of him. The wildcat hissed and spat, pulling this way and the other as they dug their paws into the sand for better footing. His arms were pulled out taut, and they dragged backwards on his chained neck as his footpaw chains were tugged forward. Landing heavily on his back, he thrashed about as he tried to get up.
"Hold him down!" He heard one scream. A bunch piled on top of him as they drove stakes into the sand for the chains. He stopped struggling, only breathing heavily as he looked at his oppressors. Vargha opened his mouth and snapped at the nearest one, making the ferret jump backwards. "Alright, leave a guard and get moving," another said. They all dispersed from the helpless wildcat.
Jasmine started walking along the dunes, staring ahead. Half a loaf of bread? she thought in disgust. That's hardly any! She shifted the small pack on her shoulders, squinting ahead to see if she could see the fire mountain.
Julian Tauriesan Longears observed the large vermin camp along with the large detatchment of the scum heading to the mountain. Standing up, tweaking his black handlebar mustache and then sped off, kicking up the gritty sand of the beach. Within 15 minutes later, the hare was now within the mountain complex, scaling the steps and stairs that lead to the private room of his ladyship. He knocked hard on the door, attempting to recompose himself. "Gah..haah..ma'arm..dont mean ta bother ya but I've got some bolly urgent news!"
OOC: just so you know, there are only 3 or 5 slaves heading towards the mountain and no horde beasts, so it isn't a big group, and they don't see the horde. :-\
OOC: I kinda want to have Vargha escape sometime.
OOC: If he did, then what would he do and where would he go?
OOC: . . . Erm. . . Dang nabbit, gotta think on that one.
Arya yawned, then coughed. She was in the back of the line, and the dust from everyone's paws made a bug cloud in the back.
Vargha saw out of the corner of his eye the small group of slaves headed toward the mountain. He hissed; if only he could be with that group. But he was far too dangerous a beast to be let loose. He was a trophy.
"Mintagerun!" He yelled. "Come and kill me! Claim your final victory over me! Or is the great Mintagerun afraid?"
Skyle walked along with Arya and Jasmine. He stared flatly at one of the vermin guards. His paw went to his belt, touched his hidden knife, and withdrew. The guard fidgeted under his stare. The message was clear: You are a deadbeast.
Jasmine trudged along, looking down at the sand her footpaws kicked up. She whacked a clump of grass with her walking stick, and sighed. Life was hard.
Arya coughed, for Jasmine's stick had kicked up a big cloud of dust that went into her face."Jasmine, could you put your stick down a little moregeently?" She asked politely, then coughed again from the dust from Skyle's paws.
Vargha continued to yell, challenging Mintagerun to fight.
Mintagerun stepped over to Vargha. "Oh I'm not afraid. I'd just rather see you starve to death than me just finishing you off in a second. No I like the more painful version of death." he grinned evilly.
"Pain? Bah!"
He spat at Mintagerun. "I'll show you pain once I get free!"
"Free?" Mintagerun smirked. "What do you know of freedom? All you do every day is sit around taking naps on the floor! You don't know What freedom is. And you never will!"
"I will escape and find out what freedom is. Then we will see who is on the floor. That is a promise."
Just then Cringe knocked out Vargha with a club.
OOC: Little bit of PP, but that's alright.
What is PP?
OOC: Power Playing, in other words, doing something to another person's character without their consent, i.e. killed him or her with a stab, lifted him off his paws, smacked her so hard she fell on the ground. Since Vargha is helpless at this moment, it is okay that you PPed him (knocked him out), but next time have your character do the action, like this: "Cringe swung at Vargha's head, intending to knock him out." You could mention in OOC that you want him knocked out, and I could post "Vargha lost consciousness as he was hit." ;)
OOC: Oh ok. that is helpful. ;)
Jasmine stopped whacking her stick around and said to Arya, " Arya, what do you think about going to the fire mountain?"
"It's...Odd. Why are we being sent to spy? What's so special about it? I have so many questions...." Arya said a little wistfully, then a really, really bad thought came to her. "Oh no! What if the creatures on the mountain aren't friendly, and take us as their slaves? Or worse, kill us?" She asked worriedly.
"Come on," Amaranith said assuradly, "They can't be any worse than Mintagerun's horde. If the are friendly then all the better for us."
Skyle twired his blackwood stick and whistled, thinking of his good fortune. Sent away from the horde with a weapon, only two vermin guards and three other slaves. Those vermin would rue the days they captured him and let him escape. They didn't even search him thoroughly, and let him keep his stick, which he was easily capable of using as a weapon.
One of the guards yelled at him for whistling. Skyle gave him a flat stare, and the guard shuddered and looked away. Losing all your family could have an effect like that...
Skyle on with eyes downcast, lost in half-memories of a family he no longer knew.
OOC Just so you know, there are no guards with them, just on the rocks surrounding the camp watching them. :-\
OOC: Lady Amber.....??
"But what if they are unfriendly?" Jasmine said, sounding worried."What will we do?" She whacked her stick on the ground again in agitation.
"I have no idea." Arya said truthfully. She frowned, then looked back. There seemed to be some sort of commotion, but since she was semi free, she didn't care. She faced front again.
OOC: I don't want to edit my post, so I'll just get rid of them.
BIC: The guards stopped them. "Go ahead scouting and come back, but remember, you can't run. We are watching you... If you don't come back, we'll know you are dead. Otherwise..." He trailed off menacingly.
Skyle had all intentions of escaping. The horde was large, but the would not come within range of the fire-mountain. Surely, they would not dare spread their forces so thin as to entirely surround the mountain! He knew the guards threats were just bluffs. And, there was always the ocean...
As the guards walked out of sight, He turned to the other slaves and spoke his first words in almost half a season.
"So. how would you like to escape?"
"Escape, how?" asked Jasmine. "The vermin are watching us so there's no way we can. But obviously I would like to," she added.
"Wait, what? It's not sensible right now. We only have half a loaf of bread each! And not much water. Besides that, you heard, they'll be watching. I'd love to escape, but when we have more provisions." Arya said firmly.
Skyle raised an eyebrow. "The vermin are too scared of the mountain to approach it. That's why the guards left. Once we get a bit farther, they won't be able to see us. They can't have surrounded the mountain, it's too big, and anyways, we can always escape by sea at low tide. I agree we need more vittles, but this mountain can't be entirely barren." He stooped and dug up a tuber. "See? Food. Better than what we get in the camp too." He shuddered in disgust. "I have a bit of know-how in these situations, I've been a wanderer for years. As long as we get away, we'll be fine. Once we're in some woodlands, then I can provide you with food fit for a king."
OOC: I thought Skyle couldn't talk. ???
OOC: It says on Wylder's character sheet that so far he hasn't spoken a word, but it doesn't say that he can't talk.
BIC: "Once we escape, where do we go?" questioned Jasmine."The vermin will track us down. And how will we escape by sea?" She sighed. Can we really do this? she thought.
OOC: oooooh..............OK!
BIC: Mintagerun watched the slaves talking together, and had no intention of letting them escape. "Cringe, get over here." Mintagerun yelled. "Right here Chief." "Assemble the horde here." "Right away Chief," and Cringe ran off to the tents and started kicking dozing soldiers and yelling at others to 'get a move on.'
"Hmm...Maybe." Arya said, then looked back, and saw the horde assembling. "Or maybe not...." She said, crestfallen.
Skyle followed her gaze. "Blast!" He grabbed up his stick and pulled Jasmine and Arya after him. "No time now! If we can get close enough to the mountain, they won't pursue, but now is no time for discussion!" He risked a glance back. "It may take a while for the horde to get ready, but if Mintegaerun is smart... Well, it will be best not to be here. I was already captured once, but I will die fighting or go down running this time!"
Vargha opened his eyes slowly, and painfully. The horde was moving. He strained his neck as he looked at the stakes that pinned his bonds to the ground. There was little hope there. But wait; yes! he thought. Some creature had slightly knocked loose one of the stakes holding his paw; probably by tripping on it. The wildcat tugged back and forth, slowly moving it from it's steadfast place.
Jasmine ran as fast as she could through the shifting sand. Will we make it to the mountain on time, or will the vermin catch up? she thought worriedly. She glanced back at the horde, fervently hoping they would not catch up.
Mintagerun drew two score rats aside and told them to circle around to the mountain, cutting off any means of escape, but leaving space for the slaves to get to the mountain and back. "Make sure you are not seen. If you are I'll have your heads on a pike!" "Right Chief." Many rats answered. And trotted away darting behind rocks and trees and bushes.
OOC: Please don't see these rats.
OOC: IT'S A MOUNTAIN!!! Twoscore rats could not surrround it! Maybe the whole horde if they spread their ranks disastrously thin... but it's too big just to cut off escape.
OOC: Yes, actually, they could surround it. What about the system used in Redwall? They spread out, so they next one along looks like a little dot, and Ta-da!
BIC: Arya was tugged along, and she started running as fast as her paws could take her. She was afraid to look back, so she didn't. For about five seconds. She looked, and saw the horde still busy assembling themselves.
OOC: Salamandastron wasn't even in Redwall...
BIC: The mountain loomed over the slaves as they continued their escape. They reached the face of the mountain after about ten minutes of running at top speed. Seeing no easy way to climb the face, they stooped and looked around to see what they could do. Just then, Skyle spotted an old oak tree washed up on the tide line. Turning to Jasmine and Arya, he pointed it out and said, "If we can get that tree into the ocean, we can ride the current north, around the horde and up towards Mossflower. I'm familiar with the area, so we should be able to evade... And anyways, Mintagaerun has plenty of slaves, it would be a tactical error to expose himself just for three. What do you think?"
"I don't know...I can climb this. I know I can....Maybe I should see who's here? Maybe they're friendly. It wouldn't take long." Arya said. She was scared of the water, since she couldn't swim, and you want to leap into the sea when you can't swim and you've got a heavy, furry, tail that holds in water? Not happening. No way.
Skyle raised an eyebrow. "Sure, we can climb it, but what about Jasmine? She's no squirrel. Going around the mountain would take too long... Mintagaerun could head us off with runners, and neither of you are armed. We have to do what is best for all of us. I'll leave no beast behind, even if it means fighting and dying while they escape. No, unless the mountain miraculously opens up in front of us, we'll have to escape by water. And I'm no otter..." suddenly Skyle looked a bit nervous, then put on a brave face. "Unless you've got a better idea, we don't really have a choice..."
Jasmine was worried. There was an army of vermin assembling behind them, a mountain in front of them, and the sea on their side. She had no idea what to do. "Well we better do something fast, they'll catch up to us," she said, as she looked behind them."Why don't we just start climbing?" She started scrambling up the mountain face, looking around for good pawholds.
"Right, that's obviously settled." Arya said firmly, hen grinned. "Here, I'll go right below you, and if you don't mind, I'll help a bit, too." She said more gently.
"Alright," Jasmine agreed, as she pulled herself up further. "I could use the help." She squinted ahead, trying to see the top of the mountain. "Do you think we'll get to the top in time?"
Skyle shook his head, "Girls. Never have understood them, never will." He clambered up the mountain with ease, staff clenched in his mouth, to a large ledge and reached a paw over and pulled Jasmine up. Just then, he noticed a well hidden circular indent in the rock. "Hello, what's this? It's just about the size of my staff..." He put the uncarved end in, but it ran into an obstruction before it could reach the end. "Darn it, it fits perfectly, like a key... but not quite!" He exclaimed frustratedly.
"Maybe...." Arya said, then saw something that looked like a window, or something above Skyle's head. "Hey, Skyle, what's that above you head?" She asked.
Vargha wrested the stake loose. With his free paw, he began to loosen the rest.
Skyle wrestled with his staff. "Hmm?" he asked, ot paying attention. Finally he flipped the staff over and reverently slid the carved end in. A sharp click echoed over the mountain. He gave the staff a half-twist, and a loud rumble came from the mountain. All of a sudden, a hole opened up beneath Skyle's footpaws and he fell...
"Really?!?!" Arya complained as she went over to the hole. She stopped and looked at the window-thingy. It was a window, yes, but it was covered with something.
---------------------------------------------------
Lady Bryony had covered her window with some sacking and was busy doing something when there was a rumble....And a shadow blocking the light from the sacking. She went over to her window and tore off the sack, and fiund herself face-to-face with a squirrelmaid.
Jasmine crawled over to where Skyle had disappeared , completely confused as to what had just happened. "Skyle, are you alright? Can you hear me?"
Skyle's voice echoed up from the hole, "I'm fine. There's some sacks down here that broke my fall. I'd suggest taking the stairs..."
Sure enough, there was a set of stairs going down into the pit. Skyle had been standing on the wrong end.
Skyle looked around the room. It was filled with sacks of grain, potatoes, and other vittles. There was a door at the far side of the closet, but it was covered in cobwebs and looked as though it had not been opened in many years. He shouted up, "Come on down! I found someplace we can hide from the horde!"
Arya stared at the huge badger lady in front of her face. The huge badger lady stared back. Finally, Lady Bryony broke the silence. "Who are you and why are you climbing Salamandastron?" Arya only squeaked. "Oh, I'm not going to hurt you." Bryony grunted, rolling her eyes.
Jasmine started climbing down the stairs, beckoning Arya with her paw. "Come on Arya," she called. "Skyle has found a hiding place!" She paused her descent, looking up to where Arya was." Is there anything in there?" she said, indicating the window.
"Yes....A very scary badger lady." Arya said.
"A badger lady?" Jasmine said incredulously, running back up the steps. "In this mountain?"
"Yes, my name is Bryony. The Badger Lady of Salamandastron, whih is the mountain you happen to be climbing. Now, would you like to come and meet the hares I commandm or not? I assume that's why you are climbing." Bryony said frankly.
Jasmine came up beside Arya, starting to explain."Hello Bryony,er,lady, I'm Jasmine, and we're not actually climbing your mountain to see you're hares. We're running away from Mintagerun, an evil fox who has captured us and made us slaves."
Skyle eased open the door. It opened into a large room, but the light from outside failed soon after the door. It was pitch black. He scrabbled for his tinderbox, and, finding it, lit a torch from a sconce on the wall. The room was illuminated. It showed a huge badger in a suit of armor, sword raised above it's head. Skyle closed his eyes, and brought his staff up to ward off the inevitable strike...
Nothing happened. It was just a suit of armor...
"I see. Well, have either of had a friend who's fallen down a hole in the past few minutes? Because someone activated the other exit from the place where we badgers go to do secret Badger Lord and Lady things." Bryony asked, looking gruffly at them.
Vargha was nearly free. Taking advantage of the horde's movement, he desperately pulled out the last stake. Laying back down for less suspicion, he waited for the opportune time to escape.
Jasmine continued. "Is that what that hole is?" she asked. "Our friend Skyle fell down there." She looked back down to where the vermin were. "Could we come in to escape from the vermin?"
"Yes, that would be where your friend Skyle fell.....Dod you say Horde?" She asked, then yanked both of them into the window, (Assumong that's all right, Amber?) turned them so they were facing the window, and started to open up her end of the place, muttering under her breath all the while.
OOC: That's fine.
BIC: Jasmine looked around the room. She had so many questions to ask, but decided to wait. She realized they were safe now, and relaxed.
Lady Bryony call, "Take two small steps back, and for me to get you. Alright?" She wanted them to see as less as possible of her room. Even the hares weren't allowed in without permission!
Skyle looked around the room. Behind the warding suit of armor, stood a large room. The walls were covered in ancient carvings of mysterious evnts. At one end stood a throne, with an ancient suit of badger armor in it. Skyle knelt reverently before it. Around the room were various treasures, weapons, armor, gold, gems... Then he noticed a curious statue. It was a full size replica of a badger lord, but he was clad in no armor, and carried no weapon. He wore only a simple tunic. His arms were outstretched and a look of wisdom and peace shone on his face. One of his hands appeared to be grasping something, but it was empty. Silently, Skyle placed his staff in the hand of the statue. It may have been just a trick of the light, but the statue appeared to wink at him. A grinding sound revealed the wall behind the statue swinging inward. Skyle picked up his torch and stepped in. The wall ground closed behind him.
OOC: When is Amarith going to post? She hasn't been on in 8 days!
BIC: "She's a bit grouchy, don't you think?" Jasmine said as she turned to Arya. She glanced across at the badger lady, then hurriedly looked away. No telling what she'll do to me for disobeying orders, she thought to herself.
"Sorry." Bryony apologized, since she';d heard Jasmine say that she was a bit grouchy. "But wouldn't you be a bit grouchy if you'd just received bad news?" She asked, then picked up Arya with her paws around her waist, and set her gently down. She'd noticed the muse's look, but decided not to say anything.
"Sorry," Jasmine mumbled, looking down at the floor. Feeling embarrassed, she turned towards the wall.
OOC: Ok I haven't benn on in a while so what is everyone doing?
Yirrit was disgusted by vermin feeding habits.It seemed that more food went into their fur or went flying than went into their mouths!Turning away, he thought of how the hares fed at Salamandastron.At least they had some type of manners,even though they were like fighting stomachs on legs!"That reminds me..."He said with concern in his voice.
Soon afterwards he went out of his ledge lean-to.He had a wash and then,looking carefully around for any vermin awake during the darkening night,moved out of the camp to give those hares a report on the happenings of Mingaturun's horde!Yirrit was a spy!!!
OOC: Um, not much. Skyle's fallen into a hole, and Bryony is getting him out, since the hole is actually one end of the secret badger route out. Arya and JAsmine are Bryony';s room, and Bryony's taking them with her to get Skyle. Oh, and Vargha's getting loose.
Vargha only had one guard to worry about. Crawling up behind him, he sprang up quickly, covering the weasel's mouth and snapping it's neck. Grabbing the spear the vermin dropped, the wildcat ran swiftly, ducking down occasionally, and crawling behind dunes, ever making his way toward a rocky pool for cover.
OOC: OK so Amaranith is probably with Arya.
BIC: Mintagerun looked at the horde assembled in front of him. "Now," he said loud enough for the rats to hear him but no one else. "you all are going to pack up and leave. While these 2 score ratssurround the mountain and block of all escape, the rest of you will be hiding in the woods as if you left. Make sure you let them see you leave. Any questions?" The hand of Cringe timidly rose up into the air. "Yes?" "Who is them? Your Ruthlessness." "The creatures inside the mountain you idiot!" Mintagerun almost shouted. "Well? Start moving!" There was a chorus of Yes Chiefs and a scramble to pack up the tents.
Splashing into the water, Vargha watched the horde. He tightened his grip on the spear when he saw Mintagerun, swearing silently that he would kill the fox.
Skyle found himself in a well-lit hallway. "Well, no need for this torch." He put it out against the ground. Just then, the wall closed behind him. He felt around, but found no opening mechanism. He put his torch in a nearby torch sconce, and noted a slight wobble in it. He drew a small, razor sharp knife and marked the wall with a symbol. Satisfied, he sheathed his knife in his belt and looked around. Seeing no other alternative, he walked down the hall.
Lady Broyony got Jasmine, then smiled at her, showing that she was friendly, and did not mean to task her grumpies oput on the little mouse. Then she put her down, and started walking down the hallway, calling, "Follow me!"
OOC: That OK?
Dawn was glad she wasn't one of the five chosen to go to the mountain, she hadn't the faintest idea what or who was inside it, which made her nervous. She glanced around at the rats guarding her and the rest of the slaves, all of whom held some kind of weapon at the ready, she knew there wasn't much chance of escape, but there was a chance, she just had to wait till the right time.
Amaranith followed Bryony out through the hallway, wondering where it went. Well, I'm going to find out soon. she thought.
OOC: @Cornflower, that's fine.
BIC: Jasmine followed Bryony and the others through the hall.
Lady Bryony moved a door, and saw a dark brown sqwuirrel in front of her. "Hey, you!" She said, raising an eyebrow.
Skyle blinked, startled. "Lady Bryony, of Salamandastron, I presume?"
Amaranith stared back and forth between Skyle and Lady Bryony thinking, If Mintagerun doesn't know what is in the mountain, then how does Skyle know who Bryony is if we only just met her?
Jasmine, surprised that Skyle knew Bryony's name, stepped forward. "How did you know?" she asked.
"Yes, how did you?" Bryony said, frowning. She sighed, "Well, I believe that we might go up to my room to discuss this further? All of you have seen more of this aspect of my mountain than you should have." Bryony said firmly.
OOC: Hey, Amber, could you post as your hare? 'Cause we're gonna need her soon.
Sage Winthrop was walking down the hall, past the badger lady's room. She paused, hearing faint talking coming from somewhere in the room. She put her ear to the door, trying to make out any words. She heard voices that she couldn't recall ever hearing, and, curiosity overcoming her, she opened the door a crack and peeped in.
Skyle raised an eyebrow. "It's a bit difficult to be a traveller in the south and not hear tell of Salamandastron. There are not that many hollow mountains around. I wasn't sure at first, but the badger armor in that secret room convinced me. I've been around the south since..." He trailed off and looked uncomfortable. "But, I'm sure we have more pressing things to talk about than my life story. For example, the vermin horde outside Salamandastron?"
"We'll talk about that in my room." Brypony said again, more firmly, then pivoted and started walking down the hall again.
Skyle follwed her, and motioned for Arya, Jasmine, and Amarinth to come along.
Amaranith followed Skyle and Lady Bryony back to her room.
Vargha had speared a small fish, and sat eating it raw as he watched the horde. The wildcat spat out a bone. "C'mon, give me the right moment, Mintagerun! When you make your first mistake, I'll make you not forget it."
Jasmine followed the others along the passage.
***********************************************************
Seeing no one in the room, Sage stepped inside. "Hello?" the haremaid said. "Anybeast here?"
Dawn sat in the sand, the sun hot sun beating down on her back. Looking up at the rat guard she said, "Please, uh sir can I have some water?" Wiping a paw across his nose, he yelled out to a passing rat, "Oi, you there! Get some water over 'ere!" The rat quickly obeyed, and brought a small half filled pail of water. The guard rat picked it up and drunk most of it, leaving a small bit in the bottom which he gave to Dawn. "There's your water!" he said.
Arya followed everyone else following the Badger Lady.
--------------------------
Bryony was just reaching the end of the tunnel whenb she heard one of her hares, Sage, up above. "Sage? What is it?" She called.
Sage, realizing that she shouldn't have just come in like that, quickly apologized. "Sorry m'Lady, I should have knocked. You see, I heard somebeasts talkin' and wondered who it jolly well was, so I came in."
When finnaly all the tents were packed up Mintagerun gave the order and the horde began marching into the woods.
"Oh, 'tis alright." Bryony said, her head popping up out of the hole in the floor. The hole was a slightly different way to get to the route in her room. In fact, it actually came up just behind the door.
OOC: What just happened? When did the badger fall in a hole? Where are we going?
OOC: Wylder, have you ever head of TRAP DOORS?!?!?!?!!?
OOC: There wasn't a trap door in the floor before this.
OOC: Huh....?? Ah, I know how to fix this!
OOC: OK that makes sence.
OOC: Okay, good! Thought that might do the trick.
Jasmine climbed up beside Bryony, looking across at the haremaid.
"Hmm..I suppose I ought to get out of this hole, and help you youn 'uns oput." Lady Bryony said, then grunted as she heaved herself out of the hole. "Whew! I'm not as fit as I was last time I came up out of there.Not enough battle training, I suppose. But then, the hares no longer want to practice with me. I wonder why." Brytony was quite puzzled by this enigma, and her brow furrowed as she leaned down and picked Jasmine, then Arya, up out of the hole.
OOC: I suppose that's alright, Amber?
Amaranith poked her head up out of the hole and looked around the room from which in came up.
"Now you." Bryony said, as she reached for Amaranith.
Skyle made a spectacular leap, grabbed the side of the pit and clambered up. He leaned over to help the next beast up.
OOC: @Cornflower, yup that's fine!
BIC: Jasmine's stomach growled noisily, and it was then that she realized she was hungry.
"Oh, dear! I'm a very bad hostess...I'm sorry." Bryony apologized as she picked up Amaranith ((I'm guessing that's alright, Ami?)) When she put her down, she turned to Sage, "Sage, could you find some refreshments for our guiests? Thank you."
Skyle helped first Amarinth, then Arya up the shaft and into the hallway. Turning to the badger he asked, "I don't suppose you have any hotroot, do you?"
"Of course, m'lady," Sage replied, heading for the door. Pausing, she turned to Skyle ad said,"No, don't think we do have hotroot." Turning, she opened the door, and walked briskly down the stairs and into the mess hall. From there she went to the kitchens, where she told the cook about their guests. " Could you please prepare some food for 'em?" she asked. The cook, a friendly harewife, smiled. "Sure I can," she said, and began putting things on a couple of trays.
OOC: yes that is fine!
BIC: "mmm! Just thinking of food makes me hungry!" Amaranith said, who had already eaten her bread a long time ago. "I don't suppose you'd have any blackberry tart with meadow cream, would you? That's my favorite!"
Quote from: Cornflower MM on May 26, 2014, 11:53:24 PM
"Hmm..I suppose I ought to get out of this hole, and help you youn 'uns oput." Lady Bryony said, then grunted as she heaved herself out of the hole. "Whew! I'm not as fit as I was last time I came up out of there.Not enough battle training, I suppose. But then, the hares no longer want to practice with me. I wonder why." Brytony was quite puzzled by this enigma, and her brow furrowed as she leaned down and picked Jasmine, then Arya, up out of the hole.
OOC: I suppose that's alright, Amber?
OOC: Wylder - Take a look at this.Yeesh! Out of the hole, into the corridor from whence they came.... ::)
BIC: Arya put her food choice forward rather hesitantly. "Or vegetable and nut soup?" She asked. She'd never seen it, exactly, but another squirrel who'd actually had a life outside slavery had told her it was amazing.
OOC: Look at what?
BIC: Skyle thought for a moment. "You don't mind if I have access to the kitchens for a while? I have a favorite recipe I'd like to cook..." He stopped. "Never mind. I'll eat later. We have more important things to discuss..."
OOC: *Facepalm*
Quote"Hmm..I suppose I ought to get out of this hole, and help you youn 'uns oput." Lady Bryony said, then grunted as she heaved herself out of the hole. "Whew! I'm not as fit as I was last time I came up out of there.Not enough battle training, I suppose. But then, the hares no longer want to practice with me. I wonder why." Brytony was quite puzzled by this enigma, and her brow furrowed as she leaned down and picked Jasmine, then Arya, up out of the hole.
OOC: I suppose that's alright, Amber?
See it NOW?!?!?!
Mintagerun's horde was finnaly under the cover of the forest so the horde started to set up the tents in a small clearing.
After the cook had prepared the trays, Sage took them up to Bryony's room. Her arms being full, she banged on the door with her footpaw calling, " Could somebeast open the blinkin' door?"
Amaranith hurried to the door and opened it for Sage. "MMM! It smells so good!"
Sage hurried through the doorway, the trays almost falling as she set them on the table. "Phew!" she exclaimed, sitting down. "That was quite a load!"
OOC: What time is it?
OOC: I think it's about evening.
BIC: The two score rats had finally surrounded the mountain, but were still hidden and out of sight. It had taken them all afternoon without stopping to get around it, but they finally had. There was no escape for the slaves now!
Arya walked over to the tray, and her eyes widened. She'd never seen so much good food in one place! Lady Bryony chuckled at her, "Go on, it won't bite you." She said, with a laugh.
Amaranith took a turnip pastie and took a big bite out of it. "Mmm! That is so good!" She reached for bowl of soup and started spooning great spoonfuls into her already full mouth. "Mmf..........omn............mmmm.......Nom nom nom."
Jasmine took a bowl filled with vegetable soup and started slurping it down, meanwhile reaching for a beaker of dandelion tea. "This is the best food I've ever tasted!" she exclaimed.
Arya grabbed a oatmeal scone spread with with jam and meadowcream, and her eyes widened with amazement. She didn't knpw food could taste that good! When she finished that, she grabbed a beaker of raspberry cordial, drank some of it, then reached for nut and vegetable soup. Her eyes opened wider. Soon, she was full.
Amaranith finnished her pastie and soup and reached for a cup of stawberry cordial.
Arya sipped at her cordial, then stared into the bottyom of the empty cup. Lady Bryony gently took from her and refilled it, then handed it back. "Thanks." She said, then started sipping it again.
Skyle sat quietly spooning up soup, taking bites out of crusty bread and yellow cheese, and sipping cordial. He was surprised that the other slaves never knew what good food tasted like. He supposed they had been captured when they were very small... He frowned. Mintagaerun would pay steeply for what he had done to him... done to all of them.
Sage was feeling a bit hungry herself, so she grabbed a pastie and a cup of strawberry cordial and started eating.
Turning to Arya, she smiled and said, "What's your name?"
"Arya, Ma'am." Arya said, quite frankly surprised the hare was talking to her....Arya was, after all, lower than her. Right? Lady Beryony talking to her amazed her too. They were both about her: This hare seemed to be one of the badger's fighters. And the badger, was the ruler of the mountain!
"You don't have to call me ma'am," Sage said. "Call me Sage, after all, it is my name."
"Okay, then...Sage." Arya said, rather befuzzled. The hare who was above her wanted Arya to call her by her first name? Okay. If that was what she wanted. I
Dawn had racked her brain many times before, thinking of possible ways to escape but all her plans were highly unlikely, not to mention highly risky. It was times like these, she thought there really was no escape.
Skyle put down his cup and looked around. "I'm sorry to be the one, but, we really do have more urgent topics to discuss. Lady Bryony, I hope you know about the vermin horde outside your mountain intent on its capture? we really do need to take care of it..."
"Yes, I know. Actually, I thjought to put that for a tad bit longer, while you met my Captains, Lieutenants, and Majors." She said, taking a sip of ale, then continued. "Then, we could all discuss this." She said.
Vargha had snuck closer, wriggling on his belly and generally trying to stay out of sight. Seeing a rat guard give a slave (Dawn) some water, he had a mind to mess with the vermin. Picking up a stone, he hefted it in his paw, then threw it directly at the guard's head. Without waiting to see the result, he hurried back to this hiding.
Skyle frowned. "Excuse me, milady, but I think social calls should be paid later. Every moment we spend sitting here is another moment those vermin are out slaying woodlanders' families and enslaving those they don't kill!"
Bryony smacked her forehead with one paw. "Shut your trap, and listen closely, young squirrel." She growled. "I call my Officers up here. Introductions are necessary. Then, while we're all; gathered, we talk. Comprende?"
Skyle gota strange look on his face, half smiling and half frowning. "Please, do it with all speed then..." He turned back and sipped contemplatively at his cordial.
Bryony muttered something under her breath about what they taught beasts these days, and turned to Sage. "Sage, dear, can you round up the Officers? Take your time, dearie." She said, adding the last sentence merely to show Skyle that she wasn't in a big hurry. Her eyes told another story, however, and urged the hare to hurry.
Sage nodded, swallowing a bite of pastie. "Sure m'lady," she said. Striding across the room, she opened the door and walked down the hall. Running down the stairs, she looked around the mess hall for the officers.
Skyle frowned, puzzled. It was perfectly sensible to hurry, so why did Lady Bryony have to keep one-upping him? All it did was take time and energy from more important things...
He shook his head. "Girls..."
Arya looked up from where she had been sipping her cordial and watching the conversation. "What did you just say, Skyle?" She asked sweetly.
Dawn let out a yelp as a rock hit the guard standing next to her. She stared at the unconscious rat, then reached out and grabbed a dagger from the rat's belt. She quickly buried it in the sand, just as another guard came running up. "What's goin' on 'ere!" he yelled. Dawn tried to look innocent, which she always found hard. She pointed over to a rat sitting in the sand, "He threw a rock at him." she said. The rat immediately started kicking the unfortunate rat Dawn had pointed out.
OOC: We need Sparks of Southsward to post soon!
BIC: Sage made her way to a group of officers seated at a table. "Excuse me sahs, but Lady Bryony wants you to come to her room, because there's a blinkin' horde of vermin approachin' the mountain," she said calmly like it was something that happened everyday.
OOC: Yeah, we do.....But he's not on much! GRRRRR!
Skyle raised an eyebrow at Arya. "Girls. Incomprehensibility, that's what! I have better things to be doing then to sit here, drinking cordial!" He clenched his fists. "I have a responsibility!"
"And what is that?" Arya asked, then sighed, "I suppose it has something to do with what's happened before you were captured...." She said wistfully, then sighed.
A tear slipped from the corner of Skyle's eye. He quickly wiped it away, and, when he saw Arya was watching him, blushed and looked at the floor. "Look... We'll... We'll talk about it later, OK?"
"If it makes you feel any better, at least you had a life before slavery. I didn't.": She said gently, then sniffed loudly.
Skyle closed his eyes and sighed. "Well... I kind of did..."
"At least you weren't born into it, correct?" Arya asked, staring miserably into the bottom of her cordial.
He winced. "I kind of... don't remember it..."
Arya looked up. "You don't remember it? That's horrible!" She said, sympathetic. "Kinda looks like we're in similar boats." She joked. True, it was rather lame, but she hadn't had much practice.
Skyle looked at the ground. "Like I said... We'll talk about it later... Anyways, Lady Bryony's officers are coming in."
OOC: Hey Amy I posted up another character sheet in the OOC thread.
OOC: I PMed Sparks of Southsward yesterday, he hasn't replied yet so I guess we'll have to go on without him.
BIC: The officers stood up hurriedly and started towards Bryony's room, meanwhile asking questions. "Vermin, y'say missie? Where exactly are they? Right by the mountain or farther down shore?" Sage led the way up the stairs saying, "You'll find out about all that once we get to the Lady's room, sah!" She opened the door and walked in, followed by the officers.
********************************************************************************************
Jasmine continued eating while listening to Arya and Skyle's conversation, and looked up when Sage and the officers came in.
"Arya immediately stood up when the officers came in, and offered an elderly one her chair. He took, grumbling his thanks. She kept standing, as it was ingrained in her.
Skyle stood up and began pacing around the room, something he often did when deep in thought. He greeted each of the officers absentmindedly, waiting for the council to begin in earnest.
When Vargha did look to see what had come of his stone-throwing, he had to smile with grim satisfaction as the two rats fought. Little by little, he would get his revenge.
Arya waited for Lady Bryony to speak, which she did after settling a small dispute between a few young hares that were right outside her door. "Alright. Skyle. Arya. Jasmine. Amarinith. Please tell my officers what you have told me." She rumbling. Arya gulped, and did not volunteer.
OOC: Changed! Now, I honestly don't know how to sum this up, so I'd really prefer someone else did.
OOC: I got your back!
BIC: Skyle began with a recounting of the size of the horde, its composition and such, and moved on to telling of their excursion up the mountain. He mentioned that the horde seemed to have a superstitious fear of the mountain, and how Mintegaerun seemed to be interested in it.He finished by reviewing the strategic placement of the army. "Any questions?" He finished.
Amaranith looked out of the window and said, "Arya, can you see the vermin horde? It looks like they've left."
"No.....I can't.....Arya said slowly then lookedat Lady Bryony. The badger's eyes were wide, but then she issued orders. "Sergeant HareBell! Get some runners out there, with orders not to get too close. Colonel, I want this mountain getting ready for war! Start barring the arrow slits. Sage, I want to see ever"single hare, squirrel, mouse, whoever, equipped with weapons and/or armor." The Badger Lady commanded.
"What can we do to help, Lady Bryony?" Skyle asked, clenching and unclenching his paws with the urge to help in some way.
"Stay still for now." Lady Bryony said. "You'll be helping to defend." She added.
"Lady Bryony?" Arya piped up nervously, then she coughed and went on, "I'm pretty sure I can shoot a bow." She said, then the badger told one of the officers who was in charge of the weapons to get her a bow., and to get them all swords.
"Yes, m'lady," Sage said, saluting. Hurrying down the stairs to the mess hall she announced, "Attention everybeast, there are vermin out to attack Salamandastron! Lady Bryony wants you all equipped with weapons and armor, now!"
Dawn looked up at the sky, it was starting to get dark. Soon she would put her plan into action. When it grew dark enough she would dig up the dagger and pick the lock on her chains. All there was to do now was wait, and try not to think of what would happen to her if she were caught.
OOC: Would someone else PLEASE PP the other officers? I don't much like intercating with me self.....
BIC: Arya was looking at everyone else, trying to understand everything. Then Lady Bryony came over with a female hare on her right and a male one on her left. "Arya, you, Amarinith, and Jasmine shall go with Bella here, to get you cleaned up and get some rooms, unless you'd prefer to share one. Up to you." She said, then left, leaving Bella with the three girls. "Come along, chapesses!" She said kindly. "Lady Bryony needs to talk with the Officahs now."
Lady Bryony was now approaching Skyle, and telling hm the same thing, only he was to go with Tybuck, the male hare.
Amaranith moved away from the window to follow bella.
OOC: If I was one of the officers would I be him/her for the entire time, or just for now?
OOC: Whichever you want.....Um, lemme put it this way:
If you make a sheet for one of the officers, then you have to be him/her for the rest of the RP, unless he/she dies.
If you PP him/her, other people may play him/her, and you can use them for the whole thing (And if you play him/her for a long time, I reccomend making a sheet), or you can shocve them off into the sidelines.m Forever.
Jasmine followed Bella down the hall.
*******************************
Meanwhile Sage was handing out weapons and armor to all the hares, with help from a few others.
OOC: I would but I already have 3 characters and so I'm pretty occupied at the moument without another one.
OOC: It doesn't have to be a long time thing.
I'm not sure you got it....Okay, here's an example: In TQFTBT, I was PPing an Abbey Sister by the name of Anise. I was even debating making her a sheet. But I never did. So she wasn't my charrie. And now it's like Anise was never there.
Skyle cocked his eyebrow. "Is that so, eh? I've got some talents I'm sure none of your hares have got. I've fought Mintegaerun before, and I know the horde. I can keep up with the best of your hares, I can be a spy, and I'm a squirrel."
He reverently pulled out a plain but sturdy hilt with part of a broken blade attached to it. "But stay or go, I need a blade..."
"I'll consider it." Lady Bryony growled. "You're to go with Tybuck for now. He'll shoe you to a room where you may sleep and get cleaned up."
Skyle bowed. "As you wish, milady." He followed the hare down the hall and down some stairs and into his room.
"Finally." Lady Bryony muttered as she turned to the table that had been hastily set up in her room, and waited for her hares to speak.
OOC: Is it dark yet?
"So, should we share a room or have separate ones?" Jasmine asked Arya and Amaranith, as they walked along.
" It doesn't matter much to me. I mean, I'd like to see what it's like, not having other beasts around, but on the other paw, I'd like having some company.". Arya said, rather embarrassed.
"It's alright with me if we share a room," Jasmine replied, following Bella into a room.
"I'd rather have my own room tonight." Amaranith said to Jasmine and Arya.
Bella had been listening, and turned around, "So, two rooms?" She asked, not unkindly.
"I guess," Jasmine said, looking around the room.
"Alright. Here, you two can share this one, since it's bigger than the one across the hall, which you, m'dear, can have. Hunky-dorey? I'll be back in a moment." The hare said, leaving the room and expecting Amarinith to follow. Arya looked at Jasmine, and said quietly, "Thanks, Jasmine. If you don't want to share a room, you don't have to."
"It's alright," Jasmine said, "I kind o' want some company too." She sat down on a bed, tired from the day's excitement.
Amaranith stepped out of the room and followed Bella down the hall to her bedroom.
"Okay." Arya said, rather happily. She sat down on the other bed, and stroked the quilt with her paw.
Sage hurried up the stairs to Bryony's room. Opening the door, she walked in. "Everybeast is armored and armed, m'lady!" she said, saluting.
"Good!" The badger rumbled.
OOC: WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE PP THOSE STINKING OFFICERS ALREADY?!?!?!!?!?
"So, you say there's vermin about?" one officer said, worriedly. "Do you know exactly where they are?"
"Well, the escapees said that they were over that way, but moved." Bryony said, gesturing at the direction Skyle had said.
"Well, we'd best think up a blinkin' plan, wot!" he said, determinedly.
*******************************************************
Jasmine lay back on the bed, relaxing her tired muscles."When was the last time you had a proper bed?" she asked Arya.
Arya bit her lip. "Umm....Never." She said finally.
"Does that mean you've been a slave all your life?" Jasmine asked.
"Yes. I was born into it." Arya said, a tad bit sadly.
Skyle glanced around his room. He was not in the least bit tired. Nothing had been going his way thus far... For a badger Lady dedicated to protecting the southern coast, Lady Bryony sure was taking her own sweet time of it.
He hopped out the window and onto a ledge below. He fancied a bit of reconnaissance...
"Oh, that's awful!" Jasmine exclaimed.
"Not really. I never knew what I was missing." Arya said, then shrugged. It had been a way of life.
"True," Jasmine said quietly, realizing how fortunate she was to have had a life outside of slavery.
"Well, tell me about the time before you got captured." Arya said, eager to hear about a life that wasn't slavery.
"Well, I lived with my father and mother in a house in the forest," Jasmine began,"along with my younger brother. We had an orchard and we grew crops; it was nice and peaceful there." She smiled wistfully, remembering her old home.
Arya smiled, waiting for Jasmine to continue.
"We would go out and work everyday in the garden and orchard," Jasmine continued, "while my father would work in the fields. I also had my own garden plot."
"That soudns wonderful." Arya murmured.
OOC: WHERE IS EVERYBLINKINGONE?!?!?!?!?!?!??
OOC: ^ I'm uh, *coughs* waiting for it to get dark so I can dig up me dagger.
OOC: Okay....But where's Ami? And Rain?
OOC: I don't ken.
"It was," Jasmine said.
***********************************************************
Sage sat down asking,"Is there anything else you want me to do, m'lady?"
OOC: Russa, perhaps you'd like to PP one of the officers?
BIC: "Your head could be used for planning, Sage." Bryony said, unroling a map.
"I am yours to command!" Sage said, looking at the map.
Quote from: Cornflower MM on July 15, 2014, 11:30:56 PM
OOC: Russa, perhaps you'd like to PP one of the officers?
OOC: Uh, I'm not too good at planning stuff, but I guess I could.
BIC: One of the officers stepped forward, "Excuse my ignorance M'lady, but where exactly is the enemy at the moment?"
"Good." Bryony aid, looking at the map. At the Officer's question, she put her paw on a spot on the map. "Right here is where they were last seen. Sage! Go get some runners. Tell them to scout out around the mountain, and where the horde was, or is. And tell them not to be seen, under any circumstances, and to report back at midnight." She commanded.
Another officer stood up, "Should I inform the troops of the situation?" he asked.
"Righto!" Sage said, leaping up."Anything else?"
"Yes, please, Grady." The Badger said, her eyes flicking to the window.
OOC: Did you say that to the officer or Sage?
OOC: Both.
OOC: I'm guessing Grady's the officer? :P
OOC: Yes.
OOC: What is the thing Bryony wanted Sage to do?
OOC:
Quote from: Cornflower MM on July 16, 2014, 06:17:34 PM
"Good." Bryony aid, looking at the map. At the Officer's question, she put her paw on a spot on the map. "Right here is where they were last seen. Sage! Go get some runners. Tell them to scout out around the mountain, and where the horde was, or is. And tell them not to be seen, under any circumstances, and to report back at midnight." She commanded.
OOC: Hi guys, sorry.
BIC: Amaranith looks around her room and notices a window not to far from the ground with many ridges underneath. There was also a small bed in the corner and a wash stand. She was very tired and lay down to rest.
Sage went off down the stairs, coming to a halt in front of a group of hares. Knowing several of them to be runners, she said in a commanding tone,"You five there, Lady Bryony says for you to go scout around where the bally vermin are and have been, and not to be seen under any circumstances. You're to report back at midnight!"
The hares marched off, glad to be doing something.
OOC: Um, leverets don't usually do field duty...
BIC: Skyle wandered around, climbing up and down the mountain, not for any purpose, just working restless energy off. He scaled sheer walls and jumped chasms. Once the night was over, he climbed up to top of Salamandastron and sat looking at the sunrise, lost in thought.
Arya yawned. Sleep was sounding pretty dang good.
OOC @Wylder: Okay, I changed it. BIC:
Jasmine yawned, too."I suppose we should be going to bed," she said.
************************************************************
Sage walked up the stairs, opening the door to Bryony's room. "Done as you asked, wot!" she announced.
OOC: Hello? Anyone going to post?
OOC: I can't really do much until the hares attack the vermin. :P
OOC I dc on know what to do. We need Ami. And more people.
Dawn started digging up the dagger she had buried earlier in the day. She finally found it, and pulled it out of the sand then proceeded to pick the lock on her chains. She let out a sigh of relief as her chains fell off, she was relatively close to freedom. Quietly she tip toed out of camp.
OOC: Where's Ami???
OOC: I know, she has to post.
BIC: Jasmine slipped on a nightgown and lay down, closing her eyes.
Arya also put on a nightgown, then proceeded to tear the fabric, and made the bottom into pants-ish. Satisfied, she slept.
Amaranith lay in her bed tossing and turning from troubled dreams. Suddenly she woke with a start. It was about midnight. Amaranith got up and went to the window. She got a piece of paper and a quill from the ledge and wrote a note.
Dear everyone,
You should understa\
\
\
Suddenly Amaranith was grabbed from behind and a smelly bandana was stuffed in her mouth. She couldn't scream, but she kicked over the wash stand which made a loud clatter when it hit the stone floor. Amaranith couldn't see her captors, as she was being dragged out the window from behind. She tried holding on with her legs, but only succeeding in delaying them for a second. once she was properly bound and gagged, she got a first glimpse of the creatures. It was a group of three rats, plus the one that was holding her.
"Come on, let's get back before they realize she's gone." said the biggest rat.
And so she was pulled along back through the woods and into the middle of a vermin camp where Mintagerun sat on a throne of sorts.
"Well, well, well.... Scumsnout, you've done well, you and your troop will have double supper tomorrow evening. And as for you," Mintagerun said to Amaranith, "You must pay the price for disobeying orders. Unless you want to tell me what is in that mountain, if you do I will not harm you. If you don't....." He trailed away menacingly.
"I would never tell you anything about where my friends are." Amaranith said, defiantly.
"Well, by the way you just said that it sounds like your friends are in good hands. But since you didn't tell me that........... Scumsnout! Put her in the pit and put bars on top so she can't escape. We'll see what her friends will do for her if they know she's in danger!" And with that, Amaranith was dragged away.
Jasmine was almost asleep when she heard a clatter in the next room. Sitting up, she walked towards the door, careful not to wake Arya.
It's probably just Amaranith, she thought to herself. Still, I better go check.
Opening the door, she walked out into the hall. She opened Amaranith's door softly, peaking inside. Looking around, she saw the knocked over wash stand. She walked over to Amaranith's bed and saw that she wasn't there!
Looking around frantically, she called, "Amaranith, Amaranith where are you?"
Vargha had watched Dawn escape, and followed her from a ways off, making sure she would escape. It wasn't as much that he cared about her, but if it would be a blow to Mintagerun, he would do it.
Arya was woken by Jasmine, and tensed. Getting up, she walked across the hall. "Where is she?!" She said softly.
"I don't know," Jasmine answered worriedly. "I heard a noise in here and got up to see what it was but she's gone!"
Walking over to the windowsill, she felt her paw brush something. Looking down, she saw a piece of paper floating to the ground. She picked it up. She could barely make out the few words written on it in the dim light. "Arya, I found a piece of paper," she said. "There's something written on it but I can't make it out in the dark."
Dawn ran through the forest, looking for a suitable place to spend the rest of the night. She quickly spotted a small cave, hollowed out of the bank of a small stream. Knowing this was probably the best shelter she'd get at this point, she scrambled inside and piled dead leaves in front of the entrance.
Jasmine lit a candle and read out loud what was written on the paper. "Dear everyone, you should understa; that's all it says." She held it out for Arya to see.
Vargha had followed Dawn up to this point, and considered leaving her there. Something inside him told him she would need help, and he went cautiously up to the cave entrance, knocking on the stone with his spear. "Hello."
Dawn was drifting off to sleep when she heard something metallic bang on rock, and some one yell 'hello'. She tensed and then drew the dagger she had stolen. "Who's there?"
"My name is Vargha, mouse. I'm a wildcat: are you surprised? No, I'm not here to hurt you; you're not who I wish to destroy. Mintagerun is who'll face my wrath." He paused a moment and gritted his teeth, not really wanting to pose the question. "Do you wish to see the other slaves in the mountain, or what? I'll be able to help."
OOC: Dawn is actually a squirrel. ;D
BIC: Dawn just sat there for a couple of seconds, then in a voice that sounded like an infant vole she once knew, she said, "Who's in the mountain besides the other slaves?"
OOC: Ah. . . :P
BIC: Vargha thought for a moment. "I've heard of this mountain, Salamanton or something, the mountain of the fire lizard. Rumors are there's hares who serve some lord inside, but other than that, I only know that Mintagerun wants it."
Dawn was still a bit wary of the wildcat, she put the dagger back in her belt but still kept her paw on it. "Most hares are friendly." she said. "And if it's the safest place at the moment then I'll go."
Vargha didn't care if the squirrel might be scared of him; fear was healthy. "Are we going now?" he asked.
OOC:I guess I'll takeover Arya until Cornflower gets back.
BIC:Arya took the paper and looked it over."We better go tell Bryony." They went off down the hall together, wondering what had happened to Amaranith. Knocking on the badger lady's door, Jasmine called out,"May we come in?"
Dawn crawled out of the cave and stood up,"Lets go."
OOC: Can someone operate Bryony?
OOC: No need.
BIC: Bryony grunted, sitting upright suddenly and almost banging her head on her knee. "Come in." She called sleepily, getting out of the bed.
Jasmine opened the door."Do you know where Amaranith is?" she asked.
"Wha-? WHo?" The badger asked sleepily, then the words registered. "Amaranith's missing? Well, what are you waiting for, an invitation? Rouse the garrison!" Bryony said, tugging on a robe over her night shirt, then going to the hall and calling, "Hares! Wake yourselves up!"
Sage heard Bryony's shouts and sat up in her bed. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she swung her legs over the edge and stood up. I better go see what's the matter, she thought to herself.
OOC: Someone post!
OOC: I'm waiting for Skarz.
OOC: Amber, remember your OOC:s. And, I really don't know what to do. It's at times like these when we need our GM.
OOC: Sorry.
BIC: "Alright," Vargha grunted, and began walking back toward the mountain.
Dawn followed cautiously, she was still somewhat uneasy.
Skyle looked down the face of the mountain absently- then jumped up. Some of Mintegaerun's hordebeasts were on the mountain- and they had... Amarinth, was it? regardless, he slipped down the rock wall and folowed them into their camp. Recapturing escaped slaves? Not on my watch, he thought.
OOC: @Wylder: Mintagerun isn't on the mountain, just four rats.
BIC: Sage ran down the corridor and through the mess hall, hurrying past hares who had just woken up. Arriving at Bryony's side, she asked,"What is it, m'lady?"
"We're missing Whatshername, Amarinth. Come on, spread out and start combing this mountain from top to bottom."
Sage started down the hall, deciding to begin looking around the room the mousemaid had slept in. Walking through the open doorway, Sage went to the bedside table and lit a candle. She looked around. Noting that the washstand was knocked over, she said aloud to herself,"I wonder how that got knocked down?"
********
Jasmine walked over to Bryony."We found this by the window in Amaranith's room," she said, holding up the piece of parchment."It's some sort of note."
The Badger held out her paw. "May I?"
Jasmine handed the parchment to Bryony, then stood there, waiting to hear what the badger had to say. She wondered once more where Amaranith could possibly be.
Bryony scanned it once, twice, three times, the crumpled it. "Hmph." She muttered.
Vargha kept walking at the same pace, making sure Dawn was following him. He turned back, scanning the land for any sign of danger. The mountain was coming gradually closer, but still pretty far off.
Jasmine wondered why Bryony had crumpled the parchment, but kept quiet. Instead, she started off down the hall."I guess I'll go help look for Amaranith," she said, then turned around, saying,"What do you think she was going to tell us?" She knew the question sounded stupid, because how could Bryony know, but she felt compelled to say something.
"How should I know, little one?" The Badger Lady said gently, sytriding forward to join her.
As they walked on Dawn heard a twig snap behind them, she nudged Vargha. "Did you hear that? she whispered.
Vargha's ear twitched as he heard the sharp snap, but he continued walking. "Act naturally," he hissed. "On my mark, we turn. Ready?" He waited a moment. "Now!"
Dawn spun around to face what was following them, it was dark so she could only see his silhouette. "Who's there?" she called out.
Sage walked out into the hallway. She saw Jasmine and Bryony coming toward her and called out,"I looked in her room; the blinkin' wash stand somehow got knocked over. Has anybeast else found any clue to where she is yet?"
"No." The badger said. Then Bryony sighed. "Get a search party t'gether and start scouting around outside."
Quote from: Russa Nodrey on September 05, 2014, 06:25:27 PM
Dawn spun around to face what was following them, it was dark so she could only see his silhouette. "Who's there?" she called out.
OOC: I'm not sure how to respond to this, Russa.
OOC: Hmm, yeah...I guess you can decide who's there, I don't have too many idea right now.
Sage saluted, then ran off down the passage. Gathering a group of hares, she told them what they needed to do and they went off in search of Amaranith.
OOC: *Bumps topic*
OOC: I don't know what to do. Maybe we should let this one die? Ami's gone.
OOC: Yeah, I don't know what she was planning for this...
OOC: I haven't actually made the hares that Bryony sent out to see where the vermin are report back yet...
OOC: No, Amber, but we're lost without Ami. We can't continue like this.
OOC: Agreed.
OOC: Yeah...Have any of you PMed her?
OCC:I have not posted because I have not been in contact for a while .will introduce my character tommorow(after reading the new developments)!!sorry!!! :( :D :( :D
OOC: Um, Will, we've decided to let this die. Ami's not active any more. We don't know what she was planning.