For the Throne - An Alternate Universe RP

[Lady Ashenwyte]

OOC: Is it okay if I skip the loading of the cart and all that jazz?

Tredian was nervous as he pulled the cart to the gate, and glanced at Aydin. He made Aydin wear a hood that covered most of his face, so that the guards wouldn't get suspicious. He stopped at the gate and a guard walked up to him.
                                                                                                                                                       " 'allo, Tredian. State yer business." Tredian recognised the guard as Brindfur, a mouse that frequented his tavern. He was relieved, as Brindfur knew him well and trusted him.
                                 "Well, I got a message from me 'ometown in the mountains. There'll be a festival soon, and they need lotsa wine. I have some jars in the cart, as well as a bottle for you." Brindfur grinned and walked to the back of the cart and inspected it. He strode back to Tredian, holding the bottle.
                                                                                     "Well, you're free to go." He said, and went back to his post. As the gates opened, Tredian sighed inwardly with relief and walked on.
                                       

[The Skarzs]

OOC: Looks like it's morning now.

BIC: Hours before the sun rose, King Kraoleck was laying on his luxurious stuffed bed, covered in many fine blankets and heated by hot rocks wrapped in towels. The mouse Ordis had done well to prepare his room that night; the monitor expected nothing less from his steward. The floors were swept, the blankets were clean, the room was stuffy and warm, and the windows were bolted shut.
  Weren't they?
  Kraoleck's sleep became restless as he felt the cold in his sleep. The night air brushed in through the open window as a creature slipped in, stealthily making his way across the room, cloaked in black and silent as the grave.
  Seht's assassin crept to the side of Kraoleck's bed, silently unsheathing a long knife. He waited patiently so be certain his victim was asleep, the hissing tongue flicking in and out of his mouth as he breathed. Raising his weapon high for a deadly blow, the rat saw where to hit and let his blade fall.
  But just as he began the strike, a scaled arm shot out of the covers and caught the surprised assassin by the paw in a viselike grip. From the craggy face of the monitor gold eyes reflected in the light of a single torch set above the room's door, staring deep into the darkness of the rat's face.
  "Assssassin!" Kraoleck hissed, twisting his opponent's arm and sending him sprawling into Kraoleck's armor stand with a loud clamber of metal. Immediately guards burst into the room and surrounded the assailant, swords ready to kill. Kraoleck made his way in front of the rat, who crouched like a rabid thing on the floor. "I will deal with thiz assassin myssself," he said, waving the guards away. When they stepped back, Kraoleck took off his night shirt and stood bare in front of the other, clawed appendages askew.
  "Come," he said in his dry voice. "Embrasssse your death."


  In the morning, a broken form covered in tattered black cloth swung lazily from a pole out over the side of the mountain. Limbs hung limply and dislocated from the bloodied body, and the head was turned completely around, the vertebrae broken. Kraoleck had finished with the assassin.

[LT Sandpaw]

Yawning widely the young rat Linty ascended the steps from the servant quarters and pushed her way into the kitchen. Sure enough as per usual Millie was already awake and hard at work, with steaming pots and pans littering the counter space.

"Eat quick, I need you to run to town for me." Millie instructed pointing at a plate of dry bread and porridge. "I am completely out of that herbal tea the mistress is so fond of. There are coins by the door, enough to buy three pounds. Hurry now."

Linty nodded and ate, slowly allowing herself to wake up. By the time she had finished, and collected a small pouch of coins from to purchase the tea leaves, dawn light was beginning to peep over the horizon sending swaths of brilliant gold across the farm.

She started out taking one of her short cuts through the forests, not really in the greatest of hurries. Her paws sank into the falling leaves crunching them underpaw. After a short half-hour walk she heard a snuffling to her left. An unknown animal? A bandit maybe!

Giving a small squeak of fright she pressed herself against the closest tree, scanning for the source of the sound. Slowly her heart rate settled as Linty realized that the noises she was hearing, were those of a beast snoring. Creeping forward the young rat cautiously poked her head around a tree to see a young fox, sleeping alone at its base. Unsure what to think of the resting vulpine she picked up a twig, flicking it lightly at the tod ducking back around, leaving just a ear and eye out to see how he reacted.

OOC:

Linty hath found Reed, and also Skarzs what is the currency system again?

[Hickory]

OOC: Ok, I'm gonna toss all of the Resistance members in the forest.

BIC:

The morning sunlight filtered down through the leaves into the spread out resistance camp. Rusk sat by a small fire, now only embers, adding a tip to his dirk. Next to him was his rudder cover, a small pouch of his money, and a map of the area. He was thinking up a plan to get himself back into the town unnoticed.

Glancing around at the trees, he sheathed the dirk and stood up. It was fine hardwood, best for making spear shafts and pike handles. Rusk could pretend that he had been out looking for new wood. He always needed that. He would place one of the other members in charge, reach out to contacts, initiate a search for Reed...

He shut that idea down immediately. It couldn't be a full on search, maybe a second priority at most. Because if there was one way to call attention to a beast, it was large search parties. The otter continued to think of a way out.

[Eulaliaaa!]

Reed's eyes shot open, and he stumbled to his feet, pulling the twig out of his ear. He looked around wildly, pressing his back against the tree, "Hello?" He asked quietly, nervously reaching for the small dagger in his belt.

[LT Sandpaw]

Peering out from around the tree Linty hesitatingly replied. "Um, hello?" Then unable to help herself the young rat stepped from around the tree so that Reed could see her. "Who are you? And why were you sleeping there?" She asked staring Reed down, her curiosity getting the better of her manners.

[Eulaliaaa!]

Reed nearly jumped out of his skin, then put on a fake smile, "Ah... er, hello!" He chuckled, hoping his blue eyes would have their usual cheery effect. Spreading his paws out, he smiled broadly, "Isn't this a fine day, eh? Just thought I'd catch a quick nap out here, you know, in this lovely weather. Though, might I add, it is not as lovely as you, young maid! And what brings you out here in the forest?" He bowed, outwardly confident and bubbly, but inwardly scared to death. Where were the others? Had Kraoleck's soldiers gotten close enough to see his face? Would they be waiting at his home? What would Anna do? Keeping up his normal act, he hoped he could get information or help from the rat.

[LT Sandpaw]

Taken off guard by the fox's not so subtle attempt at flattery, Linty inspected her claws shyly, not sure how to respond. She eventually managed to find her voice, though it was much less snippety then before.
"I, erm, I am going to Sarahadoron, for, erm tea." Realizing just how lame that sounded she changed the subject quickly. "I don't think you should be here, this is woodland belonging to Master Grongilf the weasel farmer, he doesn't like strangers. He might take his crossbow to you if he saw you sleeping here. What's your name anyway?"

[Eulaliaaa!]

  "Er... Grongilf?" He asked, unfamiliar with the name, "Oh yes, Grongilf! Boy... him and I go way back. He won't mind, we're buddies. I go by the name of Reed, and what is the name of the pretty young rat I have the pleasure of meeting?" He glanced around as if expecting to see Kraoleck's soldiers running towards him at any time. If he could get into town, no doubt there would be talk of what happened. He could figure out where his friends were and if they were alive. Though he'd rather not take the risk of being recognized by a soldier of Kraoleck.

[LT Sandpaw]

"Oh," Linty mumbled in confusion, she knew Grongilf fairly well having run errands for Silvertail involving him. She had the impression that the weasel was extremely antisocial, at least to her and everybeast she had ever seen interacting with him.

Staring at Reed suspiciously the little rat shuffled on her footpaws wishing she had simply moved on instead of talking with the vulpine. Linty, unlike Reed had never been good at hiding what she was feeling, and she was obviously concerned. Her left paw slipped into her pocket clutching defensively at the money pouch hidden there. She should never have told him what she was doing, what if he was a thief, or a vagabond, barbarian rebel Millie kept telling her about.

"I'm, uh Linty. Jus' Linty." She muttered nervously. "Nice ter meet you Reed. I gotta get ter Sarahadoron Town."

[Eulaliaaa!]

"Sarahadoron Town?" Reed hesitated, "Er... why I was just on my way there!" He smiled innocently, hoping the rat would let him walk with her because he was hopelessly lost. "Let's walk there together, it's not safe for a pretty little thing like you to be walking out here alone." He chuckled, then started walking in the wrong direction.

[The Skarzs]

OOC:

Linty hath found Reed, and also Skarzs what is the currency system again?

Fifty cips makes a pell.

Also, sorry about forgetting about this, everyone.


BIC: Fauken woke to the morning feeling sore but rested, and paid the inn clerk for her stay before leaving the building for good. The bed she had been supplied was little more than a cloth stuffed with hay on a board, but at least she had blankets a roof above her head. Of course, the food she could get there was hardly the best. Suffice to say, she wasn't going to miss the place.
  The wildcat wandered around the streets in search of some seller of food, particularly fruit. (It had been a while since she had eaten some decent green-like foods, and she felt the urge to it strongly.) The streets were quite the contrast in the day to the night, as now it was busy and loud, with creatures bustling about everywhere, and soldiers at every turn and step.
  One soldier was calling out from a stool, saying something about the direction to the recruitment area. Odd, thought Fauken as she passed by. One would think they had enough soldiers. First that monitor lady, then that otter crying out, bold as a blue acorn!
  Of course, she was far from interested in the whole ordeal, so she continued her search for some food stands. After asking about and being pointed in the general direction, Fauken found her way to a square that was filled with rows of carts of goods. Once she paid for the items she needed (and eating a crisp apple from the late harvest right then and there), the wildcat decided to pick her way out of the city. It felt odd enough having to pay for food; the amount of creatures was doing her no good either. To the north! she thought happily. And good riddance to Kraoleck's town.

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Coolio,

IC:

"Uh, thanks I guess," Linty answered still at a loss with the mysterious Reed, though as his antics continued her initial suspicion and fear began to wear off. Watching him curiously as Reed walked away Linty pointed over her shoulder trying hard not to laugh. The young rat was becoming more amused and flattered by the second.

"Sarahadoron town is that'er way, c'mon I know 'ow to get there." She led the way picking the easiest rout through the trees, enjoying the morning sunshine which warmed them through the crisp weather. All the time staring at Reed, a thousand questions bubbling ready to spill forth. At last, unable to keep her inquiries to herself she spoke up.
"Erm Mister Reed, wot'cha do fer a livin? I work fer Mistress Silvertail, and Millie says I do that work fer a livin' but I ain't sure wot that means. I think she means that I get vittles an' a place to sleep, cause I don' get paid. But some o' th' older animals get paid... Say are you a show clown? You're funny like em, I met one las' season. 'E was a fox like you. Can you do flips? 'E could do flips n' stuffs, like magic." Linty began babbling as she was prone to do should somebeast listen. The young rat had very few captive audiences to talk too, which meant she always had something to say. And lots to say about that something.

[Eulaliaaa!]

Reed swiftly turned around and walked alongside Linty, muttering something about testing her sense of direction. He blinked in surprise as Linty started chattering away, and when she finished he hesitated. "Oh... er, I... fish for a living, only enough to keep myself alive though. Actually, Mum helps me out with the food and feeds me sometimes." He tilted his head away to hide a frown. Anna would be worried sick.

"And... I can do tricks." He jumped up, doing a flip and landing flat on his back. Gasping for breath, he lifted a paw, "That one's called the backflip. Some think it's a backwards flip, but really it's landing on your back. Takes lots of practice to learn."


Meanwhile, Anna - or Mum, as Reed had called her - was rushing through town. She was supposed to be guarding the gate with another soldier of Kraoleck, but she had abandoned her place to look for Reed.

As she hurried through the crowded streets, she shouted out for help. "Please, has anyone seen Reed? Anyone at all? Please, tell me someone has seen him!" Every time she asked, her questions where always met with uncaring shrugs, apologies, or shaking heads. Every worst scenario possible flew through her racing mind, and the icy claws of fear gripped her heart. Was he dead? Had he been taken prisoner by the rebellion? With a sob, she turned around to go back to the gate. Maybe he was outside the city. Maybe he was just lost. He had never disappeared for more than a day, and if he was gone for a day he always made sure to let her know he was alright.

[LT Sandpaw]

Laughing loudly Linty forgot about being nervous, clapping her paws at the impromptu performance. "It looks kinda painful," She commented as she helped Reed get back onto his footpaws.
Still giggling Linty led the way out of the trees and onto a grassy slope which was dotted with sand and withered looking trees. Once out of the forest they could see the large mountain, Sarahadoron looming in the distance. Small wisps of smoke could be seen close to its base, however the houses and shops themselves were hidden from view by a large hill.

Grinning Linty pointed out the mountain and chimney smoke with a slightly dirty claw. "There it is, c'mon I'll race ya there." She shouted breaking into a run, darting ahead of Reed.