private The Fall of Andalasia ~Book 1~

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Whisper watched closely, hoping she could learn something from these two. She was rather impressed by the bards skill; then wondered why he would know such a thing in the first place. Before getting up, she brushed her hand against Dresdens arm "You'll be okay."

 

The princess strode over to Robert, bending down to scoop Finn up and cradle him in her arms. "That was quite impressive. Along with your cooking too! Is it difficult being a bard?" she asked; cocking her head to the side.

 

Tulla scowled at the mention of food and heaved herself up; stretching and cracking her bones. She whistled again for Tugg. "I can help. I've got a few skinny knives that'll get a few of the smaller ones." she unrolled her leather pack lined with knives for many a beast in front of both her and Helena; crouching by Dresdens free side. She took a small piece of cloth and stuck it in the young mages mouth so he wouldn't bite his tongue.

 

"The princess has asked to rest until the early morning. Some broken bones, bruises and cuts." Tulla answered Zaddion.

[Sekel 692]

@@Flying Ace

Letting out a puff of air, Helena grabbed a dagger she kept on her for emergencies and stabbed it into the ground. She winced in pain as she rolled on to her stomach. Using her upper body strength, she dragged herself towards Dresden, eventually laying her body on top of Dresden's chest. "Sorry about this, I can't exactly sit up and plus, it's easier if I'm up close and personal." Helena told him as she grabbed the dagger from the ground.

 

She saw that there was a lot of shrapnel in his shoulders but knew that she could only get the ones that the naked eye could see. Sticking her tongu3 out slightly from her mouth, Helena put the tip of the dagger under the biggest piece of shrapnel she could see and without bothering to give a warning, she manuvoured the dagger tip to prise it out of his skin.

 

Helena heard Tulla sit next to them and laid out some knives. They were probably for hunting. "Thanks, Tulla." Helena thanked her and took a rather skinny knife from the pack while stabbing her own dagger back into the ground.

 

Getting back to work, she moved along in a steady fashion and prised all other pieces that her eye could see as well as the pieces that glinted in the moonlight. "There's plenty more shrapnel in there but I can't really get to them without a magnifying glass. I don't want to cut you up any more then you already are either." Helena said, not bothering to move from his chest as she tried to see if there was any more shrapnel she could spot.

Edited July 11, 2014 by XANA

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

Robert was rather surprised that the princess had come over to speak to him, but he tried to treat her like he would anyone else. For the most part. "Well, thank you. It's not so much that it's hard being a bard as that it's the kind of life that only appeals to people like me, who would rather spend their whole life traveling and exploring the world's forgotten places than settle down somewhere. It can be tough sometimes, but I enjoy it. And as you've already seen twice now, I pick up a lot of useful skills traveling around on my own. It's kind of a necessity when there's nobody around to help you. If there's one really tough thing, it's probably that you can't always count on being able to make as much money as you need to. And if you can't, you're going to have to go hungry that week."

[Sanctified Absence 126]

"I guess we're going to have to set up a watch then..." Zaddion pondered for a moment as he thought about the Iron Maiden he had met earlier, she certainly seemed like a person who would rather finish the job herself, either that or she was an arrogant fool for revealing herself just as the bandits were about to finish the group. "Perhaps our hunter's incredible Magickal aura can be used to our own advantage..."

 

Reaching into the water and removing whatever blood was left from the Mark, Zaddion turned back to the group with a serious look on his face. In truth he wasn't quite what you would say 'good with people,' and took on a more exaggerated posture than necessary. "I know we have a few Mages among us, but who here can sense the flow of Magickal elements other than I? Whether it's only a weak sense or well trained it doesn't matter too much." 

Edited July 11, 2014 by Sanctified Absence

[Flying Ace 142]

@@Flying Ace

Letting out a puff of air, Helena grabbed a dagger she kept on her for emergencies and stabbed it into the ground. She winced in pain as she rolled on to her stomach. Using her upper body strength, she dragged herself towards Dresden, eventually laying her body on top of Dresden's chest. "Sorry about this, I can't exactly sit up and plus, it's easier if I'm up close and personal." Helena told him as she grabbed the dagger from the ground.

 

She saw that there was a lot of shrapnel in his shoulders but knew that she could only get the ones that the naked eye could see. Sticking her tongu3 out slightly from her mouth, Helena put the tip of the dagger under the biggest piece of shrapnel she could see and without bothering to give a warning, she manuvoured the dagger tip to prise it out of his skin.

 

Helena heard Tulla sit next to them and laid out some knives. They were probably for hunting. "Thanks, Tulla." Helena thanked her and took a rather skinny knife from the pack while stabbing her own dagger back into the ground.

 

Getting back to work, she moved along in a steady fashion and prised all other pieces that her eye could see as well as the pieces that glinted in the moonlight. "There's plenty more shrapnel in there but I can't really get to them without a magnifying glass. I don't want to cut you up any more then you already are either." Helena said, not bothering to move from his chest as she tried to see if there was any more shrapnel she could spot.

@@Alex Kennedy

Dresden closed his eyes and bit down into the cloth Tulla gave him when Helena started he screamed into the cloth and dig his fingers in the dirt, he even had to stop him self from using his magic to push Helena off of him a couple times; he never felt so happy when Helena finished getting the ones that she could see. He quickly spat out the cloth and exhaled deeply. "Oh my god, that wasn't fun at all! When we get the remaining ones let me knock myself out first I don't think I want to be awake for that and Robert...good job with the bones."

 

"I guess we're going to have to set up a watch then..." Zaddion pondered for a moment as he thought about the Iron Maiden he had met earlier, she certainly seemed like a person who would rather finish the job herself, either that or she was an arrogant fool for revealing herself just as the bandits were about to finish the group. "Perhaps our hunter's incredible Magickal aura can be used to our own advantage..."

 

Reaching into the water and removing whatever blood was left from the Mark, Zaddion turned back to the group with a serious look on his face. In truth he wasn't quite what you would say 'good with people,' and took on a more exaggerated posture than necessary. "I know we have a few Mages among us, but who here can sense the flow of Magickal elements other than I? Whether it's only a weak sense or well trained it doesn't matter too much." 

Dresden tried to look at Zaddion from his position on the ground, "Um, I sense the water it that's what you mean I can't really focus on anything right now I'll get back to you on that later."

Edited July 11, 2014 by Flying Ace

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"That sounds wonderfully terrible." the princess answered whimsically. But she shuddered at the thought of going hungry.

 

She turned at Zaddions request "I can...well sometimes I can." Whisper walked over timidly; looking down at Zaddion "Why?"

 

Tulla shook her head "We can't knock you out. That'd be dangerous at this point. Just grit your teeth" she looked down at Dresden.

[Sekel 692]

@@Flying Ace, @@RunsWithSquirlz

"Can't knock you out. Way too risky for you to be unconscious." Helena echoed what Tulla said and looked around for the cloth gag. Spotting it, she stuffed it back in his mouth and quickly dug out a few more shrapnel pieces that she missed the first time around. "That's all I could get. Definitely need a magnifying glass now to dig the other pieces out." Helena muttered and slid off of Dresden's chest. She grabbed her dagger from the ground, gave Tulla the skinny knife back, laid down next to him on her stomach and turned her head to the side. "Can't detect magick unless it's directly used on me. Sorry Zaddion." Helena said to Zaddion loudly, unsure of where he was in relation to her position.

[Sanctified Absence 126]

"Whether for better or worse our attacker had a terrifyingly powerful aura..." That moment where he felt it still haunted him, he had felt such auras before but only from the product of multiple expert Mages working together. What was this... Thing that chased them? Snapping himself out of his thoughts Zaddion quickly realised the Princess was waiting for him to finish. "This means she is a very powerful Mage indeed, seemingly so powerful that she cannot hide her immense aura fully. This, despite how bad it sounds gives us the benefit of an easy to track aura."

 

Rubbing his chin in contemplation at the lack of Magickal sensors in the group, he pondered how long he could remain awake before succumbing to sleep, in his current state he was likely in no position to remain awake all night. "If she comes within a relatively large distance of here anyone with Magickal sense should be able to notice, this makes them prime candidates for the watch... Unfortunately," he sighed "it seems there are few of us who can actually pull this off."

Edited July 11, 2014 by Sanctified Absence

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

He nodded. "That might be more accurate than you'd think. I like it, though. And an easy life will only breed a soft body and weak mind anyway. I'm stronger for the challenges I face, and I appreciate that. But to each his- or her- own, I guess."

 

@@Sanctified Absence,

 

"Sense magic? You mean like that pins and needles feeling I get from being close to you guys? I never really thought about it too much, but I guess I can do it. I certainly felt something when that... thing was closing in on us."

 

((Robert has no formal training in magic, so his ability to sense it is severely underdeveloped, though still present.))

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"I could take first watch. That way you could get some rest." Whisper offered while leaning against her new sword. This was a perfect opportunity for her to feel more useful.

 

Tulla cleaned his wounds with water and wrapped them in fresh bandages "This should do until we find a doctor. A new one anyway."

----

 

Tugg grunted; he could hear the annoyed pitch in Tulla's voice. He got up and began lumbering away; retracing his steps. Best he get back before he got into more trouble.

[Flying Ace 142]

"I could take first watch. That way you could get some rest." Whisper offered while leaning against her new sword. This was a perfect opportunity for her to feel more useful.

 

Tulla cleaned his wounds with water and wrapped them in fresh bandages "This should do until we find a doctor. A new one anyway."

----

 

Tugg grunted; he could hear the annoyed pitch in Tulla's voice. He got up and began lumbering away; retracing his steps. Best he get back before he got into more trouble.

Dresden sat up and moved his arms, "thanks at least I can move my arms more freely and if I get in a fight I can always resort to my magic." Dresden stood up and stretched, "If you want to take first watch then I don't see a problem with it, though I may stay awake for awhile."

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"I think we should get moving. I think were on Illian grounds now." Tulla gathered her things. "Before we fell, I think I saw the fires of a village. No doubt we are closer now, maybe a mile out? Then we can go home. Screw the King."

 

The princess was quiet for a moment "No. I must meet with the King. I do not think this was his doing. All he wants to do is live. I'm his last shot, so why would he order such a thing? We must keep going." She kept the sword tied to her waist "I can get some clothes too. The more distance between us and...and that thing. The better."

 

Tugg came through the bushes "No food?!" Tulla smacked him on his shoulder. The beast retaliated by knocking her over and laying across her legs; she was pinned. "Well at least you're safe." Tulla spoke from the ground.

[Sekel 692]

@@RunsWithSquirlz

"Are we in Illia?" Helena asked, rolling onto her back and sitting. "If we are, I can show you the fastest way to the village." Helena offered, hoping to be of some use since her legs have been straightened out. She knows most of the Illian kingdom by heart so knows some of the quickest ways of getting from point A to point B.

[Torrent505 370]

@@Scribblegroove,  @,  

 

The old man shook his head back and forth at the doctor's display of fear, and his thrashing about for the leather bag that had washed a shore, "The trivial rush of the young..."  The old man reached out with one hand toward the bag and gestured it over to the doctor by flowing the earth beneath it and with a swift raising motion of his other hand a column of sand rose from the center of the river, with a second gesture it settled into a pile before Adrass, "is that enough sand for your needs?  There is plenty more in the river."  His confident smile seemed to mock them both while at the same time promising any kindness he could offer.

 

@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

Serafinno was watching the others tend their wounds, he couldn't look away from seeing them in pain and smelling fresh blood; his heart started to race as he remembered what he had done at the camp.  They didn't know what he had done, they didn't know he had killed other humans, they would turn against him... he had always heard that, dragons that killed people were killed by people.  Whisper and the others would hate him... and if what was said was true than it would only be a matter of time before he killed again.

 

He started to thrash around in Whispers arms fight to be free, suddenly afraid of what he might do to her or what she might do to him; she was his best friend but the sudden fear of 'what if' and the nagging guilt of what he had done was too much for him.  He broke free of her grip and launched himself up and into the night, calling back with cries of fear and sorrow.  He headed for the remains of the caravan, he had to see what he had done for himself.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Tugg dropped something onto Tullas face. She saw utter blackness and smelt the crude tinge of gryphon slobber before swatting it off "Where in the world did you get that hat?!". He grunted in response, looking up as Serrafinno flew into the sky. He got up; picking the hat up again and grunted, backing up towards the forest.

 

Whisper gasped as Finn blew out of her grasp "Finn!". She still was unused to how unpredictable he could be; still being a wild dragon. Something bothered him, that much she could tell.

 

"There must be someone nearby..."

 

Now that they were aware; they could feel the small tinge of Earth magick somewhere near them.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass

 

The hunter eyed the old character uneasily. A Mage... had helped him? It had happened before - exactly once to his reckoning, and even that time stemmed from her owing him a favour...

 

-----

 

... Black hair cascading over bare, tanned shoulders, the woman stretched out and stared into the campfire wistfully. Her flowing dress was quite a contrast to the hunter and his apprentice in their faded, practical attire. Adrass was checking the powder of his pistols as he did every night, while Arianna lay watching the clouds move across the sky. The Mage, however, sat reaching into the fire - drawing out thin, sparkling tendrils of burning nothingness to adorn herself with, for no apartment reason other than to entertain herself. He shook his head - it was foolish, but she was more useful to them alive than dead.

 

'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,' Someone had once said... and it was true that she kept the young girl's spirits higher than he ever had done. No, he might not trust Enlya, but he had accepted that she was no threat to them - at least not while they were on the same side...

 

-----

No, there must be some ulterior motive. At the moment though, whatever that was would have to wait.

 

Grimacing as he pulled the needle once more through the flesh of his right arm, he grunted, shook himself and inspected the sand. Most of it was soaked and useless (being from the river bed) but a little digging revealed a small amount which he used to fill the least-soaked (now empty) pouch on his belts. He shook his head a little as shirking his duty once more, but reminded himself that all of this was worthwhile if it ultimately lead the the death of the demon-witch.

 

"Thank you. We should start moving before they decide to check for bodies... don't suppose you could point us towards the nearest town?" He asked pointedly.

 

"Now where did that blasted creature get to?"

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Tulla heaved Helena onto Tuggs back after putting out the campfire "We follow Tugg back to where he got the hat...let's go." With a pat on his rear; Tugg started a sprint forward. Whisper followed close behind; clasping the sword to her chest so it wouldn't drag and slow her down. The rocks and twigs stung underneath her bare feet; causing her to wince every so often. But she liked it, it was natural.

 

Tulla stayed a few paces behind; helping the weakened Zaddion to his feet and follow after the rest of them.

 

As they made their way through the quiet forest; the princess wondered where Finn had gone. Why had he been so sad? What...what was she going to do once they came to an Illian village?

[Sekel 692]

@@RunsWithSquirlz
Helena gripped Tugg's mane hard as she tried to not be jostled about on top. 'Where are we going? Following a hat back to its source? What kind of idea is that? But then again, I've done weirder stuff in pursuit of fantastical thefts.' Helena thought cheerfully to herself. At least her legs weren't moving about. She thought she could feel something ... but she didn't know what it was. 'What the hell am I sensing?' Helena thought confusedly to herself, having no idea that she was sensing magick for the first time.

Edited July 12, 2014 by XANA

[Flying Ace 142]

Dresden followed closely behind Tugg as they walked towards whoever owned that hat, Dresden bit his lower lip slightly in thought; earth magic...how strange but as long as its someone whose friendly and not trying to kill us then I will be so glad. Dresden formed another aqua ball in his hands and tossed it back and forth.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

Robert shrugged and followed the others. There were any number of questions that needed answering here, but mostly he was content to just follow along and see what happened. It's not like things could really go much further downhill after everything they'd been through today. The laws of probability indicated that they were in for some good luck by now. At least, he hoped so.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

They followed the chimera all the way back to the old man. At first, Whisper didn't know why Tugg lead them back here. But then she saw the flailing doctor and a sopping wet Adrass.

 

"Doctor! Adrass! You're alive!" She exclaimed happily.

 

Tulla eyed the old man wearily.

Edited July 13, 2014 by RunsWithSquirlz

[Flying Ace 142]

"Ha ha ha! See, what did I tell you? Too stubborn to die!" Dresden yelled happily, "So I guess this old timer is the one who saved you two?" Dresden asked walking up to the old man and giving a small bow. "Then I guess a thank you is in order; I'm Dresden nice to make your acquaintance." 

[Sekel 692]

Helena looked up wearily at the old man. Freezing in place on top of the chimera's back, she realised that he was the source of whatever she was feeling. Forcing her head to move, Helena took a quick look at the area and found a rather large pile of wet sand near Adrass.

 

She knew that neither Adrass, nor Flinch could have moved hat oile of sand on their own without at least some magick. Adrass detests magick so he couldn't have done it. Flinch is a medicine man and currently flailing on the ground so that's out of the park. The only person it could have been was ...

@@Torrent505

Helena pointed towards the old man with a wobbly finger. "You. You used magick to put the pile of sand near Adrass."

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

"Never mind me, you're alive?" The hunter called out towards the figure that resembled a somewhat worse for wear princess. The old man had turned out to be real enough and the other survivors seemed to be interacting with him... logically, they must have been corporal as well.

 

"How in the name of... how did you..." Shaking his head, Adrass concluded that the less he knew about his somehow-still-alive charges dark taint, the happier they would both be. For now, he wanted as little to do with magic as was possible. Wanted to just pretend that everyone there was normal. "Forget that - I'd rather not know how. You're not dead, that's what matters!"

 

Having risen and taken a few short steps towards the survivors, he stalled - holding up a palm as he realised that, while lacking his coat, hood and bandanna (the same outfit he had worn for roughly nine years) wasn't a particular concern for them, the scars (old and new. He was mostly concerned about the new ones) might prove unpleasant to see. Dodging clumsily to the river, he rinsed down the fresh, 'haphazardly-doctored wounds before returning in a still not-much-better state.

 

"We need to leave - right now." Urged the Witch Hunter, suddenly regaining a good portion of he momentarily lost caution and paranoia now that he had purpose again. "They were after you, princess. Nobody else here is worth en entire army's attention. We have to put as much distance between us and them as possible - right now."

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I followed behind looking back and forth while thinking about my magick teacher who Ironically was an old man that wanted to pass his knowledge on, and all his knowledge was second hand and theroy with what he knew about magic, but it seemed to work any way.

Edited July 16, 2014 by Shadow Dancer