Garnet
Hero
The Scarlet Brand
You call these bandits? You should'a seen what I had to deal with in Sacae!
Posts: 330
Etruria Fame: 1
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Post by Garnet on Feb 24, 2010 21:20:03 GMT -6
After setting off from Laus, Garnet and his companions traveled along the main road, towards the city of Ostia. Unfortunately, what people they met up with on the road, indicated that it had become the former city of Ostia...
Whenever thoughts of the fate of Ostia crowded into his mind, the merc would set his face in a flinty grimace and try to prepare himself for whatever was ahead. Then he would return to the task at hand. A curious message to be considered urgent, but he supposed that there must be some kind of reason for it.
"The ruins can't be much farther ahead." Garnet said, leading Fable along like a pack horse. Fable, for his part, seemed to enjoy their semi-easy pace. "I'm hoping we can make it to the far side by tonight."
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Francis
The "Before" years
[M:0]
I Hate Small Towns
Posts: 34
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Post by Francis on Feb 24, 2010 21:30:00 GMT -6
Francis sauntered lazily besides Garnet, still smiling...getting strange looks form people who spoke about the destruction of Ostia...why would someone smile about the deaths of thousands? But as we all know: It. Was. The. SHOES! GLORIOUS SHOES! However, he had to take away from his gleeful thoughts for the time being: who knows what would happen ahead," Aye, lest there be bandits up ahead..." Francis paused, looking up at the sky thoughtfully:
He never had to say that before because he always WAS the Bandit up ahead, waiting in the greenery at the side of the road to jump out and attack caravans, kill people, steal their stuff...you know, that sort of thing...
looking back over to Garnet, he began to speak again," So Garnet, buddy ole pall o' chum a mine, Exactly where was it ye come from again? We travel togetha, yet I knows near nuthin about ya!"
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Garnet
Hero
The Scarlet Brand
You call these bandits? You should'a seen what I had to deal with in Sacae!
Posts: 330
Etruria Fame: 1
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Post by Garnet on Mar 1, 2010 19:15:28 GMT -6
'Buddy'? 'Chum'? Ha, he reminds me of some of my old friends back home. That was it. Francic was just easy to get along with. Although the fact that they had money in they're pockets, were going to get paid a fair amount with more work to come, not to mention the SHOES, likely had the axman in a goo mood.
"Etruria... A small village that, wasn't far off from where we're heading to. It's not a happy story, though I'll tell it if you wish. I'd like to hear something of where you come from as well." He kept on moving forward, glancing ahead and from side to side occasionally, checking the road for anyone laying in wait. Not that he'd spot them until to late.
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Francis
The "Before" years
[M:0]
I Hate Small Towns
Posts: 34
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Post by Francis on Mar 1, 2010 19:47:05 GMT -6
Francis shrugged," A place like this." he waved a hand around at the Lycian countryside," But I lived most of my time in Sacae, but then I traveled back to Lycia to visit the family we left back...heard they got hit by a bandit raid."
Shrug.
"Ironic isn't it. Eh, money got short, and it's hard to live without money nowadays, so...one must resort to things..."
Shrug. No need to continue.
"Your turn."
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Garnet
Hero
The Scarlet Brand
You call these bandits? You should'a seen what I had to deal with in Sacae!
Posts: 330
Etruria Fame: 1
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Post by Garnet on Mar 1, 2010 21:27:40 GMT -6
Garnet got a vacant look in his eyes, he'd felt the loss of family quite keenly in the past months. "I'm sorry. I know the pain of losing family... Ah, it'll kill the time some so... I grew up in the town of Owenscrik, Etruruia. It wasn't much. A few farms, a smith, a trading post surrounded by some foothills and forests. We did have a talented militia though. One that did it's best to look out for those in the town and surrounding countryside... I was part of that...."
He paused for a bit. Why? How had their ruin been brought on them?"I don't know what caused it. Maybe someone complained of the Prophet, maybe someone offended some kind of official somehow. The result was that a crowd of people got stirred up and came out calling us heretics. There was nothing I could do to prevent the destruction of the town. They went as far as to throw me off a cliff, but I survived... Then I found this fella" Garnet patted Fable on his withers, and gave a brief smile.
"He used to belong to a neighbor, there in Owenscrik. Seeing as we were both castaways, I looked after him..." Garnet's smile faded. "There are still times when their deaths haunt me.... But I've decided not to be a sad sack." His voice picked up some energy again after the last bit.
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Post by Ivan Zakharon on Mar 1, 2010 22:57:55 GMT -6
Arren walked to the side of Garnet as they walked down the road. He had been excited, never had he gone to Ostia. However if the tales are true, then Ostia is in ruins and this might mean trouble. But trouble usually = money. Arren listened as the two men told their stories. "Guess that means it's my turn." Arren said as Garnet finished his story.
"Not much about me. I was born in a bar and will most likely die in a bar. My mom died at birth and my dad abandoned me and got himself killed. So, I know how it feels to have your parents gone. I hate being lonely but after a while I got used to it. I worked around as a mercenary to make money, and hey here I am again." Arren said as he thought he summed up his life pretty well.
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Garnet
Hero
The Scarlet Brand
You call these bandits? You should'a seen what I had to deal with in Sacae!
Posts: 330
Etruria Fame: 1
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Post by Garnet on Mar 2, 2010 19:01:00 GMT -6
Garnet listened to Arren's story. Poor kid probably thinks that the bar is all there is. This prompted a self reflection. Well Garnet, what is the purpose of life? He didn't know the answer to that for sure... It was somewhere between killing those that harmed him and freeing the oppressed....
"Well, by the sounds of it we've all had a roll in the dumpster at some point or other. I don't intend to go back... I just have to find something I can really believe in doing." Garnet had a serious tone. Mercenary work was the most convenient job for one with his skill set, but he wanted to find another way to earn his keep, one where he could fight for a cause he believed was just. Maybe there was no such occupation. After all, he wasn't really looking to join an army, or another guard corp. He just didn't think that would suit him anymore.
"So, we've got a swordsman, an axman, and...." He pointed a questioning look over at Arren. "I can't see any weapons on you. Are you a thief? I imagine most of them travel light."
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Francis
The "Before" years
[M:0]
I Hate Small Towns
Posts: 34
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Post by Francis on Mar 2, 2010 19:14:05 GMT -6
Shrug.
"I didn't know them too well, so it wasn't too bad." He listened to Garnet and then Arren speak about their lose of families and similar situations, and again he shrugged," I wouldn't really know on the whole Parental loss thing, mine are probably alive and well on the plains...but I don't have any intent on seeing them as of this point: They wouldn't be too happy knowing their son's job was to pillage and burn, ya know?"
Shrug....what skills did Arren have anyways? no sword, spear, axe, or bow...maybe he was some sort of knife guy...or...
"Hey Arren, buddy: do you perhaps have one of them...books on ya? You know, where you read something and it does something and then lights something on fire...or something?" Francis didn't know too much how magic worked, but it was just a guess as to how it worked.
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Garnet
Hero
The Scarlet Brand
You call these bandits? You should'a seen what I had to deal with in Sacae!
Posts: 330
Etruria Fame: 1
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Post by Garnet on Mar 6, 2010 0:31:52 GMT -6
Garnet heard Francis' suggestion. A mage? Madness! One did not merely meet a mage in a bar. The only mages in bars were in "A-mage-walks-into-a-bar" jokes. He would know, having grown up in Etruria.
"A mage? Please. The only mages I've heard of spend all day studying at academies in Delphia and round abouts Etruria. I-"
Halt! A voice rang out from the side of the road, before a swordsman, and a lance fighter burst out from the hedges along the road. An axman and a man in the robes of a monk stepped out, blocking their path backwards. They all were in black and white armor, except for the monk, who wore a set of robes made to stand out against the countryside less.
Garnet gripped the hilt of his blade with one hand as he mumbled over to his companions. "Can't say I've seen bandits in these colors before."
"By order of the Herald, and the glorious Prophet, this area is off limits. You are to lay down your arms peaceably and come with us." They all had drawn weapons, but were still several paces away from the small group of mercs.
Garnet felt his blood begin to boil. Here it was, the army of that tyrant still holding position in the ruins of Ostia. Garnet felt his knuckles crack as he gripped his sword's hilt tighter. The red-head looked to his companions. He doubted they really wanted to cooperate with this bunch. Garnet himself would rather die. He looked back to the spokesman before angling an scornful glare towards the man and answering in a grating growl.
"I'd rather not have my arms removed, Filth."
The man's face filled with anger, but he mastered himself and spoke again, a satisfied tone entering his tone. "Ostia was a festering pit. A hell hole where damnation spread across the land. Even after death, they persisted, but all that's left of them now... is ash." He broke into laughter before stating confidently, "Come with us, or Ostia's fate will be your own."
Garnet didn't care where this man was from. He wanted nothing more than to shove his blade through the man's smug mouth. Let's see how loyal you are then, slime.
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Post by Ivan Zakharon on Mar 6, 2010 16:34:54 GMT -6
"Well believe it or not I am a mage." Arren said as he pulled out his tome to show them. The book of magic brushed up against the cotton robe his dad had given him for his birthday. A cloud of dust rose up as he opened the book, the parchment papers had not been touched in a long time, for Arren had not the need to use magic. "I taught myself."
Arren listened as Garnet doubted he was a mage. " Well Indeed you do not find many mages in a bar, in fact I'm the only one I've seen in a bar for quite some time. However I was born in a bar, and born into alcoholism. As you can see, my parents weren't the smartest people."
Arren turned quickly as the brush rustled out on the path ahead. All of a sudden a group of soldiers, the prophet's he guessed. And he was right as he heard the soldiers bark "HALT!" and some things about their kingdom and stuff. But Arren didn't care, once he saw Garnet drawing his blade he pulled out his tome. Arren reopened the book and flipped through the parchment one more time, this time only few specs of dust rose. There were many spells in the book that Arren had not yet mastered. But after a moment , Arren had found the one he had been searching for. The green haired mage quickly skimmed the almost memorized passage that would soon create a magic.
Arren turned to the soldiers as he repeated the passage he had read only a moment ago. A tingling sensation went through Arren's hand as he concentrated on the soldiers. Suddenly fire strew from his fingertips and it rose into a ball hovering over is straining hand. Arren moved his hand in a rising motion in order to guide the ball of blazing fire. Arren pulled his hands toward his chest and thrusted them outward. The fire shot from his fingers and went blasting in the air only to descend upon the swordsman. The man fell over with a loud grunt. Arren unaware if the man was dead or not, focused on the next target and began to read the passage again.
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Francis
The "Before" years
[M:0]
I Hate Small Towns
Posts: 34
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Post by Francis on Mar 6, 2010 21:10:29 GMT -6
Meanwhile, Francis listened to his friend chit chat, until a bunch of people started telling them to hand over their weapons. The axe man stepped forward with a grin on his face as he walked over to the lanceman casually, as if holding his axe out for them. The man, puzzled from francis' previous speech, reached out for the weapon, but soon realized his error as the axeman tossed the axe in the air to hold the handle, and rammed the weapon into the man's gut:
" I have few possessions in this world kind sirs, I would rather not be parted from any of them, weither you be Soldiers or Brigands. COME ON LADS! LETS SHOW THESE CROOKS THE MIGHT OF GARNET THE GLORIOUS!" he roared out, leading the monk to back up in shock, as the axeman advanced on the former bandit.
I guess that concludes negotiations...soon after a firebolt smashed into the man with the sword. Huzzah for correct guesses!
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Post by Ivan Zakharon on Mar 6, 2010 22:43:36 GMT -6
Arren skimmed through the passage one more time before looking up, only to see Francis beating up the one he was aiming at. Arren quickly reacquired he old target that turned out not to be dead and started rereading the passage. This time Arren aimed for his head, to make sure to kill his target.
Arren dragged his finger along the passage and murmured the words. Again, the tingling feeling went through his hand and the fire rose from his fingers. Arren trying a new tactic, clenched his hand into a fist and pulled it into his chest. He closed his eyes and sun around really fast. As if without thinking Arren shot his arms forward as hard as he could and a giant ball of fire went soaring into the air.
However the fire did not hit the soldier's head. It had landed at his feet causing him to go flying backwards and killing him. Arren accidentally closed his book and trembled a bit from the power he had just cast. Arren stood up and began to aim at the mage as he re-opened the book, and tried to find the page.
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Garnet
Hero
The Scarlet Brand
You call these bandits? You should'a seen what I had to deal with in Sacae!
Posts: 330
Etruria Fame: 1
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Post by Garnet on Mar 7, 2010 0:26:23 GMT -6
He saw Francis walk forward, as if to hand his weapon over. That was ludicrous! Surrendering just like that to Etrurians?! His fears, though, were unneeded, as he quickly slammed his axe into the spearman's stomach.
Garnet heard the sizzle of the flames, a representation of his own fury at these men. He ripped his blade from it's sheath and leaped forward with a feral snarl just as the first fire started exploding.
So the kid really is a mage. Good. That will make this go that much faster. A second fire exploded, killing the speaker of the group. Garnet heard Francis shout something about "Garnet the Glorious". They'd have to have a talk about that later...
as the armored axeman rushed Francis, raising his axe to strike, Garnet passed in between the two men, stepping to the far side of the man, to Francis' left. He punched the upraised axe with the base of his blade, knocking it aside before passing on through, and sweeping a quick slash down to the man's forward leg. If alone, he would have kicked the man away, but with other allies nearby to assist, why would he knock the man away?
There was a bright flash, high in the sky, visible for miles around.. Even in his battle hazed mind he still recognized a signal for help. The monk must have caused that. We can't stay here long.
"We've got to end this quick, before more trouble traps us here!"
The monk backed away, while causing bolts of light near the mercs to explode. It was bright enough to blind him a bit, and it felt hot enough to scorch when it hit him briefly.
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Francis
The "Before" years
[M:0]
I Hate Small Towns
Posts: 34
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Post by Francis on Mar 7, 2010 21:49:19 GMT -6
the fight was getting chaotic, but luckily from his count only that monk was left...however with all the magic exploding everywhere it was hard to really be able to count, but when he saw Garnet nearly get hit by a blast of magic...well it didn't really matter: NOBODY HURT HIS BUDDIES! He let out a roar before running past the swordsman in a head on charge against the light magic user, who panicked and started slinging spells at the axeman, who stumbled due to the hits, but managed to trip the robed man before he himself fell over...then rolled down a hill, which wasn't really fun due to the rocks...
...once he hit the bottom of the hill the former brigand got to his feet and took a moment to dust himself up, before starting the climb back up.
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Garnet
Hero
The Scarlet Brand
You call these bandits? You should'a seen what I had to deal with in Sacae!
Posts: 330
Etruria Fame: 1
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Post by Garnet on Mar 8, 2010 13:50:54 GMT -6
As he recovered from the bright flashes, Garnet saw Francis fall over the hill as he tripped the enemy monk. He would have spared a moment to laugh if it hadn't been a fight. No mercy. They shouldn't have raised their blades against me.
The redheaded swordsman rushed past the fallen Etrurian Axman, giving a swift kick to the head with his boot (in case he wasn't dead) as he ran past.
It didn't take long. Garnet arrived just in time for the monk to look up. The monk tried to open his tome, but the merc jammed his sword down with all his strength through the book, pinning it to the ground. There wasn't even a chance to for the monk to beg for his life, if he'd wanted to, as Garnet ripped the sword, book and all upwards, connecting with the man's head in a bloody slice.
The vengeful merc paused for a moment over his kill feeling the anger seething inside him, placed there when his home had been massacred by followers of what these same men served. He tried to feel satisfied that he had done his deed, but all he felt was tired, and saddened at his own loss again. Feeling unfulfilled, he knelt and removed the book from his slim sword, wiping the blood on it on the dead monks robe before rising.
He stepped into motion, moving to retrieve Fable, who'd shied away from the battle. Once he had the horse firmly in hand, he turned to the west.
"Nicely done friends, but we need to get off the road. That monk signaled for nearby help, I'm sure of it. And as much as I'd love to stay and kill more of the Prophet's men, I don't know how many we'd have to deal with... Probably too many to deal with." He looked down from the trees and hills to the west, now looking towards Francis, still climbing up the hill and gave an amused smile. "Francis has the right idea, eh? Off the road, and down the hill." And down he started, leading carefully to avoid Fable stepping into any holes or tripping.
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