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Post by Robin on Sept 25, 2004 10:15:49 GMT
[ModNote: Robin was last seen in In search of weapons for sale.] *Robin's sword collides with a tree trunk.* Hyaaaargh! *...and Robin pulls it back out again. Whipping around, he cuts, thusts and parries his way through the open air in front of him...* ...huh... *...and throws his sword aside. Running towards two closely-aligned trees, he jumps towards one of them...* ...hup!... *and kicks so hard he ricochets off and hits the other tree, kicking that with his other foot backwards, respectively, so he bounces from tree to tree.* Hyaaah! *Robin slides all the way down his tree's trunk and comes to rest at the bottom...* That will be enough training for one day, I believe... *...and he starts to make his way from the scene, when a branch from one of the trees snaps off and falls down, colliding with his capped head.* ...Glurk?! *Robin falls over, out cold.*
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Post by ringmasterrob on Sept 26, 2004 13:50:04 GMT
*As Robin is unconcious a shadow appears, slightly out of shape compared to Robin's normal shadow, the creature observes the unconcious man, toying with whether it should kill him. Deciding it's not needed, having had its fun in Marblehead the shadow moves onwards, sweeping from tree to tree and then to Wolfenden proper*
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Post by Young Grimwold on Sept 26, 2004 22:18:28 GMT
*Young Grimwold has been drawn back to the Forest. The trees feel like fingers around him, ready to toy with him, crush him, and flick him away; he has a tight grip on his club. His recent encounter with a corpse has had the same effect as a sharp stick encountering a vespiary. He feels deafened by a frenzy of bad memories, that only pursue and sting him if he tries to avoid them. His concession to this is to venture back into the Forest. He'd prefer the wash of tranquillity that a trip to the Dunnfalls would offer; but he has convinced himself that a return to the area of the battle, or nearby, will help him collect and calm his thoughts. Then he sees another body. A moment of disbelief, a shudder of nausea... then YG dashes over. He mutters as he runs:* No...no...please not again... *But he can't contain his rage. Almost sobbing, he looks towards the treetops, or perhaps higher above, and bellows:* STOP KILLING PEOPLE!*As he reaches the man, he spots the fallen branch and sword. He has seen the man around town, but doesn't know his name. He crouches, and lifts the man's head with his free hand (he won't let go of his club). He leans close.* It was just a branch...it can't have killed you...it mustn't. Pl..please be alright. PLEASE...
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Post by ringmasterrob on Sept 27, 2004 7:21:58 GMT
*The ringmaster is gradually reaching the forest's edge, when he hears a loud bellowing.*
"Just wonderful, looks like someone else is in there, last thing I need is someone or thing slowing me down at this stage. Plus if i'm delayed too long there's always the chance of a blackout, damn and blast! Why do they choose today to throw a teddy bear's picnic in there!"
*The Ringmaster goes to the very edge of the forest hoping to take a winding, slightly longer, route through the forest and avoid anyone who could potentially delay him. The only thing that matters now is making sure his mistake doesn't cost the lives of others.*
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Post by Robin on Sept 28, 2004 11:31:18 GMT
*Robin's eyes flicker open after a while. He blinks randomly trying to get the large shape in front of him into focus.*
Wha... where...?
*...and he sees Young Grimwold. An ogre. An ogre, in front of him. An ogre...*
Ha ... aaaah...?
*...and he rapidly crawls backwards...*
You... you're an ogre!... Look, whatever it is, I didn't do it, okay? I was just training and... I don't know what happened and... you're an ogre!
*Robin tries to get up, but slips over and fails.*
You... you can understand me... right?
*...and his hand inches towards his sword.*
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Post by Young Grimwold on Sept 28, 2004 14:14:56 GMT
*YG's relief that the man is alive is crushed by the reminder of why he rarely gets close to people - because most of them only ever see an ogre. And as for those who do see more, can YG really trust himself to be more than an ogre to them? After what happened with... his mind avoids her name.*
*The shock of the man's reaction to him, and the sight of the man moving towards his sword, cuts through YG's introspection. He steps back, raising his club slightly, but displaying an open palm with his other hand. He prepares to answer the gentleman's question, hoping for a positive outcome, but readying himself for a negative one.*
Yes. Even if you spoke in Latin I could understand you. But not enough people do. Anyway, the whole reason you're talking to me now is because I'm sick of people dying round here, and I came over to help. That branch there probably knocked you out. I'd much rather shake your hand than brandish my club. But if you can't see that, then by all means pick up your weapon. You may be a trained fighter, but I am a born one.
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Post by Robin on Sept 28, 2004 14:51:38 GMT
Oh, I'm...
*Robin shakes his head to try to come to his senses, and scrambles up with the help of a nearby tree. His sword is in his hand by now, but it is not brandished.*
I'm sorry... you can... you're friendly... I'm so sorry. I'm... I'm Robin. I'm deeply sorry if I offended you...
*...Robin can't help trembling a bit, but bows slightly.*
...I'm not your enemy if you're not mine. But I do have a lot of... of adversaries and...
*Robin notices his sword is still in his hand, and quickly tucks it back into his belt.*
There. My sword is sheathed. I... well, I won't attack you, unless you choose to attack me... what am I doing? The great Robin, afraid? This isn't an enemy...
I'm so sorry. I'm okay, I'm okay.
Who... who are you?
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Post by Young Grimwold on Sept 28, 2004 22:42:52 GMT
*YG is moved by Robin's apologies. He loosens his fingers slowly, so that his club thuds to the forest floor. He is staring (but not glaring) at Robin, hoping to determine whether he really is alright.*
You're the one who woke up with an ogre looming over you! I hardly think you need to apologise, though I am grateful. I'm... my name is Young Grimwold. I've seen you around Wolfenden.
I've found that the Forest is not a safe place to be on your own. *YG knows full well the hypocrisy in this statement.* What were you doing out here?
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Post by Robin on Sept 29, 2004 17:05:50 GMT
I? I live here, Master... thinks... ...Master Grimwold, is that right? This forest is my home and...
*...and a sudden chill passes through him, as some unknown force makes its presence felt...*
((OOC: This is something to do with the shadow and the Ringmaster, but neither Robin nor YG know that.))
...did you...
*Robin half-turns round, even though he is in pisitve company, it's never wise to compeltely turn your back on an ogre.*
...did you feel something?
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Post by Young Grimwold on Sept 29, 2004 23:22:03 GMT
*YG is a little dismayed that there is still tension in the air. He is so edgy about being back in the Forest, that he senses little else.*
I feel nothing good in the air round here. I was kidnapped recently, and brought out here for a battle to the death, which turned out to be just a game. You may have noticed the magic barriers that went up in the Forest, or heard it discussed around the town. I grieved for friends who never really died, I felt pain from wounds I never really had... I'm trying to make sense of it all. That's why I wandered back out here. As for you, perhaps your bump on the head spooked you a bit.
*YG hopes that bypassing formalities will ease the mutual anxiety.*
'Master Grimwold'? That's very polite of you, but YG will do, if you prefer.
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Post by Robin on Oct 1, 2004 0:06:17 GMT
*Robin has been half-listening to the story about the Battle Royale, still feeling a little cold, but he blanches when the story is finished.*
A fight to the death...?
*He shakes his head.*
No, I don't want to hear any more. I may be a fighter, but such tales don't please me. And I doubt the branch caused much damage, besides temporary unconsciousness. After all, I am tough!
*He laughs, and attempts to lean casually against his sword. Again he slips.*
Why does that always happen whenever I'm talking to someone?
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Post by Young Grimwold on Oct 1, 2004 1:30:02 GMT
*YG is tempted to rush over and ask Robin if he's alright; but he decides that being sycophantic is a poor basis for a friendsip - something he is hoping to earn here. Something he feels he deserves, after what he's been through. Instead, he goes for verbose openness.*
I sometimes wonder what use swords and clubs are around here. When I lived in the Dungeon, there were rules. A weapon was a tool - if you had one, you used it, and knew how. But in these surrounds, all the fighting seems to be done with magic. It makes me feel inferior.
But like you, I still feel more comfortable with a weapon. Fisticuffs isn't for me - it feels as if the violence is coming directly from me. And that scares me. Having a weapon tempers it, allows me to focus it, dilutes it maybe. I hope so. I do all I can to suppress my ogrish side... but it's always there. It needs controlling, so no one else gets hurt, and that's why I carry a weapon. [OOC: Why am I suddenly picturing Michael Moore as an ogre? ;D] And since I'm acknowledging my inner ogre by doing so, it might as well be a traditional club. One of my father's spares.
*YG stops. His references to himself as an ogre have left him unsettled and a little annoyed. He takes up a hip flask, but before he drinks from it, offers it to his companion.*
You're a patient listener. Water?
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Post by Robin on Oct 2, 2004 22:24:38 GMT
Yes, please.
*Robin takes the flask and drinks a swig from it. He shudders a little.*
That's better. Well, you're not like any of the ogres I've ever met. I've had a few disagreements with ogres in the past, but they were mercifully short and...
*rustle*
There is something over there... can't you feel it?
*Robin resists the urge to run off into the forest. Even though he is a skilled fighter and he has an ogre with him, running directly into danger is not advisable.*
Maybe it's just me... *he hands YG back his hipflask.* ...I need to get into somewhere warm, anyway. This Forest, it's my home, but I don't feel safe at the moment. Don't ask me to explain why...
*Robin shivers. Suddenly he feels an anxiety he can't explain, exactly.*
...I'm going to Wolfenden. Do you want to come?
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Post by Young Grimwold on Oct 3, 2004 2:46:04 GMT
*YG contemplates the idea that forces other than his own troubled introspection drew him to the Forest, for this trip has gone better than he expected. He can't smile yet - not when he still feels tense - but he wants to.*
Yes, I do. I'm sure we can find something to do there. Whatever it is that's putting a chill in the air, let's leave it to its own devices. I must say, I sometimes find it difficult being in light, open spaces for long periods - it's a trait I inherited from my father.
I know a short cut from here to Wolfenden... actually, I don't. But it sounds good when people say that.
And what's that you were saying about mercifully short ogres...?
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Post by Robin on Oct 6, 2004 18:18:24 GMT
I meant the disagreements were...
*...then he realises it was a joke.*
Ha! Ha-ha! That's very good... erm...
*Robin bounces up and down a bit.*
Which way do you want to go to Wolfenden, anyway? There's a path over there... *indicates*... or we could always go via the Dunnfallas area and follow the river through.
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