Author Topic: Mythic Sagas: Prologue  (Read 91865 times)

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #20 on: September 02, 2013, 04:43:17 PM »
Skulda's smile fades, and the lines in her face, previously not visible, betray her age. "I had feared as much when the spirits failed to answer my questions about him directly... I worry that something dire has happened to him. Tell me what transpired while you were off with him tracking down the nydeshka. Was he well when you last saw him? How did you part ways?"

Although she hides it fairly well, you can hear a note of desperation in her voice.
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline skydragonknight

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #21 on: September 02, 2013, 10:44:50 PM »
Thorgrim strokes his blond beard, as the tall warrior thinks back. "Hey left after we rescued some of Einar's kin and brought them back to Rasheman. I saw him in early spring at a road-side tavern. He said he was doing a bit of work to earn money for the "missus". He had had far too much ale though, since he kept describing his wife as being 'such a troll' and describing their relationship as being 'rather trollsome."
Hmm.

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #22 on: September 02, 2013, 10:55:43 PM »
The caravan and its collected travelers continue onward throughout the day.  The sun's zenith passes high to the right as you continue your journey eastward.  Skulda's raven leads the way several hundred yards ahead of the group, but her occasional glances through the bird's eyes reveal nothing out of the ordinary.

You journey through the afternoon, and the sun slowly descends toward the horizon.  The last small village or cluster of farms was two hours back, and with the sun now sinking below the forested horizon behind you, Skulda turns her raven's attentions toward locating a suitable campsite.  That's when she notices something odd through the bird's eyes.  There is a wagon overturned on the side of the road.  Swooping in for a closer inspection, the raven's eyes also show a dead horse, slaughtered and dismembered.  Skulda can feel the raven wanting to gorge itself, and lands its feet in the sticky red soil pooled around the butchered animal.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #23 on: September 02, 2013, 11:04:05 PM »
In response to Throgrim's comments, she looks a bit surprised and stops walking and says "He... he's married? And he didn't even tell me?"

After a quiet moment she says "Well... Where was the tavern you saw him in? I guess I might find him there..."

(click to show/hide)

Dropping off thoughts of her son, Skulda says in a detached voice as she stares at a point in space, as if she isn't actually looking at what's around her "Trouble ahead... Wagon attacked, horse butchered. Looks pretty fresh. Blood still pooling."

She lets the bird feast for a moment, to avoid it looking out of the ordinary to any would-be ambushers, but tries to peer through its eyes at the surrounding forest. She also pulls out an ornate bottle, and removes the stopper. A whirling column of smoke flows out of it and forms into the shape of a horse.

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I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #24 on: September 02, 2013, 11:11:02 PM »
The raven flits around, picking at the hacked horseflesh.  Through its eyes you can tell the horse's rear legs have been removed at the hip, apparently by axes.  It's frenzied, jumping vision also shows bloody prints and drag marks leading up the slope north of the road, toward the foothills of the mountains.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #25 on: September 02, 2013, 11:17:52 PM »
After it tears off a decent chunk of horse flesh, she directs the raven to fly up the slope, in the direction of the footprints, but passing over (or through, if necessary) the wagon to see if there are any people (or corpses) inside.

Aloud she says "I can scout... It's a couple hundred yards ahead yet, though. Should we leave our wagon behind?"
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #26 on: September 02, 2013, 11:25:09 PM »
The raven flies around the wagon, seeing no one inside or in the vicinity, then darts off into the forest, following the direction of the bloody footprints as best as possible.  Before long, though, the bloody smears peter out, and the increasingly rocky landscape makes the drag trail too indistinguishable for the raven's untrained eyes.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #27 on: September 02, 2013, 11:29:38 PM »
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I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #28 on: September 02, 2013, 11:33:44 PM »
The raven returns to the wagon's vicinity and flies a slow circle high above, dodging the highest branches among the tree tops.  It turns a keen eye toward the ground, but doesn't notice anything else out of the ordinary.  A descent through the canopy for a better look at the ground surrounding the area doesn't show anything exceptional either.

Offline Nanshork

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #29 on: September 02, 2013, 11:34:04 PM »
Einar looks at the woman apprasingly.  "Now I know where Hergierr got his ability to know things that others do not.  If there is trouble ahead the wagon should stay here with a guard.  I shall scout, though I will not prevent you from accompanying me.  A man on foot can hide more easily than a woman on a...horse made of smoke..."  He trails off at the end there.

Offline dna1

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #30 on: September 03, 2013, 12:09:03 AM »
Hymir was still sitting at the front wagons seat. Trouble? We should probably keep a few able bodied men here just in case hmm? He picks a few strings on his lute as he continues. I'll stay... just have your raven fly back if there is trouble?
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Offline skydragonknight

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #31 on: September 03, 2013, 03:10:30 AM »
When he saw the distant look in her eyes he knew her words to be true concerning Hergierr. He would often have such a look in his eyes after sending out his pet bird to scout. Indeed, such a skill had to come from someplace.

"I must stay here as guard. If something truly dangerous seeks your flesh, then draw it near here and my fang will have an argument with it about that." Thorgrim says, gesturing to his guisarme. "Be safe, my friend."
Hmm.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #32 on: September 03, 2013, 09:41:33 AM »
Skulda says "Very well Einar, let us go then. I will stopper the horse, if we are to travel together. I will have to move haltingly, though. I can hide myself for only a minute at a time, but then must wait for another minute."

She whistles and a great white cat with fur dotted with black spots appears from the undergrowth of the forest nearby. She says "Thane, Seek!" (in elven) and the cat slinks back into the woods and starts following the road once again, looking even more alert than before.

To Hymir she says "I will do as you say, but a bit differently. I will leave the bird here. If there is trouble, I will have it begin to squawk and fly in circles around you."

She directs the raven to fly back to Hymir, and the smoke horse returns to the flask, which she stoppers. She then waits for Einar to take the lead, and draws her crossbow. After they walk for a bit, she vanishes from view but her steps can still be heard behind him.

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« Last Edit: September 03, 2013, 09:47:20 AM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Nanshork

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #33 on: September 03, 2013, 10:06:37 AM »
Einar nods at Thorgrim and grins.  "Do not worry, if battle is joined you will not be forgotten."  He then leads the small scouting party, forcing his pace to slow so as to not outdistance Skulda.

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Offline Risada

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #34 on: September 03, 2013, 10:20:32 AM »
"So you guys know each other... Anyway, let's make our preparations as well."

Agni turns to his companion and starts channeling his spells into her.

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« Last Edit: September 03, 2013, 10:24:59 AM by Risada »

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #35 on: September 03, 2013, 11:03:44 AM »
Overhearing all the talk of trouble ahead, Ospak starts giving orders to halt and set up camp.  "The light will be failing soon anyhow; set up camp on the road.  Position the wagons to encircle an open space." 

He then walks over to Agni, Thorgrim, and Hymir, sparing a glance toward the traveler with the funny eye, who had joined them on the road that morning.  "I'll not be able to sleep if I know there are trolls about.  There are enough men here to watch the wagons; Thorgrim, go with your friend, make sure the trouble is gone and won't be a bother for us later this night.  And take these two with you," Ospak says.  Pointing at Hymir, he adds "His singing is likely to attract them; better it be near you than near me."  He turns away, pointing where he wants the other men to move the wagons.
« Last Edit: September 03, 2013, 11:24:45 AM by ksbsnowowl »

Offline Risada

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #36 on: September 03, 2013, 11:33:08 AM »
"You heard the man, guys..."

Agni holds his guisarme and as soon as everybody is ready, will leave after the scouts.


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« Last Edit: September 03, 2013, 11:35:31 AM by Risada »

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #37 on: September 03, 2013, 12:34:47 PM »
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I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline dna1

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #38 on: September 03, 2013, 02:12:26 PM »
Hymir dismounts the wagon. He calls his companion Valtamr from the nearby forested area and proceeds to follow along with the less sneaky members of the party. Although he stills seems rather casual for the circumstances, his lute is in hand and he doesn't seem to be paying to much attention to the road ahead.
He turns to Agni, and in a relaxed tone says. Well this should prove interesting.... lets stick close together hmm? I'll not be visiting Valhalla and the halls of my ancestors today if I can help it. I still haven't bedded all the woman travelling along with us. He finishes with a smirk.
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Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Mythic Sagas: Prologue
« Reply #39 on: September 03, 2013, 02:20:32 PM »
Einar and Skulda slowly stalk toward the overturned wagon, with Einar in the lead.  The berserker creeps forward along the road's edge, ducking behind scrub and foliage as he is able.  The older woman watches his movements, shifts invisible and moves to the hiding spot Einar has just vacated, concealing herself in the foliage before she becomes visible again, then watches his movements in preparation of her next advancement.

Agni, Hymir, and Thorgrim keep a slow pace with the two scouts, keeping themselves about 60 feet to the rear, walking the verge of the road to make themselves less obvious, and avoiding the underbrush as best they can.  The traveler with the red mark on his eye also seems interested, and trails them a bit.

Before long the two scouts see the overturned wagon, and cautiously move closer.  A tingling sense of danger pricks the back of their necks, but the portent appears to be false.  No immediate danger becomes apparent, and after a few minutes of slow approach they are able to inspect the scene, and no ambush has presented itself.

The wagon appears to have swerved off the road, into a ditch on the south side.  Its right wheels now hang a few feet off the hardpack.  It had been heading west, and the horse's corpse is still tied to the wagon's leading tongues.  Several arrows are protruding from its side.  The blood around its hacked rear glistens slightly, and a probing hand finds that it is tacky to the touch, and the horse's body is still fairly warm to the touch.  Whatever attacked this wagon did it earlier today.
« Last Edit: September 03, 2013, 02:22:26 PM by ksbsnowowl »