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 Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 3:58 pm
Zeal glances back to check on Kreen. Nodding once to the two passengers he turns his attention back to Valden and the flight ahead.
"Lets go, Valden. There's much to do." Zeal's voice is even but holds a readiness for battle that makes it clear, if it wasn't already, that this will not be a peaceful outing. Zeal does not turn around once during the flight and when they have landed he leaps off of Valden's head still without speaking.
Valden moves forward in a surge, dropping from the ledge and using the momentum to sweep into a glide while still some distance above the cohesive surface of the Silver Sea. Their flight takes them over most of the Silver Sea and over the countryside of the coastal human realm of Iracund. It's sandy soil and the grasses that flourish in it make a grey-green carpet below for but a brief few minutes. The nation is narrow and long and the flight of Verec is across its width. The black sand dunes of the Gray Waste stretch from the western Iracund boarder until one reaches beyond into what is collectively referred to as the Western Lands.
Their passage is swift over the arid and hot sands. The canyons that split the land seem almost unnatural in their stark contrast with the dunes above.
Valden slows his flight suddenly and banks to the right. He has spotted a figure on the sand where there should be none. They sweep in low and slowly before coming to a smooth landing some dozen meters from the man.
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 4:51 pm
Just as he thought all the monsters had decided to rest, he felt a gust of warm wind behind him. He turned around and saw in the distance, a huge winged beast. "Oh no..." He pulled out his sickles, but put them down immediately. "Is that...a dragon?!" He was in awe at the majestically monstrous beast. He didnt believe his eyes, a dragon was standing only a few hundred feet away. It probably isnt, my eyes are just dying... He pulled his weapon higher, "People?" He asked himself when he saw three forms on the dragons back. This was a strange encounter, even for this monster infested region. Maybe they can help me get out of this dump. He decided to approach them carefully.
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 5:15 pm
Artes was in awe of the many different things he took in from the adventure. It was such a vast expanse, the world, so increadable. He kept a tight hold on his bow and the arrows on his back were fastened tightly.
When they arrived over the wastes then he gasped at it. He had never seen anything like it. So wonderous.
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 5:54 pm
Kreen gazes about at the familiar terrain from an unfamiliar view. It does not make sense for one attempting to keep a low profile (such as an assassin) to fly at half this height, so this is primarily new to him. They reach the Grey Wastes, a land known to this Fae but extremely rarely visited. It never made sense to come here much, due to his tendency to stay in areas inhabited by humans. As they near thoroughly out-of-place humanoid on the ground, the assassin's eyes narrow. What could a sentient be doing in a place like this?
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:29 am
Zeal quickly jumps off of Valden's head and lands on the sand. The sheath at his hip is empty of the dagger but an embellished black sword is what he holds in his hand. The blade shines like Valden's scales, absolutely black. He doesn't raise the sword toward the man who stands before him but is obviously on guard while on the black sands of the Waste.
"Who are you and why are you in the middle of the Gray Waste? This is not the place for a casual stroll." Zeal's voice holds authority and concern, in that order of dominance. "These two who came here with me will be training here today. Valden will look after you until we leave, at which time you will be given a lift wherever you wish to go." He turns back to look at Artes and Kreen. "Artes, stay close to Kreen. Kreen, watch Artes' back. He has less experience and only a ranged weapon. Not all the denizens of this place attack from the surface so watch the sand for burrows and distortions." He begins walking, putting distance between himself and Valden.
Valden watches the biped's movements carefully, ready to blast the man off his feet should it be required. His manner could be considered guarded rather than hostile or suspicious. He does not verbally answer his partner but extends one wing slightly to provide an area of shade. He has his doubts about this biped's intelligence and sanity but the weapons and his condition seem to indicate that he is competent enough to survive some of the threats here in the Waste. For a biped, that is a rather significant accomplishment.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:06 pm
Before he could answer, the man was walking away. Rath looked from each being as the man who had talked to him earlier talked to them. He still proceded to tell him how it happened, talking a bit louder so he could hear, "Um, well I woke up here, and Ive been walking a long time, trying to get out of this place. Can you help me out?" He stared at the nearby dragon in awe and frightfulness, he knew it could annihilate him if it wanted. "Oh, by the way, whatcha trainin for if you dont mind my asking?" He decided to put his dub-scythe back on his back.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:09 pm
"As you wish," Kreen says, leaping easily from the dragon's back and landing smoothly on the sand's surface with a simply flutter of his wings and leaves the human to answer the newcomer's questions. He then turns back to the great dragon, looking upward at the elf still on his back and waiting for him to get off. As per Zeal's orders, the assassin cannot leave the homeless elf behind, however much it would ease his journey.
Oh, well, the Fae thinks, At least he'll make a good distraction...
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:05 pm
Artes nodded slowly and removed himself from Valden somewhat gracefully. He stayed near Kreen, clutching the bow closely to him.
The heat was intense and Artes was already sweating quite profusely. He had whished he had left some of his clothing behind, but he had not and he would have to live with that.
"Um... Mister Kreen, I am ready to go when you are, sir."
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:33 pm
Kreen, also feeling a bit hot in his standard black assassin outfit, casts a quick spell from his repertoire. A gust of wind blows across their position and follows the assassin as he turns toward the elf and gestures for him to choose their direction. It will be easier to watch the boy's back from behind.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:39 pm
He looked around quickly and picked a heading of Southwest. He looked back at Kreen to see if this was ok. He had never gone much further than his own forest, and aside from maps and paintings, he had not really seen the world so far outside his own. He had no idea if this direction would be of concequence or not.
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:47 pm
Kreen follows along wordlessly, his eyes narrowed at the bright sun and ever watchful of the terrain. Both his hands are empty, but anyone who had ever seen him in action would know that this means nothing. With a single word he can launch his back-sheathed sword into his hand, he has six daggers throughout his person, along with a pair of shortswords also hidden. Furthermore, he also weilds a number of immensely powerful spells, and can react almost instantaneously to a threat from any direction.
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:53 am
Zeal continues walking, prepared to handle anything that might happen to come his way. His sword is far from normal and his arcane abilities, only vaguely known by Artes and seemingly forgotten, are formidible. However, he is not the one being tested and trained here. He turns back to look at the man with a frown and a brief, ambiguous, nod.
"Waking up in the middle of the Gray Waste is one of the worst things that could happen to anyone. There is no water here, at all, and the only place safe from monsters is the canyon bottoms." Zeal's frown deepens for a moment and turns away again, this time moving at a distance behind Kreen and Artes.
Valden keeps his eyes on the biped and shifts his weight slightly to make it easier to hold his wing in the same position for awhile. His manner is not threatening but he is on guard, a logical course in a place like this.
"The elf and the fae are training to show him how skilled they are. It is best to leave him be for a time. Come, rest and wait. The training may take some hours." Valden's voice is steady and unmoved as he speaks to the man.
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:19 pm
Rath listened to the man say what he already knew, this place...The Gray Waste was very dangerous. When the dragon spoke to him, he decided to listen to him. He went to go sit by the dragon, and wait for whenever they finished doing whatever they needed to do.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 2:11 pm
Kreen slowly follows the elf across the wastes, always on guard. The entire area is completely flat and the skies an uninterrupted sea of azure. And threats from these areas can be detected from miles away. This leaves but the ground which must be watched carefully, and the assassin's eyes remain fixed upon it almost constantly. Never remaining in one place for over a second, his eyes sweep the area in a full circle behind him. This necessitates that he turn around and walk backward fairly often, but this is not for long and the elf can at least be counted on to notice anything important for that short length of time. There is not a single creature in the area.
"Something is amiss," the Fae says to himself quietly, and his hand rises to the blade across his back, pulling it free with the ease of practice.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 4:48 pm
Artes's sweaty palm gripped his bow more tightly, "Wh-what is it, Mr. Kreen? Is something coming up be-behind us?" His shakey hand took one of the dozen arrows from his quiver. He swallowed hard and looked around warily.
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