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Post by Ladd Russo of the Russo Family on Nov 14, 2010 23:07:23 GMT -5
The two old woman laughed. "So nice to meet you. What are the names of you two young men?" the one asked, Na-Chrisin.
"Charming," the other said dryly, and they laughed again.
"Yes, tell us a bit about yourselves."
"Or at least entertain our lad here. He's been gnawing at the ropes ever since he got a chill, and his temper is more contagious than his sneezing at this point."
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Post by Arual on Nov 14, 2010 23:12:04 GMT -5
"Whitte," and he showed his small bit of gratitude by a slight bow out of respect for that hospitality. With the arrows on his back, and walked over to them both and sat at a chair.
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Post by Señor Sunday Friday on Nov 14, 2010 23:20:23 GMT -5
"Of course, my pair of swamp lotuses." he nodded, "Well, my name is Dodger of Borroughbrook and this here is... well." he looked at Whitte, frowning, "Whitte. Yes. Kind of like the color, but not quite." he smiled, fancying himself at least a might bit clever for the amount of rhyming he'd been able to summon up impromptu in the past few days. "So what sort of stories would you like to hear of? There was that one time... the Bettellian army swept through, we were occupied for nearly a quartersyear... which is longer than anyone would ever wish to call themselves Bettellian. They raided the temple, they did and Lander got into a fine bit of trouble trying to stop 'em." he laughed slightly, "Always did get into sorts and sides with trouble."
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Post by Ladd Russo of the Russo Family on Nov 15, 2010 11:47:01 GMT -5
"What an adventure!" Na-Chrisin exclaimed, the wrinkles of her cheeks drawing up like fine curtains at the pull of her delighted smile. "You two must be far-traveled; I have never heard of these lands."
The boy looked up at the news of battles in faraway places, his sunken blue eyes alight. Now he bounced the ball in staccato against the slate floor. This town was not so far from the mountains that it could not afford some imports that would be luxury in other parts of the country, like stone. Wood was good enough for outside, but houses liked to be set on something a little drier and easier to clean, if one's grandfather and father had saved up enough coin.
"Did Lander kick them out? Did he use a sword?" he asked excitedly. "Na-Eri, have you ever been to Borrabrak?"
The other old woman shook her head softly. "No, Madiew, but it would take an evil country to bother a temple. Keeper be blessed for small favors, that no one bothers on ours."
"So what brings you two here? We don't get many visitors, unless they're off the main road. And they're even rarer still unescorted..." She muttered the last one with disapproval, her eyes checking for a reddened mask in the window or door frame before saying it, eyes sad.
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Post by Arual on Nov 15, 2010 14:56:20 GMT -5
"I managed to come across Fholt when I tried to get around the desert." The little boy really did begin to remind Whitte of himself at a young age. Just a bit. "I am not from the same country as Dodger, here, but still as long travel. Honestly I don't know more about why we're being escorted then you might, Ma'am."
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Post by Señor Sunday Friday on Nov 15, 2010 15:50:55 GMT -5
"No, no... she didn't fight them off... not necessarily. Clerics are given freedom to pass over borders freely. She left and while she and anyone they could spare snuck out of the town in the dead of night, disappearing from the temple and making their way over the countryside. They reached the first town and the clerics told them to build up their defenses- the Bettellians were coming... and in the next town she did the same, and in the next... and the next and word spread of them warning of the forces and from the capitol came a military force stacked fifty deep and one hundred across!" his eyes shone, "A wordsmith traveled among them and they had two Dolls at their sides!" he laughed aloud, almost forgetting the others in the hut, "Bettel, not wanting to lose their advancement built up embankments and fortified Borroughbrook and the neighboring areas... set up sentries and sent out scouts- it was a small fortress in a countryside being swept through with them." Dodger made wide sweeping gestures as he spoke, accentuating every punctuation and every emotion meant to be stirred by what he was saying. "Of course... you don't fortify a city by yourself- especially if you're Bettellian, they can't weave magic to save their own arseholes. They made us set to work- those walls were built with out sweat and toil and at the threat of swordpoint we defended our city from our saviors." he laughed, "They couldn't have rationed us enough ale to drown out the bitterness in our blood! And then came marching on the horizon... our Virisean blue-coated bastards, with their magic and their metal." He stopped, realizing he had sworn once or twice and he wasn't aware if that would be good and fine with them... it was a child after all. He looked towards the two women quietly, "My apologies for harsh words." he paused, trying to think of what they had said "Oh! Yes. I'm looking for medicines." he explained, stopping the story at it's moment of peak crisis. "Disease has spread up from those dirty Betellians... and it's turned into a plague." he shook his head, "Not many people survive it, and of all things, I seemed to have gotten better- fought it off but I don't intend to squander this life." he smiled, dropped almost entirely out of story mode.
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Post by Ladd Russo of the Russo Family on Nov 15, 2010 19:43:32 GMT -5
"That's Floht, dear," the Na-Chrisin corrected Whitte gently. They were used to foreigners, so it was no big deal. Still she figured the boy would want to know.
Dodger found a rapt audience in his tale, the women gasping appreciatively and the child staring in near adoration.
"How horrible!" they exclaimed.
"Did you win?" the boy asked, concerned.
"My son is a Worker of Seals. A ah... medicine man... a healer.... a doctor," she said, explaining with words more and more foreign to her in hope he'd recognize one. "He will be home later, at supper, if you wish to talk to him about your plague. Such a sad thing...." Na-Eri finished.
"You will tell us how your troubles ended, though, Se-Dodger? As for why you were escorted, Se-Whitte," Na-Chrisin's face became more grave again. "You were off the road. They must not think you too harmful if they left you here to rest, but I don't know. One never knows, with them."
"If I became a Border Guard one day, I could see armies like Dodger and fight off Bottolions," the little boy said, brandishing his ball like it was a sword.
"Don't say such things," Na-Eri admonished harshly, her tone scathing, and Madiew murmured a frightened apology, obviously not used to such rebukes.
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Post by Arual on Nov 15, 2010 20:28:29 GMT -5
"My apologies." he said softly to the correction on pronunciation.
FLASHBACK "I wanna be like you, O'Harrah!" "No you don't, Nephew. I rather you be yourself...." His hard eyes looked solemn and deep in thought, as if it hurt to think of the words as a compliment. He patted Raegan's head. "It's more important to know yourself." "Why?" "Well, for one, if you ever get in a fight when you're older, the kids will try to make you feel bad about yourself. Our family isn't exactly what most consider a normal mix of breeds." Oh, the irony to the statement. "Who better to know who you are than yourself, right? Think of it this way, no one can say what you are or arent unless you let them. And don't you let anyone convince you to believe something you dont agree with." It was slightly over his head, but he understood the point. "Okay. but you're still my favorite Uncle." "Raegan, I'm your only uncle." "So? You're the best!" The little kid had a smile as wide as his cheeks could allow him, but it slowly wilted away when the uncle's expression only worsened. "So sad, Uncle. Smile! I love you, and so does Brother and Sis." A small smile came on his face then. So innocent, this one. So young. Well, better to leave it that way as long as it can. "Thank you." he would never say 'love'. It was a strong word that stung every time he even heard it. "So," he added, his dark eyes, two sets of bags beneath them, looking into the boy's. "Are you done with your silly questions tonight, Raegan?" "Are you tired, O'Harrah?" Again, another question. It was endearing, to say the least. "Yes. And so are you, you just don't know it yet." A slight chuckle, a rarity itself, boomed deep in the old man's throat as Raegan yawned. END
Where WAS o'Harrah, anyways? The last time he'd been around was.........four- maybe five years ago? Stupid old man, abandoning him when he needed help the most! Whitte tried to turn his attention back to the world around him. Everything was silent and now the sound slowly came back.
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Post by Señor Sunday Friday on Nov 15, 2010 21:39:34 GMT -5
"Yes... very unfortunate." he agreed, though his symptoms weren't the same when he got the illness... and he seemed to have gotten better when he got here... away from it. Ill for years unlike everyone else but there was nothing he could think of to explain what had happened other than plague. Everyone else had gotten sick, but then again nobody else had gotten better before. Perhaps it was the air of this place that made him better, though he severely doubted it. Walking on land was like swimming in the ocean and overall it was a fairly miserable business.
He smirked, dropping the thought for now, "If I could speak with him, I would be very grateful... although in the meantime I'm sure someone would like to hear the conclusion to our tale." he nodded astutely and he continued about his storytelling.
"I stood shoulder to shoulder with Nate and Thadrissa as our own soldiers approached, glistening like stars on the field of battle... they already lost people... they'd already taken cities and there we stood holding knives and small daggers. The hope was that we'd take out a few people as they charged forward... stop some of them from reaching the walls and give them some sort of obstacle." he shrugged, "There were swords bared to us on each side, but some of us hoped that someone might know us... that someone might recognize us in the line of troops ahead, others hoped to beg to get let back into the city. People ran in both directions while Nate and I were some of the few that stayed put. Death at the hands of your friends or at the hands of your enemy is a poor choice. If I remember correctly, Thadrissa was found at the walls, she tried to get back in, I think. We stood there, waiting for our own people to arrive and of all things, we played dead." he laughed as if it was truly funny, "We covered our heads, curled up in balls in the dirt... Nate and I survived but lots of us weren't so lucky. When the army reached the walls the Bettellians fought back and where we lay truly was a battlefield and not a slaughterground and more of us fled, trying to get away and I won't lie to you... I'm going to be honest with you... I was too afraid to move." he shook his head, "It wasn't until night fell and they took a break on their siege that they realized we were civilians and they took us, the survivors in and we stayed in tents until we could return home. They sent in a small group and they infiltrated the town and by infiltrated... I mean burned.
"Everything we had was destroyed in that fire, and we might have been bitter over it, a lot of us were, actually... but in the ashes we found Bettellian after Bettellian and the army pursued them and chased their asses all they way back over the border and then some! The very next week we had new guards stationed... and we had some new help from captured war prisoners... rebuilding what we lost because of them... and then when they were done they disappeared which is all usual for Virisea- and very pleasant if you'd ask me. They saw it fitting to better fortify us though, which was a lot of relief. It was a lot like hell, it was... all that time." he shook his head, "War is a nasty thing, kid... and don't you ever say you wish you could be part in it." he warned, "Bein' a soldier for any country will let you kill others sure- but you'll also be killin' yerself." with a sagely nod, he finished his story and sat down on the floor.
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Post by Ladd Russo of the Russo Family on Nov 15, 2010 22:02:37 GMT -5
The old woman nodded solemnly. "Mark you that well, Madiew. Those Border Guards do a service to our nation, but they are dishonored beyond all people for letting Death inside them. She holds them so strongly that most are not men anymore. Mark you that, and do not go too near them. Do you want to live a life like what Se-Dodger faced but every day, never to see your family again?" She was talking to Madiew, obviously, but there was also a warning to the other two in there.
"Men who see Death know Death. Men who know Death well will kill. Men who kill will kill again," said Na-Eri softly and sadly, in a lilting kind of voice that made what she said a quote from something.
The young boy was very alarmed by the ending turn of the story, which was not at all heroic or brazen like most good stories. Perhaps because it was not a story. He shook his head. "Accept my apology, Dodgeregdod," he said softly. "I would be frightened too."
The mother of Madiew, a working woman with blonde-brown hair to her back, began setting out plates at the table. The living room was also the dining room, with a small kitchen and bedroom making up the rest of the happy home.
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Post by Arual on Nov 15, 2010 23:03:48 GMT -5
"So are you the only child around here, or are there more?" Whitte asked, not sure why they would lock a child up in a house for a simple cold- especially if the father, or whoever, was a doctor. "you seem like you'd be better outside than cooped up here, no offense intended, of course." He added for the hospitable women who were putting plates out with food.
He had given a look to Dodger, now seeing what he meant by 'Lander', and why he was talking to the air. That was his loved one. In that expression, he said 'Im sorry.'
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Post by Señor Sunday Friday on Nov 15, 2010 23:07:39 GMT -5
"No need to apologize, I figure most'd be scared, even if they deny it" Dodger mused, "But I have no doubt that you'd be brave if you were there, Madewe." he smiled encouragingly, "Bravery isn't the lack of fear... lacking fear is stupidity. Bravery is not letting your fear get in your way of doing what you need to." A brave man would have saved his neighbors. Lander only returned months later- so she was safe... but still. He should have been able to save some people, maybe grabbed Thadrissa and kept her there. After that ordeal, he promised Lander they'd move to the coast and away from Bettel, though of course they couldn't get married... someday Lander would have made her vows to the temple and sworn away her voice for contemplative silence. It wasn't fair that some god would keep her away from him and then let her die so cruelly to plague.
And yet he lived, and he'd find a cure, of course.
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Post by Ladd Russo of the Russo Family on Nov 16, 2010 17:08:49 GMT -5
"No offense taken," the mother said warmly, her eyebrow raising tauntingly. "But you are not a parent, are you? No, the last thing Madiew needs is to get himself wet and cold and dirty right before he finally gets his strength back."
"Mam...." Madiew sighed.
"Such serious talk for a table," said Na-Chrisin. "But here's my son-in-law, finally home from his work."
"Sorry it was inconveniencing you, Na-Chrisin," said the father, just gotten back. He was not what one would expect as a Worker of Seals. He was a very short man, made only the more obvious by his solid, muscular build. His white hair was cut short and the mask he took off in the doorway had a unique design on it to signify his job. As for his apology, it did not seem too serious, and is broad features were as joyous as Santa Claus cut from the sweets and fresh from the gym, though his beard was much shorter and tidier for all of the color. "Though I did hear we had guests. Please, sit down, men," he invited.
The table was set with a thick stew, full of unrecognizable tubers and thick chunks of some strange meat. The drink was the same as before, the mildly alcoholic beverage given even to Madiew as he took his seat. It would take some serious drinking of the stuff to get more than a buzz.
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Post by Arual on Nov 16, 2010 18:17:52 GMT -5
"Thank you," Whitte answered the man who came through the door.
FLASHBACK The house was packed as usual, and everyone was causing trouble before their father got back. Raegan had set a plate onto the table and went for a few more, spinning and weaving through younger siblings and busy older ones. Vallie had been cutting up the rest of the extra helpings in case anyone wanted more, their mother had begun to put the food onto big dishes to set on the long wood table. "Maĭka" the littlest one rang out, only three at the time. "Maĭka! Maĭka!Maĭka!" ("mother!") She had tears building up in her eyes, her lips in a pout. His mother set the pot aside, the spoon beside it, pulling her daughter onto her hip. "Kakvo ne e nared, skŭpotsenni takŭv? Hm?" (what's wrong, my precious one?) Her gentle brown eyes looking over her daughter for hurts. "Toĭ mi stŭpi na tsvete!" (He stepped on my flower!) Jaeel whimpered, holding up a broken flower. "Toĭ e za vas, mamo." (It was for you, Momma.) A small smile came onto her face, the thought of Jaeel sweet and too cute to not smile at. "O, ne plachi! Siguren sŭm, che tova e intsident, Jaeel." (Oh, don't cry! Im sure it was an accident, Jaeel.) She sat the girl back onto her feet after a kiss on the forehead. The chaos seemed to have died down after that, Raegan giving his little sister a wink as he passed. Latanni was getting herself to the table then. James, the oldest of them all, was coming from around the corner, seeming to be in good spirits, and the table finally was set. As if on cue from everyone else sitting down, waiting on him to come home, the Mr. came through the door. Dirty from working outside all day, but a grin now on his face. He was a tall, somewhat dark skinned, and stern looking man, but when you came to his house, you saw that wasn't entirely the case...well, not always. "Papa!"Raegan and Latanni exclaimed together, scooting out from her seat beside Jaeel and running into her father's arms. They weren't always so lucky as to see their father at dinner, so it was a big deal when he did show. Today, however, was even more important because it was Raegan's twentieth birthday. This would be the fourth birthday of Raegan's he'd been able to come home for.....the fact he was there was a present in itself. "Dvadeset sega? Pha! Vie vse oshte ochakvat slab." the deep voice of Mr. Whitte boomed as he joked with his son. (Twenty now? Pha! You still look to skinny.) "Stara dostatŭchno, za da te svalya, tatko!" (Old enough to take you down, Father!) Raegan teased back, everyone in such high spirits and laughing and chatting about it themselves. "Ne sŭvsem, Ne sŭvsem. Chestit rozhden den." ( not quite, not quite. Happy birthday.) He patted his son on the back, and set Latanni down again. END
((sorry about the translation thing. it was necessary))
When was the last time he had really been around his whole family like that? When had they all had a nice talk over dinner, and had a good time with each other's company? Today, he was reminded of that night with his own large family, and it made him homesick. A bittersweet smile went across his face as he sat down. Eating when they did.
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Post by Señor Sunday Friday on Nov 16, 2010 23:08:42 GMT -5
"You're a healer?" Dodger asked without introducing himself, his attention focused on the man who had just entered, holding a hand out, palm up to the man, "My name is Dodger." he smiled, "I was wondering if I could talk to you... about a disease." he became quiet, "I'm searching for a cure... have been for some time. I was wondering if some other peoples might know of something." he offered up his best smile though it was forced rather obviously to show an almost juvenile nervousness. Whether or not it was gauged to be so was anyone's guess- some would say he wasn't clever enough for that, some would say he was too clever to convince anyone of otherwise. It was all a simple matter of opinion is all.
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