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Post by Oswin on Jan 10, 2008 16:19:20 GMT -5
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "The road!" Oswin called out in relief. They came out of the forest to find the dirt road laying right in front of them. It was wider than Oswin had expected, and was hardened by more use than the other clip of road they had seen, earlier that day. He stepped over a thick fern that bordered the road and looked down both ends of the road. To the right, the road narrowed. To the left, it held straight for a while, then curved out of view. He looked back at his companions, seeing if they needed any help. Well, more to see if Elyira needed help; Rissterus didn't need any, and even if he did, Oswin doubted he would accept his help.
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Rissterus
Guildsman
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Posts: 130
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Post by Rissterus on Jan 10, 2008 20:40:56 GMT -5
By now the rain had almost stopped completely. Grey clouds still hung low in the sky. Rissterus stepped into the middle of the road. He planted his staff heavily on the firm ground. "This is a much-used road. And it's wide," he said, speaking Oswin's thoughts aloud. He looked down towards the curve. "I would guess that there's an inn up ahead. It would explain why the road is so much more packed down compared to the rest." He looked Oswin and Elyira up and down. They looked tired, weary, and exhausted. His Sorcerer's ability to go for long periods without food or rest had assisted him greatly so far, and he was not nearly as tired as they. Still, he was anxious for a night of rest. They had traveled far. "Let us go to the bend and see what lies beyond," he said, and started walking.
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Post by Elyiravëra on Jan 11, 2008 2:36:22 GMT -5
Elyiravëra took Osiwn's proffered hand and stepped onto the road. Her strength renewed by the sight of the road. She glanced down both ends of the road, hoping to see signs of an inn. "Let us go to the bend and see what lies beyond," Rissterus said. Elyiravëra eagerly stepped after him, anxious to reach the end of the day's travels. If the inn wasn't in sight beyond the bend, her hopes would probably fall and she wouldn't be able to go any further. Her limbs screamed for rest. She looked up at Rissterus ahead of her. She envied him, he had a staff to lean on. Oswin had one too, but he lost it over the Ûstov, she told herself. She found that talking to herself helped her keep going, so she continued to do so. When we get to the inn, 'm going to go straight to my room and go to sleep. One foot in front of the other... The bend was drawing near. No, I'll stay by the roaring fire. And I'll play my harp. I've not been able to play for two whole days. They were just almost there... She heard Rissterus explaining something, but since she hadn't heard the beginning, what he was saying didn't make sense. She glanced back at Oswin. He looked like he missed his staff.
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Post by Oswin on Jan 11, 2008 12:47:34 GMT -5
Oswin trudged along after her. It was uncomfortable without his staff. He had grown so accustomed to that third leg... He started to sing one of the many hymns he knew under his breath. He ended up letting the song trail off as they were about to turn around the bend. His hopes were high; perhaps there'd be an inn right around the corner!
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Rissterus
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Post by Rissterus on Jan 12, 2008 19:47:16 GMT -5
Rissterus, Oswin, and Elyira all rounded the corner together. Beyond was just another short stretch of road that disappeared around another curve. Before Oswin and Elyira could say anything, Rissterus spoke. "No, there isn't an inn. But look," he said, pointing with his staff. There was a sign made out of wood farther down the trail. "We will see what that says. I believe we are in luck." When they reached it, Rissterus knelt down and wiped the grime off of the engraved letters. "It reads, in both the Elven tongue and the tongue of men, 'Salomaa Inn, 3 miles.'" Rissterus looked at his two weary companions. "Can you bear another three miles of walking?" Somehow he doubted it.
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Post by Oswin on Jan 12, 2008 19:52:36 GMT -5
Oswin sat down on the rough, wet gravel and watched as Rissterus read the inscription. His hopes sank again. Three miles? I can barely keep myself going. He rested his forehead on his hand. Still, there is an inn! If we can just traverse those last three miles... we could sleep in beds tonight! "Can you bear another three miles of walking?" Rissterus said, breaking into his thoughts. He looked up at the sorcerer, his mind made up. He was tired, cold, weak, and miserable, but he'd get to that inn if it killed him. "Yes," he snapped, sounding more irritated than he meant to. He slowly started to lift himself back up.
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Rissterus
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Post by Rissterus on Jan 13, 2008 12:49:09 GMT -5
Rissterus looked down the road. "I think," he began, "that the road fluctuates in this part of the country. If we just go straight, road or not, we might be able to cut the time length in half. He looked over at Elyira. His face softened somewhat when he saw how tired she looked. "Can you make it?" he asked her in a more gentle tone.
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Post by Elyiravëra on Jan 15, 2008 22:35:02 GMT -5
"I don't know," she said weakly. She was exhausted from both lack of sleep and long, long periods of walking. Then there was the incident at the River Ûstov. She didn't think she could walk another step. "I'll try..."
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Post by Oswin on Jan 22, 2008 12:07:50 GMT -5
They all began to continue down the road. By the time they reached the next turn, Rissterus led them off the path and into the surrounding country. It was difficult to tell because of the fading light, but Oswin figured they were going in a straight line. Later on, they came back onto the road...
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Rissterus
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Post by Rissterus on Jan 25, 2008 21:26:14 GMT -5
Rissterus kept his eye on Elyira as he walked. He didn't think she could make it. She looked weary to the point of exhaustion, and he suspected she was about to collapse. "Halt," he said, bringing them to a stop. He held his Staff of Demise out towards Oswin. "Hold this," he said, looking Oswin in the eye. The priest flinched. He obviously thought the staff was some great evil and he shouldn't touch it or he would be unclean or some such rediculous thought. "I rarely trust my staff to anyone, it is a great honor. Now hold it." He pressed the staff into Oswin's hands then turned to Elyira. "You're not strong enough to make the rest of the journey," he said bluntly. "So I will carry you." He looked at Elyira as if to ask her permission.
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Post by Elyiravëra on Jan 25, 2008 22:05:18 GMT -5
Elyiravëra looked at Rissterus in a questioning manor. Carry me? She looked over at Oswin, almost going to ask what she should do. She looked back at Rissterus, realizing how much she would appreciate not having to walk the rest of the way. "T-thank you," she said hesitantly, not really sure what else to say.
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Rissterus
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Post by Rissterus on Jan 31, 2008 1:34:31 GMT -5
Rissterus stepped forwards an picked the slender Elf up. She was lighter than he expected, and he decided he wouldn't have any trouble carrying her. "Come Oswin," he said starting back down the road. "And don't drop my staff." He said it almost like a threat.
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Post by Oswin on Jan 31, 2008 9:58:39 GMT -5
Oswin looked down at the staff in his hands. He considered the Rissterus' weapon to be a channel of the Sorcerer's dark magic, and thus, he didn't want to use it. He was going to protest but decided against it. He reluctantly began to follow after Rissterus, holding the staff out in front of him. As he walked, he observed it, looking from the bottom up to the top where the blue sapphire was embedded.
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Post by Elyiravëra on Feb 3, 2008 18:13:07 GMT -5
She wrapped her arms around Rissterus' neck to help take some of her weight off his arms. After awhile, Elyiravëra started to nod off. She had had a long day - they all had - and she was exhausted. Before she knew it, she had layed her head on Rissterus' shoulder and had fallen asleep.
((ooc/ Can we get to the inn now? ))
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Rissterus
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Post by Rissterus on Feb 3, 2008 18:24:34 GMT -5
Rissterus walked silently down the deserted, wet road with Oswin trailing behind him. He glanced over at Elyira's face. Asleep... He didn't blame her. He turned his attention back to the road, conscious of the fact that the elf's hair was almost touching his cheek. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The last bit of light after sunset had now disappeared. The road was dark. Rissterus looked warily around for any signs of the inn. He expected to see it at any moment. Elyira was still asleep, and he was thinking about waking her and having her walk. When they reached the inn, he didn't want to be seen holding an elf bard. He also was feeling very unprotected without his staff. He looked back to see Oswin stumbling along after him. Tough old monk, he thought to himself. Oswin was plainly tired out as well and longed for a rest, but he plodded on with them. Apparently he didn't care he was holding Rissterus' Staff of Demise anymore because he was using it for a walking stick. The corner of Rissterus' left eye narrowed for half a second, then he looked back to the road. "Elyira," he said, attempting to wake her. He didn't speak loudly, but she was close enough to hear him. "Elyira, you must walk from here. We are almost upon the inn." As if on cue, dogs started barking in the distance. Rissterus halted, looking ahead into the darkness. There were more than one dog barking, but he couldn't give their exact number. No more than five, definitely.
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