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Sept 18, 2013 22:17:51 GMT -5
Post by Omnomivore on Sept 18, 2013 22:17:51 GMT -5
Kazia nodded, settling her bag over her shoulders and shouldering her staff. She hesitated before passing the beast, but it didn't seem to be interested in attacking her. For now, anyway. Goodness knows what would happen when it got hungry.
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Sept 18, 2013 22:19:53 GMT -5
Post by NightWing on Sept 18, 2013 22:19:53 GMT -5
Burakki checked his sword at his hip and walked on, charging the air as he walked. Periodically, a small hand movement or other gesture would either show that he was doing something, or simply give him the appearance that he was a little off. He didn't particularly care, but he'd noted himself a fair amount of time past that it did look a bit odd.
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Sept 18, 2013 22:22:01 GMT -5
Post by Wolfy on Sept 18, 2013 22:22:01 GMT -5
Joshua followed as well, keeping an eye on their surroundings.
The nameless one, after a moment's hesitation, started picking its way after them. He still had yet to figure out what it was about their words that unsettled him so.
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Sept 18, 2013 22:38:29 GMT -5
Post by Omnomivore on Sept 18, 2013 22:38:29 GMT -5
Kazia walked confidently. The trails were off the beaten track, but avoided the thickest parts of the surrounding woods. Besides, they were shorter than using the main road, if you could find them. And there were fewer thieves or other nasty characters lurking around the smaller paths - not enough potential targets to be worth the risk.
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Sept 18, 2013 22:39:40 GMT -5
Post by NightWing on Sept 18, 2013 22:39:40 GMT -5
"Well, this is a decided advantage over trying to find the way ourselves." Burakki commented as he followed along from the back.
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Sept 20, 2013 12:01:02 GMT -5
Post by Wolfy on Sept 20, 2013 12:01:02 GMT -5
The nameless one roamed in a rough circle around them. While the humans were relatively safe in the daylight, there were still pockets of darkness where the shadow could hide. And sometimes, the stronger shadows would risk a few seconds in the daylight to attack, though even that brief amount of time in the sun would injure them terribly. He had yet to decide if those shadows had been driven insane, or were just that hungry.
---
"Indeed. We'll definitely get there faster this way... I had no idea these trails were even here," Joshua mused idly, keeping an eye on the creature as it roamed in and out of his sight.
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Sept 21, 2013 23:34:11 GMT -5
Post by Omnomivore on Sept 21, 2013 23:34:11 GMT -5
"Few people know about them, unless they're out here all the time. A lot of the nomads - us - don't trust anything that attracts too many people anymore. Including busy roads." Kazia was watching the creature too, when she didn't have to concentrate on where they were going.
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Sept 21, 2013 23:38:03 GMT -5
Post by NightWing on Sept 21, 2013 23:38:03 GMT -5
"That's definitely a fair way of looking at it..." Burakki commented, "Thanks."
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Sept 21, 2013 23:40:33 GMT -5
Post by Wolfy on Sept 21, 2013 23:40:33 GMT -5
"That makes sense, between bandits and the shadows... How far away is this castle?" Joshua asked after musing for a moment, looking over at Kazia.
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Sept 21, 2013 23:43:35 GMT -5
Post by Omnomivore on Sept 21, 2013 23:43:35 GMT -5
"About three days, if the weather cooperates." Storms always complicated matters, rain or snow. They could move the fastest in direct sunlight. "And we don't run into any additional trouble."
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Sept 21, 2013 23:44:30 GMT -5
Post by NightWing on Sept 21, 2013 23:44:30 GMT -5
"Let's hope we can make that clip then, huh?" Burakki asked, keeping an eye out, but fairly relaxed, as things went these days, anyhow.
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Sept 21, 2013 23:51:12 GMT -5
Post by Wolfy on Sept 21, 2013 23:51:12 GMT -5
"I see... We shouldn't run into too much trouble from other people, though... Heading away from the city like we are. I don't think there are too many more North, right? So that's a good thing, at least..." Joshua said, watching as the creature came back into view for a moment.
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Sept 22, 2013 18:36:43 GMT -5
Post by Omnomivore on Sept 22, 2013 18:36:43 GMT -5
"I don't like to make too many assumptions. Being alive and paranoid is better than being relaxed and dead, if you ask me. But it's usually quiet."
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Sept 23, 2013 0:53:36 GMT -5
Post by NightWing on Sept 23, 2013 0:53:36 GMT -5
"Words to survive by." Burakki said with a slight smile, "I see the wisdom in that. I find I agree, for the most part."
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Sept 25, 2013 20:09:49 GMT -5
Post by Wolfy on Sept 25, 2013 20:09:49 GMT -5
The day passed along as uneventfully as it could, all things considered. Shadow beasts stalked in the dark areas, but none of them attempted to strike at the travelers. As it drew close to night, and the party found the promised cliffs, the nameless one seemed to be increasingly wary. His circles drew tighter into the group, until he was no longer out of sight at any point in them.
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"Something seems to be bothering it... We'll make camp soon, right?" Joshua asked, watching the creature with a slight frown.
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Sept 25, 2013 20:32:22 GMT -5
Post by Omnomivore on Sept 25, 2013 20:32:22 GMT -5
"This section up ahead looks clear enough of trees and brush... and the cliff should head off most of the prevailing winds if the weather turns south on us." Kazia indicated a little concave section of the cliff wall. "Let's get it set up quickly." She, too, glanced at the creature. It made her antsy even when it wasn't acting nervous.
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Sept 25, 2013 20:37:20 GMT -5
Post by NightWing on Sept 25, 2013 20:37:20 GMT -5
Burakki nodded slightly.
"It really is a shame it can't communicate with us very well." He commented, setting to work preparing their campsite as they came upon the prescribed area.
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Sept 25, 2013 20:45:12 GMT -5
Post by Wolfy on Sept 25, 2013 20:45:12 GMT -5
Joshua nodded, helping get the fire circle set up as they made camp.
--
The nameless one watched them for a moment, ears pulled back, before he started pacing outside of the fire circle with a grumble. The humans would have done better to camp in another cave... this was far too open. He started out at the darkening landscape, sniffing the air warily as he scanned the area. His skin crawled, and he paced again before finding a high spot close to the humans and sat, keeping watch.
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Sept 25, 2013 21:04:08 GMT -5
Post by Omnomivore on Sept 25, 2013 21:04:08 GMT -5
Kazia did her usual checks - making sure the fire was contained and not threatening to spread, making sure there was enough wood, checking their water supply - before she settled down, propping herself against her pack. "Better get comfy. It'll be dark, soon."
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Sept 25, 2013 21:05:32 GMT -5
Post by NightWing on Sept 25, 2013 21:05:32 GMT -5
"Seems so...." Burakki agreed, "Thank you again for your help. I do wonder what is so upsetting our friend..."
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Sept 25, 2013 21:10:43 GMT -5
Post by Wolfy on Sept 25, 2013 21:10:43 GMT -5
"Yes, thank you..." Joshua said, watching the creature as it sat. "I wonder too, though hopefully we won't find out tonight," he added before turning back to the others. "How are we going to set up watches tonight?"
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Sept 25, 2013 21:11:50 GMT -5
Post by Omnomivore on Sept 25, 2013 21:11:50 GMT -5
"Same as before is fine with me, but I don't have to take first if someone else insists." She flipped open her journal and started scribbling away as she spoke.
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Sept 25, 2013 21:13:08 GMT -5
Post by NightWing on Sept 25, 2013 21:13:08 GMT -5
Burakki shrugged.
"I'd like to be either first or last." He said, "Don't care which."
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Sept 25, 2013 21:16:59 GMT -5
Post by Wolfy on Sept 25, 2013 21:16:59 GMT -5
"Burakki, Kazia, then me, is it that fine, then?" Joshua asked. "We should rotate the middle shift so no one person is continually stuck interrupting their sleep, as well..."
---
The nameless one paid partial attention to the humans, but most of it was locked on watching for trouble he could feel coming.
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Sept 25, 2013 21:29:53 GMT -5
Post by Omnomivore on Sept 25, 2013 21:29:53 GMT -5
"Mmph. Works for me." She snapped her journal shut after another moment, then spread her bedroll out. She'd eaten on the road. "Get me up in a couple hours, then."
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Sept 25, 2013 21:32:28 GMT -5
Post by NightWing on Sept 25, 2013 21:32:28 GMT -5
"A few, I think, rather than a couple." Burakki replied with a slight smirk, "I can hold watch for more than that, and that hardly gives you time to rest at all. But that sounds like a good way to work with the watch rotations. I'll keep an eye out. Come to think of it, we haven't really gone over how we should wake each other if something does happen. I feel like it should be something significant so we can react accordingly. Anyone have ideas?"
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Sept 25, 2013 21:34:47 GMT -5
Post by Wolfy on Sept 25, 2013 21:34:47 GMT -5
"With the exception of last night, I'm a fairly light sleeper. A shout should wake me, if there's anything out of the ordinary going on," Joshua replied thoughtfully.
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Sept 25, 2013 21:36:51 GMT -5
Post by Omnomivore on Sept 25, 2013 21:36:51 GMT -5
"Same. Otherwise I'd be long dead. Just shout, or whistle, or whatever the hell other noise you feel like making. I'll wake up." Kazia lay down with a yawn, pulling the cover up tight around her.
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Sept 25, 2013 21:38:05 GMT -5
Post by NightWing on Sept 25, 2013 21:38:05 GMT -5
"Alright, that should work for me as well, honestly." Burakki replied, "Glad that was easy. Rest well."
As they settled into their respective roles for the time being, he again drew his sword, running through a couple of quick practice rotations to ensure his muscles were functioning as expected and beginning to charge the air around the campsite, walking around as he did so and keeping his senses alert for anything out of the ordinary.
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Sept 25, 2013 21:55:43 GMT -5
Post by Wolfy on Sept 25, 2013 21:55:43 GMT -5
Joshua nodded slightly, and went to sleep himself.
Burakki's shift passed quietly, as there didn't seem to be very many shadow creatures in the area, and those seemed to leave the fire circle alone after a time. Despite that, the nameless one grew more restless as the night dragged on, eventually leaving his high post to stalk around the fire circle once more.
It was shortly after Burakki woke Kazia for her watch that the nameless one let out a loud snarl, bristling as he stared at the forest, crouched to pounce. Out in the trees, there was a rustle, and a large shadow beast slid out, approaching the humans. It rose up on two legs and towered over the nameless one, like a large bear. Behind it, the smaller shadow beasts that had retreated waited, watching greedily.
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