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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on May 3, 2007 20:08:52 GMT
*Ashnel chooses the floor wordlessly. After a moment, he adds.* You can be assasinated, and I'll pretend to be a giant pet beetle here. *He grins.* I didn't have anything t' say. *There's another pause, before the squirrel adds.* Nobeast will try t'...?
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on May 3, 2007 20:54:49 GMT
*Regen shakes his head. *Naw...th' windows have bars, th' door's locked. Nobeast ever tries t' come inta somebeast else's house, everyone's armed. *The squirrel grins and slashes a finger across his throat to illustrate, nods his goodnight, and ambles off into the other room, where, apparently, the bed is.*
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on May 4, 2007 18:26:43 GMT
*By the time Ashnel has responded with a call of, "G'night, Regen", the other has already gone, and the dark-furred squirrel is left to wonder what makes creatures at Fort Copperlin afraid enough to bar their windows. Aloud, and very quietly, Ashnel mutters to himself.* What makes a soldier - somebeast who should show no fear - that scared? Is it just me, or does nobeast talk or trust here? The rat in the Black Oak wouldn't say much, and that mouse... he didn't even seem t' want to so much as pass the time of day. What's happened here? Tervin Blackstar was always sounding the victorious, well-loved, leader... *And before he can answer his own questions, or even begin to realise how paranoid and ridiculous he sounds, Ashnel falls into a light sleep, where the Arch of Terralux looms overhead, and dragonflies carry messages to Fort Copperlin, ("Regen, we need your help."), and Ashnel grows jealous again...*
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on May 4, 2007 18:55:03 GMT
OOC: Interlude.....
Double Agent
A muscular, tall fox watched as a cloaked creature entered the Gray Weasel tavern. The creature glanced around the quiet, dirty main room, then approached the fox. "It's the Apocalypse for Copperlin." "Blow the silver trumpet," the fox replied hoarsely. The cloaked beast nodded and headed into the back room, removing the hood from his head as he did so. It was a scruffy, gray-furred mouse, his dark eyes showing contempt for those around him. The mouse shut the door behind him and turned quickly. A ferret, dressed all in black, sat at a table in the middle of the room. The table was bare, except for a single lantern. "Nicor." The ferret's voice was low. "General. I've got a report to make." The ferret nodded and gestured to a chair on the other side of the table. "Make it."
Nicor sat in the chair, looking carefully at the ferret, and placed his paws on the table. "Blackstar's got help in to uncover our little operation...two squirrels. One's Colonel Regen Eale, the other I don't recognize." "Colonel Eale. I've heard about him." The ferret General nodded. "He's in the border guard, said to be very loyal to Blackstar." "Aye." "The other?" "Tall, black. I don't know who he is, seems to be a rustic, probably just joined up." "Ah. What do you think about them?" Nicor shook his head. "I wouldn't be too worried. They were drunk last I saw, an' goin' into Eale's house." The ferret's eyes flickered in the lantern light as he turned his head. "Well, if Blackstar can't do much better, than we don't need to be worried....I'll keep them from finding anything out by accident. Dismissed." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lord Tervin Blackstar paced his small, chilly office thoughtfully, his white-tipped tail lashing behind him. The big, lithe wildcat clenched his paws and turned towards the badger again. "There's more of them out there every day, Stormsight. If Eale and Alashia can't do this, then it's curtains for Fort Copperlin...and everyone else!" Tinsy Stormsight watched him patiently. "They'll do it. Eale's smarter 'n he lets on, and Alashia's no dull knife, either." Blackstar glanced up as somebeast rapped on the door. "Enter!" A cloaked beast opened the door and entered, closing it behind him. The creature removed his hood and bowed to the wildcat respecfully. "Lord Blackstar." Blackstar nodded. "Nicor. What is it?" Nicor stood at ease by the door. "The two squirrels you want me to watch are in the Fort. I don't know what their plans are." Blackstar glanced at Stormsight, then returned his piercing gaze to Nicor. "And the...faction?" "They don't suspect a thing, Lord." "Good..."
As Nicor and Stormsight left, Blackstar turned to stare pensively out the window at the rain. He could see a light on in the tower at the top of the hill. I just hope Eale knows what he's doing...there's more at stake here than me.
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on May 4, 2007 18:58:48 GMT
OOC: Advancing quest to the next morning. In a new post, the other would be too crowded.
BIC:
*Regen comes out of his room, admiring the clear morning outside his windows. The squirrel seems to be in a good mood, without too much of a hangover.* *Up, Ashnel! Big day! *He glances down at the dark squirrel and considers directing a kick towards Ashnel, but decides against it in interest of keeping his foot.* *Alashia!...
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on May 5, 2007 7:06:20 GMT
*At the sound of pawsteps, Ashnel flinches awake, and by the time he has managed to untangle himself from his own cloak and stand, any foebeast could've killed the dark squirrel.* Barbas, Regenor! *He mutters bitterly, but breaks into a grin.* Dying day? Good. They can tell Terragon 's all 'er necisit fault for sending us! *Ashnel, for some unknown reason, seems remarkable cheerful at the prospect of him and Regen being assasinated by Blackstar's former warriors.*
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on May 6, 2007 16:28:00 GMT
*Right. * Regen digs about in his cupboards, comes up with a flask, and takes a swallow.* *Uhm......s' barley wine....wake y' up in no time. Want some? *There is a strong smell of burnt oil coming from the flask. Regen glances at it. *It isn't fresh. *The squirrel sets the flask on the table. *Okay...well, we need to go get some stuff. If y' want breakfast, we c'n buy something on the way...there's plenty o' food stands open at this time o' the morning.
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on May 6, 2007 17:10:14 GMT
I'll get us both breakfast then, *Ashnel suggests, throwing a dark look at the barley wine. This is the Fort Copperlin way, huh? Cure a hangover with a worse one tommorrow, or something along those lines. Hey, Mela's expression if she was here! Hah... ah, well. Regen'll probably wonder why I'm not paying attention- At this, the squirrel manages to drain reality out from the murky depths of his thought (OOC: What?! ![:P](http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/6422/tounge8tq.gif) ), and nods towards the door.* Shall we-?
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on May 6, 2007 17:13:28 GMT
*Aye. *Regen takes another swallow of the drink, then shoves the flask behind an old vase on the counter. He glances at it to make sure it's safe, then heads out the door.* *Let's go. *The street is still muddy, but drying rapidly before the beginning of what promises to be a hot day. Various creatures hurry back and forth, mostly soldiers on their way to their jobs.* *Regen nods to a few beasts as they go by, then points up the street. *This way.
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on May 7, 2007 6:29:26 GMT
*Ashnel's mind forms a dozen different questions that he'd like to ask. But, he reminds himself. Your curiousity and plain stupidity can't blow our cover. Understand? The squirrel imagines himself replying to his own comment with as many curses as he can think of in his second language. You don't even trust your own brain.*
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on May 7, 2007 13:16:56 GMT
*Regen starts up the street, locking the door again behind him. More of Fort Copperlin's residents talk to eachother in the daytime, but Regen seems to be avoiding them.* ......th' last thing I need is t' run into somebeast I know. *The squirrel has brought his sword with him, although no other weapons. Most of the other beasts around, however, are carrying several. * *A young squirrelmaid passes by Regen with a glance and smiles to Ashnel on her way by. *Morning sirs!
OOC: I'm stalling here....I ought to have something going on by my next post.
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on May 7, 2007 15:49:44 GMT
*Ashnel avoids Regen's eye, and stares up the street, searching for a likely place to buy breakfast from. Then, thinking back to the glance from the squirrelmaid, it occurs to Ash' that his fur is messed-up, and his tunic looks as though it's been slept in. Which, he reminds himself. It has been. Like Regen, the only visible weapon the squirrel has brought with him, is his usual sword. Although a small knife is hidden in a sword belt, concealed beneath Ashnel's tunic.*
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on May 7, 2007 16:51:33 GMT
OOC: Advancing to marketplace, Fort Copperlin.
BIC: *The Fort Copperlin market is a series of street squares, full of all sorts of creatures walking about. It is very noisy and crowded.* *Regen appears to have cheered up a bit as the barley wine takes effect, and drops back toward Ashnel.* *Careful, don't get lost...ye'll never find yer way outta here. *The squirrel points at a wooden building. A hanging sign on the door proclaims "William and Son, Blacksmiths." * *Tha's where we wanna go fer yer stuff.
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on May 7, 2007 17:11:15 GMT
*Ashnel nods, but cannot tell Regen that he's hungry and would rather get breakfast first, as every creature who passes is - in the dark squirrel's eyes - one of the conspirators. Instead, Ashnel indicates the battle blade strapped across his back in a questioning way. Can't I keep this?*
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on May 7, 2007 17:20:23 GMT
*Regen glances at the blade and nods once, then gestures toward the shop.* *Let's go! *He starts for the shop, grinning slightly.*
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