Darter
Ret. War Commander
Ret. Head Boundary Guardian
Posts: 1,337
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Post by Darter on Aug 12, 2006 3:08:00 GMT -5
The otter stood in silence beneath an oak tree, absentmindedly scanning the area around him through the silently falling snowflakes. They fell slowly, twinkling in the early morning sun before landing softly on the bright white snow. Under normal circumstances the boundary guardian would have found them beautiful, and maybe try to catch a few on his tongue, but today he was in no mood to do such a thing. He was cold.
It was a bone chilling numbness, the kind that seeped into your very soul and froze up your entire body. It was painful to move, to breathe. He never thought that he would ever be warm again. His worn cloak, flecks of snow stuck to the fabric, swayed slightly in the faint breeze, and the otter gripped it even tighter to his freezing body. Not that it helped much. A frozen breastplate covering his blue tunic clung to him, the metal creaking slightly in the cold weather. Snow collected at the base of his loose, dark pants where they touched the covered ground, weighing them down and encumbering his movement. The hilt of a broadsword showed from his left hip while his spiked shield was slung across his back. Attached to a broad belt encircling the otter's waist were three pouches - the largest containing stones for his sling, and the other two containing weak poison and antidote, respectively. Also tossed into the antidote pouch were a few makeshift bandages and some mild antiseptic made of herbs. Knives of various sizes adorned the side of his belt, all sheathed. Finally, two bone bracelets encircled one of his forearms, while a wristband sporting a hidden knife was attached to the other. To the casual eye, the otter looked prepared for any battle.
Time seemed meaningless to him. For hours he had waited already, hoping for any sign that a recruit was going to show up. The crack of someone stepping on a stick left unburied by the snow, maybe, or the sound of someone scuffing against the bark of a tree nearby. He heard nothing, saw nothing. The otter wondered aimlessly if anyone was going to show up. And so, he waited.
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Post by Mary Narai on Aug 12, 2006 3:22:11 GMT -5
* Mary walked up to Darter with confidence. Her bow and arrows were over her shoulder, although she left her sword in her room, believing that whatever she needed to deflect, her bow could do the job. Made of strong ash was her bow , and sharpened rowen sticks as her arrows, she felt prepared. Although only 15 seasons, she believed that she could be a boundary guardian, if she tried hard enough. She tugged on her white tunic, and shivered slightly in the cold that had seeped in under the light blue cloak that she wore. When she stood before Darter, she asked.* This is where all the recruits are supposed to come, correct?
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Post by Crystal M. V. Rosepaw on Aug 12, 2006 3:33:02 GMT -5
**Behind Darter, crystal was haveing trouble. the noise he had heard was Crystal. The band on her tail had becme stuck on a brittle bush.Crystal was finally manageing to free herself as she aproced, licking her paw and placeing the soothing pad on the wound. Crystal was dressed only slightly warmer than a fall day. Her fur was the aulimate procetion against cold. She was infact an artic fox.** Meh?
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Post by Raiden and Zahi on Aug 12, 2006 4:59:14 GMT -5
**Raiden sauntered up to Darter, armour gleaming, claymore in it's sheath.**
Morning sir, this where the recruits report?
**Raiden sat opposite the otter against a rowen tree and removed his helmet, underneath, his scars were plainly visable, running through his right eye, above his left eye to below his right. Absent mindedly he grasped a stone in his left paw and began crushing it slowly.**
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Sandegar
Off-Call Lieutenant
!c!000000
Posts: 234
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Post by Sandegar on Aug 12, 2006 5:16:20 GMT -5
*Voldarain Blackpaw walked slowly between the trees in their white snow coats, not particularily minding the cold. The hooded, sturdily-built, stocky badger had a smile on his face that spoke of weariness. There were premature streaks of barely discernable grey in the black portions of his fur, though only his face was visible. He raised his right footpaw, enclosed by a black boot into which bark-grey trousers were tucked in, and set it down again in front of him ponderously, the boot sinking into the crunchy, crispy snow. His thick cloak that billowed with the cold wind was patterned with green and bark brown for camoflauge, though useless in the snow. With his dyed left forepaw, the silent badger brushed away a few snowflakes caught on his woolen forest green tunic. He looked up, beyond the canopy of the white-coated trees, to the bleak, grey sky.
It was time. Voldarain turned to face the way he had come, and began to walk. A snowflake fell from the sky, and landed on the scar that crossed his cheek below his right eye from his nose. As the badger continued to head toward the oak tree where the first Boundary guardian training session was to begin, memories of the battle in which he had obtained the scar drifted back to him. Voldarain was a badger of one of the last diminishing wandering forest badger tribes, the Blackpaws, and it was when he was last among them, almost ten seasons ago, when he had gotten the scar. He had since then hunted down the one whom had given it, and thus gotten seperated from his family, eventually chancing upon a friend, Sandegar. Memories swirled behind his soft brown eyes as he finally reached the oak tree.
He lowered his hood, and scanned the assembled. There was Darter, of course, the great Commander. Other than him were two mice, and a white fox. Voldarain's lips curled in sneering distate when his eyes fell on the vixen. Perhaps he was prejudiced, but the badger could not help but be suspicious of vermin, who were well known to lie. He could not help but suspect the vixen of being a spy, though with his common sense he knew her to be otherwise. As a Guardian of Mossflower, it was essential for him to be more open, but thirty-six seasons worth of seeing living proof of his thoughts of vermin, it was hard to shake off. He stepped over to Darter, and saluted slowly.*
OOC: Crystal, no offense. Just being Voldarain.
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Darter
Ret. War Commander
Ret. Head Boundary Guardian
Posts: 1,337
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Post by Darter on Aug 12, 2006 5:47:56 GMT -5
He didn't even notice them at first, much less see or hear anyone coming. It was as if the cold had dulled his senses. Very much dulled his senses. As his vision came into focus and the otter came out of his daze, it was clear that they were watching him. He squinted slightly against the bright morning sun, and took the four beasts in with a trained eye. Two mice, an arctic fox, it seemed, by the colour of her fur, and a badger. He smiled to himself; badgers were reliable, strong, and tough. The mice looked sturdy enough, and he hoped that they would manage to prove themselves in the upcoming tests, as for the fox, though not as brawny as an otter (to himself at least) she looked promising. Four. Not too many, but it was definitely better than none.
After looking them over, taking in their potential strengths and weaknesses by how they acted, he gestured over his shoulder, towards the mountains. It was a long trek that way, being in the heart of Mossflower presently. They might think that that would be where he would begin to test them; if they did, they were wrong. He started now. With a quick nod, the otter spoke in a gruff voice without the usual tone of friendliness within it. It wasn't unkind, but he wanted the recruits to know he meant business. The training was hard, and he wasn't sure if they could complete it without being in the right frame of mind.
"Alright, mateys, we're 'eaded thataways. We'll be movin' at a fast pace, ter test yer stamina an' endurance. Try ter keep up, or ye'll be left behind."
His expression softened as he winked roguishly at them, betraying the fact that he wouldn't leave them behind, as he had suggested. The otter turned to head in the direction he had pointed out, due north. His own trail, already half-buried in the falling snow, had come from slightly more inland where the fort lay, leaving him to have to forge another one in the new direction. It was hard going, trudging through the snow at a fast walk, half-jog, and he knew it was as fast as he could go through the rapidly deepening snow. The wind tore at his throat, making his breaths ragged and weak. The muscles in his limbs, before stiff with cold, began to warm up gradually as he continued onward. The otter gazed upward slightly, towards the horizon. He guessed they would make it to their destination in roughly a day or two.
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Sandegar
Off-Call Lieutenant
!c!000000
Posts: 234
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Post by Sandegar on Aug 12, 2006 6:50:06 GMT -5
*Voldarain held his salute as Darter came to his senses. The cold began to creep in a little, immobile as he was, and though he mantained a look of impassive patience on the outside, the badger wasn't feeling quite so tranquil inside. Snow settled on his striped head, now his hood was removed, and flecks of white speckled his green and brown cloak, across which his strong, hardwood spear and sturdy buckler was trussed. He watched Darter carefully, not knowing what kind of test he had in plan for the assembled recruits. He knew that he could not afford a moment of inattention as much as in a fight. The badger took the test very seriously, as he did with most things, and was prepared to be unsurprised by anything.
However, Voldarain was indeed alarmed when the otter gestured at the mountains in the north. He managed to mantain his impassive look, and reasoned that it was a fairly logical test. It was a long, hard way, especially in the harsh weather, but that only made it better as a test of stamina. Were it not for the cold and snow, he'd consider the test an easy one, but with the given conditions, it would probably be difficult. He listened carefully to what the commander had to say, taking in every word. Moving through the snow at a fast pace didn't seem like an easy test, but the badger was confident that he would be more than able to keep up. Darter finished his little speech, and turned to begin the journey.
Before he himself began to head after Darter, Voldarain checked under his cloak to confirm his hunting knife and short sword were still at the wide belt at his waist. He did not bother putting his hood back up, though his cold ears would be protected, for the cold wind would eventually send it back again. The curtain of white snow continued to descend upon Mossflower as Voldarain fearlessly stepped forward, his boots sinking into the snow. He picked up Darter's pace, glad to be moving again, though his muscles had gotten somewhat stiff from the cold in his time without movement. He expected the stiffness and some of the cold once he got going, but until then, he was willing to endure. The wind and snow bit the badger's face rather painfully, or caught on his fur, but nevertheless he continued to keep his pace.*
OOC: Darter, I forgot to mention the buckler and hunting knife in the joining post. I added it to the post now.
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Post by Raiden and Zahi on Aug 12, 2006 7:45:24 GMT -5
**Raiden followed Darter's arm when he pointed, and nearly laughed with shock and humor.**
I'm headin towards my old home... just beyond the mountians... maybe I'll find mother...
**Raiden's voice trailled off, he always go upset when he spoke of his mother, he got up and began jogging after the otter and the badger, staying in their wake, so to meet the least resistance through the snow, it was a little thing he remembered during his travels in winter...**
Oops, nearly forgot my helmet...
**Raiden grabed his helmet from where he left it, and returned to following the others...**
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Post by Crystal M. V. Rosepaw on Aug 12, 2006 12:41:52 GMT -5
Do you mind not stareing?
**Crystal had a growl deep in her throat. The badger was looking at her as if- Well, she had the look enough. One of her fangs poked out below her lips that scarecly moved.**
If I was truley a vermin, I'd have already done somthing, aye? Well, I haven't and I do belive you took me on the wrong paw. I am what I am and I can't change that. One of the commanders is a fox, you know? OK, here's a deal. You treat me like anyone eles, and I won't rant. Deal?
**As the group began to move, Crystal holds a paw out to the large badger. JHer black claws contrasred against her fur and made them cleary visable. She meant for it to be a freadily guesture, but her claws made her sigh. A weapon and a curse, really. She ramed the paw back into the pocket of her dress. Instead of muttering curses as she normally would, she did inside her head. A badger was one thing she didn't want to deal with. She had no dobut she could out manuvere him with her nimble steps, and do a great deal of damage with her chain or battlesword, but still, any of his strikes could be a deat blow.
Size and bulid. And a Reputaion. And Fur. The only way the vizen and badger weren't alike. She was smaller, with a more lanky build, meant for speed and suprise attacks, getting away to strike again, but her was slightly mussle bound, and could use her stregth in a pinch. The badger was totally oppisite. Her fur was creamy white most the time But it had small unnoticeable brown hairs in the summer. But since her inside clock was messed up, her fur mostly stayed white. He was white and black. Also, all his species where justice bringing fellows. Crystal only knew one dishonorable badger, and that really wasn't his fault. Most foxes were in hordes and such. The Rosepaw family had used to be one, but her own father had taken to ships, then meet the heaer fox that was her mother. Easy. No evilness.
She questions Darter.**
Her, Commander Darter? Should I look a the surrounding land ahead, sir?
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Commander Marie and Will
Ret. Commander
Head Warrior^#black%5Fstar
Meet the Commander: Champion of GOM's Second Sparring Tournament!
Posts: 967
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Post by Commander Marie and Will on Aug 12, 2006 17:34:10 GMT -5
OOC: Hey, Darter. ;D Way to start without me, eh laddie? I mentioned Willem would be interested in being a Boundary Guardian before, and I wasn't kidding. Is it too late for him to join, or should I simply RP him showing up a little bit late?
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Post by Mary Narai on Aug 13, 2006 0:29:04 GMT -5
* Mary looks toward the direction Darter was pointing to. She smiled slightly, and walked with the rest of the group. She looked at the mountains, hiding her worry well. The young mouse didnt' like walking uphill, mainly flatlands and such. But yet, if that's what was expected, and if Raiden and the rest could do it, she could too, couldnt' she?"
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Post by Taundor Whitefang on Aug 13, 2006 7:56:45 GMT -5
OOC: It's not too late to join, is it? I want to become a boundary guardian too.
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Post by Aster & Sapphire Fleetpaw on Aug 13, 2006 8:50:56 GMT -5
OOC: Sapphire's been a mix of warrior and ranger, though her old profession was Warrior. Since she's helped Aster with healing before, though, can she also join as a boundary guardian?
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Post by Raiden and Zahi on Aug 14, 2006 5:37:52 GMT -5
**Raiden say Crystal's exchange with the badger, and shuddered. It wasn't the cold, but it was memories, memories that welled up, causing him mental anguish. How he had hated his farther, how had missed his mother, how he longed for his little brother and sister, how he had suffered, and how the dark forest had eluded him again and again, as if he still had a mission to complete...**
Home... I swore never to return there when I left, I won't enter the heart of my homelands...
**With a sigh, Raiden re-placed his helmet, taking care not to damage the venerable suit of white steel plate-mail Armour that gleamed in the winter light, adding to the angular plates of the breast plate, the straight pauldrons that rounded off to come down at 45 degrees where the vambraces and gauntlets protected his arms and paws, the rounded plates of the fauld extended gracefully half way down his thighs, where the rounded greeves continued to his steel-booted footpaws, marching through the fallen snow, with snow flakes flying around that melted on his claymore Heaven's Judgments hilt. The long narrow blade left a distinct tip in the attacks, one side of the blade was longer, forcing the other side to slant at 45 degrees from where it stopped, to the tip of the other side, a odd guard showed expert craftbeastship, the edges of the guard gave the impression of a pair of straight snakes tongues had been cast on the blade, two quarter moon quillions extended almost organically from each side of the guard, two on the upper half, and two on the lower half, each topped with a small ball of metal, the hilt had been wrapped in black leather, large enough to give a strong, two pawed grip on the hilt, the pommel was a rough-ball shaped affair, a cut and polished topaz stone making it. Strapped over his left shoulder with strips of leather was the scabbard, a long Rowan wood case, that was bound with metal braces to prevent it splitting. Over this Raiden wore his old red torn, ragged cotton traveling cloak attached to his pauldrons by a pair of broaches, that were his little brother and sister's.**
I'll find you some day mother, then we can be a family again... Some day...
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Rinafera Woxwitty III
Ret. War Commander
Head Boundary Guardian
Head Boundary Guardian && Retired War Commander
Posts: 696
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Post by Rinafera Woxwitty III on Aug 22, 2006 0:01:24 GMT -5
OOC: I hope I can be one too, so do you mind if I join? BIC: *A brutally cold wind blew harshly in Mossflower. Slow snowflakes fluttered beautifully to the ground and a cream-colored hare was standing in the thick of it. Picking his feetpaws out of the thick snow, the Boundary Guardian Hopeful continued his trek through Mossflower. Nodding to all bystanders, the hare felt strange about the way he dressed. On him was a large brown tunic, and a dark black hood. Long white pants to keep warm, and a fastened belt around his waist. In the belt was a long scimitar, with a silver hilt and iron blade. His name was Rinafera Woxwitty III. He was a jolly young hare, perilous and gluttonous like most, with a short temper and slight insecurity issue.*
*The hare picked up his speed a bit, trying hopefully to get the leaders in time. He was already late. His boots were 'supposed' to be a mellow green but they were white from all the snow. His hood covered two long, floppy white ears. His brown eyes searched the area, and after not seeing Darter, he continued walking. Trying to think once more of the directions he was given, Rinafera kicked the snow and tried to see the path. Turning to his left and seeing a thicket of trees, the hare sighed desperately and rolled his eyes. Thats it! He saw paw marks in the snow. One of a large otter; probably his leader, Darter.*
*Rinafera gasped, breathing slowly. The cold was too much for a hare who preferred the good sunlight. Finally approaching the oak tree area, the hare spotted Darter right off the bat. Then, he shuffled hurriedly over to stand in a very poised, military type way. Rinafera nodded to Crystal, and smiled at Darter.*
'Ello, chap! Sorry I'm late, business, doncha know! Well, lets get the bally thing started, eh, wot!
*He bowed affectionately and gave a brief smile.*
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