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Post by Eric on Dec 31, 2006 14:38:51 GMT 9.5
"Darts to the neck, wierd creatures." Alex explained. "Need anything?"
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Post by Treijim on Dec 31, 2006 16:40:36 GMT 9.5
Enos shook his head and blinked. "Uhh... I think I'm fine for now. Creatures? What kinds of creatures? Don't tell me The Enemy has already come this far..."
He began to walk south towards the other men briskly. He seemed very worried and was no longer thinking of the missing soldier.
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Post by Eric on Jan 15, 2007 15:02:09 GMT 9.5
Shrugging Alex stood and strode slightly behind Enos, deep in thought. "Who is this 'Enemy'?" he asked quite abruptly.
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Post by Treijim on Jan 15, 2007 17:22:13 GMT 9.5
Enos almost fell over. He stopped and turned around quickly, hushing Alex with a finger to his lips.
"Don't speak of him so brashly, boy," he said, going back to Alex and walking southward with him. "I guess your parents aren't the slightest bit believers, are they? The Enemy is the source of all destructive, negative, evil, and bad in this world. I'm not comfortable saying much more. It's not a topic of normal conversation. I hope you can understand this."
Then the two men met them over a hill.
"Did you find anything?" Enos asked them. "Anything at all?"
"Folang are roaming around," said one. "We killed a couple of them. They must've made another lair. Do we have the time or men to get rid of it?"
"No, we don't," Enos said. "Henry, go back to the Quarters in town and take a carriage to Lyte requesting minor reinforcements. We'll get them to do it instead. Rogerson, go back to the farms and warn the wardens there of the Folang. They need to know. Alex and I are going to look around to locate the lair first." He turned to Alex as the other two walked away. "Unless you'd rather go home now."
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Post by Eric on Jan 15, 2007 18:08:50 GMT 9.5
Alex's answer was walking forwards a couple steps. "You can figure the answer out while I look for this lair." he said.
He then thought about what Enos had said. He'd never heard of any such Enemy. Of course there was always Dursaz the Sorcerer. That was his enemy and most likely would be his executioner. His parents did tell him stories though. "You aren't talking about Garu-"
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Post by Treijim on Jan 15, 2007 18:55:26 GMT 9.5
Enos almost fell over -- again -- and he stared at Alex. "Watch your tongue! Yes, he is The Enemy. Now we need to find this lair and stop talking about things that don't matter right now."
As they walked, they came to a small valley lined with rather short grey cliffs - large enough to jump down safely. The cliffs circled around all over like a small maze for rabbits. Clusters of tall grass and small boulders littered the area. Shading much of it were two strong-standing trees with lush foliage.
"This looks like the perfect spot for them to hide," Enos said, taking his sword in hand. "Tread carefully. They'll be able to hear us walking..."
In the tree above, a Folang was watching Alex.
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Post by Eric on Jan 15, 2007 23:04:58 GMT 9.5
Alex laughed a little. So their enemy was a figure designed to frighten children. Or so he'd always heard. "Enos." he said. "You know I have a different enemy right? Well his servants are right behind me now sticking spears in my back."
He looked around as grotesque human creatures appeared, circling them, wearing clothes that camouflaged them with the cliffs. "You two! Put yer 'ands up!"
(they aren't orcs. Just so ya know.)
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Post by Treijim on Jan 15, 2007 23:20:23 GMT 9.5
Enos did not put his hands up. He held forth his sword and put his back to Alex's so they were in a defensive place. He saw the Folang around retreating to their burrows, probably too small for these human-like things to enter.
"What are these things?" Enos asked Alex, somehow hoping he'd know. "In all my years fighting The Enemy, I've never seen anything like them."
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Post by Eric on Jan 15, 2007 23:42:02 GMT 9.5
"We don't work for any gods." the creature's captain said. He was a slightly larger creature with a little armour and a cloak. "Now put your hands up! The Master commands it."
Alex sighed. "They're called Augryn. And..." he sheathed his sword and raised his hands. "Do what they say."
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Post by Treijim on Jan 15, 2007 23:50:32 GMT 9.5
Enos did not sheathe his sword. "Augryn, huh." He turned to the captain. "We don't - I don't... mean you any harm. We didn't come here to hunt you. I have business to do, and if we're reported as missing, you'll have many people coming after you. I think it's best you let us go."
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Post by Eric on Jan 16, 2007 0:11:39 GMT 9.5
The captain burst out laughing. "The Master is right, humans really are too stupid for their own good. Your business has ended, and nobody will report you as missing if there is nobody to report you as missing."
As he said this he mounted a large boar that had suddenly appeared with a little armour on it. He clicked his fingers and Augryn on boars came forwards. They tossed a couple of dead humans at Enos and Alex's feet. Each was in Guard uniforms. "Dey really look like der gonna be babbling don't dey?" the captain spat with another laugh.
Alex unbuckled his sword and threw it down. "Very well, take us prisoner." he said with a brief wink to Enos. A way of saying "Just go along with it for now."
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Post by Treijim on Jan 16, 2007 9:57:00 GMT 9.5
Enos knew when to keep his mouth shut and hold himself steady. He sheathed his sword and glanced back at Alex quite strongly, as if to hope to heaven that the boy knew what he was doing. He also chuckled at the captain's ignorance himself, but he did it when the creatures weren't looking and he didn't tell Alex why he chuckled.
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Post by Eric on Jan 16, 2007 14:48:53 GMT 9.5
"Disarm the old man!" the captain shouted. "Then lead them back to camp."
The captain turned to some boar riders who'd appeared. "You go and search for any humies left. Make sure they get treated.
The boar riders chuckled and rode off. "Don't do anything clever." Alex hissed. "These guys are strong."
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Post by Treijim on Jan 16, 2007 15:02:42 GMT 9.5
They took Enos's weapon but he didn't stop them. He let himself be lead to wherever their camp was, no longer arguing or giving them much response to go by.
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Post by Eric on Jan 16, 2007 15:24:51 GMT 9.5
They were travelling northwest when the boar riders returned. "Sir! Apologies but we were unable to end any more of these guard fellows. There was civilization and we couldn't go further. Not with our low numbers."
The captain growled. "Cowards, but I suppose secrecy is better than open war. Pull the captives on. We want to be gone as fast as possible."
Alex felt himself hoisted roughly onto the boars as the small party of Augryn moved at high speeds. Into a forest and through a path that seemed to of been made only days earlier. Then to the coast they came where a number of tents were set up. Each made from animal hides and all in a circle around a fire. A few Augryn were there, as well as some weaker creatures that seemed more slave-like. "Hmm Ortu." Alex mumbled.
The little creatures gathered around some small boats and a couple barges. The Augryn came to a stop. "Alright scum we gotta get ready and go. The human rats are gonna get wise soon. so let's move!"
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