|
Post by XuLiang on Oct 25, 2022 2:32:31 GMT
“Where are my manners? My name is Han Xu Liang and this is Captain Lu Meng. What shall we call you? Have you eaten? Would you like some tea? It can be brought out here if you would prefer.”
“We will head to Mytorren soon, but we have time for refreshments as we rest the horses for a time.”
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2022 4:50:15 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/KbDL8VM/art-obit-lou-albano~jpg "Greetings, one-and-all. I go by Tug these days."He gets off the horse with a little bit of difficulty. "That's my boy Vance up in the hill. Forgive him, he isn't the social type."From one of the saddle bags, he pulls full out a freshly cleaned rabbit. "Caught 'im a little while ago but haven't had the chance to cook 'im yet. This place is teeming with small game, just keep your eyes out for them."He hands the carcass to whoever in the band is the cook. While the food cooks he asks: "Have you any idea where Eivor would be in this place?
|
|
|
Post by XuLiang on Nov 1, 2022 2:39:52 GMT
”Greetings Tug. Yes, it probably is.” The possible double meaning of Tug’s statements is not lost on Xu Liang. One of the soldiers takes the freshly cleaned rabbit nodding appreciatively. “Perhaps some of the scouts might have some luck.” Xu Liang gives a look to Lu Meng with a subtle hand gesture to set up a perimeter of scouts. Lu Meng nods and sends out a few scouts while Xu Liang continues to talk with Tug. (OOC - Kai is also roaming around in the grasses around the group.)
Several folding camp stools are put out and a small folding table. Tea is brought first. Later the rabbit is brought with some flat bread and a few greens scavenged along the march.
Meanwhile Xu Liang continues talking. “She will be at the centre of things I suspect, so most likely Mytorren from what you were saying. We will have to proceed there after this. Are you going to travel there also? Or do you have other places to search for Katarina?”
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 2, 2022 4:07:13 GMT
"I had heard that Kat was trying to destroy Eshanta. Either way, the city is the focus. We should ride together; I don't like the looks of those wyverns"
|
|
|
Post by XuLiang on Nov 2, 2022 8:21:12 GMT
”Interesting. Is it possible to destroy an entire Shadow?” (OOC - Xu Liang will observe Tug’s reaction to the word ‘Shadow’ while seeming genuinely interested in the answer. He is trying to determine if this person is a ‘local’ or from ‘out of town’ so to speak.)
After the food is finished Xu Liang cleans the teapot and his cups (the ones used by himself, Tug and Lu Meng) and replaces them in his saddlebags. Other soldiers clear the camp chairs and table and the remains of the meal are tossed into the hasty latrine pit a bit off from the camp and down wind. With the pit filled in, fire doused and buried and area cleaned, they all mount up.
Tug’s mount has been given some water and dried fruit by one of the soldiers who has worked to calm Starbalze and check the tack to make sure nothing is out of place and disturbing the horse. All clearly in line of sight of Tug and at no time does he attempt to look in any bags as that would break the code of hospitality. (OOC – Tempting as that would be to get some answers…)
“Riding together is a splendid idea. We were heading up the hill towards the tree line hoping to get a better view." Xu Liang gestures the direction they were heading. "Is the city in that direction?”
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 5, 2022 4:44:35 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/KbDL8VM/art-obit-lou-albano~jpg "I'm not sure of the direct yet. We should be able to get a better view and see what paths run through this region from the top of the hill."At the top of the hill, Han sees a flash of rainbow light near the rift in the plain. A wide swath of crushed grass is also leading from the rift area to the southeast. It is the result of the march of a large army. Far along the path, a cloud of dust rises from the plain, but the army has passed over the horizon. "We couldn't have asked for a clearer sign," Tug laughs and slaps Xu on the shoulder. "The question is: how close do we want to ride to that force? As we approach, they will have scouts watching the rear."
|
|
|
Post by XuLiang on Nov 7, 2022 2:36:30 GMT
Xu Liang endures the manhandling by Tug but inwardly sighs at such boisterous physicality. “Yes, it certainly is a clear sign of where the invaders came from and where they are headed to.”
He looks at the rainbow light. “Hammet’s Trump would be real useful right now. Actually, anybody’s Trump would be real useful right now.” He says wistfully.
They start to ride down to the path created by the Army. (OOC – He will favour heading towards the rift side over the army side but is going more or less directly to the path.)
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 7, 2022 2:48:57 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/KbDL8VM/art-obit-lou-albano~jpg "You've used the cards, eh? Amber side or Chaos side? I'm more of an Amber man myself."They ride down towards the path. Getting closer, they begin to see the dead laying amid the tall grasses: almost all human appearing but some demonic forms. Few of the humans look to have been killed while standing their ground and fighting, but most were brought down fleeing back toward the city. "Have you ever followed a trail of the dead? It never gets easier," Tug says sadly.
|
|
|
Post by XuLiang on Nov 7, 2022 4:29:06 GMT
“The only one I have used was for an interesting man named Hammet who owns Wormwoods. Have you been there?” (OOC – I imagine Tug could say more here before he says the second part.)
”Yes, Yes I have.” Xu Liang is looking around him but Tug will probably get the impression that he is seeing the past not the present. He suddenly has the look of a young man who has seen much that aged him beyond his years. “After Zhong Guo’s Great Demon War we had to cleanse the land and lay the dead to rest. Two burial mounds every ten li or so. It is called ‘Yǎnlèi zhī mén’ Or ‘The Gates of Tears’ in Thari. From the capital to a fissure much like that.” He gestures to the nearby fissure.
“There was talk of not honouring the fallen demons, but luckily the Scholars prevailed on people that many of those demons had no more say on whether to join the army than our levies. And that disrespecting them would cause them to return from their graves to plague us once again. So while there are no more than the bare minimum of offerings and cleanings done for the Demon Mounds, they are not desecrated and the bodies were not left for the carrion eaters.”
“While we meditated on if they would have done the same for us, the consensus was that most likely not and that is why we prevailed. Of a practical matter the removal of all the bodies prevented untold plagues and corruption.”
Xu Liang shakes himself, ”It is a shame that such a thing will have to be done here. One would think there is enough in all of Shadow for all.”
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2022 4:52:44 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/KbDL8VM/art-obit-lou-albano~jpg "Wormwoods' no, but I do know Hammett. We go way back. Strange coincidences, yes?"He listens to the tale of the demons and nods in agreement with Xu Liang. "Shadow may be infinite, but it is not all equal. It is shaped from waves of power, mainly from the Pattern and the Logrus, but other lesser artifacts emit their own ripples. And like any collection of waves, there are peaks and troughs, and everyone wants to ride the peaks.
|
|
|
Post by XuLiang on Nov 8, 2022 9:42:51 GMT
“Hmm…That is fascinating. Are the Pattern and Logrus artifacts also? Forgive me sometimes my Thari is a bit … rustic so sometimes misunderstandings are made. Were the Pattern and Logrus created by someone? That is what ‘artifact’ means right?” I had never really thought about it but it is logical that someone created the Pattern. But the Logrus? I wonder what that is.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2022 17:58:14 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/KbDL8VM/art-obit-lou-albano~jpg "I've heard Dworkin, others say, Oberon, some mention the Unicorn herself carved the lines with her horn. The original was ruined, and Oberon wrote the second, and that we know for sure. I don't know if you'd lower them to being on a level with the Mirror Maze or Keep of the Four Worlds, or the Horns of Anubis as three examples."
|
|
|
Post by XuLiang on Nov 10, 2022 2:40:30 GMT
“Interesting.” He stares off as they ride along letting the scouts and Captain determine the best path. Half to himself he says, “The Pattern certainly is a great Power, though my experience is admittedly limited. The little knowledge available to me suggests that the Logrus is the Yang to the Pattern’s Yin and therefore is likely equal in power. The Keep of the Four Worlds and the Horns of Anubis are unknown to me. But it was believed by my teachers that the Mirror Maze is a Broken Pattern.” He turns fully back to Tug with a quizzical look on his face, “Were they incorrect?”
He thinks to himself, 'This is wonderful. While I haven't found Eivor yet, I am certainly learning a lot on this journey!'
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2022 17:39:17 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/KbDL8VM/art-obit-lou-albano~jpg "That is correct. There are many lesser powers scattered about between the poles of reality. These constructs wax and wane, redrawing shadow as they rise, breaking shadow as they fade.
"But that's all theory; we have more practical problems right now. what do you plan to do once the demons are sighted?"
|
|
|
Post by XuLiang on Nov 14, 2022 3:02:44 GMT
“Fascinating.” The implications of this revelation are not lost on Xu Liang and he looks thoughtful until his next comment.
He snaps back to the present, “It depends on how reasonable they are. Hopefully, they will just let us continue on our way to find Lady Eivor. For no other reason than we are insignificant to their other concerns at the moment. If they attack us, we will defend ourselves.”
“Captain, we should probably shadow the army rather than ride up on them. When their rear guard is spotted we should try to keep our distance to not appear aggressive.”
”But Tug has made an excellent suggestion, perhaps the men could do a bit of hunting for small game while we move and so have their bows ready.” Xu Liang smiles knowing that the Captain will get the hint.
Xu Liang turns back to Tug, “Hopefully their scouts will just report us as a small hunting party and no one will bother with us. If not,” he shrugs, “we will deal with what happens when it happens.”
(OOC - So they will continue towards the city which is their first priority, keeping their distance from the army if possible.)
|
|