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Post by Admin on Mar 20, 2023 6:50:45 GMT
Xu Liang leads his host along the cobbled road out of the camp and further up the mountainside, coming closer, ever closer to the pass. They pass into the clouds and ride in the chilly fog where they can see but a few meters in front of their horses. Faint, half-formed impressions can be made out of the trees which tower above both sides of the way.
They come out above the clouds but not into the sunlight. A higher layer of cloud keeps the land drab, grey, and dripping with rain. Ahead are a few hunts, one more sturdy building and a bar across the path. Arden Rangers man this guard post.
"Halt and proclaim your business with Amber!" one guard shouts to him.
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Post by XuLiang on Mar 20, 2023 16:10:54 GMT
(OOC – After the losses in the battle, there could be maybe a dozen left. Does that sound fair? They are also flying a medium sized flag of Amber above a small yellow triangle with the black character for Han written on it.)
Captain Lu Meng halts the horsemen with a gesture and Xu Liang halts Tea just a half a horse length closer. Kai halts and sits next to Tea, focused on the men in the towers.
“Lord Han Xu Liang, returning from the engagement in Eshanta. We are returning to Amber to report the results of the battle to the Regent. If Prince Rinaldo would hear the news first, we could share it with him before we travel onwards.” (OOC – Is it Prince Rinaldo or Lord Rinaldo? There seems to be some disagreement on it, I believe it should be Prince, but if Lord is proper then Xu Liang would know and use the proper title.)
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Post by Admin on Mar 24, 2023 8:37:43 GMT
OOC: He's King Rinaldo in Kashfa, maybe Flora doesn't recognize foreign titles. Brian is being called Lord as well.
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Post by Admin on Mar 24, 2023 8:41:17 GMT
The guards talk among themselves and look at Xu and his soldiers. One comes to them from a shack and unrolls a scroll. They all look between it and Xu Liang.
"You have returned with that army camped down the mountain?" the captain asks.
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Post by XuLiang on Mar 24, 2023 18:17:40 GMT
Feeling a bit of trepidation at the question he still answers honestly, “ We have returned with the army headed by Lord Mortius and it has camped down the mountain for a time.” (OOC – Way back when Xu Liang headed out he asked the castle steward if he needed any travel papers to go through Arden. And you stated that Xu Liang was known by the soldiers of Arden and did not need any special papers. Way back in Bri15/XuL02 - Path of Least Resistance page 7.  ) |
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Post by Admin on Mar 26, 2023 22:38:05 GMT
OOC: That's true, but that was before he joined in an unauthorized war with the Courts of Chaos. Things might not be as friendly now. Or new soldiers have joined the Rangers.
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Post by Admin on Mar 26, 2023 22:41:34 GMT
"Your guard is not to proceed into Arden. If you still wish to return to Amber, then soldiers will be assigned to you," the captain of the Rangers says.
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Post by XuLiang on Mar 28, 2023 1:42:11 GMT
“Very well. My men will be sent back. Would you like them to carry a message to Lord Mortius or Lord Edward? That might prevent … misunderstandings.”
He turns to Captain Lu Meng, “Please take the men back down to where the army is camped and let Lord Edward and Lord Mortius know what has happened here and that the Army might not be as welcomed as we thought.”
“I do not like this. There are many eyes in this woods and not all of them are friendly.”
Xu Liang nods in agreement. “But for now, this is how it must be.” He lowers his voice a bit and says, “Stay alert and be ready.”
The Captain salutes and turns the rest of the men back to the army’s camp.
Xu Liang then ties the leads to the pack horse to his saddle and heads up to the building with the bar across the road. Kai silently padding after the two horses. If the guards wish to send a message, then the Captain follows to accept the message before departing.
“It would be irresponsible to travel with the property of the Crown without adequate protection. Do you have some soldiers that can travel with me to Amber?”
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Post by Admin on Mar 29, 2023 1:45:16 GMT
"Your men look smart enough to know what's going on," the captain tells Xu.
"The Warden would not wish you to travel Arden unguarded."
Xu continues past the guardpost with two veteran rangers as his guards. Two men with well-worn armour and weapons, their faces seemed with scars from many battles. Stern and silent travelling companions.
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Post by XuLiang on Mar 29, 2023 8:48:56 GMT
To the captain’s comment he replies. “This is true.”
As he and his new companions travel down the path he ventures, “Are we to see the Warden first? Or proceed directly to Amber?” He is agreeable with either answer and nods in acknowledgement, leading the way to Amber or following them to the Warden. If he leads he sets a moderate pace to eat up the miles without overly tiring their horses. If they lead he will allow them to set the pace.
As they ride, he seems to focus on the beauty of the Arden. And in some sense that is true, but he is also feeling out the flow of Chi through the land sensing if it is the strong healthy flow of a forest. He might also pick out anything that does not fit in as he has travelled in the Arden before.
Kai follows and periodically disappears into the brush on either side. Sometimes coming up behind, sometimes waiting on the trail ahead but always staying within 20-25 meters of the group of riders. He moves silently in the foliage and appears to merely be satisfying his curiosity but is really scouting and looking for ambushers.
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Post by Admin on Apr 2, 2023 3:45:27 GMT
"We are instructed to bring you straight to the castle," one guard tells him.
Xu feels nothing different in Arden. The dark way he experienced before must be far from here. Kai finds no bushwhackers hiding in the trees along the trail but does evade groups of Rangers positioned off the road.
They come down the long, winding path from the mountain pass into the lowlands, from the cold foggy heights to the cold soggy depths. The path runs mostly straight as possible except where it fords streams and around the base of a great hill. Julian's fortress is rumoured to be on the top of that hill, although there is no sight of it at this low elevation.
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Post by XuLiang on Apr 2, 2023 10:15:56 GMT
“Excellent.” Xu Liang enjoys the ride even with it being a bit chilly. He looks wistfully up at the great hill, but if his escorts do not offer anything he respects their silence and continues on.
When it comes time to stop he asks, “Shall we have some tea?” If they say yes, he gathers a few pieces of wood for a small fire (you could hold it in your two hands). Given the general sogginess of conditions he will likely have to resort to a bit of magic to dry the wood and start the fire quickly.
As the fire gets going, he pulls out his teapot and tea, “Would you like to have some of my tea? Or do you prefer your own?” He pulls out the necessary number of cups and then when the water is boiling makes the tea.
Afterwards he makes sure the fire is completely out. He then quickly and efficiently cleans the teapot while drinking the last of the tea. When everything is clean and put back he climbs back into the saddle and cheerfully says, “Shall we?” And continues the journey as they had before.
(OOC – Is this a multi-day journey? Or just a single day? Are we trying to keep pace with the other players in the area?)
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Post by Admin on Apr 4, 2023 5:17:39 GMT
OOC: about two days. No need to try and pace things with the others.
The soldiers do not share in the offered tea but drink their own water and brandy.
The trip continues until they near the foot of Kolvir. There a squad of Rangers meets them and take their horses.
"We travel on foot from here."
The two soldiers begin to lead Xu up the side of the mountain opposite the city; through the hidden paths leading to the rear of the castle.
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Post by XuLiang on Apr 6, 2023 0:58:56 GMT
The desire to know these hidden paths and his wish to stay with Tea and the majority of his things war inside him for a moment. Finally, his curiosity wins out. He takes the smaller set of saddle bags and does a quick transfer of a few things from the smaller bags to the bigger bags then from the bigger bags to the smaller.
The resulting bag bulges a bit from the wrapped book and notebook on one side, but it is counterbalanced by gold, a wrapped parcel, tea pot wrapped in his makeshift banner and writing materials in the other.
“Please make sure Tea is returned to the royal stable. He has proven to be steady and reliable mount in Shadow walking and battle. I look forward to riding him again.” He spends a moment with his head against the horse’s head and then with an affectionate ruffling of Tea’s mane he hands the reigns to one of the Rangers. “Oh, and if my things make it to the Castle, that would also be appreciated.”
He then follows the soldiers up the paths.
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Post by Admin on Apr 6, 2023 6:15:16 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/j5FLskF/Florimel~jpg "As you command," the Ranger taking Tea replies. Maybe the Rangers posted closer to Kolvir are a friendlier lot than those on the frontier. They make their way up mostly along game trails. A few others are more serviceable, the ones Corwin supposedly drove trucks, then marched his soldiers along. They even come to the rusting remains of the truck, where the guards use it as a rain break while they eat and drink. Continuing after, they reach the gardens, stables and training area on the castle plateau. None one else is out here this cold, drizzling morning. They continue along crushed rock paths between tall hedges, then jog through the open areas visible from the castle windows above. Once in the castle, the Rangers relinquish him to the castle guards and Lord Rexin. "This way, Lord Xu Han Liang, the Regent wishes to speak with you immediately." They go from there up one stairway, down another, through halls forbidden to outsiders, and eventually to where Flora waits. "I welcome your return, Lord Xu," she says. |
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