This quest is for silent_dais' character David. He and WPLs are the only ones with permission to post in this thread for the quest. Anyone else posting here will be subject to a meteor shower concentrated on their location.
David found himself traveling the streets of Estark towards the southern gates. The sun was shining bright on this dry noon day as the citizens moved about, occasionally one would bump into him. Everyone seemed to have a place they needed to be that day.
As he approached the southern gates David concentrated on practicing how he gained his mana. He took his time and first sat down on a bench examining the crowd, then closed his eyes. In his mind's eye he started seeing various leylines of the five colors floating around, however he only needed the red ones. Anger, love, passion, frustration, excitement...all of these were in what red magic demanded. The child's first time in the city, the lovers reunion near the fountain, the arguments over prices at the various shops, heated debates at the tavern...all of this he collected into his mindset. After reaching out to grab the ribbons he attached them to his own personal red leyline. Finally standing back up David approached the southern gate, then headed straight for the guard.
"Excuse me, but can you direct me to the fastest road towards Burbar?"
"The southern road would make the most sense as Burbar lies to the south of Kush..." said the guard, not quite sure if David was trying to be a wise guy with him.
David nodded towards the guard and headed straight south. Turning for one last look at Estark, he smiled but let out a small sigh. He hoped this wasn't going to be the last time he'd go there. Shaking off the self doubt however he concentrated on everything around him, keeping himself straight south he kept a wary eye as best as he could so as not to be surprised by almost anything.
David noticed after about an hours travel along the road that he was starting to get jumpy trying to keep an eye out for anything and everything. Several times he had heard rustling which had either been caused by the wind or another traveler walking the road.
Now after the fiftieth rustle David found himself looking at a shaking bush up ahead...
Placing one hand on the hilt of his dagger and the other inside his satchel, David entered a fighting stance.
"If your peaceful and shy, I will leave you be. If you are hostile and looking for easy coin then I'm afraid your targeting the wrong mage for various reasons."
A rock went flying straight for David's head as he found a woman using one hand to push down her simple wool dress while the other was searching for another rock to throw. She screamed in rage, face flushed red with embarrassment as she shouted, "You pervert! What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
She found another rock and threw it hard aiming for his chest.
OCC: Is it possible for me to just catch the first rock with my free hand without a die roll or do I still need to roll for it? Either is fine with me.
David caught the first rock aimed at his head and stepped to the side as the other came towards him. Dropping the rock and sheathing his dagger, he gave a concerned look at the woman as he examined her appearance. He wasn't sure why she was calling him a pervert but felt that this situation didn't call for him to use violence or magic...Just words, and hopefully the right ones to calm her down.
Since this isn't an actual fight I'll allow for the catches, except for this next blow. This one nails your character.
The woman let out a frustrated scream. Then looking down she found a smaller rock that she picked up and hurled with blinding speed at David. This one connected leaving him with a severe case of dead leg.
Taking the opportunity to run the brunette took off at a run shouting, "Just stay away you pervert!"
Rubbing his leg, David winced a bit from the pain. The lady had a great throwing arm and it didn't help he was in close range for her to hit him. He was ticked though that she would just call him a pervert without proper cause, well proper cause in his mind. Oh and the throwing rocks at him then running away also irked him but not as much as the name calling. He started to run after her as best as he could trying to ignore the pain.
"HEY COME BACK HERE! YOU SHOULD AT LEAST EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"
David quickly became aware of why she called him a pervert as he passed by where she had been. Apparently she had been taking care of private business in the bushes when David had called out. The smell made that obvious while the woman continued to run further south along the road shouting, "Me explain myself!? You're the one peeping you pervert!"
Face palming himself, David decided it was best to just leave her be as he slowed down. No point in trying to convince someone something else if their dead set on their own interpretation. Checking his boots to make sure he didn't step on anything that would leave a lingering smell, he decided it was best if he walked on the grass for a bit and drag his feet.
"Indeed." spoke a deep throaty voice from up north along the road. Turning around David saw a lean faced man with red hair and beard chewing on a lit pipe. The man was resting on his walking stick with the hood of his cloak thrown back.
Taking the pipe out of his mouth he pointed with the mouthpiece towards the running woman saying, "Not the best way to make impressions while traveling the roads, my friend."
Moving his hand towards his dagger, David instinctively kept his guard up as he whirled around. Seeing the man however he relaxed but still kept his hand towards the hilt.
"Well to be fair, I did come upon her in the worst way possible. Also it didn't help I rushed towards her with weapon drawn and acting like I was going to attack her."
"My point exactly." said the man as he placed the pipe back in his mouth. After a few puffs he exhaled and motioned at David's hand on the hilt with his pipe saying, "Always greeting people in a confrontational stance often leads to misunderstandings and mistrust. Possibly the worst way to make a first impression."
The man returned the pipe to his mouth taking a few more puffs while standing relaxed and supported by his walking stick.
The man pushed off of his walking stick and approached the outstretched hand and shook. David could see the subtle lines of travel and age upon the man's tanned face. He had crow's feet around the eyes, a good indicator that the man was in his late thirties possibly early forties.
Taking the pipe out of his mouth with the other hand he said, "Name's Jor of Sursi."
Motioning with the pipe after the running woman he said, "I see all too often the havoc mages such as yourself can play on us simple travelers."
He said that bit with a wide grin as he placed the pipe back in his mouth.
David chuckled at the hint and shook his head. He liked Jor so far and understood he could learn a thing or two from the traveler.
"Well Jor of Sursi, where are you headed off to and if it's in the same direction as myself would you care for some company to make the trip less boring?"
"Anywhere and everywhere the road will take me!" spoke Jor with dramatic air. Then smiling he said, "For now the road takes me south. Traveling together will probably be for the best seeing as anyone we run into will be looking for a single male, what was it she called you?"
David rolled his eyes as he started walking. However that didn't keep him from rewarding Jor's question with a snicker.
"Well then Jor, it seems we're both heading south. I'm going towards Burbar actually to hunt some Wurms. Something tells me I'll be needing you to help me stay out of trouble before I get there."
Jor fell into place letting his walking stick beat out a steady pace. He gave David a shocked expression followed by a grin saying, "Why, what ever do you mean? Don't tell me you were planning on peeping in on every woman we'll come across?"
Jor chuckled lightly and pulled out a match to relight his pipe's tobacco.
David laughed a bit as he kept pace with Jor. His mood had vastly improved now that he had someone to talk to. Also Jor could be of some use to him as well if he knew anything important about where David was headed. However now was not the time to spoil a good atmosphere.
"Well no guarantees, but I'll let you know if the temptation is crossing my mind."
David found himself traveling the streets of Estark towards the southern gates. The sun was shining bright on this dry noon day as the citizens moved about, occasionally one would bump into him. Everyone seemed to have a place they needed to be that day.
As he approached the southern gates David concentrated on practicing how he gained his mana. He took his time and first sat down on a bench examining the crowd, then closed his eyes. In his mind's eye he started seeing various leylines of the five colors floating around, however he only needed the red ones. Anger, love, passion, frustration, excitement...all of these were in what red magic demanded. The child's first time in the city, the lovers reunion near the fountain, the arguments over prices at the various shops, heated debates at the tavern...all of this he collected into his mindset. After reaching out to grab the ribbons he attached them to his own personal red leyline. Finally standing back up David approached the southern gate, then headed straight for the guard.
"Excuse me, but can you direct me to the fastest road towards Burbar?"
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
David nodded towards the guard and headed straight south. Turning for one last look at Estark, he smiled but let out a small sigh. He hoped this wasn't going to be the last time he'd go there. Shaking off the self doubt however he concentrated on everything around him, keeping himself straight south he kept a wary eye as best as he could so as not to be surprised by almost anything.
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
Now after the fiftieth rustle David found himself looking at a shaking bush up ahead...
"If your peaceful and shy, I will leave you be. If you are hostile and looking for easy coin then I'm afraid your targeting the wrong mage for various reasons."
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
She found another rock and threw it hard aiming for his chest.
David caught the first rock aimed at his head and stepped to the side as the other came towards him. Dropping the rock and sheathing his dagger, he gave a concerned look at the woman as he examined her appearance. He wasn't sure why she was calling him a pervert but felt that this situation didn't call for him to use violence or magic...Just words, and hopefully the right ones to calm her down.
"Are you alright miss?"
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
The woman let out a frustrated scream. Then looking down she found a smaller rock that she picked up and hurled with blinding speed at David. This one connected leaving him with a severe case of dead leg.
Taking the opportunity to run the brunette took off at a run shouting, "Just stay away you pervert!"
"HEY COME BACK HERE! YOU SHOULD AT LEAST EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
With that she continued to sprint away from him.
"Well, that was...interestingly awkward."
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
Taking the pipe out of his mouth he pointed with the mouthpiece towards the running woman saying, "Not the best way to make impressions while traveling the roads, my friend."
"Well to be fair, I did come upon her in the worst way possible. Also it didn't help I rushed towards her with weapon drawn and acting like I was going to attack her."
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
The man returned the pipe to his mouth taking a few more puffs while standing relaxed and supported by his walking stick.
Taking his hand away from the hilt David finally relaxed completely. Giving a friendly smile to the stranger, he outstretched his hand to the man.
"My name is David Elwes by the way stranger. What is yours?"
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
Taking the pipe out of his mouth with the other hand he said, "Name's Jor of Sursi."
Motioning with the pipe after the running woman he said, "I see all too often the havoc mages such as yourself can play on us simple travelers."
He said that bit with a wide grin as he placed the pipe back in his mouth.
"Well Jor of Sursi, where are you headed off to and if it's in the same direction as myself would you care for some company to make the trip less boring?"
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
Jor smiled with glee at the rhetorical question.
"Well then Jor, it seems we're both heading south. I'm going towards Burbar actually to hunt some Wurms. Something tells me I'll be needing you to help me stay out of trouble before I get there."
There was once [The Pack], but no more.
Jor chuckled lightly and pulled out a match to relight his pipe's tobacco.
"Well no guarantees, but I'll let you know if the temptation is crossing my mind."
There was once [The Pack], but no more.