| Welcome to Black Arch Fort. We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Gone Scouting; Back Later. | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Jul 17 2008, 12:18 PM (130 Views) | |
| Sceotend Russet | Jul 17 2008, 12:18 PM Post #1 |
 
|
The last few weeks had been as ripe in rumors as the fields were with grain. Nothing was absolutely definitive as of yet, but still, the constant stream of reports needed looking into. A roving vermin band here, a small-scale raid there... It may have been nothing but the normal dangers of the region, but the rumors said otherwise. A fair amount of time had passed since the last warlord had set paw in the lands, and it was only a matter of time before one did again. However, at this point there was no knowing whether the rumors were borne by fact or mere speculation. Regardless, the High Commander had seen fit to send out a large scouting party to both investigate the recent occurances and find out what they could about the rumors that had come sifting through. The patrol was comprised of beasts from the North and East Towers, and was led by the Commanders of both. There were twelve beasts in all, divided fairly evenly between the two towers and all armed well, though with the intention of travelling quickly and lightly. They were to start by going into the woods to the East, then to circle North and through the mountains with the intention of reaching home again in a week. They had left discreetly at daybreak, stepping out through the gate and making straight for the woods as the doors shut behind them. The morning's travels had been quiet, though not silent by any means. Friendly, though subdued, conversation had been abundant, and much of it had been led by Sceo herself. There had been no notable events by the time they stopped for lunch in a small clearing. |
 Is most definitely one to argue. | |
 |
 
|
| Talyn Ki | Jul 18 2008, 11:51 AM Post #2 |
 
|
- Talyn was in a huff. She had been, really, ever since Duran had told her she was going on patrol with Russet. It was the first time she had ever blatantly argued with the High Commander… and it had had its repercussions. The squirrel winced every time she thought about Duran’s last words before he left her standing alone in her office the night before. ”Honestly, Talyn, what am I going to do with you? You’re an exceptional warrior, but I’m worried about you as a leader. You actually need to like beasts in order to work with them, and you know that this job requires cooperation. This is a fort, a team, not you against the whole world by yourself. You will go on this patrol, you will follow my orders, you will return victorious, and you will do it with Sceotend as a team. Or else… Talyn, do not make me think of what I will have to do if you keep giving me these problems. Anger and guilt boiled inside her as the vole’s words echoed in her head. As the patrol set out that morning she had ignored Russet completely and spoken little to anyone else. All she could do was hole herself up in her mind, and all she seemed able to think about were those terrible words. …Do not make me think of what I will have to do if you keep giving me these problems… As the group stopped for lunch, Talyn found herself seated on the outskirts of the group, her back against a large elm on the edge of the clearing. She dug through her rucksack silently and withdrew her water canteen and a bundle of dried fruit cakes that would be her lunch. A few minutes into lunch she realized that Russet had seated herself within earshot, and for the first time since they set out she spoke to the other squirrel. “So, Russet, what do you propose we do if we actually meet up with some of these vermin we’re chasing?” The words came out a little harsher than she meant them to, but it was hard to feel too guilty about it. Russet certainly didn’t deserve to even be poised with such a question, as in Talyn’s eyes she was hardly a real commander. ((oooh, let the sparks fly. XD)) |
|
Talyn Ki. Name pronounced ta-lin kee. East Tower Commander  | |
|
|
|
| Sceotend Russet | Jul 29 2008, 12:34 PM Post #3 |
|
Sceo either didn't notice the caustic tone to Talyn's words, or she didn't care. It was anyone's guess as to which it really was. Either way, she ignored the tone. "What do you mean 'if?' The trail's been getting fresher all day." She grinned. "So... when we find them, I say we give 'em blood'n'vinegar, send them packing. As long as they don't see us coming, it should be easy enough." She popped a piece of waybread into her mouth and leaned back. "But what would you do? What with you being the more experienced commander, I probably should have asked you earlier." |
|
Is most definitely one to argue. | |
|
|
|
| Talyn Ki | Aug 2 2008, 11:11 PM Post #4 |
|
- Talyn suspected immediately that Russet was only complimenting her to get into her good graces and look good in front of Duran. The East Tower Commander bristled at the thought that her rival was trying to manipulate her like that, though she tried hard to conceal that she had taken offense. No, she must play this off. She couldn’t tear into Russet for the whole patrol, or else Duran might… No, best not think of that. At any rate, she could play Russet’s game for a while, if that’s what she wanted. “Why yes, you should have asked me. You apparently have no experience at all with this kind of thing. It’s much more complicated than just chasing them down and attacking. For all we know this group is meeting up with another one that could outnumber our patrol three to one. What we need to do is keep on their trail until nightfall. Then we wait until they camp and get close enough to gather information. Not until then do we decide on another course of action.” Though she had attempted to sound normal as she spoke, her tone came off as though she was explaining to a dibbun how to play hide and go seek. She didn’t even look at the other squirrel most of the time, instead staring at the sky and looking bored. When she was finished she took a large bit of food and sat crunching on it. “I suppose I shouldn’t expect you to know how we do things in the East Tower, though. I mean, after all, your lot from the North Tower have always been much more straightforward and barbaric in their dealings with vermin. You fit right in with, I mean… leading them.” In a way, it was Talyn’s attempt at a compliment. It was the first time she had ever hinted that she openly recofnized the other squirrel was even a true part of the fort, none-the-less acknowledged that she was a tower commander. Part of her was trying. |
|
Talyn Ki. Name pronounced ta-lin kee. East Tower Commander | |
|
|
|
| Sceotend Russet | Sep 23 2008, 12:13 AM Post #5 |
|
Sceo barely held in an incredulous laugh. She had not really been aware of how utterly condescending a beast could be. Certainly, she knew it could be terribly cutting, but as it had never, in its full form (or nearly full - she wasn't about to cut Talyn short) been directed at her before now... This was an entirely different sort of fish. "Barbaric? Naw... we just have a good bit of fun when it's needed. Keeps morale up, y'know. We can be more'n serious enough when it's needed." She paused and bit her tongue. Iwon'tpushherIwon'tpushher... "I don't suppose you ever have trouble with that in your tower. Morale, y'know?" So much for biting her tongue. Sceo grinned. |
|
Is most definitely one to argue. | |
|
|
|
| Talyn Ki | Sep 26 2008, 04:27 PM Post #6 |
|
The East Tower Commander would have bristled openly at Sceotend’s last comment had her mouth not been full with the last of her lunch. She chose to slowly chew it and by the time it was gone a stinging reply was on her lips. However, it would never be said. Instead a call came out from one of the younger guards. “Does anybody hear that noise?” With a snap Talyn’s jaw shut and she was on her feet. The guards around her quickly and quietly stashed their food, drew their weapons, and got to their paws. There was something. A drum. Talyn’s tail shot up in acknowledgement and alarm. Three of her guards who had been out on patrols with her before cast anxious glanced at one another. “The Tunnerack tribe. Kreeg, Chuckles, to me. Everyone draw your weapons and keep up!” Kreeg and Chuckles (known as Rodin Dormouse to most) immediately followed Talyn’s orders and were shoulder to shoulder with her as Talyn began to run. The East Tower Commander did not look back to see if anyone else was following. If they wanted to stay and die she wasn’t going to stop them. Kreeg was the only guard who had been with her the last time they had encountered the Tunnerack. As they ran he asked a single question. “The cave, marm?” “Yes, the cave. It worked before, and it’s close enough. We have to beat them there.” Talyn set a pace that was incredibly fast, and even so the sound of the drum seemed to get louder and louder by the minute. The group tore through the woods, and as they reached the edge of a small creek everyone was breathing much heavier. Talyn was the first to jump into the ditch and splash into the shallow waters. She had hardly had time to land before she was crashing through the water in the ditch and racing toward a quickly approaching rocky hillside. There appeared to be a small opening in the rock that the creek wound into and disappeared, and as the group reached it Talyn stood back and motioned for everyone to go inside. Kreeg, being the first, pushed aside what looked to be a curtain of rock and then was gone, inside the cave. It dawned on a few of the guards that the cave was partially hidden by a rock and twig mesh, designed to camouflage the entrance. “Hurry up, get inside! Don’t you hear the drum? You don’t want it to get here and still be out in the open!” Soon the entire party was inside the cave. Though the ceiling was low it was roomy inside, albeit damp with the creek running through the middle. It appeared the cave filled the entire mound, and on the other side the creek made its exit and continued its happy journey through the forest. It appeared the other cave entrance was also camouflaged, just as the opening on this side of the hill. Thoughts of their conversation just a few minutes earlier were completely cleared from Talyn’s mind as she pushed through the guards in order to reach Sceotend. On her way she barked orders for the entrances to be guarded and everyone to remain quiet. “The Tunnerack are a band we’ve faced before,” Talyn began once she had found the North Tower Commander. She kept her voice low, and for the first time she spoke to the other squirrel without a hint of harshness in her tone. “They’re a nasty bunch, not because they’re particularly good warriors, but because they’re just plain crazy. We kicked them out of here when we first set up the fort and they moved out farther East where they wouldn’t bother anybody. But every couple of seasons they seem to forget the stomping we gave them and make their way back. It’s because they drug themselves up and work themselves into a frenzy. You’ll notice how odd their eyes look and how they foam at the mouth. It brings on a kind of berserker feeling, from all I can tell. But they’re terribly fast, and that drum they bang on seems to just drive them on to kill. They’re great trackers and no doubt are hot on our trail as we speak. I expect they’ll be here in less than ten minutes, and we’ll have to defend ourselves in here. Only one beast at a time can come in from either entrance, so we’ll have to work that to our advantage. We have the better ground in a sense, but there is no hope for us if we fail. Help will not come.” ((Woo! Let's switch things up a little.  ))
|
|
Talyn Ki. Name pronounced ta-lin kee. East Tower Commander | |
|
|
|
| Sceotend Russet | Oct 9 2008, 12:05 AM Post #7 |
|
"No help coming, crazy beasts with no real skill, 's all good." Sceo didn't know if the other squirrel could see the smile she flashed in the darkness of the cave. She did know that it was hardly the most sincere expression that had ever crossed her face. Then again, she'd probably told worse lies before, too. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. The squirrel shook her head quickly to keep the creeping anxiety from becoming a reality. From what Talyn had just said, this was the best place to be when facing these particular creatures. Besides the Fort, of course, but there were some things you just didn't mention to yourself, because it would just make yourself irritated that certain things weren't the case. She pulled an arrow from her quiver and knocked it to her bowstring, letting it hang for a moment while she pulled her dirk from her belt and slid it between her teeth, creeping closer to the entrance. Shrieks and crazed calls echoed through the woods. The drum came nearer, the cave trembled around them. And then the first of the Tunnerack appeared at the entrance. An arrow embedded in his chest and he fell, gurgling and still frothing. As he fell, the flood behind him was unleashed. |
|
Is most definitely one to argue. | |
|
|
|
| Talyn Ki | Oct 21 2008, 11:50 PM Post #8 |
|
Talyn, caught up in the moment as she would later describe it to herself, couldn’t help admitting she was impressed by how well Sceotend handled herself in the events that followed their quick change in situation. They had turned from the hunters to the hunted in a pawful of minutes. The brown squirrel thought she saw the flash of a smile on the other commander’s face, but she wasn’t sure. In the back of her mind she liked to think that it was a smile, simply because that’s how she herself would have responded to matters. As Sceotend took up a station near one of the entrances Talyn set up opposite her. She had packed light for the patrol and was now regretting it, wishing she had her glaive. As it was she had twin dirks, one in each paw, and that would have to be good enough. She was nowhere near the expert with the blades as she was with her glaive or a sturdy javelin, but… she made due last time. And this time she had more guards with her and…. Sceotend. Under any other circumstances she would never have admitted it, but as Sceotend felled the first of the Tunnerack Talyn had to say it to herself: the other squirrel was a worthy warrior. Beyond that thought there was nothing now in Talyn’s mind that did not relate to the battle at hand. The Tunnerack immediately worked to tear away the camouflage netting at their entrance and try to push their way through with more than one at a time. Talyn slashed viciously at one that was about to bite Kreeg’s ear, then found herself elbowing another in the face as it tried to sneak up behind her. She didn’t know how long they fought them off until she noticed the dirt falling in little trails from the ceiling. Setting herself apart from the carnage at the entrance she turned her attention to the ceiling with a frown on her face. What was that about? The sound of the drum seemed to be a continual echo in her ears, but now it was joined with another sound… digging. “Russet! They’ve got a few of them trying to dig through. It looks like there’s a weak point over here. Grab somebody and help me guard it!” |
|
Talyn Ki. Name pronounced ta-lin kee. East Tower Commander | |
|
|
|
| « Previous Topic · Archives · Next Topic » |
6:13 PM Nov 8
