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| Tis Only Protocol Wot Wot!; for Sonia | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 24 2009, 09:50 AM (115 Views) | |
| Teltoli Riverbuck | Aug 24 2009, 09:50 AM Post #1 |
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The ruddy hare leaned on the wall and munched a scone. He was waiting for Sonia Windburnt. She had not been at Black Arch long but Tel took it that she had at least some training on how a military fort should be run. She had been brought up at the jolly old fire mountain after all! Since she had been tailing him for quite some time Tel figured it wouldn't hurt to make sure Sonia was up to speed on the workings of Black Arch. Although she was new to the fort there was a certain air about her that suggested she would be up for promotions quite soon. The least he could do was to get his fellow lapin up to snuff should the High Commander call on her. "Bally fine day wot! Though, would be finer if t'was closer to tea time Hi'd bally well say..." Tel chuckled to himself and took another bite of his scone as he waited for Sonia to meet him. |
Teltoli Rifflappin Riverbuck  South Tower Commander and official Gate Keeper of Black Arch Fort Rayden Sharptalon South Tower Air Division Captain | |
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| Sonia Windburnt | Aug 24 2009, 02:06 PM Post #2 |
 
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ching-ching-jangle-ching-CLANK-CLANK-CLANK! The rattle of bronze, silver, and gold medallions preceeded Sonia as she bounded across the parapets to meet the Gatekeeper. Another bright, clear day..... another adventure. The neatly dressed hare met Teltoli's eye from across the walltops and she threw him a smart salute. Her piecemeal education regarding Black Arch was due for a substantial upgrade. If she was going to stay here for any length of time, it certainly didn't due to be ignorant of the rules and traditions. Odds and ends regarding the Fort's history and leaders had reached her ears, but they were more of the tavern story variety than factual information. Not that there was anything wrong with tavern stories..... certainly not. Some might be downright invaluable, or entertaining at the very least. "Top o'the noontide!" She flashed Teltoli a bright smile, complete with shockingly white teeth. Personal grooming was something Sonia was most meticulous about, and she'd taken to scrubbing her chompers with tea tree oil on a daily basis. The result was more than a little bit obnoxious. Sonia came to an abrupt stop next to the officer and rested her arms on the walltop. As Teltoli finished his scone, she cast a long gaze over the grounds below. They were quite expansive, though not nearly so large as the northern wilderness looming beyond the fort's boundaries. "So, Commander Riverbuck. T'isn't a small place you're defendin' here, wot?" |
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- Sonia Windburnt - '"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way." - Henry David Thoreau | |
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| Teltoli Riverbuck | Aug 24 2009, 04:59 PM Post #3 |
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The hare swallowed his scone, noting the arrival of Sonia before he saw the female hare. The jangle of various metals easily gave her away. Tel had to smile. Though she had shadowed the commander frequently since her arrival Tel did not mind too much. He was friendly with almost every creature and so it was not difficult to show the same to Sonia. "So, Commander Riverbuck. T'isn't a small place you're defendin' here, wot?" The hare turned towards Sonia, blinking at her blindingly white smile. "Well 'lo there miss Windburnt. No, not small at all wot wot! Though I dare say tis smaller than the lands surrounding the fire mountain eh?" Tel fished another scone from his deep pockets and offered it to Sonia. "Care fer a bite? Tea's not fer at least another twenty or so... can't bear to think of goin' that jolly well ong without a bit 'o tuck wot!" The hare gazed over the lands before them and then turned back to Sonia. "Well then... perhaps we should get down teh business? Have you picked a towah yet?" |
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Teltoli Rifflappin Riverbuck South Tower Commander and official Gate Keeper of Black Arch Fort Rayden Sharptalon South Tower Air Division Captain | |
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| Sonia Windburnt | Aug 25 2009, 09:51 AM Post #4 |
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"Well 'lo there miss Windburnt. No, not small at all wot wot! Though I dare say tis smaller than the lands surrounding the fire mountain eh?" Sonia fell silent for a minute at Teltoli's comment. To be expected of course - he was a fighting hare. Salamandastron. Place of her birth, home of her parents. Beautiful, dangerous, timeless mountain..... where she was currently not welcome. Hmph. This lurking annoying memory - the only chink in her armour - made her doubly determined to not only succeed but to thrive elsewhere. Hopefully here. "Bah, bally close, eh? All those mountains 'round ol'Firetop throw th'scale off a touch. Funny how landshapes do wonky things t'yore eyes. Is that where your sires hail from, Riverbuck?" She accepted the scone with a quick, grateful nod. Waiting for tea time truly was out of the question. In true hare fashion, it was demolished within seconds. After the pastry's demise, not a stray crumb was to be found anywhere. "Well then... perhaps we should get down teh business? Have you picked a towah yet?" Her eyes scanned the grounds below, and she responded thoughtfully to the Gatekeeper. "Can't say I have yet..... hard for one t'judge all th'h'activity without armies runnin' about, wot? Spent most of m'life avoidin' all things 'North', my granmum called it Darkforest's Door. Prolly all spoof an'story, but it's hard t'cross yore elders. West.... well, lore 'n whatnot ties West with th'Sea. Don't be sharin' this far'n wide, but I'm not much of a seafarin' warrioress. Dangerous as Hellfire when I've got m'footpaws on solid ground, doncha know..... 'Spose that leaves South 'n East. Lest my fine eyes deceive me, th'South is yore bally-stompin-grounds, eh?" |
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- Sonia Windburnt - '"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way." - Henry David Thoreau | |
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| Teltoli Riverbuck | Aug 28 2009, 02:46 PM Post #5 |
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Bah, bally close, eh? All those mountains 'round ol'Firetop throw th'scale off a touch. Funny how landshapes do wonky things t'yore eyes. Is that where your sires hail from, Riverbuck? The hare smiled as he watched Sonia devour the scone in true hare fashion. His ears waggled as he recollected his family and their home encampment. "Ah, the mater and pater hail from the family Riverbuck encampment far south of here. Hi go back and visit 'bout once every second year. Can't go too long without me mater's cookin' wot!" Tel's eyes roved to each of the towers as Sonia spoke of them. He knew each tower fairly well now and was happy to accept the role of commander over the south. It fit him better than the others, plus it kept him close to his gatehouse. "Aye, the south towah 'as recently come under my command. Tis a formality 'acourse. Would 'ave acted in the same manner fer the bally fort no matter whot title they jolly well gave me. Leading troops is in me blood. Served fer to Fur 'n Freedom Fighters fer many years a'fore comin' teh Ruddlah." The hare took a deep breath as he thought back to his Ruddler days. That fort would always have a piece of his heart no matter where he went. He had many good friends and many adventures stored up from that place. Still, it was a new era now. A new home. A new tower under his command. "Hi'm quite sure either the south 'r east would suit yeh rightly miss Windburnt. Fact, suspect youll be comin' up through the ranks quick enough wot! Got the makings of a leader no doubt." He eyes went out to sea for a moment. "Heard they're finishing a jolly 'ol ship too. Fancy tryin' out yer sea legs? 'Fraid mine aren't the most steady... but they'll do. Long as the flippin' sea sickness don't get me... imagine havin' teh share yer lunch with the bally fishes... doesn't bear thinkin' of wot!" |
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Teltoli Rifflappin Riverbuck South Tower Commander and official Gate Keeper of Black Arch Fort Rayden Sharptalon South Tower Air Division Captain | |
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| Sonia Windburnt | Aug 31 2009, 11:35 AM Post #6 |
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Sonia allowed the corners of her mouth to twist into the tiniest of smiles at Teltoli's suggestion that she might become successful here. It sounded like he was quite the compaigner.... the names of foreign forts and camps slid easily across his tongue. His resume was more extensive than her own, but hopefully there would be time for her to catch up. She made a complimentary comment as such, and meant it sincerely. She shifted slightly at his suggestion about visiting ships. The hare had seldom been in anything larger than a canoe, and she firmly believed that there was no fish on this good earth worthy of her lunch. Abso-bally-lutely not. However, it simply wouldn't do to look anything but enthusiastic. Fearless leaders and all that rot. Sonia straightened her shoulders, and brushed a few invisible scone crumbs off of her jacket. "Why not, o'course? Heard there's a spiffin' nice lil' harbor 'roundabout here somewhere, but have yet t'clap my flippin'eyes on it. Fact, most of what I've been seein' is the kitchens and the tower. Haven't seen much of yore great hootin' trainin'grounds, or a feastin' hall. Say, I betcha never knew that a midwinter's feast was where a bally three-pronged fork was invented, wot?" "Y'see, all the great Loamhedge chaps used t'eat with their paws. Maybe a spoon or two when th'soup was nasty-pipin'hot. Now, this one winter, a right pretty lil' lady mouse was tryin' t'scoff a huge hootin' cheesey flan. Her sweet ol'beau was sittin' one table over. Handsome chap, at least so far as mice go, eh? Nothin' like us gallant hare-types. So the pretty lil'thing didn't want her paws all a-covered in cheesey sticky mess. T'wouldn't flippin' do, y'know. She flipped 'n fluttered 'n worried somethin' awful, until she rememberd that morning when she'd been muckin' an' shovelin' hay out in their croppy-fieldy things. Maybe there was somethin' to it, she thought....." She continued to spill the strange story, her breath gaining speed as the story went. Teltoli's eyes may or may not have glazed over.... unfortunately, Sonia was quite oblivious. "..... and so, after the second feast was over an' the great oak table re-built, our Salamandastron's Great Lord Nightstripe let all the bally-mountain chaps 'n chappesses use the whompin'-pronged fork." After the story drew to a close, Sonia smiled happily as if she had in fact imparted some great wisdom to the already-wise hare. She paused for a brief second, and then felt a small tinge of embarassment. What were they going to see again....? "Oh, righto. So, your great seafarin' ships. Lead on!" |
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- Sonia Windburnt - '"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way." - Henry David Thoreau | |
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| Teltoli Riverbuck | Sep 7 2009, 03:18 PM Post #7 |
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She flipped 'n fluttered 'n worried somethin' awful, until she rememberd that morning when she'd been muckin' an' shovelin' hay out in their croppy-fieldy things. Maybe there was somethin' to it, she thought....." The hare had listened to Sonia's tale with interest. Anything that had to do with scoff had a way of keeping his ears perked. As her story finished Tel pushed off the wall he had been leaning on and began to make his way down the wall steps. "Jolly well good yeh 'ave that story tucked away in the ol' noggin me gel. Wouldn't dare want to miss out on where the flippin scoff pronger came from eh wot wot!" Tel chortled and continued down the steps. Once they had reached the grounds he made his way towards the side wall gate that would lead them down to the grotto where Black Arch harbored her growing fleet. "Anybeast evah mention teh yeh where the bally spoon came from? Now there's a whopper of a tale an no mistake wot!" Tel chortled as he remembered the tale his grandfather had woven for him when he had been no more than a leveret. "Seems there was once a bullfrog who couldn't abide using a leaf to strain his supper from the bally pond water he lived in..." From here the tale rattled off as they descended into the darkness of the grotto. It was the time of day when not much sun could enter through the cave like entrance. Tel took flint to steel that was provided near a wall sconce. Once he had lite it they continued on their way down the steps that had been carved out of stone. The sound of sea water rushing in and out with each wave boomed in the ears. The faint sound of a pair of ships bumping into the docks could be heard. There were two ships. Both grand and fleet. A pier lead out to them. To get to the pier from this point one would need to cross a small spit of beach sand. "Well, there they are. Impressive eh wot?" Edited by Teltoli Riverbuck, Sep 7 2009, 03:31 PM.
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Teltoli Rifflappin Riverbuck South Tower Commander and official Gate Keeper of Black Arch Fort Rayden Sharptalon South Tower Air Division Captain | |
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| Sonia Windburnt | Sep 8 2009, 09:22 AM Post #8 |
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Teltoli's story about the invention of the spoon made Sonia smile. It would make an excellent addition to her armada of tales. She followed the Gatekeeper down the spiraling steps, and paused while he lit the wall sconce. Flickering firelight made the underground caverns seem otherwordly, though similar to the inside of the mountain. The pair of hare pawsteps echoed in time with Sonia's thoughts, which wandered occasionally from the spoon story to the possibility of staying here, the construction of the fort, and whether or not this was an easily defensible space. She almost bumped into the Gatekeeper as he came to a halt just before the sandy harbor approach. This really was spectacular. Even for a land-faring wanderer like Sonia, the ships were impressive. Her excitement got the best of her, and she bounded ahead of Teltoli. "H'impressive? Dare flippin'say so!" Sand flew around her footpaws as she crossed the sandy stretch in a few quick leaps. With a thud, she landed on the end of the pier. Checking to make sure Teltoli was following, she approached the first ship, the larger of the two. This was the closest she'd ever been to a proper sailing vessel..... logboats and canoes didn't really count. It rocked quietly on the gentle waves, and towered above her. Sonia's mind immediately flew to the captain's journals and architectural drawings she'd read on the subject of ship construction. There were masts, the deck, the rigging, the spars.... but while she knew their names, she knew absolutely nothing about their purpose or use. "So, Mister Riverbuck, how much time 'ave you spent on ships? Can't say my wanderin' ever took me t'sailing school, wot." Sonia paused, her gaze still lost upward in the masts of the vessel. "An' what name does this spiffin-tastic floating monster go by?" |
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- Sonia Windburnt - '"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way." - Henry David Thoreau | |
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| Teltoli Riverbuck | Sep 10 2009, 10:16 AM Post #9 |
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Tel followed Sonia across the sands and hopped up onto the dock behind her. He cast a glance down towards the water and marveled at how clear it was. He made out a crab scuttling towards higher ground and a few small ocean fish cruising the shallows as well. "These chappies jolly well live a life that everybeast kin see. Water's so clear in here wot." As they continued along the dock the water deepened and blocked out the chance of seeing larger denizens of the cave . The two ships loomed before them now. Tel moved forward and touched the bow of the one closest to them. An' what name does this spiffin-tastic floating monster go by? "She's called the Kestrel. As of yet Hi've not been aboard... Shall we?" The gang plank was not lowered but getting onto the deck by way of the rat lines would not be too difficult. The hare reached out and gripped a rope, readying himself to swing over to the hull. From there he could paw ove rpaw climb his way to the deck. "Jolly well hope Hi don't end up in the drink!" |
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Teltoli Rifflappin Riverbuck South Tower Commander and official Gate Keeper of Black Arch Fort Rayden Sharptalon South Tower Air Division Captain | |
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| Sonia Windburnt | Sep 11 2009, 04:17 PM Post #10 |
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Sonia chuckled, and grasped ahold of a rope. "Nah, t'wouldn't do at all!" She muscled her way up through the rigging, and landed squarely (if a bit awkwardly) on the deck. Her legs tensed.... even at anchor, the pitch and heave of the ship was unfamiliar. Regardless, she started to stride boldly across the deck toward the bow of the boat. With a grin backwards in Teltoli's direction, she unsheathed two throwing knives from her belt and flashed them through .the air. "Arr-harr, an'a big swashbucklin' yarr, wot? Too bally-well unfortunate we're the dashin' hero types, Commander. Else we could be right fearsome corsair vermin!" The hare came to a stop next to the main steering wheel. Her mood sobered up quickly, and she returned the shining blades to their places at her sides. Sonia slid one paw carefully over the smooth wooden grips on the wheel. Ah, the danger.... the risks, the choices that a captain must make. Choosing the course for the ship, and choosing the fate for the entire crew. Quite the responsibility..... and in turn, what an adventure. Surely she was in the company of someone who understood this paradox. "So, Mister Gatekeeper. Ever taken a spin as a captain?" |
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- Sonia Windburnt - '"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way." - Henry David Thoreau | |
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3:47 AM Nov 26
