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Post by Geraldine Killian on Sept 2, 2014 21:59:49 GMT -6
Standing tall and at attention in a line of Shields, Geraldine Killian let out a soft yawn, hiding it through her nose as she thought of what events had led her to this moment.
She had been at home with Sulwyn, preparing to go and meet with a Priestess under the Creid but no sooner had they set the date and the appointment than Geraldine had gotten a summons. She was to report to Blaikfurd for duties relating to the recent attack on Domhan Tir soil. As she had been on the tournament grounds when the attack had taken place, she, and all other present parties that could be, were being called in for training and debriefing that might help prepare for whatever it was they were looking at facing.
The only thing they had as records for the exact sequence of events and cataloging of abilities was people's memory and experiences. The more variations and perspectives they had, the better prepared they would be for whatever it was they were facing.
Ah, but wait. There was more.
The forests and the highways were deemed "unfit for travel" until it could be determined that these ... things... couldn't affect local wildlife. That would be a fun adventure... everything that made Domhan Tir thrive suddenly revolting and killing off it's civilizations. If that were the case, Domhan Tir was doomed...
In any case, to give merchants and traders the fair shot they needed, and to ensure that medicines and supply lines were not interrupted, every caravan and wagon leaving the border or the capital would now be escorted by at least one member of the Guardianship. The greater the cargo, the greater the escort number.
So, essentially, Geraldine spent a week in a tent reciting everything that had happened during the tournament from her perspective, then writing it down verbatim in minuscule detail, then recited it again for the Head Council, then explained in minute detail so that they understood the gravity of the situation, then was summoned to court to stand before the Lord while her, and several others, testimonies were read before him and he was given the statistics in three measures of casualties and damages.
Frankly, she was tired of the whole pomp and circumstance of the situation. The idea that it took this long to analyze information was just ridiculous to her. But then, she had only ever seen her father deal with these situations... and he always took care of this kind of thing himself rather than having his officers re-drill every person all the way up the ladder until they didn't so much remember as recite information.
Then, she was marched back and forth from border to Blaikfurd checkpoint as training to be an escort for whatever wagon, horse, parade or caravan her superiors saw fit to bestow upon her ever widening shoulders.
She was currently standing at attention in front of the assignment tent where there was a list of merchants and traders who'd signed into the country/city and were requesting rights to go into the forest. Each of the Guardian Shields next to her would be assigned today and given a due time to be back which would be lenient in case of emergency.
"Killian, Geraldine."
She saluted. "Sir, yessir!"
"...First of all, I'm the same rank as you, so cut the sir crap. Second, you're assigned to the Sota wagon. It'll be waiting by the gate most likely..."
"...Aren't all the wagons supposed to wait near the corral where cattle is sold...?"
"Well... the livestock don't like this wagon so... you'll be walking a bit. Don't worry, you'll definitely know this wagon when you see it."
There was a nervous shifting of eyes between some of the officers before they turned around and she was dismissed.
Well. Wasn't that helpful, informative and all around a boon to her job? This is what people meant by city living makes people slackers...
She shouldered her quiver and pack and began walking towards the gate, green eyes scanning for her new charge.
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Post by Douken Sota on Sept 2, 2014 23:50:06 GMT -6
A sigh escaped his lips as he sat there, waiting. It normally never took this long to be able to get in, and he was sure he was able to trade off all illegal (in the eyes of Dohman Tir) goods in Hyrst. Its not like some iron ingots would have them get sent away. What was clear was someone else was getting impatient, coming from the low growl.
He didn't have to talk to know Starr was getting hungry, which made the gate watchers step back a little. "Holdon," he said, more-so to the guards than to the white-spotted kath as e took to the back for a raw chunk of meat still on the bone before holding it in front of her jaws. With a snap, the beast took the meat before settling down and gnawing it down, using her fangs to pull of shreds to satisfy her hunger.
"How much longer?" Douken asked one of the guards, ignoring the nerves they were showing. It was a sight he had almost gotten used to, and hopefully, one that they would as well. The only ones who had to fear Starr were bandits.
"Please, be patient," the gate guard told the foxkin, "once your escort arrives, you will be able to continue in. Things took a drastic turn for the worse, so this is for your own safety. Even if..." his eyes shifted back to the black beast, noting that in a normal situation, he should be fine.
"Okay, okay. Guess I'll organize my goods as I wait then," he muttered to himself, leaping into the back of his supplies before sorting out his trades into a much neater and more presentable fashion.
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Post by Geraldine Killian on Sept 3, 2014 7:03:02 GMT -6
Geraldine approached the gates and saw the lone wagon sitting there by itself with two guards standing nearby. It took her a moment to register exactly what she was seeing, but she did recognize that there was a Kath sitting next to the cart chewing on some fresh meat. It seemed very out of place to her, here on the city road.
The two Shields spotted her and glanced nervously from her to the Kath, almost as if deciding if she would be ok with this or not. It didn't matter, really. Orders were orders. She had a job to do and a duty to fulfill. So long as the Sota wagon moved through the highways and forests, she had to escort it. Hopefully Sulwyn would not become anxious at her absence...
Geraldine stepped up to the wagon and glanced over it, then over to the Kath and finally over to the person who was apparently arranging his things within the wagon.
"I have been ordered by my superiors that I am to be your escort in Domhan Tir as you travel the highways and forests. My name is Geraldine Killian. A pleasure to meet you." Her voice was very business; mellow but tight. She took her responsibilities seriously. This one would be no different.
Though, truthfully... If they actually came across one of those... things... from the tournament in the forest, just them, she didn't know what use she would be, except to buy the merchant time to get away... and how much time would be limited... But that was the gravity of the situation, and the entire reason she was here.
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Post by Douken Sota on Sept 3, 2014 20:50:49 GMT -6
Hearing the sudden voice, Douken's head popped out of the cart, a bundle of red silk in his paw-like hands. "Wow," he commented, "Never thought they would pair me with a pretty gal like yourself." Setting the cloth down, he offered his paw, introducing himself with, "Douken Sota. Pleasure to meet you, Miss Killian. Up front is my companion, Starr." Though she paid no real mind as she gnawed away at the remaining bits of meat. "She's almost done, so we can get moving whenever you like."
Finishing up his task, the fox let out a small bark, getting the attention of the kath to let her know they were ready. Tossing the bone into the nearest wooded area, she gave herself a stretch before standing upright, ready to move. With Douken moving to sit on her back, the small party was then on the move.
Waiting until he was out of earshot of the gate guards, Douken felt like he had to ask, "This is not some bandit problem, is it?"
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Post by Geraldine Killian on Sept 4, 2014 8:21:56 GMT -6
"Wow," he commented, "Never thought they would pair me with a pretty gal like yourself."
Geraldine paid no mind to the compliment. Her looks weren't something she prided herself on and she knew well what vanity would get her should she start. Looks corroded away easily, and it was her metal that she wanted to be renown for. However, when he extended his... paw... she took it in her firm grip and shook it once in acknowledgement.
"Douken Sota. Pleasure to meet you, Miss Killian. Up front is my companion, Starr."
Geraldine's emerald eye glanced over at the Kath again. A young lady. Not thrice winters old, if her incisors were anything to go by. She seemed at least moderately obedient, which would work fine for this. Geraldine had dealt with unruly beasts before, but never beast tamers. It would be an interesting trip at least.
"She's almost done, so we can get moving whenever you like."
Killian nodded in understanding of the statement, but truly it did not matter to her when they left, now or later. She was ready in either case. She knew this was not a trip for pleasantries and questions, so she would cap her curiosity as much as humanly possible... but Douken displayed many of the traits that Sulwyn herself owned. The urge to ask questions was almost unbearable. Maybe she could finally get behind the idea of why Sulwyn was so... well, she wasn't feral anymore really... just... animal like...
The sound he made to urge his kath into motion was similar to sounds Sulwyn made as well. Her mind was deep in the comparisons and contrasts when he spoke again, this time an inquiry that was just, in Geraldine's opinion.
"This is not some bandit problem, is it?"
She let out a soft sigh through her nose. "...If it were, the orders I was given would have been completely different. Raids... bandit camps... even revolts... Those things are easy to root out with enough of us converging on a target. I am going to suppose you did not hear the news of the tournament that so recently took place. The annual event that invites outsiders to Domhan Tir to worship their gods in physical competition turned into a bloodbath... And a God was killed. There is reason to believe that these creatures, though they attained their purpose, are not finished with their chaos, so we're trying to make sure that the supply lines stay open." Her voice was not the polite one she used in high society. It was brutish, honest and rough. Her manner of speaking and her eyes betrayed her; she was not holding back for image at this time. Having been on that battlefield and trying to get the audience out of the arena, she had witnessed well what had taken place... and formalities were to be cast aside for such matters.
There were no need for airs. Death was an equalizer no one wanted to face. Particularly at the hands of those monsters.
"... So if we do meet something of that variety on these roads, I expect you to listen when I tell you to run. We made a dent in the shadows of these creatures... but Orik himself was the only reason we were not desecrated like lambs without a sheppard."
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Post by Douken Sota on Sept 4, 2014 21:55:51 GMT -6
Cute, but stern. It has its charm, but it can dull out pretty fast. Hopefully the stern security guard won't scare off customers. Its hard enough getting a crowd when your cargo is being brought by one of the most feared creatures in the area.
The wheels tumbled on top of the worn roads as he listened to her explanation. "So that's what the talk was on the way here," he muttered to himself before turning his attention to Gerdaline. "I was on my way to Hyrst when the tournament was going on. Maybe a week after I got there, some of the travelers were talking about some incident, saying what tragedy it was, though they were too far away to actually ask what happened." The end of the statement was commented by the flick of his ears, possibly trying to hint at his hearing ability.
Still, it is kind of scary to know that some terrifying beast killed a God, which meant some needed more comforting goods while others needed tools to help defend. Good thing he got his stock as it was in Hyrst! "Now, thank you for your protection, but I shall let you know my job does not limit me to towns. If a traveler wants to take a look, we are not afraid to stop and have them look. That being said, you can bet some can be scared of Starr here. I can also tell you a serious guard is also highly intimidating. So with that said, I would like for you to be a bit more relaxed, at least around customers. If we are attacked, feel free to go back to your Stoic Shield self, but in more peaceful times like now, feel free to relax. The roads are long anyways."
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Post by Geraldine Killian on Sept 4, 2014 23:29:23 GMT -6
"If we meet any travelers and they are without a guard? They are bandits. ...I don't know if you think it's a small problem or what have you... but the orders for escort are not limited to the cities. Should it be thought that there is the potential for threat... we may have to shut down the roads altogether. It's not a pleasant thought. A lot of bad things could happen in that case... but... if we don't have some form of caution, what happened at the tournament could happen again, only rather than warriors and skilled fighters, it could be unsuspecting villagers and children. These things... they don't really have a standard of honor." Her mind drifted back to the rage Orik expelled at having Dym's head displayed so disrespectfully on the tournament sands.
"... If we come to a town, I will stand away from your cart... but I'm afraid I cannot promise much more." Her eyes were not cruel or angry. They were concerned. She was raised to believe that she was one of the few things in the world standing between the innocent and the guilty. If ever there had been a time her responsibilities out weighted her life, this was one of those times. One of those perilous times when her own desires and her own heart were overturned by the needs of the many. Sometimes she forgot that not everyone saw their duties in such an intense light.
"In any case, it will be a lucrative time for you. People are afraid of these creatures, and rumors are spreading through the land of their capabilities. There's also talk of a pilgrimage, which is unheard of this time of year. People from small villages or who do not have a lot to lose and those who have an abundance of faith are reportedly preparing to journey to The Rose, which has been considered a safe haven in times of trouble. The problem with that is, if people start massing at The Rose, it makes a giant target for the god-killers. However, people will also be stockpiling in case the roads go down entirely. Don't expect too much business for entertainment and oddity at this time. Most of it will be survival. Food, seeds, tools, rope... these kinds of things will be in demand right now. It throws things out of balance, really... this is supposed to be a time of plenty... but if we can't travel freely... it limits our ability, speaking as a hunter."
She sighed and ran her hand through her hair. "...I am... sorry." She took a step away from the cart. "... I will be silent if it is more comfortable. I forget what it is like, to be anything but Guardian Shield." She cast a glance at his ears and tail again.
"You have... an unusual gift. I have seen only one other with a similar form. Though... I suppose it is not quite like yours... She is... very different from you." Her eyes then turned back to the road before her, trying to keep a clear head.
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Post by Douken Sota on Sept 5, 2014 12:38:13 GMT -6
Douken listened to her stern words, seeing how a warrior would see such a situation. However, there was one thing she had forgotten through her vision. "Not everyone are warriors. As such, not everyone can fight. But you know, its times like these that relaxation is actually a lot more helpful than you think. Instead of stressing out over everything, keeping calm can be best. You would be amazed how much a bard or street performer can help calm nerves before making a stupid, panicky decision."
Leaning back, he took a moment just to listen to the wheels roll on the dirt along with the mixture of paws and feet trotting along. "Let those who can fight, fight. Those who can cook bring shelter to the tired warriors. Let the entertainers relax the citizens of the nations relax and, even if its only for a moment, smile as if it was simply another day. So as our guardians like you work hard to keep the peace, we should not be making chaos from our panic. My job is to help spread those smiles from heir trade to their luxuries, just as yours is to make sure they can smile another day."
When she stepped away, he saw another side of her come up. It was away from her dutive face she displayed, even if she admitted having not used to being anything but her career. Waving his paw calmly, Douken answered, "Its alright. I am sure if our lives were each others, then we should still be in similar boats."
However, the conversation quickly changed from the job at hand to his unique traits. With his tail giving a light wag, he commented, "You can partially thank Starr for my gift. If I haven't saved her when I did, I would probably be human like yourself." Looking over to Gerdaline, he piqued, "So, what makes me different from this other gifted?"
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Post by Geraldine Killian on Sept 5, 2014 22:05:42 GMT -6
Part of what he said made her cringe. Smiles... what good were smiles in times of slaughter? Though she acknowledged that a lack of panic was important, she also couldn't help but feel a subconscious pressure on her back, like a rod or a crop, guiding her and telling her that she should ignore what he said and just keep her thoughts to herself. After all, it was her job to worry, not his. Bards... Skulds... Street Performers... they were all well and good in their own way... But maybe a little worry would be good in this situation as well... He had not seen the carnage that had taken place... or felt the deep, cold talons of fear wrenching his guts as Dym's head had rolled so jovially across the ground... nor the tremble of the earth as Orik tore it asunder in his wrath...
Her mind was brought back to Sulwyn. A far happier topic for her, even if it was difficult to explain the child's condition and behaviors.
So the Kath had been the reason that Orik had gifted the young man with his interesting features. Geraldine had seen beast tamers with unusual traits, sometimes horns or markings, but never known them up close or personally. There wasn't much call for that kind of trade where she came from. But Geraldine had secretly wondered what had inspired Orik's gift on Sulwyn. Maybe this would shed some light on the subject?
"Well... where to begin? Sulwyn is... I assume... very young. She is not yet 12 winters old, I think. I might be wrong, but it's difficult to tell... You see, she doesn't speak. She can, but she is meticulous not to. Almost as if she were afraid to speak in common tongues. She barks and yips a lot... acts more like an animal than a human... She has lovely autumn colored hair and fur, and her eyes are the color of the sun at the last bit of twilight, just before it goes completely under the sea. She doesn't like being cooped up either. I know little about her beyond the obvious. She is a foundling, but so far, no child with her description has been reported missing. Until such a time when her family is found, I am responsible for her. She was in a bear trap when I found her in the woods. I've been taking care of her ever since."
She was ever alert, even as she discussed it, checking through the trees for movement as she spoke quietly. Despite the conversation, she was still very much cautious and concerned.
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Post by Douken Sota on Sept 6, 2014 21:16:26 GMT -6
When Gerdaline spoke about the one she named Sulwyn, he immediately got a bitter taste in his mouth. Clenching his fist, his first thought was, "Slavers." He would rather fight whatever killed a god than deal with them! "People who train others to be more like dolls than people. 'The more we can rip away their humanity, the better the client would be.' " Clenching his fist at the thought, he spat in the opposite direction of the Shield to try and get the taste out of his mouth. "They are simply the worst. If I was to guess, she was probably born with the traits she has, but they wanted her mind to be that way too. Probably tried to sell her off an exotic pet!"
The kath looked up at the foxfolk, feeling his anger rise. Purposefully giving him a bump, Douken had to turn more attention from staying on instead of steaming from the ears. Though he dangled from the strap, he soon scurried himself back on, looking at the kath before telling her thanks with quick pat.
Taking a deep breath, he took a little bit of time to find himself again before seeing the light of things. "That fear of being cooped up is actually a good sign. It means she wasn't broken into their mold. That means she can recover much easier to a more stable situation. From there, she can use her gift as how Orik planned instead of being used for profit."
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