Aurilias
Initiate
slaves for every budget
Posts: 46
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Post by Aurilias on Jan 28, 2021 14:41:14 GMT
Gladiators can be suspicious of new companions because in his experience, they often become paired up in the arena to fight to the death! But after following the lead of the others, Drusinicus finally introduces himself to Rajit. "Hi my friend! Rjait, is it? I am Drusinicus of the Nirrion Empire. You may have heard of me if you have ever ventured into any province or village in Nirrion. I am a gladiator with much training in the short sword and bow and I see that you are an archer. I first learned how to use this weapon during a chariot race where aim is never steady. Welcome to our group and let me know if I teach you some tricks on using your bow when riding a horse or driving a chariot." Drusincius makes this quip naively assuming that (most) people have experience driving chariots in an arena for sport!
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Jan 28, 2021 14:59:52 GMT
"Greetings Drusinicus. Thank you for your offer however you must have mistaken the shaft of my spear for the wood of a bow. I never learned the use of a bow as I prefer to fight closer in. If I am to kill human or animal, I want it to know who has returned it to the All. But I would be thankful to learn anything I can from your skill. I have not heard of you but I have not traveled much beyond Sundel."
Rajit returns to the carving apparently feeling the conversation is over.
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Aurilias
Initiate
slaves for every budget
Posts: 46
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Post by Aurilias on Jan 28, 2021 16:14:04 GMT
"A spear - and even better weapon! Perhaps you can teach me how to use this weapon for it is one of the many I was not trained in but had many friends in the arena who were master showman with such a weapon!"
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Jan 28, 2021 17:00:46 GMT
Without looking up: "I would like to trade training with you. I am very good with a spear."
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Aurilias
Initiate
slaves for every budget
Posts: 46
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Post by Aurilias on Jan 28, 2021 19:17:58 GMT
"You look handy with your carving tool. Have you ever sharpened a blade? I need to sharpen 'Cian' - my short sword for it has become dull from all of the bloodshed we have been involved in of late." Drusinicus thinks for a moments, lowers his brow in anger and mumbles to Rajit, "I know a certain captain that would make a great target for your spear! I wouldn't mind getting some more practice in with him using my drucis."
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Jan 28, 2021 21:32:39 GMT
"An unsharpened edge is a poor tool. Of course I can help." Rajit hands him a sharpening stone. Turning to the topic of the captain: "Killing is for necessity not for sport." Realizing who he is addressing, he raises his head from carving and makes eye contact with Drusinicus. "Although far be it from me to judge a man I do not know and the path which led him to where he is. What was, was, what is will be. What has this captain done that makes you wish to slay him?"
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Aurilias
Initiate
slaves for every budget
Posts: 46
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Post by Aurilias on Jan 28, 2021 21:38:19 GMT
Drusinicus pauses, looks up and retorts, "My sword was named after my friend he murdered. Not only that, but the lovely Mairwyn, whom you just met, also paid a price with her innocence. We suffered humiliation and death at the hands of that beast!"
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Post by Storyteller on Jan 28, 2021 22:47:38 GMT
At hearing my deepest shame, the greatest pain I have known, excepting only the loss of my Iritari, blatantly spoken of to a man whom I have just met, all the color drains from my face. I rise unsteadily to my feet. There is nothing I can say to retrieve this situation, and the humiliation of having to travel in company with one who will now think me no better than a prostitute, brings tears to my eyes. I do not let them fall.
Instead, I say, quietly and steadily, "Cousin, I think I will retire. Rajit, Spear of the Shezazi, I would not hold it against you if you no longer wished to journey in my company. Should that be the case, I will withdraw, that you might fulfill the injunction of the Shezazi by journeying with my cousin."
Then I turn to Drusinicus. Many words spring to my tongue, but I speak none of them. In fact, after staring at him for a moment, I leave, without speaking further.
I go back to my chambers, as I told Aethyl I would. But I cannot sleep, for shame burns in my cheeks. So I put on my cloak, and go in search of Merchant Árón.
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Aurilias
Initiate
slaves for every budget
Posts: 46
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Post by Aurilias on Jan 28, 2021 23:02:02 GMT
Drusinicus, stiil slightly drunk, realizes the embarrassment he caused Mairywin and seeks to apologize to her in private. Drusincus thinks to himself, "Of everything I learned in gladiatorial school, tact and good communication were NOT part of that curriculum!"
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Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Jan 28, 2021 23:24:41 GMT
Aethyl, mortally pained, gently interjects.
"I crave your pardon, Rajit of Many Sires. Our companion has suffered much, and is yet in the heat of anguish, and has had much to drink, and a harrowing experience besides this night.
"Perhaps we may resume our conversation after we have all had a restful slumber?"
To Drusinicus, he says, "Come, friend. Our recent journey hangs heavy on your brow, and you are weary. Let us get you to bed, so that you may recover your strength."
He bows courteously to Rajit, and then he and Drusinicus retire. Once he has seen Drusinicus to his room, he makes his way swiftly to Mairwyn's quarters, hoping to find her, and to comfort her.
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Post by Diocles on Jan 28, 2021 23:26:20 GMT
Mairwyn is not in her quarters and is not in the Hooded Falcon.
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Post by Storyteller on Jan 28, 2021 23:30:13 GMT
But on Aethyl's pillow is a note from me.
Dearest Cousin,
I could not endure this, but do not worry for me. I will be back in a day or so. I am with Merchant Árón.
Love,
Your slowly-healing cousin,
Mairwyn the Mariness
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Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Jan 29, 2021 0:01:30 GMT
Finding the note, Aethyl sinks down and sits on the floor, staring at nothing, grieving for his beloved Cousin, and for Cian, whom he loved dearly. He contemplates returning to the main room to speak further with Rajit, but feels that his grief has made him unfit company this night, and feels besides the weariness of the journey catching up with him at last.
As he retires to bed, his thoughts stray to many things. To the strange twists their once-simple journey has taken, to the many pains they have suffered, to his Cousin's extraordinary transformation, to the seething, fiery woman he wants to call enemy, but whom his heart cannot let go.
And then, drifting off to sleep, his mind fills with the image of a wolf, taking slow, beautiful shape in the hands of a man of long, remembered lineage, changing inexorably from one thing, and one form, to another.
And finally, to his own words tonight, echoed to that man, learned by rote as a wayward boy at the feet of his father.
"A man cannot hide what he is. It comes out of him in the words of his mouth, in the works of his hands, and in the steps of his feet. Run while you may, little wolf. You cannot change what you are."
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Jan 29, 2021 1:00:15 GMT
Rajit sits quietly in the common room carving a wolf out of a piece of beautiful wood oblivious to the hurt and pain of his new companions. They do not yet understand that accepts them for their past and only judges them for their actions to come.
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