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Following the Trail

Started by Wildfire, November 24, 2011, 08:21:57 AM

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Wildfire


  Following the Trail  

[Reference to Session 14 Part 2]

{This thread involves Jarmok and Sayer if Phin wishes)  

Duthash Gyth Basque VY. 237 (May 29)  

OOC: Johan, setting the mood, feel free to edit anything that I presume in regards to Jarmok

 

Kossuth had not yet risen over the horizon. The scent of late spring flowers coasted on the morning breeze and the sounds of a waking city were just beginning. From his window Jarmok could see the silhouette of enormous white cathedral in the distance. The height of its towers were surpassed by only the mountains themselves it seemed. The tangled web of streets of Kurr seemed confusing compared to the roads that ran through Threshold, as did all of the buildings. Looking at it too long one could have gotten dizzy it seemed. Perhaps it was a different sort of "forest". One with buildings instead of trees...but not even close to natural.  

 

The suite that was lent to Jarmok was perhaps larger than the cabin that Mercer had given him back in Threshold. Utilitarian drapes and elegant tapestries lined the walls to shield from the cold stone in the winter retain their coolness in the summer. There was a desk for which to write and a sitting area to converse in comfort. It was by all measures, a nice place. It was not home though and it certainly wasn't the forest and fields that he felt most attuned to.

Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

Jarmok could not remember ever having been *in* a city before. He had been close though, and back at that time, he had thought that the smell would make him expel his breakfast. So much humanity in one small area, he supposed. The rotting trash, unwashed people, and other waste were noxious.

Now that he was inside the walls of such a place, he realized that the wind was unable to flow freely through such a place, only making matters worse. The bit of floral scent was able to rise above it in the pre-dawn morning, but Jarmok suspected that as the city folk went about their day, they'd make the day smell rather rank.

Jarmok hoped that Sayer could quickly get done what he needed to get done, so that they could be back to Threshold as soon as possible...or at least out of Kurr. He wondered whether there might be a spot in this stench-hole where there might be a park of some sort; perhaps he might forget where he was, at least for a short while.
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Wildfire

Jarmok took notice of a faint knock on his door. From beyond he could hear a baritone voice ask quietly, "Trailmaster Jarmok, are you awake yet? I have some breakfast to share."

The ranger recognized the voice as being that of the Arch-Duke himself. His fine senses could indeed tell that there was some breakfast, Jarmok was certain there was a variety of meats, to be had.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

Jarmok walked a bit too quickly over to the door to open it. He was a bit surprised to see that there was no mere servant at the door (rich city folk, he had thought, preferred to let other people do the little chores).

Jarmok jerked his head in greeting to the Arch-Duke. "Come." He said, opening the door wide.
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Wildfire

Corwynn bowed in acceptance of the invitation. "My thanks to you." He replied as he balanced a large platter in his left hand and swept his right hand out in grandiose fashion. His enormous frame was clothed in simple fineries of black pants, tan shirt, and soft black leather boots. His long copper colored hair was tied into a messy ponytail and around his neck was a round, bronzewood medallion with the carved face of a wolf gilded with the unmistakable shine of the goldleaves from the grove overlooking Threshold.

Strapped to his belt was a blunt wooden axe and sheathed to his back was a blunt wooden bastard sword. Jarmok knew from his sparring days with Mercer that they were practice weapons.

The Duke entered the room and set the platter of food on a table in the living area. "Please pardon my early intrusion if you would. I'm an early riser and you being a guide and trailmaster I figured you were up about as well. I'm glad I wasn't wrong." he said as he belted out a hearty laugh.

"I've brought a steaming heap of spiced meats and some...cheeses...I think...maybe some root fruit. Really I just grabbed whatever I could find on the spits and cutting tables in the kitchen." Corwynn stated as he arranged the plates and forks on the table. He lifted the cover from the platter to reveal a mountain of food with an irresistible aroma of seasonings.

"Please, sit down...there's enough food here for both of us. Tell me a bit about yourself. I like to know someone before I ask something of them." He stated plainly and casually.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

Secretive and shy by nature, Jarmok grew a bit anxious as the Arch-Duke entered his apartment, but his stomach growled noisily almost immediately when the meats' odors assailed his nostrils. He closed the door silently and followed his host into the room.

The bronzewood medallion that Corwynn wore about his thick neck should have put Jarmok at ease, knowing as he did how such a treasure would be granted only to a select, honorable few. But the man could have inherited it, or he might have stolen it outright, for all Jarmok knew.

"Not much tell." Jarmok answered, shrugging. "Was hope to see Kossuth rise, but over mountain." He said, regretting his west-facing window and yearning for his usual morning routine of a pre-dawn trek across Threshold's little valley to his vantage point where he would daily watch the sky lighten over the eastwall. He decided to try to change the conversation.

"Is Sayer have what needed?" He asked. "Much trouble in Threshold, horse man traitor councilors." He supposed that the Arch-Duke must already know these things, but it was more comfortable conversation for Jarmok.
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Wildfire

The duke tried as best he could to decipher Jarmok's limited speech. Recognizing that Jarmok was clearly not of any race he knew of he was curious as to what his native tongue sounded like. What he did know for certain, based on Sayers proclaimed "discrepancy" and Jarmoks immediate mention of it now, was that there was a breach in security that had been established between Kurr and Threshold.

Corwynn took a hunk of meat from the platter along with some cheese and set it on his plate. His mouth began to water as the steam from the meat curled up into his face. Unable to resist the temptation, and seeing no reason to, he carved an oversized piece and quickly shoved it into his mouth. He chased it down with a sip of truffle coffee that he had on the platter with the breakfast.

"Oh...that tastes delicious!" Corwynn exclaimed as looked at Jarmok. "Be sure to get your fill, you'll be glad you did. There's also a cup of truffle coffee here for you if you like."

He considered Jarmok's unease with speaking of his past and decided that perhaps in his own good time that Jarmok would speak more plainly. The least he could do was respect the cat-mans wishes and not press the point. There were other ways to learn of his race.

"There is still time to see Kossuth waken this morning. His birth isn't due for...hrm...at least another hand by my reckoning. I'd be happy to take you to the keeps tallest tower so that you can see it." Corwynn considered another possibility. "Although, if you prefer, we could go beyond the walls of Kurr and watch it without the city below us. We could go after breakfast!" He smiled at this thought because it would surly bother some of the court administrators that he left without a royal escort.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

Jarmok's mouth watered all the more when the Arch-Duke took the large cover off of the food, and his stomach growled noisily. He somewhat timidly took up the plate offered and helped himself to perhaps too much of the meat and cheese - his over-active apatite was larger than usual this morning. It was as good on his tongue as it had been in his nose.

"Is out place good near to see?" He asked. "Tower maybe tomorrow?" He really wanted to be back in the trees just now; the city felt too much like a cage to Jarmok.

He tore at the meat with his teeth and chewed the too-large piece that came off of the larger slab. As he chewed he stuck his nose in the cup that Corwynn indicated; it did indeed smell good, but Jarmok made it a rule to not drink of what the Mahiya did not provide directly. He searched for a pitcher of water.
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Wildfire

Corwynn chewed greedily on his plate of food as he listened to Jarmoks question. He could hear in his mild voice and see the discomfort in his eyes about being in the city. He thought of it as keeping a horse in a stable for too long. He also wondered if jarmok had encountered something volatile in his past that made him wary of a city. Corwynn certainly found Jarmok intriguing. How life was full of surprises!

Seeing that Jarmok was looking for an alternative to the truffle coffee he decided to help the fellow out. "Oh....wait...allow me." The duke stated. His mouth was half filled with meat muffling his words. He hoped Jarmok would understand his words and intention. As he stood up from his chair he took a last big swallow clearing his mouth of food and proceeded to walk over to the side table next to Jarmoks bed to get the pitcher and mug.

"I believe it is a view that you will like. It's out of the city, in amongst the trees, and away from the noise." He said as he brought the pitcher of water over to Jarmok and sat back down. "It's on the water too. Do you know how to ride a horse? We can pack up the food and take it with us" he offered eagerly.

(Wildfire's Note: Kurr is a city on Vallensun Lake in The Forest [embarrassingly enough I have no name for this forest. Suffice it to say it's the biggest forest on my maps]. There is a clear perimeter from the city walls for about a half mile out to the forest itself that is used for farmland. This clearing was created for city construction but also for defensive reasons.)
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

Jarmok watched as the huge man divined the object of Jarmok's desire and accepted the ewer gratefully. "Ung...thank." he said clumsily, as he poured water into the mug. It wasn't good water; it was tepid, having sat out in the room all night (perhaps longer), and it had lost any flavor of the river that it must once have held. In fact, Jarmok realized, it tasted a bit like the city itself.

Normally Jarmok reached for water to wash his mouth after eating; here, it seemed he would have to eat something to wash his mouth after drinking the water. His first thought was that a fruit would likely have the moisture that he'd need for that pallet cleanse, but he realized immediately that the fruit would likely taste like the water, having been raised upon it.

The city was no place for a child of the forest; of this he was more certain than ever. Perhaps there'd be cleaner water at this place where Corwynn proposed to meet Kossuth. With luck, this location would be up stream and not down.

"We go, half hand less?" Jarmok suggested as he took up cheese, half dreading the flavor of it. He was pleasantly surprised by the cheese, however; perhaps, he thought, it was not made inside the city. Perhaps too, the fruit had been grown up stream. "Need dress." He said simply, indicating his travelling gear that lay in a heap on the floor next to his bedroll, where he had obviously slept.
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Wildfire

Cowynn empathized with Jarmok's eagerness to exit the city. He often longed for the same freedom from the city but all too often his responsibilities to affairs of state kept him within the walls. He laughed at himself thinking that if he chose to leave for a hunting trip or some still time that no one was in a reasonable position to stop him. His wife, Nicola, would most likely encourage him to leave. It was his own sense of duty that kept him to stay. While Nicola admired his senses she was likewise frustrated by them for the burden's they would place.

Now with the reports from the outside, not just from the Protectorate, his court needed his attention in many matters. He suspected that this jaunt with Jarmok could well be the last time he'd get out to the field and not be leading a charge of soldiers.

"We can leave as soon as you're able." The duke said. "I'll need to get some travel clothes...maybe some light armor. I don't suspect trouble but you can never tell when some highwaymen might strike and get in a lucky arrow."

Corwynn started to pack up the food, after taking a big a last big bite, and looked at Jarmok. "I'll meet you down in the stables, eh? Feel free to pick out any horse you like...except for mine and my wife's of course. The stable master down there, Erikan, will be able to help you out. Sound okay to you? Don't worry about the food...I'll pack that to take with us."  Jarmok could tell that the man was nearly giddy with excitement!
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

So how long have we been in this place at this point? It seems like the next day, eh? I'm not sure that Jarmok would know the way to the stables, but it'd make for interesting posting on him finding it.

"Hrung...horse is needed?" He asked anxiously, bobbing his head. "Can ride, but not ride...much. Can am fast run, though...run mostly."
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Wildfire

Good question, I hadn't thought of that! This is the following day of having arrived in Kurr. Another perspective is that it's the same day of  "Royal Company", "Once Home", and "Darkening Shadows". Not having lived extensively in a keep or a society with them, it may not be blatantly obvious to Jarmok where the stables are.

Corwynn cocked his head and smiled at Jarmok curiously. How intriguing this individual was! From his look, to his manner, to speaking...it was all so new to the Arch-Duke and he welcomed the opportunity for the difference.

"Far be it for me to make a welcomed guest uncomfortable." The Arch-Duke said with a slight bow. "If to run is what you prefer, then I'll not request otherwise." Corwynn conceded. "How about we meet down at the front gates instead? From there we'll strike out."
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

How high off the ground is this room? Is the window a viable means of exit?
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Wildfire

OOC: The balcony to your room is approximatley 30'-0" above the ground.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity