Rupert Guthery's Quest

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Rooney
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Rupert Guthery's Quest

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A man unassuming in nature comes from the docks of Vanima after disembarking from a tiny dingy looking worn and tired. The ferryman doesn't even offer him a sidelong glance as he rows back to the main vessel anchored some distance from the shore. This new arrival travels from the docks like any newcomer, dazed in wonder and disbelief at the intrinsic beauty that surrounds him. He first attempts to find an inhabitant in the large rustic manor just off the banks, but when he sees no one is home he makes his way to the central runic structure amidst the forest. If you see him from a distance the man travels in a tattered cloak tinged an awful shade of brown but it serves its rudimentary purpose of concealing what is underneath. He does, however, carry a dry rotted bow and quiver short on arrows strapped to his back though a keen eye can easily discern he is no hunter or tracker.

This man is by no means attractive and is plain in every way with an aged face lined in deep crevices. He stands roughly 6'4'' and has a workers build. As he walks along at a leisurely pace his murky brown eyes scan the area for life. After some searching through the main hall he finds a young girl busy at work, but his inept social skills has her quickly returning to her previous engagements and abandoning him for more fruitful pursuits. Left alone to the island once more he continues his search for answers, but after some time he decides to rest near the bizarre structure with a marble platform and four dark columns. By this time his brow is furrowed with sweat and his breathing noticeably uneven. For now he decides to just slump down by the tree and await someone to come to him.

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Re: Rupert Guthery's Quest

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The sun was setting now and the faint candlelights lit by the fairies were not comforting to the unaccustomed visitor. He thought to himself, best to seek shelter. Having a good rest beneath the tree made it easy for the man to get up and move. Yet again he made his way to the main hall seeking someone but also shelter now. Though he was well rested he still walked with a leisurely pace indicating that this was his normal stride regardless of being tired or not. Soon he was in the main hall resting at a table lit by low candlelight.
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Re: Rupert Guthery's Quest

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Taiah walks slowly toward Tol Vanima concentrating fully on the whispered conversation with someone not seen by others yet apparently next to her indicated by the slight turn of her head occasionally as if looking at them directly.

Don't expect him to just be there with the children Caiah, he would send a letter or something to say he was coming don't you think?

Taiah listens again then frowns giving a long sigh of agreement as light steps evince rarely a sound while she glides through the darkened forest knowing each placement of the large trunks automatically having taken the route many times in the past.

Gyn said, just because we received that letter from some foreign General, doesn't mean Anon is dead and I agree. We would have received his personal belongings, maybe that statue we gave him of us that Gyn made, or his coat, something. We need to be patient Caiah.

Obvious disappointment at not seeing the children immediately upon entrance to the hall is replaced by curiousity and some trepidation when Taiah glances toward the main meeting room and spies the unrecognized human sitting alone. With protection of her family foremost in mind, her steps veer in his direction.

Greetings Sir, I don't believe I have seen you before?

Immediately wishing she could take back the blurted words not as friendly as anticipated, the barest blush forms on her face as she whispers to Caiah.

Quit chuckling, I never said you weren't rubbing off on me and where are the children?
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Re: Rupert Guthery's Quest

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Quite far from the meeting hall in Tol Vanima, a girl worked her pick-axe between chunks of inky black coal, working the valuable pieces free from the rock walls. Her blue dress, perhaps once nice, was now covered in soot and dirt and was now just a tad too small for her. Her hands, perhaps once delicate, are now calloused with dirty fingernails. She hummed to herself and her mule as she scrutinized a particularly challenging piece of coal by the light of her torch burning behind her. It had been nearly three years since she'd arrived in Gobaith, and she felt so completely at home. Even the dark mine she spent most of her waking hours (and all of her nights) in felt utterly comfortable to her. She could tell by the pack animal's agitated shuffling that it was just about quitting time.

"Alright Lucy," she said to the mule. "I'm tired too. We can head back to town and you can sleep in the stalls tonight, how about that?" The mule nudged her, eager to be off.

She glared once more at the piece of coal she'd been working on, and then turned to pack her bags. It would still be there tomorrow, she decided. She wiped her hands on her dress, slid her pick-axe into a strap on her belt, and lead the mule slowly out of the mine. Sure enough the sun had set and the wind coming in off the mountains to the north was chilly, though it felt good on her sweat-slicked skin. She made her way into the sleeping settlement of Varshikar, past the castle and the fountain to where the mules were stabled. She bid her mule goodnight and gave her some apple cores before heading back to the mine to find a small corner to sleep in.

"Sicily," a voice called behind her as she stepped back out into the night.
"Yes?" she asked as she turned.
"You forgot your deposit," Scara said and handed the girl 2 silver pieces.
"Oops. Thanks, Scara. Take good care of Lucy for the night?"
The stable mistress simply nodded her head and Sicily, though her muscles ached with the strain of working in the mines all that afternoon, skipped happily back to the dark mine. Once it was warmer she reasoned she would sleep out under the stars, but until summer came she was content to curl up inside her cave.
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Post by Rooney »

Rupert had only been left to his thoughts for a few seconds when he heard two soft voices speaking nearby. In relation to his seated position at the eastern edge of a library sectional they were just beyond an ivy laced pillar obstructing his view. In nearly forty years of life he'd never heard voices such as these nor the language they were speaking. For the briefest of moments he couldn't help marvel at the varying melodic beauty inherent in both. Instinctively, however, he felt a rush of panic that quickly overcame any curiosities he might have had. He was in a foreign land after all, and coupled with the fact that he was a cautious person by nature he was taking no chances. As he made to move two things happened almost simultaneously: one of his chair legs gingerly scuffed the marble flooring and before he could so much as lift his bottom from the seat a green eyed person flowed into his peripheral.

Unsure of what he saw Rupert snaps his head to the right hoping to find nothing, but to his dismay the green eyed being was standing there staring at him. Rupert couldn't quite place the origin of this person, but one thing was for sure it was not human, teenage nobles didn't even have that kind of complexion. Unnerved and taken aback by this being's presence Rupert was stunned into silence trying to extract something from his feeble brain that could explain what he was seeing. As his mind raced for an answer the green eyed one spoke.

"Greetings."

His voice was friendly, disarming Rupert thought, but where was his friend? Before he could conclude his counterpart was going to try and flank from behind he saw her glide behind the green eyed one's back. How could they move like that? Sweat was now starting to bead around his brow and trickle along the untamed stubble of his cheeks. Somehow he knew they could kill him before his next breath if they so desired. Just as he mustered the courage to speak his murky brown eyes caught sight of their pointy ears, and an image immediately popped into his head. They were elves of this he was sure now, but they didn't look like that crude image he saw on that wanted poster several years back. In Albar these creatures were mainly slaves, but Rupert had never actually seen one in the flesh before. All he had to reference was that fiendish etched drawing that made them look more impish and evil.

These creatures, however, were bold and striking like immortal gods, and Rupert's mortal eyes couldn't discover a single flaw. He felt hopelessness before these two, like he did before his Lord Penry, and resolved himself to show respectful humility.

† Rupert's subtlety played to his advantage amidst the kindness of the elves. Though they shared little in common their discussion was as friendly as it was enlightening. By the end of their thought provoking interlude Rupert found sanctuary in the home of the elves, and both parties left in peace on their separate ways. †
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

† Later that evening... †

Though he tried to sleep out of habit he was not in the least bit surprised when his reoccurring dream once again had him waking in a cold sweat. Midnight, why always at midnight? He groaned at the crescent moon trying to shake his head free of the decrepit old woman's face he'd met too many months ago to remember. What a creepy bitch he thought. Still she was the only person that was able to give him a lead on Sicily's whereabouts. He knew it was wrong and punishable by death to use or partake in the forsaken arts of magic, but he did it anyway. He took the easy route, the shameful route, but if it led to his daughter so be it. One good thing about the reoccurring dream was that it always brought him back to that crystal ball where he saw his Sicily in that dainty blue dress. Far better than anything he could ever give her she swirled around in it merrily. Oh how he wished he could just turn around and leave her be.

Unfortunately, that was not how the world worked, and he was a man without means to fix it or change it for righteousness. Therefor, he would do whatever it took to regain some semblance of life for his family as a whole. Letting Sicily live in freedom would mean that his wife and him were good as dead. Then in all likelihood Emily would be ruined, alone with her arrogant new husband. His hope, however, was that Lord Penry would show mercy to Sicily, like he was shown, and all would be well with his family. This of course hinged on him actually finding Sicily and bringing her back of which he was not fully convinced he could pull off. Nonetheless, if he had one trait worthy of this task it was his resiliency to see things through. That had gotten him this far and would propel him further even onto death if need be.

Getting a few more hours of shuteye was not an option at this point so he decided to find a nice place to think and plan till daylight. He decided on the main hall with the long table and chairs for it had plenty of room to completely unfold his map. He sat there for gods know how long working, planning, and mumbling to himself till he was startled straight out of his seat by the elfess' arrival. Barely able to keep the chair from taking him over he rocked forward causing the chair to crash back against the marble to its original spot. In unison to his sporadic recovery a wallow of obscenities flies from his mouth before he can stop them.

"Shit! Adron! Lord! Save ma soul!" No sooner than the words come from his mouth embarrassment shoots across his face as he quickly tries to backtrack, "Miss, ma'am, f'give ma foul mouth no s-such words f'r a lady nor rightly ta take ma Lord's name in vain! B-beg ya not ta be too offended. Now whatcha say? Some'n bout n'er see'n me be'fer. Well guess yee'd be righ' bou' tha since I just arrived last night. Lass named D-deanna say I'd be welcome ta stay tha night, but don' ya worry I'll be take'n tha ferry once tha s-sun shows."

Feeling he's said too much, which is not something he is accustomed to doing especially around strangers, he suddenly falls silent. He tries to offer up a weak smile to the inquiring elfess, but it soon falls away leaving his solemn expression.
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Re: Rupert Guthery's Quest

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Taiah's slightly startled expression as the man appeared to wrestle with his chair was quickly replaced by a small giggle before politely listening to his explanation. As tall as most elves with silver eyes framing a friendly face while long silver hair cascaded down her back almost reaching her boots, Taiah's expression and demeanor was less imposing then some elves due to her background and frequent exposure to humans. Giving the man a warm smile and satisfied he was no threat to her children, Taiah nods already distracted as searching gaze turns toward the forest then brightens considerably seeing a young boy and girl just outside the door leading to the garden. Managing to formulate a quick reply..

I bid you welcome to Tol then Sir.

..Taiah's feet already take her toward the children unable to contain her excitement any longer.
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Re: Rupert Guthery's Quest

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Rupert was beginning to wonder why so many people in Albar hated elves, but he could certainly see why they feared them. No doubt they could probably slit your throat without alarm, but from what he'd seen they were quite pleasant and generous people. Not knowing what else to say to the elfess he politely nods and smiles, though it may be dull to most. Being no means smart Rupert can still tell that the elfess is distracted by something having seen the same look in his wife's eyes for so many years. So he took the opportunity to fold his map and tuck it away safely in his bag and turned to look at the sun rising. It was time and he didn't hesitate to leave just as the elfess ran to her children. Till next time he thought hustled off toward the harbor.
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A Lead

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The day's journey to Troll's Bane was not as long as he expected it to be, but he still found himself rather tired when he reached the busy workshop. The town looked much like his hometown minus the high stone walls that were not necessary so close to the capital city of Albar. Half expecting the inhabitants to be the same as well, Rupert decided to avoid interfering with people's business till he was more acclimated with their customs. Fortunately, a sudden spring shower gave him the perfect opportunity to rest and observe these freemen of Troll's Bane beneath the cover of a blossoming cherry tree. To his complete and utter surprise, however, a stranger just a few paces away promptly addressed him before the droplets of rain had half a chance to soak.

The man garbed in a dull green cloak had noticed his dry rotted bow and for whatever reason decided to give him a brand new one. Besides a few items owned by his Lord Penry, Rupert had never held a finely crafted ware like this let alone actually own it. Bewildered by such a display of kindness Rupert had no idea how to respond or act, and though he thanked the man Rupert felt it would never be enough. For sometime after that they talked and the man he came to know as Torian willingly helped Rupert till he was short on time. They said their farewells and now the gorgeous bow lays safely in Rupert's depot awaiting to be used or sold.

After Torian's departure Rupert wandered around the city refocused on his task to find Sicily. As the day stretched on he went to-and-fro and back again across the entire city trying to track her down. He was just about to give up and find a place to setup camp when yet another elf decided to lend aid. Not just any aid either, this elf knew a name. Sicily.

"South gate, she left through tha south gate." Rupert kept mumbling to himself as he tried to hustle past his exhaustion. When he finally busted through the south gate he somehow figured she'd be twirling around in that blue dress like she was in that crystal ball but alas she was not. All he could see was a lizardman hunting his beloved food source, fish. Rupert called out hopelessly to the lizard to see if he had seen a girl that looked like Sicily. He had not and Rupert knew it would be useless to search much longer as the sun was beginning to set. Still hopeful that Sicily might return to town before night fall Rupert hastily made camp just outside the south gate.

Impossible to miss, a small campfire safely smolders within the confines of a stone circle just off the path leading to the bridge of Troll's bane. There a man sits alone for a while till his eyelids get too heavy to hold open and he passes out on his rag-tag pallet. He's by no means a rich man nor does he carry anything of considerable wealth, but he is vulnerable to both the elements and vagabonds alike. Careless fool, will he even make it through the night?
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Rupert wasn't much of a dreamer at night, but when he awoke the next day to find the formerly empty field about his camp covered in full grown cherry trees he thought otherwise. Since he'd passed out stone cold sober he was positive they weren't there the night before. In several ways he tried to wake himself all failing worse than the last: pinching, splashing water on his face, and even a good stomp to the foot. Finally he concluded that it had to be some form of magic a person used to try and scare Rupert. Well it worked and Rupert was left on edge for the remainder of the day, and what a day it turned out to be.

Picking up the search for his daughter Rupert could once again be found about town lurking here and wandering there. He came across several choice characters along the way that helped pass the time but none that would aid in his ultimate goal. The first he met was a nice elfish looking woman that wanted to sell some wares. Though he was silverless she engaged him with friendliness and polite conversation. She even gave him a few things out of the kindness of her heart without asking for payment. The best of the lot was a strange dagger that he was very thankful for having in case he ever got into a tight spot. When they eventually had to go their separate ways Rupert truly thought he had made a new friend but little could he know of circumstance and perspective.

Upon their second meeting, later in the day, both those things had changed and brought out an uglier side of life. Not the ugliest side of mortal nature but their conversation certainly changed the instant she found out Rupert was Albarian. Truth be told she had been enslaved by Albarians before her arrival on Gobaith, and whether it was a cruel twist of fate or the divine interference of Nargùn she unknowingly found herself being nice to one. Not even the public forum outside the workshop could contain her fury as she berated him about the subject of slavery. Though Rupert could be consider by most a slave he did not recognize himself as that nor had he ever really thought about the topic so answering her was not the easiest of tasks. To him life was simple and everyone had their place appointed by the gods. Rupert couldn't understand any other way of life that made sense and felt hopeless as she yelled at him for answers that he could not give.

In the end the frustrated elfish woman stormed off leaving Rupert behind with the people staring at him. If there was one thing Rupert hated most it was public exposure or ridicule and having it done in a new place was the last thing he wanted. Driven from town by his embarrassment Rupert desperately wished he had a stout drink. Instead he had to settle for making camp again because he lacked even a single copper to spare. Fortune, however, was once again on his side when a young woman by the name of Orioli approached him. By the end of their conversation Rupert was beginning to believe why people called this island the Isle of Hope for she had offered him a farming job. Although he couldn't be sure if she did so out of pity or actual need Rupert was still thankful, and she even said she would provide him the grain and seed if he came with her.

Eager to get some coin for a real meal and a pint of mead Rupert undoubtedly agreed. What became the real shocker was finding out that this benign woman was actually a lord of some land to the north of Troll's Bane. Figuring that she was just a daughter or wife to the actual lord he deemed it worthy to show her equal respect. Still he'd never met a noble quite like Orioli before given her generosity and overall helpfulness. Somewhere deep inside him he wished that his lords back home were capable of such decency. After receiving the grain and the seeds Rupert was determined to get the job done and headed toward the south fields to keep near his original campsite.

Day after day Rupert can be seen sowing the rich fertile land with only a hungry halfling to keep him company. Quiet in his work, patient in his pursuit, perhaps one day over the horizon he'll see her coming. Till then he'll work and pray.
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Re: Rupert Guthery's Quest

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The days were starting to run together and still no sign of Sicily. Although he was used to manual labor he was certainly not accustom to multitasking. Ever so often a traveler would pass his fields, and he would have to stop working to try and question them about his daughter. Most gave him nothing but the ones that did, he was finding it hard to keep track of their testimonies. After a chance meeting with a halfling that railed out a handful of scenarios in town Rupert decided it was time to start writing these things down. He'd never really had to write that much nor did he like to, but gods was he thankful now, for the first time, that his mother had insisted he learn. So this is his first entry he jotted down with the help of Troll's Bane librarian, Eltareon.
2nd of Ushos Year 34

Don't no if I shud trust this haffer or not but he sez he's hurd of Sicily befour. Sez I shud chek Varshk (*word is scratched out*) varshikar and tha elf iland. After tha sun sets and rizis uhginn i'll make to Varshikar to see if she is ther.


*signed* Rupert
To keep the letters safe the librarian gives Rupert an old book to so he can place them between the pages. So should you cross paths with Rupert it is likely he will be carrying the old book or perhaps quietly writing his next entry.
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Second Entry

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7 Siros year 34

Been in varkar vashkar varshikar for weeks now no cen Sicily. keep wurkinn tha feelds and praa she shO.

*signed* Rupert
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Re: Rupert Guthery's Quest

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Sicily shielded her eyes from the afternoon sun as she looked up at the sky. Her mule nudged her, and she stepped out of the way so he could drink from the water that ran by the entrance to the Varshikar mines. It was a cloudless day, and she let the clean air of spring fill her lungs.

She bent beside the mule and washed her hands and face in the cold water. She smiled at her rippling reflection, seeing a young woman in charge of herself. With the promise of more money to be made, she'd been spending every day and night in the mines, coming out only to fish and clean herself up. It was exhausting, running her own life, but rewarding at the same time.

"You stay here," she said to the mule, who seemed to be all too happy to do so. "I'ma go fishing for supper, and if you do as I say and sty over here I'll bring you some fruit!" The mule lazily munched on grass as Sicily moved off down the water a ways where the mule wouldn't be disturbing the fishes. She set her bag down and set up a neat little fire. She strung up her fishing line and casually thrust it out into the water. She was getting to be pretty good at finding more than worn old boots, and her stomach grumbled at the thought of roasted salmon. It certainly was a pretty day to be sitting out in the sun, relaxing after a few days of hard labor.

She was completely unaware that her father had come looking for her, nor that he'd gotten as close as he had. It certainly wouldn't be long, if he stayed in Varshikar, before they crossed paths. Varshikar was her home, and she felt welcome there, so she had no cause to think she would need to be wary of anything at all.
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Re: Rupert Guthery's Quest

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After spending nearly the entire day mining and smelting her ores into ingots to sell, Sicily went looking for her fine smithing hammer but could not find it. She decided that, since she had to go to Troll's Bane anyway (something she hated to do), she may as well see if Leon could make her a new one. She put up her mule and grabbed a handful of silver coins from her depot before taking the teleporter to Bane.

She loved taking the teleporter from town to town. Magic was so fascinating to her.

Feeling a spring in her step, she went first to the depot at the arena knowing that Irania was often there. She wasn't all that disappointed to find it empty, but as she was getting ready to leave Leon happened to be walking in the door. He agreed to make her a new fine smithing hammer, and he showed her that he owned Garon's Smithy. She was very impressed that he bought that nice building and lived in it. With her new hammer for goldsmithing, she said goodbye to her friend and went into Bane in search of Irania. At the workshop in town she encountered something, or someone, she hadn't expected.

Someone that knew her father.

Sicily was suddenly terrified, her vision seemed to swirl with colors and she thought she might faint. It was how she'd always imagined fainting would feel, but as she stood there waiting to fall on the ground or whatever happened when you fainted to happen, the swirling colors subsided. She stared at the woman, stuttering that she must have made a mistake. This woman she'd never met before had recognized her, knew her name, and asked her if she'd seen her father. To say that she was stunned would be an understatement. Sicily was visibly shaking, her fists trembling as the woman described the man to her. It just couldn't be real! It had to be a nightmare, a really, really bad dream. She was overcome with urgency to get back to Varshikar and hide in her precious mines, but she felt numb all over her body and for some reason she couldn't stop her hands from shaking. Irania stood there with her, but Sicily hardly paid any attention to what they were trading or how much she was paying. She was just going through the motions, the glee over her lovely new fine smithing hammer vanished, replaced with fear and uncertainty. She couldn't imagine how he'd found her after so long. She'd been careful, and she'd even changed her last name! She wanted to run, but she figured that if he could find her here in this remote part of the world he would probably be able to find her anywhere.

The woman apologized for scaring her, and Sicily nodded her forgiveness. At least she thought she had. She wasn't really sure what she was doing or saying right at that moment. When Irania said she didn't need anything else, Sicily made a quick escape. She ran out of Troll's Bane as fast as her legs could carry her.

Feeling hopelessly alone and rather scared for her very life, Sicily took the teleporter back to Varshikar and found no joy in the experience as she usually did. She watched the streets in every direction with a new-found fear as she trudged along, the sun slowly sinking beyond the horizon. He could be around any corner, in any doorway, she thought. She tried to do some work, but found she couldn't keep her mind on what she was doing.

It was only a matter of time until he caught up with her. What was she supposed to do now?
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Tippler on the point.

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† Sometime deep into the hold of Ronas, Rupert awoke from a self-imposed obliteration. Rather needless to say, but ever so entertaining to recant, his reemergence came with much pain and irksome discomfort. Our setting, as one might say, falls beneath the midsummer's sun in a small desert town called Varshikar. Rupert's ill-suited shelter behind the stockyard has been purged by the sun's rays and adds the flame to this heap of a Gynkese fire. †

This must be hell, Rupert concluded to himself. How else could he feel so much pain on the inside and out? Everything was a blur and constantly surging with physical nausea. Each time he tried to open his eyes they were met with burning searing light, and he quickly abandoned that pursuit. His limbs, head, and torso must be comprised of lead and moving them felt impossible. With the constant inset of pain it wasn't long before Rupert was screaming at the top of his lungs for all of Varshikar, Kumdah, and beyond to hear. This went on at some length before his face was met with a sunbaked stream of mucky water and a disgruntled order,

"Sha' tha fack up, ye drunk'n b'sterd!"

Between his drowning gasps for air he denoted the voice was distinctly feminine and forced his eyes open once more. At first, his heart surged joyously seeing the lone silhouette out of focus— roughly the same shape and size as Sicily. Alas, when his vision refocused he found a blue eyed lass with more angular features than his commonly daughter. Still he was relieved to know death hadn't taken him, and he wasn't burning somewhere in the afterlife. Recovering, however, didn't come so swiftly nor did the remembrance of his plight. While he was quite certain that alcohol was the root cause; surviving his current predicament took precedence over everything else.

Unfortunately, he would have to do this alone because the young lass with the bucket was clearly not in the mood for his antics and went off to warn the other townfolk. Not wanting to cause trouble Rupert summoned some reserve of strength, got up, and covered his head shamefully with his hood. Using the support of the stone stable he made his way toward the well hoping some fresh water would aid in his recovery. Sadly, it was of no use once he got there because he couldn't keep anything down. Resolved to wait it out Rupert spent the remainder of the day wandering around the town trying to work the alcohol out of his system. On several occasions he tried to stop and sit or lie down, but each attempt at rest only amplified his nausea and dizziness. So for the time being Varshikar has a new town drunk, head downcast, and covered in a soiled cloak. You may see him wandering here or there and knocking over this and that.
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Re: Rupert Guthery's Quest

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As soon as her father was out of sight, she turned to the opposite direction and rand. She ran long and hard, splashing across creeks and scrambling over boulders, pushing herself to exhaustion without a care as to where she was headed. All she knew was that she had to get away. She stopped running when she could no longer catch her breath, when her tears had dried and left dirty streaks down her cheeks and neck. She was surrounded by strange foliage and unfamiliar territory, but she did not care. She let herself fall to the ground and covered her head with her arms, sobbing in frustration.

Her father was, as usual, stubborn as an ox. She knew he would never understand, and she never expected him to show up in her new home. She knew he would see things with his narrow view, that he'd never be able to grasp the larger picture of why she'd run away and how she felt about life.

To her, life was sacred. It was something she was positive a person only got one of. She didn't know how she knew it, but Sicily felt it deep inside her and she knew she was right. She would never go back to being a slave. She couldn't bring herself to live that way again, not after having seen the world the way she had. Rupert's restricted idea of life wasn't life at all, and she tried to make him see that there was so much more. What she left home wondering, Sicily was now 100% sure of: she deserved everything she could give herself and not a hair less. She knew, too, that were her family to open their eyes they would see that they could deserve to make more for themselves as well.

As the tears gushed forth in a torrent of anger and despair, Sicily thought of her little sister who had always been so accepting and knowing. Surely Emily would understand, she'd always been so smart for her age and her sex. Emily was the one person in all the world she knew she could count on to be understanding and rational. There was no going back for Sicily. There could never be any going back to Albar. She wasn't even sure now that she could ever return to Varshikar, not with the possibility that her father may try to take her home by force. That was always a possibility, and Sicily wasn't sure she could take that chance. She wasn't sure she was ready to take that chance.

She curled up under a low branched pine whose bows sheltered her from the late day sun. She cried and cried until she couldn't cry anymore, and fell asleep feeling more alone and misunderstood than ever she had in her life.
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Rooney
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Expectations

Post by Rooney »

Somehow he thought by finding Sicily everything would fall into place and order would be restored to his life. In truth, he couldn't be farther from reality. He'd forgotten just how stubborn she could be and nothing went smoothly. Like two mountain goats their ideals clashed head to head with no one giving ground till exhaustion set in. Needless to say when the end finally came it wasn't on good terms and both of their tempers were raging out of control. He'd done his best to keep a level head, but she'd said too many unforgivable and ungrateful things to merit good faith. As far as he was concerned she was no longer part of his family, and the decision to choose was no longer a difficult one to make. ((For understanding you need to read: http://illarion.org/community/us_charpr ... d=5f7be844))

In all honesty, if the other half of his family didn't hang in the balance he'd leave this isle never to return and let Sicily live in peace forevermore. Unfortunately, none such solution could be reached and Rupert was left with one simple alternative, take Sicily by force. He wanted to avoid such a barbaric tactic but, winning over Sicily at this point was not going to happened. He'd played his hand, and she'd called his bluff. With anger's rationality reassuring his decision paternal sentiment was nonexistent at least for the time being. With Varshikar clearly left in the dusk it was time to return to Troll's Bane and find a way to make more coin and hone his plan.
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Quinasa
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Re: Rupert Guthery's Quest

Post by Quinasa »

Sicily eventually found her way back to Varshikar but only timidly entered town after the sun had gone down and there was no one in sight. She lived on the outskirts of the community now, out of the way, never going near anyone. Her mining orders were left untouched and she never entered the mine. She was far too scared. Sometimes she crept up to the stables to give her favorite mules some of the apples she was living on, and for some form of company. She found she even missed her friend Jimmy who often got on her nerves, but she dared not look for him lest he let slip her whereabouts. Her food stores were depleted, and she didn't know who to trust or where to go.

One day while hiding she came up with an idea. She found some scrap of parchment and took a piece of charcoal in her pocket, and she began to write a letter. It was more of a note, really, and very poorly written one at that. Her spelling and reading abilities were basic at best, as she only learned her letters in her travels after leaving her family behind. Women weren't allowed to learn to read and write where she came from. It took her a good portion of the day to write the letter, and she waited until after dark to sneak into Varshikar to leave it on a table, addressed to a "Mestr Leeon", where someone would find it and hopefully send it on its way.

-----

It was many, many days before she received a reply, and Sicily worried that the letter would never find its destination. When she finally received a letter from a small critter she was in awe of the red ink. She could hardly make out any of the words, her reading capabilities were so poor, and she fussed over it for yet more days. She deduced who it was from, her friend Mister Leon, but most of it was scribble to her. She fretted, not knowing exactly what it said or how she would ever find out if she didn't trust anyone to read it to her. She thought about sending him another letter to let him know she'd gotten his but couldn't read it, but she thought it was pointless. Anything he sent back would be just as impossible to read.

The weather was getting colder and Sicily had little to no supplies or clothes to wear against the chilling winds from the north. She felt scared and alone so much so that she hardly slept, and she was practically at the very end of her sanity. She jumped at every noise and shadow. She cringed at the sores in her mouth that came from eating only the acidic fruits that came from the apple and cherry trees that were slowly going dormant.

She was a child on the verge of giving up.
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