Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Weeks passed in Lodan and with the coming season change grew the Huntsman's excitement--though there was the disappointment in knowing that climbing the city's structures would become more perilous due to moisture in the air. However, that did not stop him from going out everyday and climbing to put every detail of the city's layout to memory. Several times while out on his previous scouting he had seen another figure in the distance doing the same but he had always been far from where Kalum was and so he had not chased after. Today was different though. If he saw the figure again, he would pursue to see who else was crazy enough to be out there. His thoughts were soon interrupted as he reached the roof of one of the buildings in the Merchant's district and paused to catch his breath. He'd been hoping from roof to roof for hours now and no sign of the person. Perhaps it was time to stop.
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Sept 14, 2015 5:54:11 GMT
Danny was crouched on the gantry of one of the taller buildings in Lodan. Probably one of Amon's warehouses... the boy'd just finished his latest delivery and was taking a breather to eat a bite of lunch before getting back to work. Or... that was the plan until he spotted his apparent shadow. There weren't many people who used the rooftops, so he was pretty sure the fellow who'd just come up was the person darting around the rooftops. Now that he was closer, Danny got a good look at him. Tall. Lanky. Monster of a bow and arms like an ape.
Time to meet the neighbors. Danny wrapped her sandwich back in the cloth she carried it in and hopped down from the overhang on the building above the man's. With the quiet clatter of practice rather than the heavy thud of gravity, Danny landed near the guy and spoke up from behind his scarf. "Whatcha doin' up 'ere? Ain' 'cause'a the view, tha's fer sure."
Post by Kalum Wulfgang on Sept 14, 2015 6:04:07 GMT
In his pause to catch his breath, he had removed his water skin from his hip and crouched to take a drink after scanning the rooftops. The thud beside him and the voice made him drop the water skin in favor of removing the knife from his boot to whip out in order to protect himself though he had restrained himself from immediately slashing out. Doing so at everything that moved would be bad given the amount of times Gwen used to try and sneak up on him. Seeing the boy, he let out a sigh and went to grab the now nearly empty water skin but he did not abandon the knife. "Afternoon," he said slowly as he eyed over the lad. This definitely had to be the figure he saw... but he was so -small-. And if he were to guess, this lad was younger than Eric. Possibly fourteen at the oldest?
Despite the start, he offered the water skin forward. "Actually, the view is something I love to climb these roof tops for," he replied with a half smile that was riddled with his exhaustion. "...You're the one I keep seeing up here, aren't you," it was a statement more than a question. "What are you doing up here?"
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Sept 14, 2015 6:12:07 GMT
Knife. Got it. As soon as Danny saw the glint of metal he jumped up and backwards, away from the man, and landed a good five feet away. What kind of power thighs did the boy have? Who knows. Must be all that climbing. Danny crouched down away from Kalum and eyed him warily. "Then ya should see the view from Devil's Pike, up thattaway. 'specially when the sun's settin'." Danny stood and brushed himself off, only to realize in his leap backwards he'd crushed his sandwich. Darn.
"Keep it, Stretch. Gotta feelin' ya ain' nearly as in shape as I am. M'name's Danny Ravensdale, owner an' operator'a Raven's Flock Deliv'ry Services. This place, these rooftops, they're 'ow I'm the fastest deliv'ry service in the city. Ain' even a motorbike tha' can beat my times."
Post by Kalum Wulfgang on Sept 14, 2015 6:19:25 GMT
The knife went back to its place in his boot and then he capped his flask to return back to his thighs as he returned to squatting with his forearms resting on his thighs. "Danny Ravensdale? Tis a pleasure to meet you," came his reply with a bow of his head. He hadn't bothered to contest the idea of the kid being more in shape than he was. Who knew after all. Perhaps even with all of his physical training the kid might be more fit. He doubted it, but never underestimate was what he'd been taught.
"Pardon me for the knife, Danny. You caught me unaware. I am Kalum. Devil's Pike? I am afraid I am unsure of how to get there but I will take your word for it that the sight is a must see. Delivery service?" Was that really how he was getting by? The huntsman took a glance around him at the city and smiled as he turned his attention back to the lad before him. "You are smart to utilize these rooftops as a resource then. Few take them for granted for what they have to offer. Truthfully, I had meant to ask you why you were up here. I suppose now I know. I must inform you, however, that you should be cautious. With martial law, they might take you being up here as suspicious."
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Sept 14, 2015 6:26:47 GMT
Danny looked at the man and nodded. "S'all good Stretch. If I were bothered by ever'one tha' pulled a knife on me, I wouldn'a gotten my work offa the ground. See, I come from the 'ovel. Tryin'a get outta there... mebbe save up fer a nice spot in Central Square. But I ain' never cheated nobody, an' I ain' never spent a coin I didn' earn." Danny stood up and unwrapped his sandwich.
"'course I'm smart. Ya folks wit the nice lives an' cozy 'ouses don' think it, but each'a the folks tha' makes it through a day in the 'ovel's a lot smarter'n ya think we are. Least... those'a us still left. EIRAL was comin' through no' too long ago an' my mate Andy's six feet in'a ground now. Kid was only fourteen're fifteen. Least we think 'e was... ain' nobody really know's 'ow old they are when yer parents're the streets. But those bullies in blue was comin' through muckin' up lives tha're barely 'eld t'gether as is... So I ain' worried 'bout gettin' caught up 'ere. Ain' nowhere those bloodthirsty beasties won' be tryin' ta gut me anyways."
Post by Kalum Wulfgang on Sept 14, 2015 6:36:08 GMT
"How admirable of you," he commented softly as he glanced Danny over. He understood his plight well enough. Although his life hadn't been miserable and poor, there was a justified reason why his skin was so bruised beneath his eyes to which he now rubbed with a forefinger and thumb. "Ah, no, I do not live in Central Square and can guarantee you I am not one of them. I am not even of this city," he chortled, shoulders raising slightly with the motion before settling once more. "Like you, my life was not easy, but I am thankful that it was also not as hard. Sometimes I think we fail to realize that. Come, sit for a moment, Danny."
Kalum had been enjoying the conversation with the other until the talk of hovel went back to the day that he and his other brothers and sister had raided it. The mirth in his face drained as he clenched his teeth and a slight tick made itself present in his jaw as he looked down at his hands. They were stained and he was guilty, but he was doing his job. Despite that he kept telling himself that, he knew the guilt was still there. "I am sorry for your friend," he replied back barely above a whisper after a moment of silence then looked up at Danny. "Good people do bad things when led by a corrupted man." What he spoke was treason, but regardless, he had been there and he had seen the way Alistair cut down the innocent. He hated anders, certainly, but even Kalum knew that there were laws to be followed.
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Sept 14, 2015 6:43:58 GMT
Danny wandered over and sat down before tearing his meager sandwich in half and offering it to Kalum. "A'righ' mate, we can chat." He took a bite from his half of the sandwich and settled more comfortably where he was. "Tha' ain' true, mate. All'a those murderers tha' were in the 'ovel? Even if they didn' like it, they did it. They ain' good people. My advice to ya, as someone tha's lived in the city 'is 'ole life? Stay away from EIRAL. They ain' nothin' but trouble an' 'eadache fer people tha' ain' got much to live with anyways. If they did their job right, half'a the fats cats livin' up 'round the Queen's Palace'd be in chains. But tha's where their money comes from, an' EIRAL ain' nothin' more'n a business ta make the rich richer, an' keep the poor down in the mud."
Danny chewed and swallowed before continuing. "Don' be sorry fer Andy. People're dyin' all the time down there... Andy was jus' nicer'n most. 'course it 'elps 'avin' someone like me 'round ta pull yer backside outta the fires when ya get in too deep, but 'e was a good kid. Never treated nobody diff'rent an' was always tryin' ta share wha' little stuff 'e 'ad. But 'e's gone, an' more'll be followin' 'im soon 'nough. I'm just 'opin' tha' someone does somethin' 'bout all'a this."
Post by Kalum Wulfgang on Sept 14, 2015 6:54:06 GMT
The sandwich was waved away with a slight shake of his head and a gesture of his hand. "I am good, thank you." The sight of it did make him aware to his mild hunger but he would eat later since it was more likely that he could manage a meal than the boy. After all, he was paid well by the very people that this boy was berating. In a way, it wounded him to hear the boy talk but he could not blame him and so he did not stop him from doing so. "The city really is different from the countryside isn't it," he reflected out loud then sighed. No wonder the Exarch hated this place so much. They went against every ideology he had when it came to the protection of the people. Was that perhaps why the old man had been so hesitant when he had approached him for a motion of transfer? Then what had made him decide to let him come?
There was no other way Kalum could get around it. Alistair Malak would have to die. He'd thought as much as soon as he'd seen the manner in which he handled that mob... but he could do nothing of it then. No, this would need tact and planning. He'd need allies. "Then, perhaps it is time for a change for the City, is it not? I change of leadership and a move of power from those who currently have it," was all he replied as he looked down at the city below. Would Andronikos perhaps side with him? The giant did not seem too fond of him, no... but what if he won him over? Yes, he'd have to try.
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Sept 14, 2015 7:03:03 GMT
Danny shrugged and took a bite out of the rejected sandwich half as well. "Wait, yer a bumpkin? One'a them yokels from outta town? Well dang, why didn' you say so earlier?" Danny laughed at the man and took another bite of his sandwich. He listened to Kalum's talk and shrugged. "Tha' ain' gonna 'appen, bud. No' wit' tha' snake'a a man in charge'a the boys in blue. Guy b'fore 'im was pretty good. Decent kinda man. Last October there was a murderer goin' 'round whackin' Anders, an' Faolan used 'imself as bait ta try an' lure the killer out. I know the man's innocent 'cause I was 'elpin' 'im track the killer. But then tha' monster Malak came an' framed 'im. Real good, too. Got under Faolan's skin an' goaded the ex-Commander inta attackin' 'im. Not sure 'ow."
Danny munched on his sandwich before continuing. "Anyways, Malak's gotta good 'old on EIRAL now. 'least it looks tha' way... but some folks were blowin' up their 'eadquarters a while ago, an' rumor 'as it tha' Faolan Skye's 'scaped rather'n dyin' in the 'splosion. I think it migh' be possible... an' I think the folks tha' did it're the same folks tha' blew up this underground lab 'couple months ago. 'pparently the lab was 'sperimentin' on Anders, tryin' ta turn em inta weapons're somethin'. But if tha's true, then Skye's got some strong friends, an' Malak should be scared. 'specially 'cause nobody really knows nothin' 'bout this group goin' 'round doin' this stuff."
Post by Kalum Wulfgang on Sept 14, 2015 7:17:42 GMT
"Aye, I'm from out of the city." At being told he should have mentioned so sooner, he had to chuckle. "Would me having been from out of the city made any difference? I am curious if that is the case." As their conversation continued, Kalum continued to nod along as Danny explained the incident regarding the ex-high command. Of course, rumors were rumors and he was getting all of this information from a kid so how could he be certain if any of this was true? However, if it was true then that meant his current high commander was indeed a criminal. Although something bothered the raven haired soldier. This boy was helping? What could this boy have to do with anything? Why? Who exactly was he?
There was a lot more to this than the boy let on, he suspected but had no way of being certain. "You would be surprised what a bunch of like minded people could do against those in power, Danny. Have you heard of the country of Bulrush? They recently had a revolutionary war, I hear. Overthrew their government. I am not saying that is what the people of this city should do. However, if this monster truly is leading EIRAL, perhaps he should be removed. Accidents happen in the chaos of battle, you know. Those people you spoke of. I don't suppose you have any way of knowing where one might find them?"
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Sept 14, 2015 7:29:18 GMT
Danny tilted his head at the man. "'course knowin' you were a bumpkin woulda changed things. Here I been talkin' at ya like ya know what the devil's goin' on in the city." Danny took another bite of his sandwich and listened to the talk about Bulrush. Where in the world was Bulrush? The boy wasn't well versed on the world.
"Ain' never 'eard'a the place. Ya from Bulrush or somethin'?" Danny tilted his head and took another bite. How he managed to eat through a scarf was still one of the biggest mysteries about the boy, and one he was determined to keep to himself. "There ain' gonna be no battles goin' on 'less the city's already dead. Ain' nobody gonna suffer 'cept folks like you an' me if Skye goes ta war wit Malak." Danny shook his head to Kalum. "Ain' gotta clue 'ow ta find Skye's people. I keep my ear ta the ground, but tha's so I know 'ow ta keep my neck safe. S'why I was outta the 'ovel when the butcher's carts rolled in."
Post by Kalum Wulfgang on Sept 14, 2015 7:41:50 GMT
"I am not from Bulrush, no. My parents' parents were from Bulrush so I am from Bulrush only by descent. Malak and Skye don't have to go to war for Malak to be removed. All it takes is one arrow in an opportune moment..." He had to stop himself there. He was talking treason. To a boy he did not know, nonetheless and that was far more dangerous and stupid than anything he could have done. "You want this city to change, Danny? You helped, Skye, right? Help me. If you hear anything about how to meet these people I will pay you for that information." A feeling ran through him then, one of dread. What was he doing? Was he truly committed to this? Yes. He wanted the command no matter what it took.
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Sept 17, 2015 21:59:51 GMT
Danny's smile beneath her scarf was one of predatory cunning. This was too perfect. Danny quickly dropped the smile because even eye changes would give it away, and nodded slowly. "A'righ'. I'll letcha know if I find anythin' out... bu' it ain' gonna be cheap. This's me tryin' ta find a 'idden fugitive tha's got people tha' can break in'a an' outta EIRAL an' get away. This's a group'a terrorists, an' ya wan' me ta find em. Jus' go promisin' when ya find em ya don' get taken down like Skye. 'e asked me ta 'elp search fer the killer an' 'e got framed fer it. I ain' lookin' to see no one else goin' ta prison 'cause'a me gettin' involved."
Post by Kalum Wulfgang on Sept 17, 2015 22:16:18 GMT
"If we are careful and very discreet then no one should suspect a thing," came his reply as he gave Danny a quick once over then looked to the sky in search of Caracalla. Rather than circling the sky as she usually tended to do, she had found her own perch to rest on. "I am no one of importance yet and therefore attention being drawn to me will not be anymore than the way I look or dress, and even so few take interest in that considering the mentality within the city is I am beneath them. I am sure you understand, nay? No matter. You mentioned pay. I am a man of my word. Should you turn up something of value, I will repay you. Have we a deal, Danny Ravensdale?" A large, gloved hand was extended out to the boy for him to shake while the huntsman looked him over expectantly.
Shoutbox
Welcome to the Shoutbox - If You Have Discord, Ask to Join the Discord Server