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
Post by Jack Breckenridge on Mar 6, 2014 4:09:32 GMT
Jack took a second to think about, juggling the idea of dying to the ineptitude of this group or having another drink. "Screw it." He stood up and followed the others outside, making his way to the back of the group. He didn't trust the dark haired male, was pretty sure the blonde one was hiding something, and the girl was going to get herself killed without assistance. It wasn't long before his boredom overtook his suspicion and he made his way up to the girl with her fox. He reached into his pocket pulling out a few scraps of dried meat holding down to the fox. "Ya hungry little one?" his soft spot has always been towards animals, and this time was no different.
Post by Lorraine Blackmoore on Mar 6, 2014 4:36:19 GMT
With the coming night came the moon and the breeze. The moon was going to be full tonight and would cast decent light for their journey but it also created well defined shadows near them. This made her uneasy and when the breeze began to pick up, the leaves on the trees began to rustle causing their shadowy counterpart to do so as well. Her eyes focused on the movement to be sure it was nothing. The scuffing of feet followed behind her and she heard Danny speak up. She cast the small boy an amused look then watched the entrance of the inn. "You don't have to warn me. I don't trust him any further than I can throw him," she murmured quietly so she would not be overheard. Truth be told, she expected the vagabond to try something worse than just a simple mugging then again, he didn't seem all too bright.
Levi must have been the devil himself because once they finished speaking of him, he came waltzing out and approached her. The way he spoke of Felix annoyed her more than the comments made to her and she could feel her right brow twitch. Silently she thought to herself of how she'd felt like a scared little mouse back in her commanding officer's office yet here she was with undisciplined mercenaries and a brat of a little boy to accompany her on her foolish trip unafraid. Maybe it was adrenaline, maybe it was because they didn't hold as much power as the high commander-- either way, she wasn't so scared of them. Her hand gripped the butt of her hilt and with pursed lips, as though she'd eaten something sour, she said, "if you value the parts that make you a man and you wish to one day use them, I would strongly suggest that you never touch me anywhere, especially on my back. Felix won't spare you any pity either so I do not suggest laying a finger on him."
They waited now for Jack to join them and at first when he approached her she grew tense and opened her mouth to interject but was pleasantly surprised by the large man's actions. Rather than pulling a pistol or a knife on her, he'd offered the fox at her feet meat and now her eyes went to Felix. The little thing did not look anything near frightening as he sniffed the offered meal before snatching it in his muzzle. While Felix chewed on the dried meat noisily, Lorraine turned to her gathered companions and withdrew the coin purse. She split the pay into three then gestured for each to take their share. Once that would pass, she step aside and give them one last look over each.
"Alright, first thing is first. I am Lorraine Blackmoore and you will all refer to me as Blackmoore. It would be most helpful to be acquainted before we begin but introductions can be made as we walk.You there," she pointed at Studs. "You have the honor of leading us to the forest and being our front line since Bigshot right here," she slapped Jack on the shoulder, "seems to be a man taken to ranged attack. My brother will be our guide and will walk between all of us so he can stay protected and will call instructions out as we go. I, myself, will be behind him." This did not only serve as a strategy plan to her but as a defense. She wanted the two people she trusted least in front of her--Studs in particular. With him in the far most front he would have a harder time turning on them all. Danny had to be second in order to see far enough ahead so that Studs wouldn't walk himself into a trap and so he could give proper instructions, but he also had to be close enough to her that if he even tried to run she could jump on him. As for Bigshot? Well, he did seem like a friendly fellow thus far. Maybe a tad rugged but she would fall in beside him rather than let him at her back.
"Alright, let us set out," she stated, her eyes settling on Levi and narrowed with contempt.
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Mar 7, 2014 3:42:01 GMT
"Ain' happenin'. I ain' stickin' in the middle. I'll be stayin' out front, makin' sure we don' run inta anything. 'sides, the rest of ya'll jus' give us away with all yer clompin'. If I'm in the middle, I'm jus' in the way if ya need ta fight, an' I can guarantee ya if Studs's in front, we'll end up walkin' right inta a big nasty. I gotta be able ta see what's ahead of us." Danny tugged his goggles down over his eyes. "I ain' lettin' someone else run the show. Ya can stick ta yer formation, but I ain' gonna be in the middle of it." Danny stomped ahead of the woman. "Couple more things... keep yer weapons sheathed or covered. Don' want no glare catchin' on em. Make sure ya watch where yer steppin'... needa stay quiet. An' lastly, no talkin'! Don' wanna drag every beastie in earshot to us." Danny turned back around and marched towards the woods. The others would catch up.
Levi snorts with laughter before Danny says anything, but hushes down to hear the boy mouth, adding in a "YEAH!" and "Tell 'er!" every now and then. He swaggers over to Lorraine, over exaggerating his steps as he stops by her.
"Ya' see, this ain't no military, and there ain't as hell no rules out there. Do or die, missy." he looks down as Jack feeds the fox, smiling softly as the beast takes to the meat.
"As such, I'll be next to you, and I mean slightly behind you, next to the big guy. In case something happens, I can defend our V.I.P and the Cannon-man before he can find a nice place to settle down and fire from." Levi scratches his noes before adding in.
"Gotta keep an eye on your behind. Money's money." He winks slyly before gesturing Lorraine to follow as Danny was starting to make his way out.
Post by Jack Breckenridge on Mar 11, 2014 6:25:01 GMT
Jack could only grit his teeth at the young boys insolence, by the time the other chimed in he had had enough. He grabbed Levi by the collar with both hands lifting him off the ground and up to his face and speaking in a tempered anger. "You will stand in front of the lass, not behind, not beside, in front." He leaned in closer and spoke in a hushed voice, "If you so much as try anything I assure you I won't miss" before dropping him back onto his feet.
He always took business as business, you treat a job with formality and respect, Levi and Danny did neither in his eyes. He glanced the other two over in his now soured mood before drifting to the back. It dawned on him as he made his way about twenty feet behind the woman that the moon shone bright tonight, even with the thick tendrils of fog that were lingering at the edge of the forest as they sometimes do. It was a relief knowing his eye wouldn't give him away. It's not that he resented being a half-ander, it just wasn't great for trade, or the fact that his current contractor was in the military.
(Retcon that last part, no indication of her being in the military.)
Post by Lorraine Blackmoore on Mar 11, 2014 7:43:53 GMT
If Lorraine had learned anything from growing up with four brothers, a nagging mother, and training a silly fox, it was patience. She was not a woman who would typically lose her cool and for that, she was able to excel in things much easier than most. However, she was no push over either. Under her father's roof, she wasn't allowed to be lazy and respect was a highly appreciated value. No matter the circumstance, she and her brothers would never outright disrespect anyone without good reason but if pushed enough, she would not hesitate to take action where she saw fit. With the two younger boys of the group, her patience was beginning to wear thin. It was all she could do not to take Danny by the shoulder and to bring her palm across his scarfed face but when Levi spoke, she had had enough. Before her mouth could open, Jack spoke up and the anger with in her was allowed to simmer then die down. So far he was proving to be a worthy comrade and one she may look to in the future. A small smirk took over her face though it seemed out of place while Levi was scolded.
As Danny rushed off and the other two shared words, if Levi mouthed back, Lorraine began to follow. "I'd listen to our gunsmen, Studs. He does not seem the sort to hesitate to put a bullet between your eye." She'd had enough. This was a dangerous mission and two of her hired helped were proving to be the biggest fools she had ever met. Her eyes went to the fox that paraded at her feet as she walked and she began to wonder, was she the fool, or them. If any, it was her for even bothering to go through with this rag tag bunch. Quietly, she wondered to herself if they had caught on to being military. She had not worn her uniform or the insignia assigned to her by Recon, but she did have great posture alluding to nobility and as far as she knew, most noble women were painted as pretty little, delicate flowers who did not have foxes for companions and did not dress in men's attire.
As they progressed toward the forest, her thoughts focused once more at the task at hand and she could feel her heart racing before she inhaled calmly then exhaled. If she let her nerves take her, she would be useless. The mist seeping out from between the dark trunks of the woods were an ominous sight, however, and if it didn't make most normal people on edge, then she was uncertain if they were even human. Of course, she wouldn't be surprised if all the men in her company were andersweltlers. Lorraine kept her mouth shut about the ghastly sight for a number of reasons. One, speaking now would be dangerous. Two, if she said anything, she would regret it for she would feel the youngest, Danny, would feel the need to put in his two cents about how he was the best and not scarediest cat she ever met. If he did, she was afraid she would not be able to contain herself and would beat him senselessly. She did not need children on this mission.
Slowly they made their way into the forest and the mist soon washed over them. The thick canopy ahead shrouded them in momentary darkness before specks of light could be seen breaking through. Despite the mist making their limited vision harder to see, she had to know which of them would be noticeable Anders and so looked to Danny first, then Levi, then finally back at Jack. Her eyes quickly snapped forward as she came across the realization of those that were immediately obvious. Her hand went to hover above her hilt ready to draw the blade should she require it but she would not panic and do so. Even if her company put her on edge, to draw the blade would mean certain death.
Further they progressed unaware of a skittering beast deeper in the darkness, lurking, waiting to sink its fangs into one of them.
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Mar 16, 2014 18:45:16 GMT
Danny looked over his shoulder and let out a quiet groan. Glowing eyes were very, very bad. He approached the group again with two strips of cloth that looked like they were torn from his scarf in hand. In as quiet a voice as he could, Danny whispered to the group. "Alright... keep quiet. Slight change. You an' you, but these on. Blindfolds. The girly 'ere's gonna guide ya, make sure ya don' hit nothin'. If yer not gonna put em on, then go back ta town. Yer endangerin' all of us like this." Danny pulled his leaed goggles down over his eyes, cutting off the luminous blue glow. He undid two of his leather belts and held them up. "Loop these around yer wrists, an' the girly'll carry the other end. If ya hear her scream, or I tell ya ta take em offf, we're in trouble an' need ta fight. Otherwise, they're stayin' on. Disobey, an' yer killin' the lot of us." Danny left the three to sort out everything as they would. He looped the area before coming back. His voice came in near inaudible rasps. "One las' thing, don' make any sudden moves. Silence and deliberate movement are key out 'ere. If we're lucky, we won' run inta anythin'. The big stuffs way out, bu' tha' don' mean we don' gotta be careful." Danny turned and began moving into the woods, a silent wraith that could almost be mistaken as an illusion if one didnt know about him already.
Levi shakes his head, stepping back from Danny, "Look Mister, my eye's aren't no shining spot-lights, and if anything sees it, let it be. It'll be fun to have some fun." he scowls, "Besides, being dragged by three dead-beats I just met in the bar of the peasents cove? No thank you, I don't feel like getting shot in the back." he rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. "Besides, you're the 'master of the jungle' shouldn't you know another trick then blinding your fighters?" he lifts an arm, as if he was holding the idea in his palm.