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Frozen Sand (Open to all)

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Post by Alan Katlewande 17/8/2018, 20:26

"This is not what I had in mind" muttered a weary blonde, shivering under his scarlet shawl.

It isn't hard to locate the desert, though few venture into it willingly. Just west of Wall Rose, it looms over a rather expansive area. Even before the titans had access to it, it was rather unpopulated due to the harsh conditions. However, those few who did call the desert their home didn't leave when Wall Maria has fallen. 'This is our lands', they said 'And in this land, even the titans may not defeat us'.
According to all accounts, this statement was debatable at best. Some settlements have yet to see a single titan, or managed to elusively escape their wrath using the familiar sands to their advantage. However, there were just as many settlements that were rummaged through by the grotesque, giant beasts.
Because the desert is so far north from the hole in Wall Maria, there are still very few titans roaming about. However, the extremely harsh weather has supercharged these titans, making them faster and deadlier than their southern counterparts.

These days, only desperate merchants and soldiers-in-training make their way in and out of this accursed desert.... and among them, is Mikael.
The foolish, naive free soul that he was, he wanted to see and experience the world to its fullest, even if it meant exploring one of the most radical places in the known world. That was Mikael in a nutshell. Spirited... but ultimately unprepared to face the consequences of his actions.
This was his first night in the desert, accompanied by two individuals, as well as a guide. A larger group would be more likely to be subjected to titan attacks, or so the guide has told them. He has assured them that without him, they would be lost within hours, and die a most horrific death at the hands of the sun... or worse.
Mikael wasn't so sure the desert would be as deadly as he was told. After all, he grew up in The Underground. Still, he did want to stay alive. Very much so.
As they walked that day, the stony terrain slowly gave way to sand, until sandy hills were all that Mikael could see around him, save for a few flags previous travelers have left behind to guide those unfortunate enough to roam the desert.
However, by that point, it was well past night-time, and Mikael felt nearly as cold as he did when he was a homeless child.

"I thought you said the desert was dangerous for its temperature" Mikael complained, eyeing the back of their guide angrily.
"Yes, exactly." replied the weathered guide, not stopping to look behind him "Dreadfully hot during the day, chillingly cold during the night. Such is our mistress, our home."
Mikael sighed and wrapped his shawl closer around him, urging the horse below him on. It was another hour until they stopped for the night, lighting a fire for some respite from the cold.
"It is very important to light fires during the night, even with the beasts about" warned the guide, his large, coal-black eyes glimmering in the camplight "Without one, you'd be dead before the sun rises."
Mikael said nothing, and huddled by the fire. It felt sweeter than a watermelon on a hot day, and Mikael loved those.
"Well," he finally spoke, too curious to keep his mouth shut. He turned to one of the two other travelers, handing over his canteen of water.
"What brings you here?"
Alan Katlewande
Alan Katlewande

Posts : 193
Join date : 2017-04-02
Location : Wouldn't you like to know?

Character sheet
Strength: 6
Agility: 9
Intellect: 7

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Post by Sprw201 28/8/2018, 23:13

A journey through the farthest expanses of the walls. The desert. At first glance most people thought it would be easy to deal with, but if anything, the desert was two faced. Instead of being warm all around, it was deceptively cold at night. And yet René was still amazed at how people lived here in this cruel place. There was enough sand here to drown a man, and with the breach in Wall Maria still not closed there presented an ever-present threat. Titans. To the red-haired scout it didn’t seem logical that a titan would be out this far. He was half-hoping that the titans would melt in the heat or freeze in the cold.
René was traveling in a small group which would supposedly gather less attention from roaming titans. Besides him, there were two other individuals in the group besides the guide who blabbed about his skill constantly. One wore a red cloak, which was contrasting to René’s dusty blue cloak. As part of his protocol, he had his hood up and had pinned back loose strands of his hair in order to hide the color. He was on a recon mission for the same person who he’d met at that other titan capture mission. Mika Allurd had heard of the desert and the bizarre way titans behaved. She couldn’t come, so she’d sent him to just observe. This was classified information however, and he was supposed to be telling everyone that he studied desert wildlife for the kingdom’s book research. Which to him seemed a lot more conspicuous, so he’d thrown that idea out of the window and was claiming he was a traveling smithy. Which considering his lanky physique, would be pretty hard to believe.

The group was at least traveling on horseback, and that saved René’s feet from feeling like they were going to burn off. Under his cloak, he wore plain brown pants and a grey button-down shirt. He had a habit of rolling up the sleeves of the button down during the heat of the day and then pulling them down during the night. All in all, he was careful to never let his hood down. There was usually enough of a shadow that only the bottom part of his face would show. But tonight they’d lit a fire for warmth and he had to position himself slightly away from the fire so the light didn’t expose his identity. It was dangerous out here. Who knew why his other two companions were out here? There wasn’t any help nearby, so if a situation did arise, they’d be dead in mere moments. For the sake of the mission’s secrecy, he’d had to leave behind his 3DMG, but instead had a dagger sheathed close under his shirt for rational protection. The night was quiet except for the soft snapping of the fire, until one of his companions spoke out into the night. It was the one with the red cloak.

“Well,”  the man paused, and offered René a canteen filled with water. The man continued before he could accept it with “what brings you here?” The dreaded question that he’d been hoping to avoid. It was inevitable though. The red-head reached out and took the canteen to delay the questioner for a second. After taking a swig, he handed the container back. “I’m actually here for gathering materials. I’m a blacksmith’s apprentice in my town.” He paused for a minute. Hopefully no other questions would arise. Though it seemed a conversation would be starting. “How about you?” In most customs, it was only proper to return a question. Maybe he would get an interesting answer from the man.
Sprw201
Sprw201

Posts : 95
Join date : 2017-10-08
Location : Where's Waldo?

Character sheet
Strength: 6
Agility: 8
Intellect: 8

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Post by Alan Katlewande 1/9/2018, 12:02

Mikael glanced at the hooded man as he spoke, his sapphire eyes giving away nothing. In truth, he was a little tense to be travelling in such a small group with these mysterious folk. Still, finding out more about them would turn them less mysterious and more friendly.
The crimson-garbed rogue was less than fully convinced by the hooded man's claim of being a travelling smithy. He assumed that those usually had a more bulky physique, but to be completely honest, he never really met one, so he couldn't call the stranger out for his lie.
Besides, it was Mikael's turn to lie.

Mikael chuckled when he was asked about his identity. His chuckle quickly turned into a shudder, however, and he leaned closer to the fire. He didn't understand how the robed man could keep himself from the warmth. Perhaps he was a witch or something.
"Would you believe me if I told you I'm just a curious wanderer?" he finally asked, smiling cheekily at the mysterious, somewhat frightening stranger.
The guide grinned at Mikael through his crooked teeth. "If that is the case, you are a bigger idiot than you seem, and that's quite a feat."
Mikael's smile wavered a little, and blush started seeping into his cheeks. He turned to the guide, his blue eyes now cold. "I wouldn't treat your customers that way, old man."
"Bah," replied the guide, waving his hand in dismissal at the young rogue "I don't fear you. You're in our land now, and without my services you'd be dead before you know it."
Mikael's face grew redder, but he knew better than to speak back. The guide was an arsehole, but he was right. Mikael really couldn't do anything to him... for now. He started imagining the different possibilities for dealing with the scum when they'll finally be out of the desert, and a thin smile returned to his face.

All the while, the fourth companion, a thin-faced man, remained silent. His eyes darted between those who spoke, but not a word emerged from his own mouth. If Mikael were of a more careful nature, he would've noticed this already, but he wasn't particularly on his best day, nor was he feeling threatened. For now, despite being cold and embarrassed, he was quite happy. His dream of exploring the ends of the known world were finally coming into fruition.
Finally.
Alan Katlewande
Alan Katlewande

Posts : 193
Join date : 2017-04-02
Location : Wouldn't you like to know?

Character sheet
Strength: 6
Agility: 9
Intellect: 7

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Post by Sprw201 3/9/2018, 03:52

The red-cloaked figure shifted closer to the fire. The night was in it’s thickest now, and the desert’s persistent chill was all around them. And then he explained himself as a curious wanderer. Even taking the liberty to phrase his explanation as a question.

Would you believe me?  

Such burning questions in such an arid climate. The amount of trust that the red-cloaked man offered René was shocking. Just a wanderer….
The man’s explanation only raised more questions for him, but he thought of two that would be the most appropriate to ask.

As the red-head was pondering over his thoughts, he caught the blond haired man and the guide chatting together. And there was something else… their fourth companion hadn’t even spoken yet. Of course, shy people existed so he reminded himself of that fact. They could be overwhelmed or maybe even terrified of the desert. And so René decided to make, or attempt, a quick conversation with the other member of the party.

As he turned to face the fourth, he noticed the man have a thin face and almost unblinking eyes. His eyes were glassy with the reflection of the bonfire and they shifted from person to person. Immediately his first impression was that the man was nervous, possibly even scared of traveling.  

Maybe he’s here against his will.  

“Hi!”  For the fourth, a simple greeting may have been shocking enough to stop his heart. René noticed that the man shifted from the ‘fright’ and tried to cover his terror by turning his body to face the blue-cloaked scout. He seemed to pause for a moment, not quite sure of what to say, until he managed to stutter out a hello back. The scout repeated his explanation of who he was and asked the same questions that he had asked to the blond-haired man. After the fourth managed an explanation, René realised that none of them had ever actually said their names. “My name is…” he faltered for a moment, unsure if he should make up a name. “... Tristan. What are yours?” He’d tried to at least cover up his fake name with a question. Hopefully that was all the other three would be thinking about for now.
Sprw201
Sprw201

Posts : 95
Join date : 2017-10-08
Location : Where's Waldo?

Character sheet
Strength: 6
Agility: 8
Intellect: 8

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Post by Alan Katlewande 4/9/2018, 11:23

(OOC: Don't be afraid to RP as any of the 'NPCs'. This is your story as much as mine Razz)

The silent man was started by being approached by the hooded one. It appeared things were getting a bit too chummy for his tastes. Still, whether he liked it or not, he was going to be travelling with these people for the next few days.
"H-hello." he finally managed to reply, his glassy eyes looking for companions under the hood, but finding none.
When asked about his profession, he managed to spout that he was a bodyguard that was hired to protect some family in one of the desert towns. The man certainly did not seem thrilled at the prospect of heading into the cruel desert in order to protect some lordling, but he did seem to have the muscle fit for the job.

By now, Mikael was laying on his back, looking at the stars above. He'd never seen such a clear sky before, so devoid of clouds and buildings. It was truly awe-spiring for him, considering stars were symbolic for freedom to him. He was staring at them with his mouth slightly open, a smirk stretched across his lips. He was feeling calm, and happy, and that didn't happen to often.
When he was asked for a name, he believed the circumstances were good enough to use his real name.
"Mikael", he said, not taking his eyes off the stars. However, the bodyguard's attention shifted to the young man who lay under the stars, his eyes intently staring at him, as if looking for a sign.
After a moment he turned back to the hooded man. "My name is Gabriel Weber. You probably haven't heard of me before. I'm not very famous..."

With a bit of struggle, the guide rose to his feet from the sand. "While I'm very happy all of you are enjoying your talks, I suggest you get some shut eye while you can. When we leave, I'll not be stalling for any of you."
The older man smiled his crooked smile once more. "I'll take the first watch. Tristan, you'll be next. I'll wake you up in a few hours."
And with that, the guide turned his back to the party, and sat perched on a nearby rock, a sheperd's stick in his hand.
Michael did not need to be told twice, and was already laying sideways, his eyes closed and a thin smile across his mouth. Whether the desert was dangerous or not, it was certainly beautiful, and that's all that mattered to the young rogue.
Alan Katlewande
Alan Katlewande

Posts : 193
Join date : 2017-04-02
Location : Wouldn't you like to know?

Character sheet
Strength: 6
Agility: 9
Intellect: 7

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Post by Sprw201 5/9/2018, 03:00

Being on watch didn’t surprise René, but second watch would be a stretch. He wasn’t tired, but if he was going to keep vigilant, he would have to try and sleep. He spared a glance at his other companions. Mikael was already asleep on his side, and Gabriel was trying to get himself settled. The poor man still looked shaken up. Though the red head was confused as to why a man of his stature would fear anything. Maybe it was a ploy. Their guide had perched himself on a rock, the evil looking curve on his staff in his hand in case of attack.

As he shifted himself into a lying position on the sand, he decided to leave his back to the fire. If anything snuck up on him, he’d rather be woken to looking at it rather than being stabbed in the back. The desert was such a cheery place. Having to watch your back every second sounded pleasure-filled. He adjusted the hood on his cloak so it wouldn’t fall back in a panic. And with a chilly breeze all around, he drifted into sleep.

It only felt like a second, but soon he felt the guide’s calloused hand on his shoulder, shaking him awake. “Your turn for the watch. Stay for a few and then wake somebody else when you want to change places.” René nodded, maneuvering into a sitting position and brushing the sand off. Somehow he’d managed to get some in his mouth because when he swallowed he could feel the grit against his teeth. As he passed the guide, who took his place in the sand, the weathered figure handed him the shepherd’s staff. “Insurance,” he mumbled as the sand clouded around him.

He didn’t expect that anything would show up, but the guide’s staff was well appreciated. For him, it was actually comforting to have the weight of the wood in his palms. He knew if anything did show up, he’d at least not be going up against anything empty handed. What exactly did one do during a watch? Think things over? Ponder existence? Just sit there quietly?? He decided to take the same post that the guide had been at. Perching himself on the rock was a relief, but he was concerned about the lack of light. He could only see a certain distance into the unending night, and while the firelight made it easier to see closer to it, it made everything past the perimeter of light seem all the darker. René made the decision to circle the campfire once or twice during his shift, not only to see how his companions were doing, but also to make sure that the space around the fire wasn’t compromised. So far it was a peaceful and quiet night, and although he had no pocket watch to judge the time from, he almost felt like his shift was almost up.

Of course… he’d rather stay an extra few minutes or so than shortchange himself and make himself seem like a slacker to the others. He had glimpsed Mikael looking at the sky earlier. What was up there? As he tilted his head back, his hood fell back, allowing him to gaze deeper into the starry night. And he couldn’t help but think of how beautiful it was. Above him stretched a never-ending cosmos that expanded far beyond his vision. Just like the desert. He wanted to continue to oggle at space, but he felt weary from pointlessly looking into nowhere. And so he trudged back towards the fire to wake up Mikael for the next watch. He would have woken up Gabriel, but the poor man looked skittish enough in the daylight and he wasn’t keen enough to die alone in the desert. Gently, he knelt down beside the crimson cloaked blonde and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Hey. Mikael? It’s your turn for the watch.” Once he woke up, René planned on passing down the staff to him like the guide had before. It was for the best.
Sprw201
Sprw201

Posts : 95
Join date : 2017-10-08
Location : Where's Waldo?

Character sheet
Strength: 6
Agility: 8
Intellect: 8

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Post by Alan Katlewande 6/9/2018, 14:19

...Dim lights...
It was The Underground. Mikael could recognize it instantly. He tasted the dust in the cold air, and felt the cave walls close all around him. He was on the stairs leading to the world above, at the very top a faint light.
However, he wasn't alone. On his way up, he recognized three figures waiting for him.
As he slowly walked forward, the figures took shape, mist-like. A girl was standing over two kneeling men, a white dagger in her hand.
Mikael's steps faltered. He gazed up, eyes wide, too overcome by feelings to step any closer. He struggled to speak words, that simply did not come.
Sofia brushed a stray red hair behind her ear and stepped down to the dumbfounded Mikael. Silently, she slid her hand to grasp his, and led him to the kneeling pair.

Alan and Cord knelt side by side, so different and yet so alike. On their faces was the same reluctant smile that seemed all too natural. They weren't afraid.
Sofia placed the white knife into the palm of his hand, and gently closed his fingers around it with her own.
"You know what you have to do" she spoke with a sympathetic tone, breaking the accursed silence.
"Sofia...." Mikael managed to say, looking at his love who returned from the dead. Her throat was slit, but she was still very much alive, and in her eyes he saw the same calm he always loved.
He turned to Alan and Cord, the two brethren he betrayed and killed for his own sake. Was he willing to do it again? Was this the only way he could be reunited with Sofia?
Mikael started sobbing. First quietly, then his sobs turned to a wail of grief.
"T-this isn't real, is it?" he asked as he turned back to Sofia. Her previously pleasant face was now plain and pale. She stared out into the nothingness, her mouth gaping for breaths she could not take.

Suddenly, the very walls shook, and it seemed the ground started moving and turning under their feet. The staircase began rotating, and Mikael flattened himself and grabbed the coarse, rocky steps with all his power. He turned his head below, and watched in horror as Sofia, Cord, and Alan all plummeted down, crashing through a large window that was not there before.
As they were falling, they screamed his name, voices united in a harmony of hatred and anger.
"MIKAEL! MIKAEL! MIKAEL!"

A hand was placed on his shoulder.
"Hey. Mikael? It’s your turn for the watch.”
Mikael awoke in a total panic, rolled aside and slid back before he could understand what was happening. Above him loomed a young man, looking rather bewildered. Mikael looked at him aghast, like there was a ghost before him. However, slowly he regained composure and remembered where he was and what he was doing, and that it was just another awful nightmare.
He managed a weak, embarrassed smile at the currently unhooded man. "Sorry about that... Tristan, was it? I don't take well to being woken up."
He chuckled and rose to his feet, brushing the sand off his clothes. He must never appear weak. Especially not here.
"I take it no biggies attacked us during the night? Good to know."
Alan Katlewande
Alan Katlewande

Posts : 193
Join date : 2017-04-02
Location : Wouldn't you like to know?

Character sheet
Strength: 6
Agility: 9
Intellect: 7

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Post by Sprw201 19/9/2018, 01:06

Mikael thrashed out of René’s grip. Naturally, the man has rolled away from the thing that had awoken him. The brief moment of fear upon his face had told the red-haired scout all he needed to know. Mikael had seen hell just like he had. The blonde’s face morphed into an embarrassed line of a half-smile.  “Sorry about that… Tristan, was it? I don’t take well to being woken up.” René was taller than his companion, but Mikael’s presence loomed over him. He felt like he was going to drown. Not taking well to being woken up sounded strange to him. There was only one other person he even had the option of waking up. There was… there was no other choice but to wake someone up.

He was so obsessed with his panicky rambling that he almost didn’t even hear Mikael ask him the question of, “I take it no biggies attacked us during the night? Good to know.” He visibly jumped. “Huh? Oh yea. Nothing out of the ordinary. Though the guide was kind enough to lend me his staff in case anything tried to attack us.”  He extended his arm and offered it to Mikael. “You should have it for the next shift.”

Once everything was settled, René lowered himself into the sand where Mikael had been. Before he would have taken his original spot, be he’d remembered that the guide had taken it for its warmth. Warmth…. Right now all the scout’s body wanted was heat. He was trembling in every limb and he found that all his strength was left to falling into a deep sleep.
Drifting, he almost felt weightless in his exhaustion. His sleep was feverish, perhaps he was secretly worried about his other companions. They’d introduced themselves to each other, but did they really know each other. What if one of them was out there for blood? He couldn’t outrule any options, but Gabriel seemed a likely option. Who looked around that dodgely? He didn’t even look like he wanted to be here! He turned over during the middle of the night, glancing at each of his fellow travelers. All except the one on watch were asleep. Probably because it’s night time René, that’s what most people usually do. Exhaling, he felt somewhat more at rest, and he reminded himself that he could make it through the night.
Sprw201
Sprw201

Posts : 95
Join date : 2017-10-08
Location : Where's Waldo?

Character sheet
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Agility: 8
Intellect: 8

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Post by Alan Katlewande 19/9/2018, 19:29

It seemed the red-haired man was rather worried by the whole affair, as if many words were flooding his mind as he stood in silence and gazed at Mikael. When the rogue asked about the titans, however, it seemed enough to snap him out of his inner turmoil.
“Huh? Oh yea. Nothing out of the ordinary. Though the guide was kind enough to lend me his staff in case anything tried to attack us.” The strange man offered the stick to the rather bewildered Mikael “You should have it for the next shift.”
Mikael gazed at Tristan for a moment, and then turned his eyes to the stick. He let out rolling laughter, much less to the delight of those trying to sleep.
As he struggled to gasp for air and recover from his whimsical spasm, he grabbed the stick with one hand and dismissed Tristan with the other. "Sorry, sorry-" he apologized, a wide smile still spread on his face "I'll be sure to slay any titan brave enough to cross sticks with me."
Smirking, he turned and walked over to the nearby rock. Rather than sit on top of it, he decided he'd rather lean his back against it, and sit in the shifting sands.

A whole has passed, but it only felt like a moment for Mikael. He was still trying to figure out what that nightmare was all about. He only remembered bits and pieces.... But it felt so real, so overwhelming...
Mikael was rather certain he's had this nightmare before. It was hard to tell. He has had so many nightmares in the past couple of months that they all sort of just blended together into one horrific, scarring mess.
Mikael sighed and lifted his head, letting the chilling desert winds into the folds of his shawl. He breathed in deep the cold air around him, and let it out slowly, carefully. He was free. Completely free. Free to roam the world, no obligation, no family, no loose ends... And yet....
The only cage remaining was in his head. A cage that wasn't real, a cage built bar by bar from regrets and shame. He wanted to find some sort of closure from those he hurt... But he couldn't, because they were dead. They were dead - and he wasn't. because they were dead, he wasn't, or so he liked to believe.

Mikael shook his head, and set his sights on the horizon. He mustn't think like that. He was free to do whatever he wanted, right? So why spend that time lamenting about what could've been?
He spotted a small shadowy hill on the distant horizon. For a split second, fear grasped his heart - could that be a titan? But as he continued staring he saw no movement, none at all. He sighed, relieved to understand it was just a distant rock.
The cold winds rose once more, and attacked Mikael like a chilling wave.
Frowning, he huddled low and hugged his legs closer. He looked over at the fire, that was starting to dwindle at this point. Suddenly, he saw the thin shadow fingers moving. He rose abruptly from the rock, and spotted a small dark creature slowly making its way by the fire. Mikael had never seen something like it before, but it looked like a big spider with a strong, spike-ended tail. Mikael sneaked closer, part afraid and part curious. It was long, and had tiny claws on its front. Whatever it was, it seemed slightly dangerous. After coming to that assumption, it wasn't long until Mikael swung his stick hard and hit the weird creature. With a small thud, the creature flew through the air and landed in the fires. Mikael stood his ground and watched the fires for a while. The creature didn't return from the fire.
"Huh." he finally said, making his way back to the stone. He looked over at the stick and smiled to himself "Not bad at all..."
He sat down on the rock itself now, far more wary of what could be roaming in the sands.

It was a few hours until he woke up Gabriel, and passed down to him the great weapon he inherited from Tristan. Wearier than when he began his sleep, he rolled into a ball and returned to slumber. Thankfully, no more nightmares came to find him.
Alan Katlewande
Alan Katlewande

Posts : 193
Join date : 2017-04-02
Location : Wouldn't you like to know?

Character sheet
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Agility: 9
Intellect: 7

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Post by Sprw201 27/9/2018, 02:29

Gabriel was sleeping so soundly. It was a shame he was woken up by Mikael for the last watch. Out of all of them, he’d managed to get the most sleep, however he still felt exhausted. Truth to be told, he didn’t want to be here, but he was getting paid so that was his bright spot in the evening. He was still confused that a client would be asking for a bodyguard all the way out in the desert. It was dangerous enough out here, surely they could take care of themselves. Currently he was pacing around the boulder at the edge of camp. Mikael had passed along a staff to him, and he’d recognized it at the guide’s staff. He’d have to return it in the morning.  

The fire was nearly out, and he thought about refueling it but there were rarely any trees in the desert and he was unsure if there was extra wood. On the other hand, if he didn’t refuel it they’d probably all die in the morning. Could he really let people he didn’t know die? Unsure of how many hours were left until daylight, Gabriel wandered around closer to the fire to look if there was any wood. If there was he’d throw it on and be done with it but if there wasn’t then he wasn’t going out to check. Gracefully there was one log left and he tossed it in the pit. He heard the wood pop while walking back to his “post.”

The light of the fire extended a little past where he stood, and it made everything easier to see, though past the ring of light was nothing but darkness. Gabriel’s eyes roamed the sandy landscape. He didn’t want to see anything, and if he did he’d most likely run away at the first sight of it. The last thing he wanted to see would be a titan. He doubted anyone in their group was suited for dealing with them, including the mysterious guide. None of them even had 3DMG with them, how were they supposed to kill it? Running from it seemed silly too, they’d all just die eventually.

Snorting, he crossed his ankles and stuffed his hands in his armpits to keep them warm. It was cold away from the fire and he would have prefered to keep watch closer to it. He wore a scowl on his face, and a passerby would have assumed he was highly annoyed with whatever was happening. He was leaning against the rock now, shivering against the wind of the desert. Who knew that this place could be vary so much during different hours? The next thing he knew, his eyelids were drooping with weariness. His body urging him to go sleep and forget about keeping watch. His mind urging him to listen to what needed to be done. The light clink of wood against rock was the last thing he heard as he drifted away into a peaceful slumber, head lolled back against the rock.
Sprw201
Sprw201

Posts : 95
Join date : 2017-10-08
Location : Where's Waldo?

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Intellect: 8

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Post by Alan Katlewande 4/10/2018, 23:34

It wasn't long until red strokes began to fill the sky, and a blazing star rose from its sandy depths on the horizon. The guide naturally woke up at the sign of first light, as he always had. He slowly stretched and breathed in the chilly morning air, then leaned back and appreciated the vibrant reds of the sky. Only then did he realize something was wrong. He should've been woken up. What's going on?

With considerable agony, he rose to his feet. He could see Mikael and Tristan were fast asleep by the withering remains of the fire, and what looked to be Gabriel sat up against the rock, the guide's stick laying on the sand beside him.
Anger built up in the guide. He was absolutely furious at the incompetence of this bodyguard. To think he put his own life at risk just because this biggot couldn't keep his eyes open! He was about to shout the poor man's head off, when he noticed a figure on the horizon.
A large figure on the horizon. A looming giant, slowly dragging its feet across the sands. It was a few hundred meters away, but the disproportionate body left no room for mistake.
A titan was walking in their general direction. It didn't seem like the monster has noticed them yet, but if it keeps walking forward he will inevitably spot them. They had to move.

The previously weary eyes of the guide widened into an alert glare. This was not the first nor the second time he has encountered titans in the desert, but never was the situation this complex. He had to wake up the sleeping travellers without alerting the titan, get on their horses and ride quickly enough as to not allow the titan to catch up. Worse, his walking stick was fairly out of reach, so he had to do this all while stationary. Thankfully, a traveller knows his way around an obstacle.
With a grunt, he bent down and picked up a stone. Taking a moment to balance, he flung the stone at Tristan, hitting his back. When the man woke up, the guide spoke quietly and quickly.
"Titan on his way here. Don't panic. Wake up the others, and bring me my stick."
After all was said and done, the guide quickly walked towards the horses, and made sure they're prepared for the rest of the journey. They still had a few moments before they must depart, and a little precaution could save a rider from falling off his beast.

Mikael woke up without screams, but he did tense up upon seeing the titan on the horizon. So far, none of his encounters with them were pleasant in the slightest, and the desert titans were notoriously dangerous.
Still, he couldn't help but grin a little. Danger and excitement always reminded him that he's alive, and how good it feels. He lowered his shawl and ran a hand through his hair, letting it sway in the morning breeze, delighted at the refreshing, freeing feeling.
Gabriel was far less pleased with himself. He let out a squeal the moment he first layed eyes on the titanic behemoth, who was inching closer and closer. He apologized repeatedly, and hoped it was all just a bad dream, but there was no waking from this nightmare.
The guide turned from the horses and faced his companions. "We need to leave, now. If we're lucky, the titan won't spot us as we edge around it. If not, we may be able to outrun it before the sun supercharges it... But we may not. Let's not face that reality."
With that, he rose onto his horse, and glanced at the horizon, looking for markings and landmarks to help guide them.
"Ours is a curious and harsh mistress."
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Post by Sprw201 11/10/2018, 03:26

It had felt like he’d just gotten into a comfortable sleep when René felt something hit the back of his next. Instinctively, he squinted his eyes shut against the bright sunlight and the sudden pain from whatever hit him. They guide’s steely eyes bored into him as he murmured, "Titan on his way here. Don't panic. Wake up the others, and bring me my stick."   Telling him to not panic had the opposite effect on the scout. His heart started hammering in his ears and chest. It felt like it was trying to escape his ribcage. A titan all the way out here… the guide did say there would be some but the redhead didn’t expect one so soon. He shuffled around and knelt to grab the discarded staff by Gabriel. He tapped the man lightly, holding a finger to his lips to indicate silence.

After all was said and done, the guide quickly walked towards the horses, and made sure they're prepared for the rest of the journey. They still had a few moments before they must depart, and a little precaution could save a rider from falling off his beast. He went to wake Mikael next, and thankfully the man woke up without terror this time. René saw him grin after noticing the titan. Maybe there were still some interesting things he had left to learn about him. Gabriel on the other hand, had started apologising profusely to the guide. René stopped himself from snorting at the supposed bodyguard. Gabriel, despite his figure wasn’t very suited to be in the position.

They all cleared away what they’d left out for the camp and the guide had gathered the horses together. “We need to leave, now. If we’re lucky, the titan won’t spot us as we edge around it. If not, we may be able to outrun it before the sun supercharges it... But we may not. Let's not face that reality." Before René could question what the guide meant by edge around the titan he was saddling his horse. He hoped they weren’t going to try and head towards it and go around it that way. Not having the heft of swords in his hand was nerve wracking. He’d never realised how calm he was with them before. The 3DMG was an insurance for him. It helped fill the emptiness inside him that was bravery. All he felt now was nervous focus. What if the titan caught up to them? Would they all die? How would they kill it? Could you outrun a titan? I mean he was prepared and all but could he? Would that running training actually come in handy? How does training come in handy if you just work to better your current state? And there he went off again, overthinking things. It was an impossible cycle. Think of something, think you have it under control, don’t actually have it under control, question everything you’re doing. Rinse and repeat. By now the scout was chewing the fingernails off his left hand, starting with his pinky. It was a nervous habit, and he’d made himself bleed on multiple occasions. Staring off into space, he almost didn’t see when to start following the guide.

Alright, he’d made a deal with himself. Two things he had to do. Stay quiet and keep up with the group. Just do those two things and he’d be fine if that damn titan didn’t see them. He hoped somebody had poked its eyes out and they hadn’t been able to regenerate. If nobody did he’d have to take on the personal duty of doing it himself. René was pissed he hadn’t been able to sleep later. Sand was more comfortable than he realised. Better than the straw mattresses they had back at the Survey Corps HQ. He shouldn’t be wanting this badly for simple comfort, but a life of movement with the Scouts had sapped his energy. He wasn’t an eager young soldier anymore. He’d been through his fair share of shit and in all honesty, wasn’t sure why he was still doing what he was doing. At first it had been to belong, because he didn’t have anywhere else to go. But in the military he hadn’t really made any lasting friends yet. Mostly just acquaintances. And the ones he’d talked to for more than a day were dead. How fun it was to fight for the good of humanity. Dismally, he adjusted the reins as quietly as possible.

Meanwhile, while René was having his personal freak out like the daydreamer he was, the guide was following the landmarks of the desert. A broken cactus there that hadn’t regrown, a mineshaft that extended into the bowels of Wall Rose, the dune slopes marked by a stick standing upright in the sand. To people unfamiliar with the land, these meant nothing but to the seasoned desert resident they were obvious and he didn’t need to search long to find them. The titan was still lumbering slowly towards them. They were very lucky they’d spotted it close to dawn. The sun hadn’t had enough of a chance to reach its full blistering shine. To the travelers following dutifully behind the guide though, the unbearable sun felt like it had only heightened its intensity since they first arrived. The heat just kept on increasing. Undoubtedly, most of them were probably cursing the sun and maybe wondering how the sun’s heat didn’t feel like this when they weren’t in the desert.
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Post by Alan Katlewande 21/10/2018, 21:00

Logic meant so very little to humans in danger. So very, very little. It didn't matter if the numbers or the strategy said you'll be fine. The moment you feel the danger, the threat of something going horribly wrong, all those numbers and statistics and planning become meaningless. It doesn't matter jack shit how unlikely it was that a bad thing would happen, when it's happening to you. Because at the end of the day, the statistics may change a little, but you'd still be dead.
That was, what Mikael assumed, the thing that happens to regular people, as he was quietly riding behind the guide, a scarlet shawl sheltering his face from the sands once more. He, on the other hand, suffered from the opposite problem. Yes, there was a hungry titan skulking around. Yes, they had no chance of defeating it in combat. Yes, they were in the middle of the desert with nowhere to hide or even find their dismembered corpse.
And yet, Mikael simply could not comprehend this mortal threat. He would not, could not believe that his life could end here. He's been through so much, narrowly escaped so many no-way-out scenarios. Through grit, determination and luck, he managed to power through the end of the road multiple times. Was this miscalculation going to make all this struggle for naught?
No. Impossible. Mikael's story does not end in this desert, on this day, with this titan. Of that, the young rogue was certain. As certain as others are of death when threatened, Mikael is certain of life, and that is what allowed him to overcome crisis after crisis.

They rode in silence, horses galloping across the rollings sands.
Slowly but surely, the sun was rising, and with it came a terrible, blistering heat. It was nice for a moment as it unfroze the night's handiwork, but it seemed to just get hotter with disregard for the poor travellers trying to traverse under it. The only solace Mikael had was knowing that even without the sun, they'd still be sweating buckets because of the titan at their heels.
Well, not exactly heels. The guide took them on a path perpendicular to that of the titan's. That way, they wouldn't be directly in front of the titan, because that would put the in its field of vision, but they won't need to get around it either.
It was hard to tell if the titan noticed their presence. From such a distance, it was nearly impossible to tell where is was heading, let alone where the foul beast was looking. Inch by inch, the figure grew smaller and smaller on the horizon, until it was no more. They were lucky. They were spared.

The moment he was certain they were out of danger, the guide slowed down his horse to a stop. The others followed suit in confusion.
Mikael's relieved smile faded when he noticed the guide's face. His eyes bore into Mikael's soul, a silent anger brewing in them. The rogue tensed up, sensing danger. He had seen that anger before, brewing in the hearts of so many down-trodden children in The Underground. Before they grew up, they still had hope, passion... And anger. The kind that could kill.
He had to be careful here as well.
Nervously, the three waited for something to happen. The guide, unmoving as a statue, slowly moved his eyes from one traveller to the other. Not even the flies resting on his scalp were able to waver his gaze. The silence lingered on and on, until it was almost unbearable.
And then the guide spoke.

"Thirty eight times."
Slowly, his horse brought him closer to the party. He loomed over them, rage flaring from his eyes like abysmal beacons.
"Thirty eight times I have encountered titans on my journeys through these lands. Thirty eight times these, these things directly threatened my life. Never have I imagined that the incompetence of my followers could be more dangerous, but here we are."
He turned his head and approached Gabriel, who wanted to avert his eyes but was too afraid to do so.
"You! Some bodyguard you must be. I wouldn't let you guard my fucking horse from a pair of desert flies. Titans are easy to spot from far away on this land. We would normally have an hour's notice to escape. Normally, we wouldn't even need to change our path.
In this case, we had less than 5 minutes."
The guide turned away from Gabriel, pacing to and fro, muttering angrily.
"I've never been THIS close to death by the hands of a titan. Do you understand? Years of this, and no one had managed to fuck up as badly as you did. If it weren't for me, your idiocy wouldn't have only cost your own life, but the lives of your companions and my own. If I had a lick of sense, I'd have left you for the biggie."
The guide spat to the side and glared at Gabriel one last time before turning away in disgust, leaving the poor fool almost in tears.
An intense silence followed. The guide looked up at the sun, letting its rays cover his face, and then turned to face the trio. He was still grumpy, but more collected.
"We're heading back to The Wall. Show's over." he finally said, looking glumly at a nearby rock formation "I haven't come this far by making the same mistake twice. This party can't last the night, so there won't be another night. Come."

He reined his horse around, and began trotting his way to the next flagpole. Behind his, Mikael was biting his lip in frustration. He wanted to speak up, to tell the old fart off, that he can't just cancel the journey because he got spooked by a titan, but he knew he owed his life to him. A life dept meant the world back in The Underground, and Mikael was not going to corrupt any more of his morals. Mercy was so rare down there, that any sign of it was either an act of extreme foolishness or one of great power. It meant that someone was so powerful that they could let you live and not be afraid of the conciquences, and there weren't a lot of cases that was the case. If you owed a life dept to someone, until you saved them back, it was courtesy to protect them from harm, to do as they said. If the old man said it was time to head back, it was time to head back, no questions asked. The blonde rogue stared sullenly at his two companions, before following in the footsteps of the weathered guide. He might be frustrated and angry, but he was also showing restraint. This adventure may have helped him mature, seeing the rotten fruits of immature behaviour.
Alan Katlewande
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Post by Sprw201 22/10/2018, 16:21

They had made it past the lone titan alive, and René let out a breath that he didn’t realise he was holding in. The tension in his shoulders went away as the titan became a blip in the distance until it ultimately disappeared. The guide slowed, and finally stopped and the scout thought they were going to travel deeper into the desert, until the guide turned around, his eyes aflame with an anger that burned through René’s existence. Automatically he shrunk back on his horse, the tension returning to his shoulders.

The silence that followed was deafening. The guide was the first to break it. “Thirty eight times.” The guide’s horse trotted up to them and the looming presence of his rage felt like it was swallow René whole. “Thirty eight times I have encountered titans on my journeys through these lands. Thirty eight times these, these things directly threatened my life. Never have I imagined that the incompetence of my followers could be more dangerous, but here we are."

His gaze snapped towards Gabriel, their intense anger focused solely on him now. The bodyguard squirmed in his saddle, unsure of why the guide was glaring at him until he started talking.
"You! Some bodyguard you must be. I wouldn't let you guard my fucking horse from a pair of desert flies. Titans are easy to spot from far away on this land. We would normally have an hour's notice to escape. Normally, we wouldn't even need to change our path.

In this case, we had less than 5 minutes."

Gabriel covered his mouth with his hand to try and hide the shock that was on his face, but his eyes betrayed him. He hadn’t realised how dangerous it would be to fall asleep on the job. Less than 5 minutes…. He could have gotten killed. They all could have gotten killed.

The guide started pacing his horse back and forth and all of them could make out what he angrily spat into the desert. "I've never been THIS close to death by the hands of a titan. Do you understand? Years of this, and no one had managed to fuck up as badly as you did. If it weren't for me, your idiocy wouldn't have only cost your own life, but the lives of your companions and my own. If I had a lick of sense, I'd have left you for the biggie."

Tears welled in Gabriel’s hollow eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. He always thought he was a decent bodyguard at least, not the best sure but at least decent… but to criticize his career like that stung deep.

René watched this unfold and silently felt a little bad for Gabriel. Sure he put their lives in jeopardy, but to someone who’s life was always on the line it was unfazing. The guide was looking angrily into the sun before he turned back to the group. ”We're heading back to The Wall. Show's over. I haven't come this far by making the same mistake twice. This party can't last the night, so there won't be another night. Come." And then he turned away towards the nearest flagpole, clearly not in the mood to take retorts from the group. They were going back to the wall. It was going to be hard to convince the guide but René had to give it a try. He’d survived one night, and though he knew the guide had very good reasons, he had to be selfish for once.

“Wait a moment.” He hadn’t spoken much on the trip, so naturally the guide turned around, a brow raised in curiosity. “What now?” The guide spat the question, annoyed about having to stop again. “I think we should continue our journey. I know it was Gabriel’s fault, and I know we might be put in more danger, but I want to continue. I think Gabriel here has learned his lesson, and we can post somebody on guard with him tonight. In fact, since I proposed the idea I’ll take a double shift… and I won’t fall asleep.” He stopped, noticing the hellfire had returned to the guide’s eyes. Before the guide could reply though, René continued his plea. “Listen, it’s not often that smith’s come across materials from the desert. This is going to sound selfish, and that’s because it is, but if we could at least stop at a nearby cavern so I could gather what I need, then we can be on our way. And I’ll even make a deal with you, if we spot another titan we’ll turn around and go back. I’ll even better the deal, if you agree that we can continue, we’ll only go on if everyone in the group agrees.” René looked expectantly at the rest of his companions. He left his hood down now, not caring who knew who he was, his brown eyes holding the gaze of the guide.
Sprw201
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Post by Alan Katlewande 31/10/2018, 15:18

The guide looked askance at the previously-quiet redhead, who so desperately tried to bargained to carry on. The young man's persistence coupled with his polite demeanor gave the guide the feeling he could very well rely on Tristan's word. Still, it was very risky to continue, and so the old man quietly pondered over the offers made.
All the while, Mikael stared at Tristam, half-surprised and half-annoyed. The quiet one spoke up, and said what he himself wanted to say, but it was wrong to call the guide's decision into question. He owed him his life! How could this fool think he knows better than a weathered guide who's seen it all?
Overall, his feelings were mixed. Tristam did what he wanted to do, but seeing it from the side just looked wrong. How strange.

Gabriel was looking up at Tristam, completely dazzled. Was this stranger willing to do so much for him? Well, not exactly him, there was something in it for the strange redhead too. It just felt like he was interviening and trying to help him out. If they managed to convince the guide, then he wouldn't have screwed up everything.
Gabriel could barely wrap his head around the fact that this Tristam fellow was willing to take a double watch in order to make up for his own mistakes. He rarely met people so kind, and even less so with people who were kind to strangers. They were awfully scarce in this world of kill-or-be-killed mentality. However, that also made Gabriel suspicious. Could Tristam be hiding some sort of ulterior motive? Could he be planning to kill them in the shifting heart of the desert?
Gabriel forced the horrid thoughts out of his head. He mustn't think like that about such a nice and kind person!

It was obvious the guide was still considering the polite man's offer. He was looking off into the distance, his eyes now devoid of the fires of rage.
"Tristam's right" spoke up Gabriel, regaining his courage after someone spoke before him "I promise it won't happen again. I've certainly learned my lesson. Please, sir, don't punish the others for my stupidity."
Gabriel's voice died down when he noticed the anger flare back up in his eyes.
Mikael stared at Gabriel with distain. He may have questioned Tristam's right to speak up, but he was certain Gabriel had no right at all, after what he's done. Adults were talking, and he needed to stay quiet.
The guide eyed Gabriel angrily, before turning back to Tristam.
"You are aware that you're asking me to put my own life and the lives of your friends in more risk, correct?" he awaited for acknowledgement before continuing "Your safety measures do have some merit to them. I doubt any of us will fall asleep during our shift, now that we know so vividly what awaits us otherwise..."
He glanced at each of the three companions. If they were willing to carry on, and with the added safety measures, it could seem plausible to continue. The way could almost prove to be safe. Almost.
"What do you think?" he finally spoke "I can take us to a cave south of here, close enough to the wall if things turn sour. If we see things are going smoothly, I'll be willing to reconsider our journey."
The guide sighed, and spoke in turn to each of the men before him.
"Of course, this is only if all of you wish to carry on. Otherwise, it's back to the Wall."
Gabriel quietly said he's willing to continue, as did Tristam. Mikael looked hesitant, before also speaking his mind.
"If your better judgement says we ought to head back, I won't claim to know any better." the blonde rogue finally said "But I won't stand in the way of these two, either. I still want to see more. I want to continue."
The guide nodded. He looked around for a few distinct landmarks, and wheeled his horse around. "Let me remind you that you fellas agreed to pay me by the day." he laughed at them through crooked teeth, before urging his horse to continue.
Their journey was not at an end. Not yet.
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Post by Sprw201 5/11/2018, 20:57

The guide was hesitant, but René could tell he had at least gotten the grumpy guide to begrudgingly listen. Although René could tell the guide was thinking about his offer, Gabriel apparently couldn’t, because he blurted out a quick “Tristan’s right.” and looked hopefully at him. Gabriel even continued to plead with the guide! René had to admit that the bodyguard had guts despite how cowardly he was. "I promise it won't happen again. I've certainly learned my lesson. Please, sir, don't punish the others for my stupidity."

The guide’s icy glare had returned to his eyes, and Gabriel shut his trap. Thank goodness. Suddenly, his gaze turned towards René, his unblinking eerie stare piercing him in place. The guide spoke, his voice level, but with the edge of a threat in his voice. "You are aware that you're asking me to put my own life and the lives of your friends in more risk, correct?" With the lump in his throat from nervousness, all he could think to do was nod vigorously, strands of his crimson hair being rustled. The guide continued, "Your safety measures do have some merit to them. I doubt any of us will fall asleep during our shift, now that we know so vividly what awaits us otherwise..."

Holy shit. He’d thought for sure he was going to be rejected by this fossil. This knowledgeable fossil. "What do you think?" he finally spoke "I can take us to a cave south of here, close enough to the wall if things turn sour. If we see things are going smoothly, I'll be willing to reconsider our journey." The guide sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, his eyes closing slightly against the intensity of the sun. "Of course, this is only if all of you wish to carry on. Otherwise, it's back to the Wall." Yes… YES. He saw Gabriel nod tentatively, and he agreed of course, because he’d proposed the idea. Then they were all looking at Mikael for an answer. He was going to decide their fate. The blond man spoke slowly, as if he couldn’t quite outright say yes or no. "If your better judgement says we ought to head back, I won't claim to know any better. But I won't stand in the way of these two, either. I still want to see more. I want to continue."

They were on the road again, the guide chuckling softly about their promise to pay him by the day. René slowed his horse so he could talk to both of his companions. “Thank you guys, really. This means a lot to me, putting your lives at risk just so I can get some rocks.” He smiled softly at both of them, his chocolate eyes warming in gratefulness.

Gabriel was the first to answer, and he hoped Mikael wouldn’t stay silent. The bodyguard leaned forward on his horse, smiling back to the red-head. “Of course! I wouldn’t want this journey to end because of my mistake after all. Thank you for convincing the guide to keep going…” Gabriel trailed off, possibly a bit embarrassed or even a little shy. It was only natural, he’d only met these people a day ago and didn’t know them from a hole in the wall. For all he knew, there was a possibility they weren’t even the people they claimed they were.

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