Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » The swordsman, the pirate and the hyena (closed)

Arien cracked up at the impersonation, finding it hilarious. At last he picked himself up off the floor and followed Bender up to the main deck, muttering "nice one!" to Flavio.

"Well, if I'm going to get any decent sleep, I think I'll just grab a room at an inn. I wouldn't want to impose." Though honestly it sounded kind of fun, it was more the thought of rolling off said bunk and into a gaping hole that made him antsy.

"We can meet up at the gate at, say, just past dawn. I'll be up by then." He stretched and looked around the deck of the hole-ridden ship, satisfied by his decision.

Flavio hadn't expected him to comply, this did make things more interesting for him. The hyena followed Bender back up to deck, being careful with his steps. "Well then. I look forward to your companionship, as you look forward to mine." The musketeer replied, his usual grin on his face. What with smiling all the time it was hard to tell what he smiled for, a convenient side-effect for the hyena.

"I already hired myself a room for the night. A decent room too." He looks around the ramshackle ship. "Neither can I truly promise I shall be nice, good then that I need not prove it." Flavio inclines his head towards Arien. "And that is a sound idea. It would be best to leave at dawn for such an adventure."

Bender Of Iron Will raised his brow."If that's what ya prefer." He said as he walked towards the boarding plank to go back on land."Didn't expect ya to be nice 'nough in the first place." He turned around before stepping next to the plank."I'll go arrange them horses 'n make sure my stuff is loaded up so we won't waste any time. The gates sound like a good place ta meet up."

He stood next to the boarding plank, waiting for the two to get off first. He didn't trust them enough to allow them to wander around his ship after all."Make sure yer not late." He warned them.

[If nothing else happens after everyone leaves we can flash forward to the next morning if you like]

Arien headed back to the inn with a wave; falling into deep thought on the way back. He was trying to decide if it might be worth trying to teleport onto the ship just to check the goods. He wasn't entirely sure he'd have time to check during their journey to Kirin's Pride, and he had no way of knowing whether they'd check the boxes upon delivery; his curiosity was killing him.

So just outside the inn, he stopped, looked around at his surroundings, and then closed his eyes, imagining himself on the ship. If it worked, he'd appear in the hold with the boxes warning not to touch. If it didn't, he'd be going to bed.

(OOC: Alright, 1-5 says he'll land back in the ship; 6-10 he fails)

Flavio headed back to the inn they had left, he'd gotten himself a room there after all. He had a few drinks and then headed upstairs to sleep.

Bender Of Iron Will went to bed in his captain's quarters, which was strangely the most undamaged place on the entire ship.

The next morning Bender was the first to be waiting at the gates. Beyond the gates there was a large flat landscape to follow with a forest in the horizon. Most of the landscape was barred off by wooden fences as most of it was farmland. The dusty road the group had to follow was wide and occaisionaly a pair of guards on horseback would patrol the area.

At the gates themselves Bender was saddling the last horse. There were four of them. All of them dark brown and strong looking. Two of them were tied to a cart that was filled to the top with the crates that Bender had in his ship. A blanket was tied around it to stop curious eyes from looking. The two other horses were obviously meant for Arien and Flavio to ride as Bender would drive the cart. The pirate captain was talking with who was possibly the owner of the stables, a small and skinny man with a very light mustache and a balding head. He received a little bag of gold coins from Bender and shook his hand before leaving with a wide smile on his face.

Arien arrived at the gates, smothering a yawn and taking a second glance at the man he passed who seemed far too happy for this early in the morning.

Taking in the horses and carts, he passed his hand briefly over the blanket--curiously--before pausing to hitch up his pack higher on his shoulders.

"Making friends when you're about to leave? What's the point? Also, nice cart." He nodded at Bender in greeting.

Flavio arrived after Arien did, still carrying a bowl of porridge in his hands which he scooped out with a small knife. He'd been able to pawn off some of the red pepper to a drunk with too much money, the third breakfast was always the most important.

"The paint horse is mine." He said when he looked at the two horses left for him and Arien. The mentioned horse was a stoic creature, mostly brown mottled with large white spots across the back and the rear. It's head was mottled so that one side was almost entirely brown, and the other entirely white.

Bender Of Iron Will yawned as he got up his cart."That's where yer wrong, lad. I'm comin' back, and makin' friends is always fun." He said as he nodded towards Flavio as his matter of greeting."It is a nice cart, innit?" He chuckled."Let's hope it's sturdy as well. 'N thanks for bein' on time. I'm not a patient man." As soon as the men were settled onto their horses the travel could begin."The way's easy, just keep followin' the road and smile a couple o' times at any bypassing guards."

And with that the group was underway over the dirt road. The winds weren't as bad here and the sunlight proved for a warm day to come.

Arien wasn't much fond of horses, though he knew how to stay on one. He settled into the saddle and then kept an eye out for things likely to startle his steed--which seemed to have taken a particular liking to shying at random objects--particularly the blanket covering the goods in the boxes.

"Why are we smiling at guards?" Arien asked, as soon as they hit the road. He opted to ride beside the cart, in case he needed to bail.

Flavio climbed the saddle and finished his porridge. It made him a bit sad, he was still pretty hungry. He pocketed the bowl, as he could always use an extra bowl and then tried to recall how horses worked again. Luckily the beast seemed to know who to follow, it trailed after Bender and Arien's horse and the hyena was glad for it.

As soon as they were out of sight of the town, the hyena took off his cloak, laying it out over the neck of his horse so his large impressive musket was revealed. The wood had a red tint to it, and the handle beautifully carved. It was clearly an object above his standing.

The horses were indeed very strong and thus they kept a steady pace."To show 'em you appreciate their hard work, lad." Bender grinned. The whole 'smile at the guards' thing was meant as a joke. As a pair of guards passed Bender did smile at them and gave them a nod. The guards nodded back at them."See? They like bein' appreciated."

The trip towards the woods took a few hours, eventually the group reached the woods, which seemed very dark even though it wasn't even noon yet."From 'ere on out there's no more guard patrols. If we're lucky we won't get ambushed or anythin'. There's an inn a bit further. Once we reach it, we'll take a break."

Arien grumbled under his breath as he adjusted his stirrups so he could draw his sword if need-be. "I'm not sure which is worse, being ambushed by people or animals. I wish I had Bella with me. She'd warn off any potential threats."

Entering the dark forest was nothing new to Arien; he'd traveled through enough of them that really just scanning the underbrush helped. Squirrels darted this way and that, the occasional fox slinking away. He felt himself growing more comfortable with the horse, though he kept his eyes peeled for movement.

Flavio took the time of travelling to tend to his gun, refresh the powder, clean the barrel, clean the rest. A musket needed tender loving care, and he was glad to give it. "If we're in a fight even I'll have to use m'sword." The hyena remarked as they walked. "Doubt these horses have been trained to hold their ground when they hear gunshots."

Bender Of Iron Will shook his head."No, these sods would run away wherever they prefer. We'd have ta be lucky bandits'll attack us when our horses 're tied down. But no idiot would attack an inn." He explained.

He then turned his gaze to Arien."Lad, who's Bella? Hound o' yours?" He asked, having a good guess."Why didn't ya take 'er with ya?"

Arien watched with fascination as Flavio cleaned his gun. It was incredible, how much work went into maintaining it. "So much more work than a crossbow," he said, in reference to the musket, before turning back to Bender.

"Bella's a wolf, long-legged, gold eyes that paralyze, and a taste for Tabasco sauce." He winced even as he said it, glancing around as though he might be attacked. When nothing happened, he sighed. "She usually attacks whenever it's mentioned. Anyway, my friend decided to take her with him when we went our separate ways. She likes him more," he added. "Can't imagine why, though. He doesn't feed her snacks. But I didn't exactly think I could keep up with her--she's got a lot of energy--so I didn't fight him when he decided to take her."

"Now though," he looked around the woods, "I'm wishing she was here." He glanced at Bender and then at Flavio. "Either of you ever have pets or guard animals?"

Flavio smiled some more at the man as he finally finished cleaing the gun, and hung it back where it belonged. "Cleaning it is half the fun Arien." He peered at his paws, they were black instead of dark brown, filled with soot and grime from the gun.

"Cleaning is a smelly afair though." He remarked sniffing at his paws, he knew it smelled and now he knew it again. The musketeer shook his head in response to Arien. "I always hear wolves are loyal, seems there's exceptions."

Watching Flavio clean his gun made Bender Of Iron Will do the same. To his regret he couldn't though. He had to keep two horses on track at the same time. He had traveled with horses many times before, but after spending such a long time on a ship one could easily forget how to gain control of a horse.

"Aye, she sounds like a fine companion t' have." He said chuckling."I had a lil' beast on me first ship I ever owned. The Golden Phantom th' vessel was called, 'n we had a little 'mascot'. 'Er name was Suzanne, named after the former captain's wife, Suzanne Dinkle. She was this fat ugly monitor lizard." He explained as he chuckled.

"Captain Dinkle once found 'er in some jungle 'n decided to keep 'er. Big mistake, the bitch tore up our sails alot o' times. The cap'n named 'er Li-vorus 'r somethin'. He did not like us callin' 'er Suzanne at all." He laughs again."After I took over Suzanne was fat, lazy 'n didn' like climbin' anymore. She was vicious though. Lotta new crewmembers thought she'd be docile. But she'd prove 'er claws were still in workin' condition." He explains, enjoying the chance of telling a tale.

Arien shrugged, "They're a pack animal, but it helped we raised her from when she was a cub, too."

He listened avidly to the story. "A monitor?" He grinned, and leaned forward in the saddle--forgetting that the horse would start to trot. "Hoy, ho, ho!" he brought the horse back, circling around.

"Why would they name it after the captain's wife? Were they trying to get into trouble?" He shook his head, amused.

The hyena chuckled loudly at that, as he wondered. "Which wife was that? Or was this the single captain on the sea that has only one?" The hyena asked as he petted his horse, making the white side of the paint horse black with grime, and cleaning his own paw in the process.

"So what happened to it?" The musketeer asked after a little pause. He had heard very well how Bender used the past tense.