Raziel
Level 1
One man's trash is another man's treasure!
Posts: 48
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Post by Raziel on Mar 30, 2008 16:20:56 GMT -5
I walk up a steep slope in the mountains of Voragimines and curse vividly as my booted feet slide on the loose dirt and mud underneath them. I heard rumors about some wild treasures hidden somewhere up here; it's the only reason I've come so deep into the heart of these mountains at this time of year.
I finally reach the top of the incline and lean over my knees while I take a breather and look back the way I've come. Good thing I'm up so high, now. I'd almost gotten caught in a flash flood the other night, and lost my only mule (and more than half my supplies) to the raging waters. Good thing I know how to hunt, too...
As if mother Nature is listening to my thoughts, the sky suddenly grows dark with clouds and the wind picks up, flinging the edge of my cloak into my face. There's a flash of light and a deep rumble of thunder in the near distance. I snarl and quickly walk further from the edge of the pass I'd just finished climbing, looking frantically for someplace to hole up while riding out the storm.
My eyes catch sight of a cave and I grin. Thank the gods! I rush over just as the first fat drops of rain splash in the already soaked ground and glance into the cave. Seeing nothing that indictates recent occupation by unfriendly carnivores, I walk in and brush the hood of my cloak back.
Damn... this isn't a cave! It's a tunnel!
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Janus
Level 2
Will no one relieve me of this meaningless existance..?
Posts: 81
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Post by Janus on Mar 30, 2008 16:39:38 GMT -5
Raziel was both right and wrong in a sense. It was, in fact a cave, only the actual cave was connected to the mountainside by a long tunnel. The tunnel itself sloped very slightly upwards, turning towards the right after five yards...
The ancient creature let his hood fall back and sighed. All this moist was going to make the ends of his hair curly. And he hated that. Shaking his head slowly, he sat down against the rough cavern wall; making sure he could keep an eye on both tunnel entrances. All manners of creatures could be crawling up the mountain, looking for shelter from the rain.
At least the cave was dry enough. Really, what was with the floods lately? Voragimines hadn't gotten this much rain since... yeah, since when? Janus frowned as he tried to remember just how far back the latest flood was... Oh. Last year. Sometimes, having led a long life was bothersome... so many memories to sort through to find anything.
He sighed once more and slumped down against the cave wall. The sound of the rain echoed quite pleasantly through the rock tunnels- was he ever tired of rocks -almost pleasantly enough to render him drowsy. Or, at least not alert enough to discern any approaching footsteps.
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Raziel
Level 1
One man's trash is another man's treasure!
Posts: 48
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Post by Raziel on Mar 31, 2008 21:12:58 GMT -5
A cave, leading into a sloping, winding tunnel. Overcome now by curiosity, I walk further in as I ring the water out of my bangs and the edges of my cloak. I keep a hand on the rough wall beside me, even after my eyes adjust to the dimness; it's a comfort to know there's something to lean on in case you need it.
I duck my head beneath a group of stalactites that are slowly merging together, and pause, a steadying hand grabbing onto the slick mineral deposits above my head.
Sounds of rustling and a sigh distorted and somewhat magnified by the rock. It seems that it's coming from up ahead and I take a few, more cautious, steps.
Is there something in here, after all? Should I get out now, or...
The sounds come again, the second sigh more apparent than the one before it.
Well, not of the beasties I know of make those kinds of sounds... Seems someone's bored? I glance around at my current surroundings. Can't say I blame them if they are. The scenery would get mighty old real quick.
After considering my options, I keep walking and finally turn another bend and reach another cave. This one is far larger than the couple I saw on the way here. The focus of the scene, however.
A... troll? I think... He's not nearly as ugly as people usually say trolls are. Huh. That white skin- He obviously doesn't get much sun, does he.
I walk into the cavern and up to him on all but silent feet. Not that that's my fault, really; elves are naturally light-footed. I stop when I judge to just out of arm's reach, and the man still doesn't seem to react.
But if this is his home, it's really best if I get permission to stay here. Maybe he'll let me stay if I offer him a little of the honey mead I've got left. I cringe a little. Not because of the expense, really; I hadn't exactly paid for it. But because, well, I liked honey mead, and didn't want to lose it unless I had to.
I look around a bit and see some small rocks near my feet and kick a couple of them with just enough force for them to roll towards the troll and lightly bump him against him.
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Janus
Level 2
Will no one relieve me of this meaningless existance..?
Posts: 81
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Post by Janus on Apr 1, 2008 12:16:03 GMT -5
In a state of light slumber, sounds tend to distort and find their way into your dreams. This is true even for ancient beings such as Janus. The old troll, as much as he complained about not wanting to remember too far back because it's bothersome, sure had a vivid dream when he revisited an oh so beautiful dame he escorted through the mountains; once upon a time...
The sounds of the river mellowed his mood significantly, after the unpleasant time he just had giving this lady a hand to free her from a particularly frisky dragonette. That is, he grabbed her and whisked them off to safety with a spell. He also had to give her his robe for the sake of fair lady's modesty. What was he doing saving maidens in distress, anyway? Perhaps it was those clear, blue eyes... yes, that must be it. He glanced to her, and she met his gaze shyly, offering a slight smile to her savior.
...But he snapped awake as the rock hit him, frowning and mumbling to himself. "Dammit, I was having a good dream..." ..Huh? There was a pair of feet on the ground before him. His gaze tracing the owner all the way up to their face, he saw what looked like a wood elf to him. The cave was awkwardly quiet for a moment.
"... Oh. Hello." His voice didn't hold very much friendly enthusiasm, neither was it hostile. In fact, he looked quite bored. I hope he doesn't want anything. I'm getting fed up with this 'guardian' crap.
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Raziel
Level 1
One man's trash is another man's treasure!
Posts: 48
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Post by Raziel on Apr 2, 2008 21:12:08 GMT -5
I stay standing for a moment, but the troll doesn't seem very inclined to move.
So. I crouch down so I'm not looking down at him and tilt my head. Pretty apathetic fellow, isn't he...
"Hey-la. My name's Raziel, sir, and I was wondering if I could use this place as shelter from this storm? If you'd rather, I could move back to where I entered. And..." I wince at the possible loss, but take out some of the tough jerky and a bottle of honey mead. "I do have a little something I can exchange for a chance for some hospitality."
I set the food and bottle down and look up at the man, a finger idly twisting around the white "skunk" streak in my hair as I wait for an answer.
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Janus
Level 2
Will no one relieve me of this meaningless existance..?
Posts: 81
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Post by Janus on Apr 3, 2008 17:15:58 GMT -5
Janus just looked at him for a moment before replying, eyebrow twitching irritably for some reason. "Do as you like, I'm not the king of these mountains." The troll was silent for another moment, before his features softened a bit. He still didn't smile or anything, just looked decidedly less grumpy.
"... This room is the driest part of the cave. You can stay in here if you're quiet." The weather hadn't really put him in the best off moods. After yet another short pause, he nodded towards the offered mead and jerky. "Keep your stuff. I'm not really hungry."
That said, he slumped back against the cavern wall again. It wasn't really comfortable, but its not like he wasn't used to it. Janus glanced to the elf, to see what he would do.
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Raziel
Level 1
One man's trash is another man's treasure!
Posts: 48
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Post by Raziel on Apr 3, 2008 18:09:16 GMT -5
My fingers tug on the white streak as I listen to the man and I frown inwardly. I freely gave him my name, but he doesn't offer his own... Is he being rude on purpose, or is he just not used to company?
I nod at him and pick up the food and stand up. "Thank you sir. I... just thought this was your home, so believed I should make an effort to be friendly."
I walk over where a giant stalagmite and brace my back against it, sliding down to the ground. This way, I'm facing the troll, in case he decides to make a move of one kind or another, but we're both given enough room for privacy.
I pick up a strip of jerky and open the bottle, sighing in contentment as I sip the sweet mead and it warms my whole body. I lean my head back against the stalagmite behind me and close my eyes, chewing methodically on the smoked meat in my hand.
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Janus
Level 2
Will no one relieve me of this meaningless existance..?
Posts: 81
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Post by Janus on Apr 4, 2008 17:21:28 GMT -5
Janus' gaze followed the movements of the elf for a short while before he glanced somewhere else, some rocks or whatever, he didn't really care. More like, he stared into space for a while until he got bored with that and closed his eyes. "......"
The silence between the two strangers stung annoyingly in his ears. The kind of silence that forms between two people brought together in a moderately enclosed space due to chance. And it nagged him, because it made him feel like something needed to be said..
"... you said your name's Raziel, right? I'm Janus." There. He spoke.
But somehow, that didn't quite serve to clear it for him anyway. No matter how much he disliked to admit it, he was always expecting strangers to ask him for advice, guidance, or help; usually for nothing in return. But what could he do? As one of the so-called 'guardians', he apparently had a duty to aid anyone who wished for it.
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Raziel
Level 1
One man's trash is another man's treasure!
Posts: 48
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Post by Raziel on Apr 4, 2008 20:55:05 GMT -5
I'm just starting to doze when the troll speaks. My eyes snap open and I glance at the man for a long moment and slowly blink.
Ah. Janus, is it?
I smile and nod, absently chewing on another piece of jerky and taking a sip of my honey mead. "Nice to meet you, Janus." I tug on my white streak of hair. "How long have you been around this place, if you don't mind me asking?"
I bet he's been here for awhile; he seems to have lost much of his social skills. I sigh inwardly.Not that I'm one to talk...
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Janus
Level 2
Will no one relieve me of this meaningless existance..?
Posts: 81
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Post by Janus on Apr 5, 2008 14:14:26 GMT -5
The ancient troll's eyebrow twitched involuntarily at the question. Really, how long had he been there, anyway? Far too long was the only answer he could come up with. A deep frown started knitting his eyebrows together. Because, now that he thought about it, he really couldn't remember.
Of course, he had vivid recollections and memories that spun waaay back... but just how far was it? Was he beginning to reach the limit of his mind? Would the new days now, literally, replace the old? ...
Janus shifted his position slightly, seeming to slump even farther down, almost to the point of laying down. "Oh, I don't know. A few thousand years.. give or take a few thousand years." That was probably true. Brown eyes, filled to the brim with age and a feeling of weariness, idly glanced up at the stalactites above.
But, that is a sight for him seen so many times before... and he held no apparent interest for him. It was just another thing to look at.
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Raziel
Level 1
One man's trash is another man's treasure!
Posts: 48
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Post by Raziel on Apr 5, 2008 14:46:44 GMT -5
I feel my eyebrow's creep upward. Thousands of years?!!
"That's quite awhile. Don't you get tired of it? There's lots of interesting stuff around here!"
I tilt my head and play some more with the white streak. "Don't you get lonely?"
Wonder if I can get him out of this loop of apathy... wonder why I care!
I try to tell myself it's because I want whatever treasure's hidden in these caves, but the reasoning somehow feels hollow.
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Janus
Level 2
Will no one relieve me of this meaningless existance..?
Posts: 81
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Post by Janus on Apr 5, 2008 14:59:51 GMT -5
He sighed, sitting upright again. One eyebrow arched, but his expression was generally toneless. "You have no idea how tired I am of rocks."
A slight pause. ".. but its not like I don't wander around occasionally. I'm not a hermit." The troll leaned back once more, thinking that no matter how bored he was, it wasn't reason enough to get riled up.
"I meet people every now and then. I'm not really lonely." Though his social skills and blunt ends probably relayed just how often he actually stopped and talked to the people he met. Why would he, anyway? They were always asking for his help with things.
But...
This elf didn't... why didn't he?
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Raziel
Level 1
One man's trash is another man's treasure!
Posts: 48
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Post by Raziel on Apr 5, 2008 15:14:32 GMT -5
I smile to myself. He's talking now! Progress already!
"Really? What kind of people have you met around an out-of-the-way place like this? Anybody interesting?"
I relax a little bit, as the talking and the mead start warming me up. Gods, it's been awhile since I just chatted with someone. Though I do wonder when the rain will let up.
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Janus
Level 2
Will no one relieve me of this meaningless existance..?
Posts: 81
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Post by Janus on Apr 5, 2008 15:29:16 GMT -5
Janus pondered for a while, staring at the cave ceiling; littered with stalactites in various shapes and sizes. He'd met all sorts of people, hadn't he? Yes, and now that he thought about it, there were some that stood out from the rest. Some who had left some kind of impression on the otherwise passive ancient.
"... Well... " Where to start? He frowned slightly, picking something at random. ".. I've met pilgrims of all kinds... hunters.. treasure-seekers... adventurers... runaway criminals... even the occasional damsel in distress."
Mentally, he went through a few events where people of the above descriptions fit in. And surprised himself by remembering more details than he usually did. Even names, and faces...
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Raziel
Level 1
One man's trash is another man's treasure!
Posts: 48
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Post by Raziel on Apr 5, 2008 16:14:12 GMT -5
My fingers lay idle in the tangles of my hair. Ooo! This is starting to get interesting!
I get up and walk over to where Janus is and sits back down. "I've seen a couple monks before, but no pilgrims. I mostly see hunters and merchants and the like. I seek treasure, myself, but I usually just pick stuff up instead of actively searching for particular things like most do." I pause to get out another bottle of honey mead and pop the cork, holding the bottle away from me as the liquid foams up. "Can you tell me anything interesting? Stories are a kind of treasure too!"
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Janus
Level 2
Will no one relieve me of this meaningless existance..?
Posts: 81
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Post by Janus on Apr 6, 2008 13:48:02 GMT -5
As the elf made his way to join Janus at the troll's side of the cave, it hit him that Raziel really did want something from him. Just not the kind of things he was used to. The elf wanted stories. Something he had plenty of... too many, perhaps. Oh well, at least it would help him pass the time.
"Stories are treasure...? Yes, maybe they are, in a way.." The troll changed his position slightly to appear less slumped, then made a slight frown. What would he tell, though? He had a large enough supply to last them a few hundred rainy seasons...
Arching an eyebrow at his own thought, he glanced to the elf, who seemed eager enough to hear just about anything. Janus turned his gaze to the opposite wall, and spoke. ".. I suppose I'll tell you about that time a few adventurers hired me as a guide through the mountains.."
And he proceeded in telling; about rock slides, unfriendly dragonettes, losing ones way, broken bones, and all sorts of things you could encounter while on such a rural route. Apparently, Voragimines was a very peculiar and dangerous place back in the day...
By the time he had finished the story, the rain had stopped outside, and the air was crisp from the newly moist but crisp and cool mountain air. Janus sighed, and leaned back. "... and that's how I got cheated out of 500 gold pieces. Ungrateful bastards."
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Raziel
Level 1
One man's trash is another man's treasure!
Posts: 48
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Post by Raziel on Apr 6, 2008 14:16:57 GMT -5
By the time Janus finishes, my mouth is hanging open. I know that bards often made stories and songs out of others' deeds, but I'd never known anyone that could make their own life sound like a tale!
I also noticed that when Janus started telling his story, his voice gained a lot more life than it had before. He sounded like a person just now, instead of one of those theatre puppets down in Agreia!
"Tch. I'd have at least given you something as a replacement, even if it wasn't as valuable as whatever I took." I nod to myself, then pause, wondering if he'd pick up on what that meant.
Ah well, even if he does figure out that I'm at least partially a thief, there's nothing around here to steal at the moment...
But now... the alcohol and the long walk has finally caught up to me, and I find myself nodding off. My body starts to sag to the side until my head is resting on Janus's shoulder.
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Janus
Level 2
Will no one relieve me of this meaningless existance..?
Posts: 81
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Post by Janus on Apr 6, 2008 14:31:55 GMT -5
He was a little unnerved by the elf's initial reaction. It hadn't been that exciting, had it? ... Young people. He sighed to himself, sending a glance to the one beside him. He hadn't bothered to answer the words spoken, because quite frankly, he felt like he'd talked enough to last him for a week, now.
A light impact snapped him back from his thoughts though, and he looked down and to the side. Then to the bottle of honey mead in Raziel's hand. "..."
He fell asleep. On Janus' shoulder...
... What? Why!?
The troll raised a hand to push the elf off him, but stopped mid-movement. Did it really matter, in the long run? It's not like he did any harm by being there. Rather, it was a strange feeling for someone who usually distanced himself from people. How... curious. Had it been so long now that he actually missed contact with other people?
The frown on his face eased, and he let his hand rest on his lap, leaning his head back against the wall. Eyes closed, and soon his features were that of peaceful slumber as well.
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Raziel
Level 1
One man's trash is another man's treasure!
Posts: 48
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Post by Raziel on Apr 6, 2008 15:20:43 GMT -5
I wake up and rub my eyes free of grit while sleep still fogs my mind. For a moment, I'm confused as to where I am, for my surroundings are still pretty dark... but then another hand twitches under my head.
I freeze and take more notice of where I am, and feel my face flush brightly. My head... is in his lap, isn't it... Jince. At least Janus's lap isn't too bony or anything.
I wonder, then, why the troll didn't just push me off when I fell asleep on him. Unless we have that in common? Nah... He's probably just starved off any attention. That's all.
I sigh, trying to decide how I should wake the other man up, but unwilling to move from the relatively comfortable spot I've found myself in to do much.
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Janus
Level 2
Will no one relieve me of this meaningless existance..?
Posts: 81
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Post by Janus on Apr 6, 2008 15:51:46 GMT -5
Thankfully for Raziel, the ancient troll was a relatively still and silent sleeper, and as such allowed for comfortable rest. He was also a deep sleeper, which is why he didn't wake up when the elf slid down on his lap.
So, several hours passed, and both of them slept peacefully. And just a minute or two after Raziel woke up, so did Janus. The latter trying to move slightly when he noticed there was something pressing him down. A slight frown formed on his features and eyes opened slowly, blinking to rid them of the blur, glancing down at the disturbance.
His eyes opened wide at the sight. That was certainly not something he had expected to happen when he decided to leave the elf be.
Now, it should be noted that while Janus, old and experienced, is a very dignified man who's long life is reflected in his eyes.. but, of course being the man he is he doesn't have much to call experiences of being closer than a few feet from any living being. Which is to say, that part of his mind is basic and young at best; without him really thinking about it much.
So, his face retained a very much surprised expression at this unused situation, and his very much pale cheeks tinted red. Perhaps, because of his light skin, the blush was even more apparent than it would have been normally...
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