GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

[Tassadar]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Augustina allowed Mary's words to pass with only a smile and a nod of response, and proceeded downstairs to get her a glass of water and make her explanations to the others after carefully redonning her kimono. When she arrived to be immediately greeted by John's concerns, the paladin was anything but surprised, and already had her response prepared. Offering him a reassuring smile, she quickly replied; "Mary is quite alright! She's just tired.... And who can blame her after what happened today? I've offered to let her sleep in my room for the night, as she was feeling feint. I'm down to get her a glass of water, and then I'll be back down to enjoy a bit more of your company. Given that I'll be going with you tomorrow, I hope that that won't be a problem."

 

[GargantuaBlarg]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

"Oh, no no, that ain't no problem, ma'am, I was jus'... y'know, worried afore my sis, is all," John said, waving his hands in front of him. "I was scairt you found sommin' wrong, an' all. She's a delicate gal, my sis, y'know, so's I gotta watch out fer 'er. ...Anyway, if she's a'thirstin' don't lemme keep ya."

A few men at the bar laughed when she asked for water, but otherwise she got it and brought it to Mary without hassle. The girl was still panting just a little when she returned, but was able to sit up eagerly and easily to take her drink, draining it almost totally before setting it on the table beside the bed. "You are too kind, Milady," she said with a soft smile.


Back down stairs, she found the table discussing the attack.

"Damn bandits, attackin' so close to Kegrove... on a caravan a' Burke's, no less! s'got ol' bold Ironguts all over it, dunnit?" Van said. He didn't sound nearly as congested as before.

"Army f'the people, my ass," John in scornfully. "Me 'n Mary obviously weren't wit you folk, but they was gonna kill us, wasn't they? They almost shot up m'sister, too!"

"I dinna..." the old-timer said, staring into his mug. "Somethin' seems a little off, 'ere. I fought with ol' Ironguts fer many a year - I dinnae think he'd ever permit 'is men t'hurt common folk."

Meanwhile, Hugo look positively spellbound as as he poured ale from one mug into another, repeating this process once the mug had emptied.


There was a small gap in the conversation as people scooted over to make space for Augustina to take her seat again. In this gap, John looked over to her and opened his mouth to speak.

"Thanks again fer savin' our hides n' for tendin' t'm'sister, miss," he said. "Y'know... I don't mean nothin' by it or nothin', but, well... I do what I can t' keep 'er safe, but durin' that attack, I couldn't do nothin' but hold 'er in my arms as she was all a'bloody. I felt so... like... I couldn't do nothin', y'know? I hadta jus' hope y'all would save us, or somethin'... well... what'm sayin' is, d'you think you could teach me anythin' more t' protect my little sis, like?"

 

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Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

John's concerns hardly came as a surprise to Augustina, and after he'd finished speaking she had little to add beyond what she'd already said. When she returned, Augustina listened intently to the soldiers and the farmer speaking of the rebel army, though after a moment she noticed Hugo's spellbound expression and briefly flashed a smirk at the mystified soldier. Sitting back down in the offered position, Augustina was about to point it out and suggest that they take the man someplace where he could recover before John started speaking to her.

"Teach you anything?" she asked, openly surprised by the request. "Do you mean.... Teach you to fight? That would take a bit longer than I think you imagine, but I suppose I could try to teach you a few things on the way to your village. I will warn you though, I've never trained anyone before, so things might be a bit confusing," she continued after a momentary pause, inwardly thinking of how she might even begin to instill her skills into another. She'd never imagined doing as much before, and had no idea where to start.

"I'll think on it overnight... But I have to say, it's a noble and prudent decision to try and learn to defend yourself and your family. I won't hold you to the same oaths that I've made, obviously, and I don't expect you'll turn into a bandit overnight, but I would hope that you'd never use anything that I teach to hurt someone unnecessarily."

 

[GargantuaBlarg]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

John smiled. "Well, I'll try m'best ter pick up what ya's teach me best I can, Milady. S'long as it makes me more capable a' beatin' off any o' them marauders what come 'n threaten my sister should I ever see 'em agin, I reckon I'm all fer it."

He smiled contentedly, as he made it clear he wanted to learn the art of combat, and continued to smile as Augustina praised him... though when she mentioned even the possibility of his turning bandit or using what she would teach him outside of self-defense, the farmer's face fell quickly. "'Course not!" he said sharply. "I ain't never gunna turn t'that! No sir an' no ma'am. Ah jus' want it to keep m'sister from harm, is all, no how am I gunna turn inta the chicken-lickin' rag-pickin' wood-skulkin' evil sort who shoots up honest folk just goin' about the business forced on 'em from a man call's hisself 'Lord', what be demandin' food ter feed folk what turn waylayer when 'ey tire a' lickin' 'is boots. No sir, I's a better man n' 'at," he continued, words falling from his mouth like water from a leak sprung in a dam.

The table tensed up, (save Hugo, was still pouring now-flat alcohol from cup to cup, blissfully ignorant of the conversation), and went silent.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

John's reaction to her agreement and to her stipulations about it were pretty much exactly what Augustina had expected. The will to fight often came from passion, whether it be love or hatred, but the knight knew that it could be no less destructive if born from the former than if it were born from the latter. It was a cold truth, but one that she knew that she had to admit freely to herself, lest she fall into that trap herself. The colorful phrasing of it and the silence that followed came as something of a surprise, and it took some willpower to keep from bursting into laughter at Hugo's continued obliviousness, but after a few seconds the composed knight sighed, breaking the silence easily so as not to seem confrontational.

"Your heart is in the right place," she began easily, her tone leaving only hints that the man might not like what he was about to hear, "But then, it usually is for men who want to learn how to fight." She paused and eyed him for a moment before adding; "How many of those soldiers turned bandit have thought the same as you, made oaths to protect their own based on principles just likes yours? I would bet most of them, if not all of them started off as decent men. It could even be argued that they're still decent men, though probably not very successfully. My point is, you have to learn more than just how to fight if you want me to teach you. I won't force you to replicate my oaths, but if you want to learn from you, the first thing you're going to learn is discipline. I'm not talking about the rod either; you'll have to learn to discipline yourself!"

 

[GargantuaBlarg]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Spoiler

Augustina Carpenter!
Hit Points (HP): 63/65
Pleasure to Orgasm (PP): 45
Spirit Energy (EP): 34/50

Status = Not too shabby. Also oh god how long have I been forgetting these

John stewed in Augustina's words for awhile, propping up his head on his hand, and his hand on the table. The rest of the group sat silent, leaving an awkward silence over them, before at last he muttered, "Yeah, well, s'differ'nt. Soldier's ain't got no trade but fightin', an' I ain't got that problem. Gots me acreage 'at takes t'seed just fine. Even if'n we just work the land, it makes 'nough fer us ta eat an' t'pay our taxes, so's I ain't got no reason t'prey on innocent folk. Ain't no reason fer me ter risk m'hide inna pointless fight, either - who's a'gonna look after Mary 'en?"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

"Aye, but who's to say that some tragedy won't befall her? Or your farm? My skills are not for one who would go out seeking revenge either, and there are other tragedies that could befall a village besides the violent ones. It's no coincidence that banditry tends to increase in times of drought," Augustina said patiently, "These are all the sorts of things that the philosophical portions of my order warn against, and so you're getting the same, albeit watered down a bit for the sake of haste given our time constraints."

 

[GargantuaBlarg]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Spoiler

Augustina Carpenter!
Hit Points (HP): 63/65
Pleasure to Orgasm (PP): 45
Spirit Energy (EP): 34/50

Status = Not too shabby.

"Me!" John said, slamming his hands onto the table, rising to his feet. "I's ta say nothin' happens t'her or our farm - 'As why I wanna learn sommat, so's I kin do it better!"

Almost as soon as he finished, he blushed, looking embarrassed. After a moment, he spoke again - this time his voice quiet mumble, only just barely audible over the din of the alehouse's chatter. "Fergive me Milady, I spoke outta turn. T'ain't proper fer me ta use such a tone t'wards neither a lady nor someone I owe s'much. I'll... may'ap I'll... I'll think over whatcha said, but... Issa long road in frunna us t'morrow, so's I think I'll turn in," he said, before leaving his seat and heading up the stairs.

"Poor lad," said big Ulman, dispelling the silence over the table once John had disappeared into the corridor above. "'E's a real hothead 'e is. Don't think 'e'll take t'lessons well."

Perhaps thinking over John's accusations, no one seemed in an especially chatty mood anymore. They lingered for some time, finishing their drinks, until one by one, they all excused themselves as well, heading out the door back towards their sleeping areas, where ever those might be. Van, the one with the nose for trouble, was last to leave - he towed Hugo along with him.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Augustina didn't flinch at John's outburst. Not even a little. It hadn't come as much of a surprise for one, and the paladin was hardly unused to violent men. In response to the shame that crept over his face, she simply scowled back calmly and waited for him to finish his apology. When he spoke of going to bed, she nodded without comment and let him go, though once he was gone and Ulman made his comment she could only offer another nod.

"He has a good heart," she said hopefully, "But you are not wrong. I'll simply have to discipline it out of him, or teach him to control it." She was confident enough in her ability to do either, but it became plain that the conversations for the night were mostly over. She made some effort to remain sociable, but after finishing their drinks the soldiers started heading off one by one. She said goodbye to each one, including a mirthful goodbye to Hugo as Van carried him out, before padding upstairs and returning to her room. Her intent was to go to bed for the night, and if she found Mary sound asleep and no other disturbances to worry about, Augustina would take a moment to meditate before doing just that.

 

[GargantuaBlarg]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Spoiler

Augustina Carpenter!
Hit Points (HP): 63/65
Pleasure to Orgasm (PP): 45
Spirit Energy (EP): 34/50

Status = Not too shabby.

Augustina found Mary had drifted off by the time she returned to her room. For someone so proper-acting and demure, she was snoring pretty loudly... which made meditation and falling asleep both a little more difficult than it would have been were she alone - as had been just the night before, travelling the roads by her lonesome - but nevertheless, Augustina gathered her thoughts and found her rest - so deserved after the long day.

It was still dark when Augustina awakened - her early bedtime having allowed her ample time to enjoy her sleep, which was made all the more restful by the fresh sheets she had spent them in - heaven, compared to hard ground that was all one had when travelling. Arguably, having Mary to share her sleep with could have made it sweeter... but of course, it also meant Augustina also had to deal with her snoring.

Speaking of the timid farmgirl, she seemed to be missing from where she had curled up in Augustina's arms last night. Augustina quickly realized that this was because she was already up and getting dressed - her bottom presented to Augustina as she bent, pulling up her skirt.

Turning to pick up her blouse, she noticed Augustina was up, and blushed. "Milady A-Augustina!" She said, surprised. "Ah, G-good morning! I hope I didn't disturb you getting up... a-and, forgive me, for falling asleep while you w-were downstairs last night..." One arm moved to bashfully cover her nipples, though it seemed more out of propriety than of shame.

 

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Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Though she admitted freely that the sound of Mary's snoring was fairly irritating, it was hardly the worst disturbance that Augustina had had to sleep through, and so she stripped to her skin and laid herself down beside the farm girl, and eventually fell asleep. She awoke after a night of reasonably good rest, her overall tiredness allowing her to largely ignore Mary's loud snoring, to find the girl gone but a few feet away, bent over as she hitched up her skirt. Augustina was quick to awaken when she did, and so was able to smile appreciatively at the girl's backside for a moment before being noticed.

"It's quite alright, really!" Augustina replied graciously, offering the girl a reassuring smile as she climbed out of bed herself, fully naked and decidedly unashamed of that fact in front of Mary. "You were exhausted, and it wasn't long before your brother went to sleep as well. I wasn't downstairs for very long." Rising to her feet, Augustina carefully folded her finer clothing and put it away before getting to work donning her own clothing, donning the usual gear she wore beneath her armor before setting about assembling the suit of plate armor. It was an arduous and slow task that required a great deal of patience, but it would be even more cumbersome to simply carry all of it and would keep her protected in case she was attacked on the road, so on it went. She would gladly enlist Mary's help in this, making the task a go a bit quicker, but if the farm girl left before she could or didn't want to help Augustina would have it all on eventually anyway.

"Shall we go and see about breakfast?" Augustina asked brightly, already fully awake. She fully intended to head downstairs and see who was awake immediately, though she would make every effort to keep her heavy armor from producing too much noise along the way.

 

[GargantuaBlarg]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Spoiler

Augustina Carpenter!
Hit Points (HP): 63/65
Pleasure to Orgasm (PP): 45
Spirit Energy (EP): 34/50

Status = Not too shabby.

Mary's cheeks reddened as Augustina rose, babbling protests. "M-m-milady, p-p-please, you m-mustn't sully your - I mean - aah...!" Having moved her hands to protest only to realize she exposed herself as she did so, Mary eventually just spun around, her ears nearly glowing red with embarrassment.

Eventually - once she got over her bashfulness, and presumably recalled how much time they'd spent bare-breasted in each other's company, in far more intimate circumstances, Augustina saw Mary peek behind to look at her. Once she'd began to put on her armor, the peasant-girl left swallowed - both physically and metaphorically, putting aside her modesty - and came over to help with strapping on the protective heavy plates and elsewise... though she was still blushing all the while as she helped.

The girl blushed when she mentioned breakfast, hurrying to finish dressing before following Augustina out.


Creeping back out and down the stairs, Augustina saw only a few souls up - even for the workers and men here, it was early. A man was at the bar, though, taking orders - as evidenced by the bagels, hot teas, fruit, and other assorted breakfasts a few of those already up had.

John joined them some time after they'd gotten something to eat. "Mornin'," he said, somewhat subdued, though he still wrapped up his sister in his arms in a hug, and kissed her on the temple. "How you feelin', sis? You need me ta fetch y'anythin'?" To which she responded with 'good mornin''m 'fine', and 'no'.


Eventually, they heard old Bertrand's voice outside, and found the four soldiers once more, along with the mage Burke had lent them - the woman's eyes rather frostily meeting Augustina's, just before she dipped into a curtsy. John ran off to retrieve the wagon - laden with supplies, which they must've bartered for at some point yesterday - and Augustina noted that the the mage wore little more besides a rather plain green dress, and carried little beyond a rucksack, beltknife, and a walking staff - though, out of the corners of her eyes, Augustina thought she saw flickers of light that vaguely looked like they formed words on the cloth - though they neither spelled any words she was familiar with, nor indeed resembled and language she might have known.

"Are all our affairs in order, that we might be ready to leave?"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Leaving Mary in the arms of John, Augustina went off and got something that would be quick and easy to eat, a bagel that she coated in some sort of jam. She got a glass of milk and some sort of piece of fruit as well, and after paying whatever she owed for the modest meal and recognizing Bertrdand's voice coming from outside, Augustina opted to leave the tavern. She was surprised to find the soldiers assembled outside, and after sweeping her gaze over the assembled group and the supply-laden wagon she opted to break the ice by saying; "Well, I hope you packed in an extra wheel or two! Wouldn't want to have to come all the way back here if the wagon breaks down again." Her voice was bright, displaying no signs of fatigue whatsoever, and in truth she felt none at the time. She always had been an easy riser.

She didn't offer any acknowledgement to the frosty gaze offered by the mage that had been lent to them by Lord Burke. She noted the odd writing that seemed to shimmer on the edges of her garments but didn't comment on them, not being knowledgeable enough in the practice of magic to make much sense of them. Addressing the soldiers, Augustina said; "Are you four here to see us off? We'll be departing presently unless anyone has any other business that they'd like to attend to." She glanced at the two civilians and then at the magus, waiting for any acknowledgement from them that they were ready before looking curiously back to Bertrand.

 

[GargantuaBlarg]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Spoiler

Augustina Carpenter!
Hit Points (HP): 63/65
Pleasure to Orgasm (PP): 45
Spirit Energy (EP): 34/50

Status = Not too shabby.

John had quickly shifted to chattering with his sister, who talked quietly with him. They seemed to be planning

The tavern-keeper - a different man than the one last night, a burly sort whose face was only just beginning to develop the crevasses of age, a widow's peak of black sprouting from his head - smiled after he brought Augustina her choice of breakfast. "One denar will cover it, lass," he started. "Though, I'm runnin' a mite low on honey... if you've go' any, I'd be happy t'trade," he said, leaning forward on the counter, eyes twinkling.


"'Course we did," Bertrand replied when Augustina came outside and made her remark about spare wheels. He thumped the cart next to a crate. "Righ' in 'ere." His expression darkened just a bit, though. "I dinnae if anyone mentioned t'ye, milady, but accordin' to one of th'men ye brought what fix't it, that last wheel had been sabotaged. Sawn through, partway - thought part of th'break was too clean, 'e said."

When asked what they were doing here, Bertrand spoke up again to answer. "Nay, we-"

"We are here t'perform our duty as commanded by Lord Burke!" sounded Hugo, cutting Bert off - he showed no sign of the state he'd been in last night, standing ramrod straight. "We are to shield Lady Wythie in battle an' from the pree-dations of Rarde's Bandits, an' act as sentries during the night, to provide safety as Lady Augustina an' Lady Wythie take they's rest! We, a' course, will also attend to our duty to tha people under Lord Burke's domain, and shield them from the dangers that lurk in the forests, be they beast or men!"

John and Mary were already climbing onto the cart, and Thalia climbed up shortly after, to take a seat amongst the goods they were transporting back. John looked to already be muttering under his breath, glancing at Hugo.

"Them 'at command says s'best fer us t'escort them home, since we's most familiar with ye an' them two, n' what lurks fer us on th'road," Bertrand said quietly, once Hugo had clammed up.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

"Ahhh, I'm sorry to hear that," Augustina said, more than a little surprised by the innkeeper's offer to trade for honey rather than have her pay in coin. It wasn't unheard of for men in this particular business to do as such when they ran low on certain things, and Augustina had received such propositions before, but never from a tavern in a town so seemingly well supplied as this one. "I'll put down double since I decided to make use of something that you were running low on then! I'm afraid that I usually cannot carry such luxuries on my person when I travel, so I have no honey to trade. If I notice anyone with a supply to sell, I'll be sure to remember to direct them to you!" she said, and then paid double the cost for her breakfast by laying down two coins in place of one.

Once she was outside, Augustina nodded grimly to Bertrand's revelation about the broken wagon wheel, having suspected that such was possible but lacking in the expertise to check one way or another. Hugo's boisterous response to her other question cut her off before she could speak further on the dark subject at hand, however, and Augustina gave the soldier a feigned smile and nodded gratefully. "Ahhh, I am grateful for the added presence then!" she replied, "The presence of so many able bodied men will surely ward off any potential bandit attacks!"

That was all that she wished to say on the subject, however, and so she went on to say; "I feel good about this venture.... Is there any other business we must tend to before getting underway? I feel ready when you lot are."

Once they had been on their way for a time, Augustina casually moved beside Bertrand and, after giving him a nod, spoke in a low whisper so as not to let the others in on their conversation; "If that wheel was cut, then the bandits must have planned that attack and had someone in place to sabotage the wagon. The question is.... Where would it have been sabotaged? Back at the village? Along the road? You were with the wagon longer than I, so your guess is probably better.... But if it happened back in town, there must be someone friendly to the bandits residing there.... Or here with us." Something occurred to her, and she added; "Have the wheels on the wagon now and the spares been checked?"

 

[GargantuaBlarg]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Spoiler

Augustina Carpenter!
Hit Points (HP): 63/65
Pleasure to Orgasm (PP): 45
Spirit Energy (EP): 34/50

Status = Not too shabby.

"I- wh-- uhh." The barman stuttered, flabbergasted. "Olright, then. Thank y'kindly, enjoy yer breakfast, lassie," he said, taking the pair of Augustina's coin.

---

"Nay, milady, we're fit t'leave as soon as able - they went a-dickerin' with th'quartermaster n' have everythin' loaded that they're takin' home with 'em," Bertrand replied when she asked if they were ready. Augustina noticed a few hogs and goats hitched to the wagon on a leader line of rope, as well, and a few chickens caged in the cart-bed.

"Bought some animals off the folk 'ere," John said, appearing from somewhere and clambering up to the driver's seat, taking hold of the reins. "They'll 'elp with our herds - or at least buy us a few more weeks if'n ya can't pacify the monster, aye - ow!" Mary pinched a fold of his arm in between her fingers, twisting. She was glaring at him, and mouthing something that looked suspiciously like 'don't be rude'. "N-not that I mean anythin' by that, a'course, milady," he quickly amended. Paw allus said ta plan fer th'worst, even while y'hope fer the best."

There was little else to be done, and their destination was several days' travel away, so before much more time was lost dallying, Augustina and the wagon set out.


They were heading back on the very same road they'd been attacked on - much like last time, there was little indication anything foul was afoot. The hard-packed soil of the road was flanked on either side by several feet of cleared ground before the surrounding forest asserted itself, stumps dotting the cleared land where trees had been felled.

When Augustina pulled alongside Bertrand and queried him about the wheel, his eyes briefly flicked over to her, though the rest of his head did not. "There's some three days betwixt Kegrove and the sibling's village, so's if'n it was cut there, it would've been a mighty fluke indeed for the wheel to have lasted 'till but a half-hour from Kegrove proper. We were part of a train - some six wagons, all total - but of the other men, t'weren't much t'say was out of th'ordinary," he said, quietly. "If they did it on th'road, they would've had t'get past our nightmen keepin' watch... unless, as y'say, th'saboteurs were among our numbers. S'not unthinkable, though... a number a' our stalkers, scouts n' hunters followed ol' Ironguts when he deserted, aye, 'long with th'rest..."

He stroked his beard. "If'n y'mean t'ask me if any o' us mightn't be a spy fer 'em, I'd remind ye that they charged - and hurt - alla' us what was present," he said. "Save fer me, I suppose, but only fer my hand with m'shield. An' you. An'... John, I s'pose, but he's been protective o' that sister a' his ever since we left his village - I cannae think he'd bear t'have her wounded as she was. The only new 'un among us is Milady Wythie up there... she inn't one t'mingle with common folk like I n' my own, so I couldn't tell ye of her sympathies, though mage or no, I couldn't see how she'da had a hand on our wheel. May'ap you should try to get t'know her y'self, Milady? I'd put denarii up that, her bein' assigned t'yer labors, she'll be more inclined t'not snub ye."

"As fer our spares... aye, I looked after 'em m'self. One's hangin' off the side, like usual'd be - it's but a decoy, though, fer another's up in a crate what Milady Wythie's perched on."

 

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Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Augustina was quite confused by the innkeeper's flabbergasted state, and it wouldn't be until she had pondered his words for some time that she would realize exactly what he had been suggesting. It would bring a brief smirk to the lady knight's face, particularly since she hadn't caught it initially, but in truth she wouldn't have agreed to prostituting herself for her breakfast on most days anyway, so it was little matter that she hadn't caught his suggestion. Still, it was something to ponder on should she return there.

Later, on the road out, Augustina frowned still at Bertrand's words, his reassurance that none of their party were of the sort to consort with bandits given that all of them had been wounded in the brief skirmish ringing true but not offering her much solace. "Perhaps it was done by someone who was part of the train you were on?" Augustina asked speculatively, unable to come up with a better explanation for the mystery of the broken wheel. "It matters not," she added after a moment's thought, "I believe that everyone with us can be trusted... At least enough not to sabotage us. We might be attacked by a random group, but they likely wouldn't be as well organized as the last. Still, we had best keep alert."

She glanced then towards the magus sitting on the cart, a soft frown upon her face. She didn't know the serious and distant girl in the slightest, but given that she would be relying on her skills in the coming days, that would have to change.... And three days was a long time to change it. As such, after giving a grim nod of (sort of) farewell to Berthane, Augustina would part from him, but wait a while before approaching Wythie, at which point she would say; "So.... I don't know much about you. Have you any experience in matters as dangerous as these?"

 

[GargantuaBlarg]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Spoiler

Augustina Carpenter!
Hit Points (HP): 63/65
Pleasure to Orgasm (PP): 45
Spirit Energy (EP): 34/50

Status = Not too shabby.

After a bit of a wait in which Thalia sat looking at her feet, seemingly thinking on her answer - strange, it seemed unusually long a time, despite only being a few moments - the mage finally answered. "Battle magic and danger are not strangers to me - as a mage, I have taken study at the Necropolis with my master, even if my abilities are not precisely in tune... with their usual body of lessons. One year I recall a failed summoning, which I helped to arrest before any major damage could be done with my vines."

They were some distance out of Kegrove by now. Wythie's hands, bare and empty, came together for a moment, and the mage started speaking again. Whatever she was difficult to understand for Augustina, even if she leaned in - though after some point, the half-demon would realize it was because the woman wasn't speaking any common tongue. The soldiers seemed unimpressed, though it looked as if the two farmers noticed this as well, as they turned to see what she was doing - and shortly, Wythie pulled away one hand, and Augustina saw a brown rat unfold itself in her palm and hop off, scurrying across to the driver's seat - where it elicited a curse from John and a muffled shriek from Mary as it bounded up, then off onto a rein, and then off onto the ground, where it disappeared into the underbrush on one side of the road. The two farmers looked back, and Augustina saw some measure of fear in Mary's eyes, while she saw John make a peasant's sign against evil with one hand, shielded from Thalia's view by his body. "Them things better'n start a'gnawin' our goods, y'hear?" The brother said, trying to sound firm, though his voice was a bit shaky.

The mage ignored them, producing a second rat and dropping it off the cart's side, and then folded her hands in her lap while it scurried into the opposite side's greenery. The mage straightened her back, sitting straighter, and her eyes started to twitch, as if tracking invisible visions, though otherwise she seemed as poised as she had before.

"My primary duties are helping the places Lord Burke halts his armies in produce enough for his men, and such tasks pertaining to this - the others are his war mages, however. For the most part, in any skirmishes that I must involve myself in, I produce beasts as I just did and send them forth with the men - sometimes vines, as well. But as I've said, it is not my primary concern."


Without turning to look at Augustina, the mage asked a question of her own. "I'm afraid I must confess ignorance of your person as well - may I ask how a lady comes to find herself girded for battle in such costly armament, seemingly without even squire to help her with it?"

 

[Tassadar]

Re: GargantuaBlarg Test Thread

Augustina would watch and listen to Thalia carefully, avoiding interruption as the mage spoke and then concentrated on whatever magic she was working. The knight's eyebrow raised at the sight of the conjured rat that had appeared in the other woman's hands, but she lacked any extreme outer reaction like John and Mary had. She had seen magic before, used both for good and for ill, and while she might share some of the opinions about magic with her fellow Badarians she wasn't so superstitious as to find what Thalia had done.

"Fair enough," Augustina replied once the mage's explanation was delivered, "I know not what we will find at our destination, but I suppose you will find ways to make yourself useful when we confront the creature terrorizing their village."

The question regarding her own origins drew a brief and slight frown from Augustina, a mild distaste for speaking of her own past briefly staying her tongue before, in the interests of cooperation, she decided to give a partial answer to the mage's curiosity; "I inherited them, and received my training from the same order as my mother. Female knights may be rare, but they are hardly unheard of. Particularly these days. I have no squire because my training was incomplete when I was forced to leave my order for... Personal reasons."