The young child gasped, "So you go all by yourself? Don't you get lonely like that?" She suddenly became very quite and looked a little solemn. "I get lonely sometimes... I miss my friends and, and my mommy." Mily was getting emotional and started to cry.
Her father wrapped his arm around her and leaned in as she reached out to return his embrace. "It's going to be alright, Michelle." Garret cooed softly, "Daddy's here and we're going to make lots of new friends in Wistvale." The next thing he said was more effective in soothing her, "Look, you've already made one new friend." Mily stopped crying and looked up to see Jonah looking back at her.
Post by John Harding on Aug 19, 2011 5:15:58 GMT -5
Jonah didn't like to see a little one feeling upset, so he beamed one of his warm smiles and winked.
That's right, Mily. We're good friends now. That's the great and fun thing about travelling; I get to make new friends wherever I go, so I never feel lonely.
The Akaiyan tribesman had made many friends on the road and left behind family and friends back in the Valley; missed but not forgotten.
Hey, do you want to know a secret?
He leaned in closer, making it seem highly secretive, and whispered.
I miss my mom, too.
Last Edit: Aug 19, 2011 5:21:49 GMT -5 by John Harding
After a few moments ((unless Jonah has more he'd like to say)) Garret speaks up, "Jonah, do you have any plans for once you reach Wistvale? Do you have money for food or to for a night at an inn?
Post by John Harding on Aug 19, 2011 17:38:33 GMT -5
No, nothing planned. Once i'm in town i'll have a look around; meet the locals, see the sights, soak up the atmosphere. I haven't got a scrap of gold on me but there's always someone offering temporary work. Maybe i'll end up serving in a tavern.
He laughed.
And i'm no stranger to sleeping under the stars.
Last Edit: Aug 19, 2011 17:39:07 GMT -5 by John Harding
"That's fair enough," responded the man. "Sometimes I forget not all men have a young lady to look after." The man laughed for a short moment. He knew it wasn't really that funny.
Suddenly, the coach slowed down to a stop as the driver pulled tight on the reigns. "Ironson! Pureheart! We got trouble!"
The men inside the carriage were not able to here him well, but they understood the driver's tone--something was wrong.
Garret opened the door on his side and leaned out. "Highway bandits." If Jonah was observant to such things, he may have noticed the man putting his hand on his side where a sword hilt would normally be.
Post by John Harding on Aug 20, 2011 3:23:26 GMT -5
At the mention of bandits, Jonah became immediately worried about the safety of Garret and Mily. He had grown fond of his travelling companions and wasn't going to let any harm come to them. Jonah had encountered highway robbers before, but the Akaiyan rarely carried anything of value on him, so the only thing they took away with them was a brusied ego and a bloody nose.
He gave Mily a reassuring smile and wink, then said quietly to Garret,
I want you to stay here with your daughter. Do you have a weapon?
Garret looked back at Jonah with a grave face. "I don't have my sword but I can defend my daughter without one. Thank-you." He reached out to grasp Jonah's arm. "You truly have a pure heart. Stay safe, friend."
Post by John Harding on Aug 22, 2011 5:32:23 GMT -5
Jonah gladly accepted Garret's hand and nodded.
See you both soon.
He took a deep breath before casually stepping out of the carriage, keeping one hand rested on the hilt of his sword. The tribesman didn't know how many outlaws to expect but he wouldn't be deterred by numbers.
The rain was still coming down but not near as heavily as before. There were five armed men standing about ten feet in front of the coach. One man was at least seven feet tall and had a large two handed sword. He stepped forward and spoke with a bellowing voice, "You must either give us all of your valuables and weapons, or else fight for your lives and your possessions. Choose NOW!"
One of the two men to his left (on the same side as Jonah) was a smaller slender man with two short, thin and jagged blades. His hair was a long soaked mess that covered part of his face. The other man was about Jonah's size but he wielded a heavy-looking axe.
On the other side of the giant man, another man stood just a bit shorter than Jonah and he held a long spear in his right hand. Beside him and slightly behind him, was an archer of average proportions.
((Sorry if that's not as descriptive as I might normally do, I was in a hurry.))
Last Edit: Aug 22, 2011 11:05:31 GMT -5 by Legault
Post by John Harding on Aug 22, 2011 18:07:11 GMT -5
Jonah made a quick scan of the bandits; the tall one was clearly the top dog, barking his demands like he owned the road, but he wouldn't discount the other four, especially the archer. Jonah would fair well in close combat, but against an enemy far away would mean having to avoid a barrage of arrows. If he could put the carriage between himself and the bowman...
The tribesman gently tapped the pommel of his sword, drawing obvious attention to the fact that he was armed, as he confronted the seven foot outlaw.
You've got that all wrong, friend, we DON'T have to give you our valuables or weapons, and I strongly advise you and your pals go home before you're severely disappointed.
The coach driver!
Out of the corner of his eye, Jonah looked up at the driver's seat, to see if he was harmed...or armed.
The driver sat drenched in his seat but he appeared unharmed. He looked ahead with a grave-set face. He was obviously thinking hard--trying to find a way out of the situation. He seemed to go along with what Jonah was saying. Jonah couldn't tell whether he was bluffing or not--at least, not from the man's voice, expressions or actions. "My friend here's correct. I wouldn't be driving a coach through these parts if I didn't have ways of dealing with pesky highwaymen."
Post by John Harding on Aug 23, 2011 6:11:04 GMT -5
Jonah quietly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the driver was unharmed, but the option to use the carriage as shelter from arrow fire was now out of the question. Rain drops trickled from his brow but he dare not make any sudden movements. Not yet. He needed a plan, one that wouldn't involve his three travelling companions getting hurt. Jonah had to draw the bandits' attention away from the carriage - the archer from the exposed driver, in particular - and towards him, but it would mean leaving the passengers without protection, unless...
The Akaiyan tribesman stepped forward, ahead of the carriage and next to the horses. He glanced back at the driver and gave a slight nod with a look that said "I've got this."
It happened in one quick motion; Jonah's right hand pulled Percy - his darkwood sword, named after his grandfather's pet and friend - free from it's sheath, allowing his left hand to slam hard against the nearest horse's rump. The tribesman sprang forward, digging his sandals into the rain-soaked ground, before he could witness the results of his actions, at the dual-wielding bandit.
If all went according to Jonah's plan, the horses would race ahead with the carriage, right through the band of outlaws, taking Garret and Mily to safety and breaking the line of five in half before the thugs had time to react effectively. The archer would lose his line of sight, blocked by the rapidly moving vehicle, giving Jonah some time to deal with two, maybe three of the troublesome quintet, before tackling the others.
If all went to plan.
Last Edit: Aug 23, 2011 6:19:27 GMT -5 by John Harding
((So much could go right or wrong with this. I had to roll a d20. You got a 12.))
Jonah's plan was a good one. He accounted for almost everything. However, almost is not quite everything. The speaker for the bandits jumped out of the way, towards the right, and the archer was startled and mistakenly fired an arrow off into the woods. The man with the spear was one detail he had not considered well enough. The man stepped back and thrust the spear down, just in front of the back left wheel. That side of the coach bounced high from the obstacle and, upon landing, the wheel sunk into the mud. The horses fought at their reigns protested the situation loudly.
This was all Jonah was able to notice since his attention was now focused on the man with two blades. The ragged man was slightly unprepared for such a bold and unorthodox maneuver. His blades were raised as if he had expected Jonah's last movement to be a strike toward him. He had not expected Jonah to strike the horse's rump instead.
Post by John Harding on Aug 24, 2011 3:26:48 GMT -5
Jonah was now running on survival mode. The tribesman had to dispatch his foes as quickly as possible or his own life may become forfeit. He grasped his blade tightly with both hands and launched his assault on the first bandit, bringing his sword - Percy - through the rain and down at the dual-wielder's head...
(Should I be more descriptive with what happens? I'm not sure how much freedom i'm getting with the outcome of these fight.))
Last Edit: Aug 24, 2011 3:42:59 GMT -5 by John Harding
((I'll decide outcomes for this fight--since other people are involved. Many times it will just be free roleplay and you can dispatch of them however you want--but this is the exception, not the rule. You can be as descriptive as you want you just can't say what other characters do.))
The bandit already had his blades raised when Jonah began his attack, so he attempted to raise them higher and brace for the impact. However, Jonah's sword's came down upon his crossed swords with blinding speed and terrifying strength--a strength the scrawny man simply did not posses. Percy pushed the man's blades down as a dull knife would cut through a fresh loaf of bread. The sword continued to fall until the man no longer lived.
It was then that Jonah saw the large axe swinging toward his right shoulder at a downward angle.
It is possible that Jonah could have heard yelling and shouting on the other side of the coach. Although, there is a slightly better chance that he would have heard Mily's piercing shriek. If he did hear this he would be able to tell that Mily was terribly afraid. If he stopped to listen closer he would be able to learn more... sadly the falling axe may prove to be too great a distraction.