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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 11, 2015 14:50:59 GMT
After leaving the Iron King's presence, Shifter is greeted by Jacob and three other Aetherians. Shifter's supposed rival bows. "Your Excellency. It seems you'll be accompanying us on our journey to the west." Jacob gestures that they need to start walking. "The scouts inform us there are only a dozen of the strangers at present, but we will need to hurry in case they're waiting for friends. This is Martin, Thomas, and Amine. Martin will provide swift transport, while Rebecca will relay back a swift reply to her twin here in the capital should we need to alert His Grace. Amine was born a stranger to our lands, but he knows the Western tribes and is loyal to our cause." It was self-evident to Shifter that Martin and Rebecca were not warriors. Amine though, had likely seen his share of battles. While Martin and Rebecca would almost pass for human if not their decidedly inhuman (and unblemished) skin tones, Amine could be seen a mile away in good sunlight.
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Post by Shifter on Feb 11, 2015 15:08:45 GMT
Shifter stood silent observing with care the one called Amine, he had liked him at first sight, that one should prove to be useful; in the way there he had fully healed and now sported a powerful human face. His eyes sneered at Jacob when was done talking, at least he had had the decendy of calling him Your excellency.
"We'll see the deed done..." He was blunt and quick, swallowing his pride. "Now, how are we travelling?"
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 11, 2015 15:25:28 GMT
In the courtyard, Jacob signals a prepared legion of the undead to begin their march west without them. Shifter then notices the other four Aetherians stepping much closer than is courteous for his station.
"I told you, Your Excellency. Martin is taking us."
Suddenly, Shifter feels the ground abandoning his feet.
Shifter CHA: 21
Shifter maintains his calm in the face of Martin's telekinetic display. Martin is silent the entire trip, but Amine and Rebecca laugh uproariously at the thrill of flight. Jacob occasionally issues directions over the wind without ever raising his voice.
Shifter INT: 32
Shifter silently admits this is pretty damn cool.
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Post by Shifter on Feb 11, 2015 15:40:21 GMT
"So that's what you do, huh?" Shifter exclaimed, with a 'not bad" expression across his face. But after this brief moment of amusement he returned to his sulking amnners.
"What about you, Mr. Amine? What's is your Gift?" He probed the foreigner.
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 11, 2015 23:06:26 GMT
"Me? Why, I'm... oh, by the Great Blue-" Amine turns away and spews his breakfast upon the forest below. He groans and closes his eyes. "Ahh... maybe there's a reason the Old Ones didn't fly."
Rebecca laughs and begins wiping his mouth for him with a rag. "Amine himself is a Gift."
Jacob gives a more practical answer. "Amine is a natural tracker. His path always leads him to his prey, no matter what. It's as if the universe wants him to find you."
Amine laughed weakly. "I like to think think I'm just pretty good, brother."
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Post by Shifter on Feb 11, 2015 23:10:51 GMT
"Interesting..." Shifter muttered under his breath.
The aetherian assumed a sterner stance, hands on his back, impecable porsture and chin held higher than a mountain. He wouldn't let Jacob believe he was, in fact, in command.
"What else can you brief me from the mission, Jacob?"
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 12, 2015 16:59:04 GMT
"Your Gift makes you perfect for reconnaissance. With an appropriate form, beast or bird, you can hear their conversations. The rest of us will remain in hiding until you're sure of their intentions."
Shifter INT: 20
The bindings over Jacob's mouth made it impossible to judge his expression, and the tones of his voice were almost as difficult to recognize. If Jacob was trying to kill or further disgrace Shifter, this would be the perfect opportunity. However, they were already almost to the pass, and Martin was lowering them to the woods near it to avoid easy detection.
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Post by Shifter on Feb 12, 2015 17:08:26 GMT
Fire burned inside Shifter, how could he have been lowered to a simple matter o reconnaissance? This was not right, he could not accept that... But it had been the King's orders, he could not refuse to follow them.
"Of course." Shifter answered as they landed, trying to control his rage.
"Which way should I go, Master Tracker?" He asked Amine preparing to take the form of a Crow.
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 12, 2015 17:18:16 GMT
Amine was silent and stared intently at the west, before gesturing. "They're an hour's walk that way. I can smell... fear. Anger. Hunger. Something's pushing them forward, brother, like a.. a storm."
Jacob nodded. "That's similar what the locals reported, though they're not moving as fast as we feared. Perhaps that suggests something more worrying."
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Post by Shifter on Feb 12, 2015 17:31:22 GMT
Shifter shrugged, or at least tried to in his aviary form.
"I'll be back soon with news..." He said. And flew off to the West.
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 12, 2015 17:59:54 GMT
Shifter saw the smoke over the trees before he saw the band itself. They were Aetherians alright, but not like any he had ad ever seen. At first, all he could make out were their uniforms, black leather and steel. As he flew closer, he realizes were all marked with strange facial tattoos that stirred something deep inside him. A quick headcount shows 18 strangers, one of whom is roasting a great buck over a fire.
Shifter INT: 18
Shifter recognizes these warriors hail from the same clan, but can't discern more without closer study.
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Post by Shifter on Feb 12, 2015 18:04:30 GMT
Shifter had to go closed, still behind the treeline he shifted into a mosquito and pushed further his investigation.
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 12, 2015 18:12:56 GMT
Shifter INT: 23
The soldiers were eerily quiet. Shifter's mosquito ears couldn't hear much if they were actually speaking, but he could smell their fear all the same. Shifter noticed that they rarely blinked, and their eyes were all uniformly unnatural milky white.
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Post by Shifter on Feb 12, 2015 18:17:16 GMT
That would have to make do. His tiny wings buzzed back east to the camp.
"It's a band of eighteen..." Shifter said returning to his human form. "There's something eery about them." He explained the strange unblinking eyes, face tatoos and the stink of fear.
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Post by The Storyteller on Feb 12, 2015 18:28:15 GMT
Amine, the largest of the group, suddenly stepped forward and drew his blade on Shifter. "What did the tattoos look like?!" His tone was low, but harsh. His eyes showed his intent to kill, or die trying, if the answer did not satisfy him.
Jacob made no move to stop him but unstrapped his mouthguard. Martin and Rebecca looked as alarmed and confused as Shifter.
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