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| Attempting Transformations; [For Jian] | |
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| Topic Started: Jun 7 2009, 11:05 AM (185 Views) | |
| Nether | Jun 7 2009, 11:05 AM Post #1 |
Commoner
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A breakthrough, finally. Nether allowed a sincere smile to creep to his lips, closing the book he'd been studying with a loud thumping sound and placing it to rest carefully on a flat rock, close enough to the fire to still see the heavy tome, far enough to avoid accidental burning. The leather cover was quite thick, and treated well enough to be able to survive most sorts of sparks, but why risk it? It took pretty much all his savings to convince the great library of Travena to get him a copy, without a noble or renowned patron to call his own.. after all, not every day you get someone asking for a tome like "Arcane shadows and Demons of the Darkness". An interesting little read, to be sure: it's not common occurrence that you read a book, and find out a good half of it is written about you. Granted, different shapes, different aspects, different times and purposes, so the mortals classified them under many lesser names, with different titles and domains.. but still, it was just.. him. He hoped to get insights in the way wizards thought his natural magic worked while he was still a demon, and from that backtrack to get a small glint of it back to him in this now mortal form.. and hopefully, he succeeded. He'd been right in avoiding the local tavern for the night, opting for a small camp outside of the city instead: not only he'd be able to save some coins, but also to freely experiment his new theories, something that might have gotten the other patrons.. unnerved, to say the least. He crossed his legs, hands on his knees and eyes closed, in a meditative pose, adjusting his breath and relaxing his facial expression, focusing on the night around him, becoming one with the shadows of the world. Inhaling a sharp breath, he started whispering words of power. "..shadows bound in flesh, shackled by magic, freed by magic.. It was working. He could feel it, it was working.. he could feel the muscles under his skin change shape, bones and sinews to follow, from flesh to liquid tendrils of darkness, adjusting to the new form the mage had been visualizing, compressing, compacting, creating first a formless glob of darker night, then becoming more and more detailed. Wings and claws, beak and feathers, less than a minute later a raven was standing where the wizard had been, smoothing its shiny black feathers. Another second, and the transformation came undone, leaving a dumbfounded Nether sitting confused by the fire, panting heavily, already exhausted by such a simple transformation. He'd have to work on that more. |
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| Xue Jian | Jun 7 2009, 02:53 PM Post #2 |
Sword Saint
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The next time I come to Trevena, I should remember to account for how much things cost here, Xue Jian thought as he walked out the city's main gate. Funds were running slim lately, and he'd been unable to find a decent room at a reasonable rate anywhere in the city. Well, there had been a couple of places that were cheap enough, but he was unwilling to pay for a room with a hole in the roof and a bug infestation when he could get that for free out in the wild. After walking the city streets all day, he didn't feel up to flying around on a spirit sword, so he remained on foot as he followed the road leading out of the city. The great expanse of the Enchanted Forest stood before him, but he was not particularly concerned. He'd camped out there often enough to know a few good places, so he set out to find the nearest one that came to mind. Before long, he found it, but luck would have it that someone had already settled in for the night. The next spot was far enough away to give him pause, so he decided that it wouldn't hurt to approach whoever had built this camp and ask if he could share. He doubted they were bandits, camping so close to a major city, so it was probably fairly safe, and of course, Xue Jian was prepared to offer payment in the form of food, water, or coin, if necessary. Stepping into the firelight, however, brought him face to face with an unexpected sight. A man sat before the fire, his black, shoulder length hair framing a face that was oddly free of blemishes or imperfections and more notably, fixed in deep concentration. Soft whispers slipped from the man's lips, but Xue Jian could not make out what was being said. What happened next though, made him forget such minor concerns. The man changed into a bird. A raven it seemed. Xue Jian stared blankly. He'd seen this sort of thing before, so he wasn't all that shocked by it. Still, it wasn't exactly something he'd been expecting to see. Then the bird changed back into the man, who now appeared somewhat out of sorts. Xue Jian cleared his throat, and hailed the man, keeping his hands in plain view as he spoke. "Your pardon, good sir. I come in peace, " he began. "My name is Xue Jian, and I was wondering if you would allow me to share your fire for the night." |
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| Nether | Jun 8 2009, 09:00 AM Post #3 |
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Commoner
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Unexpected side effects. Weren't they fun? Nether's back straightened under the spasms of the still changing muscles, adjusting to the unstable lenght and thickness of his still morphing bones. It's not really pleasant when your skeleton goes apparently at random from full to hollow and back. At least, the magic prevented suffering, so it was just a matter of discomfort. Closing his eyes and inhaling deeply, he willed them back in place, trying to force them to stay still, when a voice broke his concentration. "Your pardon, good sir. I come in peace, " he began. "My name is Xue Jian, and I was wondering if you would allow me to share your fire for the night." Courtesy? That was a surprise almost as big as the sudden voice creeping up to him, almost enough to make him get up to better greet the newcomer. An involuntary twitch next to his shoulder blade suggested against that course of action. Instead, he just turned his head towards the origin of the sound, slower than he'd have liked, but he couldn't really afford any sudden movement if he didn't want to find some random part of his body covered in feathers. Opening his eyes, he took his time to examine the stranger before answering. A tall, broad shouldered man, with his arms lifted in both greeting and sign of peace. The build of a fighter, if he'd ever seen one, especially if he managed to move silently enough to not be noticed with that sort of mass. Or perhaps he'd been too busy trying to not grow a beak to notice his approach. Nodding in recognition, he motioned towards the fire with a movement of his head. "Greetings, Xue Jian" The foreign name felt strange as it rolled out of his mouth, but he was used to stranger ones, and thought he managed an acceptable job at imitating the way the man pronounced it. "You can call me Nether. Feel free to warm yourself at my fire, even though I definitely wasn't expecting company. That rocks seems to be about as comfy as stone gets, but be careful when you move the book. Forgive me if I don't rise to greet you properly, but as you could probably have guessed yourself if you've been here long enough, I'm facing.. issues" He despised lack of control, and this was the worst possible situation to have company at. But if the man planned to rob him, he'd have slit his throat while he was still distracted, so he probably was really just a traveller looking for a place to spend the night, on the move from the big city. Only one way to find out. |
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| Xue Jian | Jun 9 2009, 12:35 AM Post #4 |
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Sword Saint
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The man nodded stiffly, indicating his both agreement and a place by the fire with that single motion. Xue Jian bowed in appreciation, pleased that things were already off to a decent start. "Greetings, Xue Jian. You can call me Nether. Feel free to warm yourself at my fire, even though I definitely wasn't expecting company. That rocks seems to be about as comfy as stone gets, but be careful when you move the book. Forgive me if I don't rise to greet you properly, but as you could probably have guessed yourself if you've been here long enough, I'm facing.. issues" "I thank you, Mr. Nether," Xue Jian replied, heading over to the rock in question. With great care, he picked up the book and deliberately brought it over to the other man, holding it out with both hands. Xue Jian knew he could have just moved the book and sat down, but he thought Nether would feel more comfortable if his belongings were not situated so close to a stranger. It was natural to be wary of someone who'd appeared uninvited, especially when one was 'having issues', as Nether had put it. In such a situation, Xue Jian felt it was his duty to put his host at ease as much as possible. "Your book," Xue Jian said. As he presented it, he couldn't help but notice the book's title. Taking that into consideration with the fact that Nether had just performed some kind of transformation magic, Xue Jian thought it reasonable to assume the man was a spell caster of some kind, but it was always good to confirm such things about people, especially when one was going to spend the night by the same fire. "Are you a magus, Mr. Nether?" |
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| Nether | Jun 9 2009, 10:55 AM Post #5 |
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Commoner
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Things seemed to be getting back under control as the last tendrils of magic faded and waned, leaving Nether more or less in control of his own body. Good, or his new "friend" would believe him to be paralyzed from the neck down. Slowly experimenting, he extended one hand towards the book, and placed it back into its leather case, leaving it to rest close to himself, next to his backpack. Pleased by the results of the experiment, he tried getting up, outstretching his arms, feeling bones and muscles creak back into their proper place. Slowly moving his head left and right to relax his neck, he answered his guest, finally almost on eye level with him. "Thanks.. and please, feel free to drop the mister: it's not required, and I'm not used to it anyway" Upon hearing his guest's other question, Nether stood silent for a moment, considering what answer to give him.. not really afraid of the reaction his words might get him, more taking his time to consider what he truly felt he was. He'd never been asked the direct question, and finally hearing it springed a thousand thoughts in his mind. "Magus. A title that conjures images of mind blowing mastery of spells, isn't it? Not really something that makes you think of fumbled simple incantations. Yes, I deal in magic.. but no, I don't think I'd be comfortable being called that just now" He took another second to think, before going on with his answer. "I consider myself a scholar. A scholar most interested in arcane matters, sure.. but still a scholar.. and if you're wondering about the book, despite the ominous title, it's not much more than a bestiary and a collection of stories. Still, an interesting read. And how about you, my guest? What's your trade, if you don't mind me asking?" |
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| Xue Jian | Jun 11 2009, 01:29 AM Post #6 |
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Sword Saint
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There was hesitation in Nether's movements, no doubt the result of the 'issues' he'd mentioned earlier, but despite them he was able to put the book away without mishap. The man then stood up and went through a few stretches before giving reply. "Thanks.. and please, feel free to drop the mister: it's not required, and I'm not used to it anyway" Xue Jian nodded. Here was yet another person to ask him not to use honorifics. He thought he should learn to be more casual in his greetings, but it was hard to break himself of such an old habit. "Magus. A title that conjures images of mind blowing mastery of spells, isn't it? Not really something that makes you think of fumbled simple incantations. Yes, I deal in magic.. but no, I don't think I'd be comfortable being called that just now." It struck Xue Jian as a humble and honest answer, one that the young swordsman could appreciate himself, having had his fair share of difficulties in learning his own skills. He was aiming to become a sword sage, but even now, he dared not refer to himself as one for fear of being found unworthy. "I consider myself a scholar. A scholar most interested in arcane matters, sure.. but still a scholar.. and if you're wondering about the book, despite the ominous title, it's not much more than a bestiary and a collection of stories. Still, an interesting read. And how about you, my guest? What's your trade, if you don't mind me asking?" "You could say that I am a scholar as well, Nether. One that follows the path of the sword. Such a path, however, is not complete by itself, so I am exploring these lands in order to learn what swordsmanship alone does not teach." |
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| Nether | Jun 11 2009, 01:21 PM Post #7 |
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Commoner
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"You could say that I am a scholar as well, Nether. One that follows the path of the sword. Such a path, however, is not complete by itself, so I am exploring these lands in order to learn what swordsmanship alone does not teach." Nether sat back on his rock, finally confident enough in his muscles and bones to assume a slightly more relaxed pose, breathing freely and staring at his guest with a glint of curiosity in his dark eyes, his head cocked slightly to the side. That was an.. unexpected reply, and one that made him even more curious. "How interesting. I expected the answer of a warrior, and I got that of a philosopher. Serves me right for assuming. Perhaps this little camping trip will bring more entertainment than at first I believed. Please, tell me of this path, because I think this is something new to me.. and at the same time incredibly familiar, for I could say the same of my magic" Lost in thoughts and words, Nether had almost forgotten he was still running on an empty stomach, but his body, drained by magic beyond what he was willing to show, promptly reminded him with a soft growl of the stomach; giving his guest a light smile, he proceeded to grab his backpack, pull it closer and rummage into the dark folds, soon forming a small pile of assorted knick-knack next to the book. More books, smaller than the one already out, with cheaper covers and already ruined by time and weather. A few nondescript pouches, tiny, leathery and smelling of herbs. And finally, what he'd been looking for: a small pack with travel rations and assorted dry foods. "But I'm being a most ungracious host, where are my manners? Today at our table we have a luscious meal of.. stale bread.. hard cheese.. unidentified-but-cheap salted meat and, since we really want to sin of gluttony, a nut or three. Feel free to take a share, my dear guest Giving his new acquaintance an ironic smile, he presented the food as he would have at a royal banquet. His rations were starting to run thin, but he really wasn't worried about sharing some food: even at the most outrageous prices, he should have been able to replenish easily at the city nearby.. bread and cheese weren't exactly the most costly of foods.. and he was starting to get tired of them, anyway. First order of business when he managed to find the money, a decent meal, not another book. Eyeing the pile next to him, he instantly knew he was deceiving himself. Edited by Nether, Jun 11 2009, 01:25 PM.
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| Xue Jian | Jun 12 2009, 12:24 PM Post #8 |
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Sword Saint
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Xue Jian took Nether's act of seating himself as his cue to do the same and walked back over to the rock he'd been directed to earlier. There he sat with his legs crossed, listening intently as his host spoke. "How interesting. I expected the answer of a warrior, and I got that of a philosopher. Serves me right for assuming. Perhaps this little camping trip will bring more entertainment than at first I believed. Please, tell me of this path, because I think this is something new to me.. and at the same time incredibly familiar, for I could say the same of my magic." The other man's stomach growled then, and Xue Jian realized that he too was famished. Since Nether was the host today though, he waited as the man brought out his pack and dug through its contents, revealing a variety of odds and ends before finally producing rations. "But I'm being a most ungracious host, where are my manners? Today at our table we have a luscious meal of.. stale bread.. hard cheese.. unidentified-but-cheap salted meat and, since we really want to sin of gluttony, a nut or three. Feel free to take a share, my dear guest." "On the contrary, Nether. You've proven a far friendlier host than I could have hoped for out here," Xue Jian replied, gesturing to the wilderness around them. Having subsisted on the same sort of rations for extended periods, he found Nether's selection of food to be nothing out of the ordinary. "And some bread and cheese will be fine for me." Xue Jian stood and approached Nether again, not wanting to force the other man to get up again himself, and reached down to down to take the rations he'd mentioned, talking all the while. "As for my path, it's actually a point of disagreement between my father and my grandfather. Si-Gong often tells me that if one walks the path of swordsmanship long enough, one may come to understand all things, but my father says that doesn't make sense ... that swordsmanship is just learning how to hurt people. What do you think, Nether?" |
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| Nether | Jun 13 2009, 12:10 PM Post #9 |
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Commoner
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"Oh, yes, bread and cheese: the food of gods. And poor adventurers, of course" Breaking a piece of bread, he warmed it his closer to the fire, getting it softer with the heat, and proceeded to eat it down in small chews, alternated with slices of cheese and gulps of fresh water. "Si-Gong?" Another foreign word to him, much like his guest's name. "Is it the name of your grandfather?" That was the only guess he could make, as it was the first time he heard the word, genuine curiosity in the tone of his voice. Laying to rest his half full water skin against the rock he was sitting on, Nether stared into the fire, in a temporary pause from the food, taking his time to think on the question of his guest, and of the possible answers. "You ask an interesting question. My answer is that they are both right" With studied calm, he got himself another bite of bread, chewing on it slowly, his gaze lost among the flames as he elaborated on his answer "Swordsmanship will take you nowhere. it's the art of killing people with a sharp piece of metal, nothing more, nothing less. I have seen people learn how to swing a blade when they were barely old enough to walk, I have seen them carve themselves a path through blood and bones, torn flesh and death, towards the title of champion, hero, or king. I have seen those same people grow withered and grey, their trembly hands still gripping the trusted metal, and I have seen them die, mourned or cursed by legions, buried with their weapons by their side. They were renowned, famous, loved and hated. But enlightened? No. Blinded, maybe, by their need for battle and fame, glory and power. Swordsmanship is a tool for an end, and that end usually is over other people's lives" Nether looked barely thirty, and yet he spoke of events spanning several lifetimes with absolute certainty, as if having been a real witness to the narrated facts. The contradiction was obvious, but he apparently ignored it as he went on speaking, deciding to check something with his guest before further adding to his words. "Now tell me.. if this was my answer, how would you react? If this was everyone's answer, what would you do? If this answer was written in the skies and on the earth, would you kneel to fate?" The hint of a smile on his lips, Nether stared at Xue Jian, waiting for his reaction, the flickering flames of the fire reflected in his eyes. |
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| Xue Jian | Jun 15 2009, 01:55 PM Post #10 |
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Sword Saint
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"Si-Gong? Is it the name of your grandfather?" "No. His name is Sou Jian. Si Gong is just a title. It denotes the fact that he is both my grandfather and also my teacher," Xue Jian explained, hoping it made sense. He didn't really know how else to describe it, but it didn't seem to matter, as the man went on with answering Xue Jian's earlier question. "Swordsmanship will take you nowhere. It's the art of killing people with a sharp piece of metal, nothing more, nothing less. I have seen people learn how to swing a blade when they were barely old enough to walk, I have seen them carve themselves a path through blood and bones, torn flesh and death, towards the title of champion, hero, or king. I have seen those same people grow withered and grey, their trembly hands still gripping the trusted metal, and I have seen them die, mourned or cursed by legions, buried with their weapons by their side. They were renowned, famous, loved and hated. But enlightened? No. Blinded, maybe, by their need for battle and fame, glory and power. Swordsmanship is a tool for an end, and that end usually is over other people's lives." Xue Jian's brow furrowed at this. It was a lot to take in, and the apparent impossibility of what Nether was saying didn't register as Xue Jian considered the man's words. But Nether wasn't finished. "Now tell me.. if this was my answer, how would you react? If this was everyone's answer, what would you do? If this answer was written in the skies and on the earth, would you kneel to fate?" "You seem to be saying that swordsmanship itself is the source of those men's woes. If that was just your answer, I would agree to disagree with you. If it was everyone's answer, I would still walk the path in order to see the end of it for myself. If it was written in the skies and on the earth, then I might start to think the gods were playing a cruel joke on the world. Swordsmanship can certainly be viewed as a tool, and yes it is often used as you described it. But I would say that those men, while they may have used swords and practiced with them, did not see the forest for the trees. For in their pursuit of glory and power, they neglected the most important part of walking the path ... discovering one's true self, and in doing so, conquering one's own weaknesses." |
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| Nether | Jun 17 2009, 12:10 PM Post #11 |
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Commoner
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An interesting answer, and not too dissimilar from what he had expected.. or rather, hoped, to hear. Without actually looking at the fire, Nether tossed another small piece of woods to be consumed by the flames, rekindling them.. better safe than sorry when it came to campfires, and he also liked to take some time between answers, even if just seconds: there are many things one can learn from an answer, if he doesn't reply too suddenly. "Indeed. And yet, if turning swordsmanship into a tool is not the right path, what is it? Perhaps focusing only on your blade, making your very life an extension to your path, your soul a part of your sword. At the end of that walk, you might find yourself.. exalted, to a state different than that of a mortal man. But.. you wouldn't be human any longer. A life more similar to that of a demon, or a god, defined by a simple purpose, a single goal, driven to perfection in body, mind and soul." "That.. is not what you seek, I think" Nether stopped talking just for the time he needed to reach into the pouch of dried fruits and nuts, grabbing some and taking it to his mouth, crunching, deep in thought, apparently lost in a labyrinth of memories. "But it's a concrete risk. The farther you walk along a path such as that, the more power you'll be able to wield. It's inevitable. And the greater the power, the stronger the.. urges. Urges to get more power, urges to crush those you don't like, urges to just.. ignore everything and everyone, and do whatever the hell pleases you" Shaking his head, Nether got his gaze back to the flames, stretching his arms behind him and leaning back, the usual hint of a smile on his lips. "If you can make it.. if you can strive for mastery while keeping hold of your humanity.. that is something I would greatly wish to see. And perhaps this enlightenment I am babbling about so much lies just in that, in the ability to follow the path you chose to the end.. without seeing it perverted to some other end, and without perverting yourself to be just an extension of your path" |
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| Xue Jian | Jun 19 2009, 02:16 AM Post #12 |
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Sword Saint
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Nether went on to describe something Xue Jian had actually been warned about by his grandfather. There were many paths a swordsman could take. Many led to failure. More still led to an early death, and glorious or not, there was always pain and suffering along the way. However, dedicating oneself to the path alone was also folly. Great heights could be reached that way, true, but such a swordsman would be so consumed by the pursuit of perfection that he would miss many important lessons, and his power would become a double edged sword that eventually turned against himself. "If you can make it.. if you can strive for mastery while keeping hold of your humanity... that is something I would greatly wish to see. And perhaps this enlightenment I am babbling about so much lies just in that, in the ability to follow the path you chose to the end... without seeing it perverted to some other end, and without perverting yourself to be just an extension of your path." "I would like to see it too, Nether," Xue Jian replied. Either way you sliced it, Xue Jian knew he had a long way to go on his path, but he found reassurance in the fact that another person seemed to have a similar opinion about it as he did. "What you just described is a concept that Si Gong calls the 'middle' way. He claims that it is the only path to true mastery that does not lead to one extreme or the other." Before Xue Jian could say anymore, a blood curdling cry issued forth from the woods nearby. Almost immediately, Xue Jian was on his feet, facing the direction of the sound, one hand raised to the sword hilt above his right shoulder as he watched for signs of attack. Nothing jumped out at them, and there was no movement in their immediate vicinity, but that didn't mean nothing was out there. They weren't that far from the main route out of Trevena, so the scream suggested that a passing traveler was in distress. But still, Xue Jian was wary of tricks. Turning his head to glance back at Nether, he gave the man a knowing look before cautiously heading out to investigate the sound. Edited by Xue Jian, Jun 19 2009, 06:01 AM.
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| Nether | Jul 11 2009, 10:48 AM Post #13 |
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Commoner
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"And then again.." He added, with a barely noticeable shrug and a sarcastic smile "..sometimes, the simple power to crush your enemies, and everything on the way along with them, is just what you need" He left the phrase at that, not elaborating any further, perhaps intending to leave it as a mysterious warning, but more likely distracted by the sudden springing into action of his guest, who reacted far quicker than him to the scream that was piercing his ears. Losing even more precious seconds to the other man as a few bones of his legs and feet snapped back into their proper place with painful cracks, a grievous reminder of the concentration he allowed to fade during his chat. Doing his best to hide the temporary imbalance, he stumbled upwards with none of the grace of his companion, but ready for anything all the same. No bandits coming out for them yet, luckily.. no screaming beasts out for blood and no crazy wizards summoning heaven and hell against them. Almost a letdown, actually: he'd grown to expect stuff like that. He followed the other man at what he thought was a safe distance, close enough to keep him well inside his line of sight and to be able to act should something happen, and far enough to be sure to be well away from anything that tried to get its claws, fangs or tentacles on him. Cynic, of course.. but Xue Jian was the one who had a sword and looked able and willing to use it, not him.. so, to each their own: it was nonsense to lose effectiveness just to make a show of useless bravery. With one last look at the camp, longing in his eyes for the abandoned stash of books, he posed himself to follow the stranger, scanning the area as he edged forward. He was tempted to try another transformation, actually.. perhaps a feline of some sorts: a panther would have much less trouble in the starlit darkness of the night, and not many muggers are keen on attacking a kitten as big as them with fangs the size of their fingers. Especially because cats rarely have coinage on them. In the end, he decided against the idea. Another failure would be rather.. catastrophic, and it wasn't an event so unlikely to dismiss it as a baseless worry. He was ready to tap into that magic, but not willing to do so without a good enough reason. |
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| Xue Jian | Jul 15 2009, 03:58 PM Post #14 |
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Sword Saint
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The sight which greeted Xue Jian as he neared the sound's point of origin was nothing like what he'd expected. A slim young girl lay huddled next to a tree, her knees drawn up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them. Long, tangled, black hair cascaded down her back and obscured her face from view, although small glimpses of pale skin could be seen as she rocked back and forth. Her clothes consisted of nothing but a tattered white dress ... at least it used to be white, and her feet were bare and dirty with dust from the ground. Xue Jian shot Nether a brief questioning glance before cautiously stepping closer to the girl, calling out to her. "Young lady, are you alright? Can we be of assistance?" There was no response, and as Xue Jian grew closer he realized that the girl was sitting in a dark pool of blood and gore, although he didn't think it belonged to her. By the amount, she wouldn't have been able to remain conscious, let alone be sitting there rocking. He took another step closer and the girl's head slowly turned to look at him, one eye staring out at him through a small part in her hair. For a long moment, she gazed at them, almost unsure if what she was seeing was real, until she finally spoke. "H-h-help... mu-muh-muh-me..." |
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12:23 PM Mar 19
