Fantasy Tales of Ristafel

[spandez]

"Ajax, you want to help me uproot a tree to make a bridge? I mean the whole thing. Just drag it up here and break off the branches, use the trunk as a bridge. Looks like we're not the only people who'll be passing through, judging by the path below."


Ragnvald laid down his pack, picking up a few hefty rocks and pocketing them. After all, these would be good for scaring off wild animals or for makeshift axes.

 

[Boomrocker]

Before Vallen could respond to Ajax's infinite prodding, El Saldo took his student aside for a quick chat. Everyone else appeared to have food and warmth plans well in hand, so he permitted himself this little opportunity.


"My boy, I am your master, so you may talk to me about any thoughts you may have. But, I wish to know," he asked sincerely, "the shoes, do they bother you so?"

 

[MechaGhoul]

Pressmaster Crawley somewhat listened to the various conversations around him. Some wanted to take and build a shelter to escape the conditions of the weather. Others were planning on the construction of the bridge. Pressmaster Crawley glanced back at the hole. "Good thin' I got t'spikes." After all, Crawley knew the great importance of the marlin spikes and how versatile of a tool it was.


The exploration of the tomb, was not too important. After all, it wasn't involving the seas; however he wanted it finished as quickly as possible. After all the longer this diversion took, the longer it'd take before he could properly train his future seamen.


And judging by the conditions of things, he would need to train them properly. Flicking out his tongue, the Pressmaster licked his lips as he began singing to himself.


"Hi-diddle-dee-dee./


A sailor's life fer me/


Pouch o'hardtack 'n a sturdy ship./


Boatswains fixin' with lil slip./"


He proceeded to hum he tune, as he headed over towards the mines.

 

[DergTheDergon]

Vallen sighed as el Slado pulled him aside. As he spoke his tone was emotionless and monotone. "No, I am fine. The shoes themselves are far less bothersome than the fact that a certain someone seems to think they're the most amusing thing to ever exist.... but honestly it's getting to where I can ignore even that due to sheer repetition. There are.... other things on my mind that are contributing far more to my current state of mind." After saying this, he found himself turning away and staring off into the distance. "Perhaps I shouldn't have given up on Ayrenn so quickly...." Vallen did not realize he was thinking out loud.

 

[Xenonia]

Emerald winced as she heard Vallen's words. The refusal of her friend to continue on this journey had upset her, and it was equally as upsetting to find that Vallen still pined after the departed girl. Emerald was starting to wish she hadn't come either, but she knew she was an integral part of the mission now: They had only brought such scant supplies because of Emerald's reassurance that she could summon whatever was needed. If she were to leave, the party would be in a tough spot for sure... And Emerald did not want that. Hearing Hachi's complaints about a lack of flammable materials, she began to focus. "I suppose I should start pulling my weight," she said to nobody in particular. Soon, a bundle of wooden rods filled up Emerald's hands. "This ought to do. Now we only need worry about shelter."

 

[Zerohex]

Ajax shrugged at the giant monkey man's suggestion. "Sure, I could do it on my own but it might be faster if someone else uses some muscle around here. Gotta say, tho, laying down a tree ain't no bridge, it could roll and fall or throw someone off. Gotta secure it first". Ajax had, indeed, seen people fall off cliffs trying to use makeshift bridges made of trees. He gave a thumbs up to the etherborn girl when she provided ample kindling. "Well look at that, less work for us. Nice to see others doing their part. Now, shall we go get a tree?"

 

[MechaGhoul]

And so the Pressmaster made his way into the mines, making sure he remembered the exact direction he took getting in. After all, he would need to get across that hole and to the tomb. But, since this was not a journey across the sea it didn't require much diligence. So Crawley could explore the mines. Perhaps it would have something useful in it. Or perhaps it would not. Either which way, Pressmaster Crawley decided on his course of action in exploring the mines.

 

[Blumenkranz]

The entrance to the mine was partially covered in mud. A giant pile of rocks and dirt had fallen from the grounds above, which obstructed half of the opening. Despite this, however, slipping past this obstacle was but a small annoyance.


The interior of the cave had a really poor illumination. Even though the sun was still shining with all its might outside of the cavern, the orientation of the hole and its shape didn't allow for much light to enter. Nevertheless, some shapes were yet discernible in the dimly lit hall.


Some steps in, two rusty oil lanterns covered in dust hanged from one of the wooden containment frames, both with still some oil inside them, but not enough to sustain a fire. Luckily for the party, however, there was what probably used to be a wine bottle at the base of the wooden beams filled to one quarter of its capacity with oil, presumably left there to refill the lanterns when they ran out of fuel.


As the party kept adventuring themselves into the cavity, a series of small floating light spheres slowly phased into existence around Laria, which started to follow her around the cave. While not blindingly shiny, their white light provided just enough light to allow the party to be fully aware of their surroundings.


After ten meters of cold rock walls, the crew finally found a big aperture to the right of the tunnel. Indeed, it was a decently sized cavern, the looks of which seemed to be partially natural, partially modified by the actions of the miners. Inside it, there were some shelves full of tools one would expect of a mine, specially old and rusty pickaxes and some oversized shovels, a few of them covered in cobwebs. Three wooden wheelbarrows laid to the sides of two giant piles of what seemed to be iron ores.


A puddle of mud formed around the center of the room, illuminated by some faint sun rays. Indeed, there seemed to be an opening in the roof; a hole in the cold stone which allowed some rain to enter the cavern.


"It is almost like everybody suddenly forgot about this place", said Laria.

 

[CallSign]

Lily scoffed at the pressmaster's suggestion of flight. "Ha! That'd be the day. Just picture it: Ajax with a pair of birdy wings!" It seemed the party member who could actually fly had completely forgotten her own ability and wouldn't be offering her services.


She straightened up and moved away from the ledge. Seeing the tree reaping adventure was taken care of, she moved to the entrance of the mines, hoping to have a mini adventure within, and entered with the others on the expedition. Upon reaching the cavern, she immediately moved to the shelves and hoisted a pickaxe.


"Maybe they were chased out by something and didn't WANT to remember." Lily smiled mischievously. "Maybe they mined into a hole with a bunch of zombies, or some giant spiders scared them out! Oooh, or maybe there were bandits!" Her imagination continued to run wild as she wandered through the room, twirling the rusted pickaxe playfully.

 

[Zerohex]

Ajax began the relatively long trek back to where they last saw trees, his way. A group, even a small one like his current party, had to keep a slow, steady pace to avoid the terrain hazards and take care of the less athletic members, not to mention they were slowed down by gear and supplies, even if they'd brought little when compared to other expeditions of a similar nature. Now that he was on his own, Ajax was free to just cut loose like he usually did when he was feeling a bit...wild.


The muscular man broke out into a run that was equal parts trained athleticism and pure animal stampeding, swiftly covering ground by leaps and bounds that cared little for the condition of the road or other hazards on the way. He probably could've barreled right through any animal dumb enough to get in his way and people could be forgiven should they mistake him for a beast. Of course, he expected Ragnvald to keep up with him. If he couldn't, well, they'd meet up at some point.

 

[DrBones]

Beltway spoke up. He had spent most of the trip in contemplative silence, trying to remember his bountiful stock of ballads and magical songs. Though he knew many, only a few had ever proved useful or resonated with his audiences, and so he kept them at the forefront of his mind's eye. Every so often, he would chuckle out loud, having remembered a particularly juicy piece of a song. As it was, currently, he stood at Laria's side.


Beltway picked up a derelict pickaxe, and examined it. Judging by how far the wood on the handle had rotted, it had been quite some time since it was last used. Whatever had taken the mine evidently found little use for scrap metal or wooden carts, potentially ruling out any number of civilized inhabitants. Beltway put his pickaxe down, and wiped his hands as he spoke.


"A mine's charges taken flight is scarcely unheard-of. 'Tis as likely the fault of banditry as the fault of empty coffers. Mayhaps whatever had driven this place into grim silence has long fled in panic. 'Twould be folly for a bandit or a worker scorned to abandon such tools in their flight. Nay, if these mines still charge with life, 'tis most likely to be a wild beast taken refuge. Tread carefully, m'lady, for a trapped rat bites to the bone."

 

[NetherLightGod]

"Either that or everyone who knew about it died..." Ophelia muttered to herself as she listened to Laria. She looked around for a moment and wondered what exactly they planned to do with everyone when they found what they were looking for. Surely a group this large walking around major cities is guaranteed to catch some eyes and not the good kind either. They were a mini army in their own right. Well, She was anyway as far as she was concerned. The only thing she had to go on were appearances and names as that's all she received when she up and intruded on their little venture here, and in her eyes, with her level of experience, they were pretty much children to her. She would hold her tongue however as saying such a thing out loud to people who have been kind enough to let you join them, would be disrespectful.


Not that she minded anyway as she was a homicidal maniac anyway.

 

[Boomrocker]

"Ahhh, my boy," El Saldo sighed. He put his hand on Vallen's back and began following the group heading for the cave, hoping to lead Vallen with him. It was a fatherly kind of reassurance. "You still feel for a girl who would not accompany you. And yet, you have other females making the big googly eyes towards you." Yes, he had noticed. "You are something of a magnet for attractive ladies, yes? Much like El Saldo in his youth!" And at that, he let out a hearty laugh, clearly pleased at this little facet of information.


With his comment on Vallen's love life done, El Saldo paused, his tone returning from jovial to serious. "But as you dwell on them, you must learn that your lust and your frustration is dictating how you behave. You must master your mind. Then, and only then, will our hulk-like friend no longer be a bother to you."

 

[MechaGhoul]

Pressmaster Crawley couldn't help but chuckle at Lily's comment. "Och-aye y'shedevil. Tis a an amusin' thought t'let t'mind wander 'pon." He shook his head as he chuckled again, "Ah, a'man wit' wings. Eheh..." Of course he suggested such a silly notion as, this diversion was not really worth his time. Well comparatively speaking, it was not worth the time that'd be spent training his loyal crew, which even untrained had the decency to follow their Captain.


However, Crawley's desire to find that one relic, that ancient ship constructed by glorious shipwrights past, did continue to influence him to not just drag his lot of seamen back to port. And besides, he agreed to help it, and he got the scholarly yeomen to help him in his endeavors. As such, Crawley would stick to his word.


But this was a diversion, not a trek at seas. So he could afford to be looser than he should be. Pressmaster Crawley returned to humming a tune as he noticed the lamp and bottle. Crawley smirked, "Ho! What 'ave we 'ere? Somethin' o'use." He quickly took the oil lantern with his right hand; after all he knew it would be a useful tool in the lower decks. Plus in general the mines.


"Bit worn, but surely 'twas loved when used. Shoul' be useful even now." He smirked as he continued glancing over the lamp, as he noticed the bottle. He took it with his left as he swirled it about, hearing the liquid within. "Good."


After all, an oil lantern would be a useful thing, and he couldn't just leave it waiting there, and have to rely on shiny orbs, which could fizzle out at who knows when. Crawley surely didn't know, but he did know he could trust the lantern.


"T'fate o'miners past, be not concernin'. Less y'start hearin' strange noises 'n such. What is more valued be t'fact that, supplies be round. We press forward, t'see what be salvagable from this sunk'n expedition."

 

[DergTheDergon]

Vallen's blank expression and overall depressed state of being did not change, even through El Saldo's jubilant encouraging words. If others were attracted to him, he did not notice. Emerald seemed to accept him despite his flaws, but he quite honestly did not believe she could think of him as more than an acquaintance, or do anything more than tolerate him. After all she was a very kind, non-violent soul and he had demonstrated he was quite the opposite. As for the other women in the group, well... he was clueless about women. He realized that much now.


As El Saldo changed his tone, his words seemed to sink in much more. Vallen did not speak at first, but simply nodded and followed El Saldo's lead, deep in thought. Many times, Vallen felt as if his thoughts and actions were not his own, as if it was entirely impossible to control them. Perhaps he was simply allowing his emotions and impulses so much control over him that he defaulted to acting before thinking, and allowing himself to brood. He spoke in a self-derisive tone, more to himself then anyone else. "Master my mind... far easier said then done if it has been mastering me to the extent you claim."

 

[Boomrocker]

El Saldo could almost SEE the mental conversation Vallen was having. Of course, he couldn't literally see it. That would be absurd. But he had been a young man once as well, dabbling in dalliances of the heart, and while his true love would always be the high peaks of his mountainous home he knew that others must find beauty in their own way.


The old pilgrim made a quiet 'tch tch tch' noise. "My boy, my master always used to say to me, 'If it is easy, it is not worth doing!' These words ring true now. But, how you do it is up to you. This is subjective, yes? Only once you are calm can you find true beauty."


With a gentle hand, he turned, turning Vallen with him, to bring Emerald into view. "I see the way she looks at you. She pines for you, my student. She may have seen her true beauty in you. Tell me, my child, do you see beauty in her?"

 

[DergTheDergon]

Vallen was very confused by El saldo's confident proclamation about Emerlad. But, the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. The prior signs that Emerlad had feelings for him flashed through his mind, especially when she had frantically approached him as he and Ayrenn came back from the woods the day before. Her words back then made far more sense now. Was she... jealous of the affection he was showing towards Ayrenn!? He felt awful, realizing this now. "I... certainly do, but- If what you're saying is true I... must be quite the fool. I had no idea.."

 

[ComradeSenpai]

"Hmm. That opening will provide fresh air. Now the only thing we're lacking for the night is warmth." Hachi said, looking around. The samurai nodded, and nudged the pile of iron with his foot. Iron was good. Iron made swords, and swords made for war. And war brought honor. Truly, iron was the lifeblood of a warrior.


Hachi wrapped an arm around Laria's shoulders, and ran his other hand through the girl's hair.


"Without a fire, we'll have to huddle for warmth, Miss Laria." he said, leaning in closely.

 

[DrBones]

Beltway looked to Laria and saw Hachi coddling and tousling her hair. With his competitive spirit fired up, he closed in on the couple. Such a blatant remark would have to go unnoticed, or else severe consequences might be had!


"We shall wont for warmth indeed, foreigner, but the warmth of the flesh is scarcely fit for thee. Shall I deliver thee unto the embers, to ensure thou hast no desire for heat for the rest of thine night? Or wouldst a burning switch do its work well enough? 'tis hot-headed indeed for one to be as forward as thou art, and I feel thine head hath stolen warmth from thine body. Away, thou spirit of lust, and back with the wake of reason!"


Beltway firmly pried Laria loose from Hachi's grasp, and advanced on Hachi once Laria was safe. In his eye was a gleam known only to him, a gleam that had shown itself only when Beltway had saved a fair maiden from their brutal companions. It was a gleam that expected.

 

[Xenonia]

Emerald sighed, following the rest of the party into the cave. She knew she could make herself useful there, at least. "We can warm ourselves with a fire, actually." She dropped the perfect wooden logs on the floor of the mine-cavern. "If we're going to be staying in the shaft, I suppose we should get comfortable. Maybe set up bunks?" She wasn't very strong in her suggesting, yes. Emerald still didn't want to be seen by pushy, and she certainly didn't want to be the one bossing the others around. She hoped Vallen was feeling better.

 

[MechaGhoul]

Pressmaster Crawley continued his examination of the lantern. He shot a glance back to his crew, as they were engaged in some manner of conversation. It appears they were already tired and wished to rest. And it appears that Beltway was agitated. Well, Beltway had helped him as a voice of reason. It was time for him to do his part and repay the favor. After all, a Captain needed to keep the crew from engaging in conflict against each other.


Matthew swaggered back towards Beltway, where he was with some foreigner and the gaggle of shedevils. "Aye, what be t'matter o'er 'ere?"

 

[DergTheDergon]

Vallen watched as Emerald continued towards the rest of the group. Vallen looked down for a moment, took a few deep breaths, and seemed to collect himself. He turned back to El Saldo and spoke, his voice less saddened and monotone now. "Well, we should probably reconvene with the others." He started heading that direction, taking care to focus on making less noise of course. It was far easier to tolerate the noise while Ajax was off on his own and not making deriding comments about it every chance he got.

 

[Boomrocker]

"Correct, my student. Focus on moving forward and bettering yourself. You are already improving." El Saldo pottered after Vallen as they made their way back to the rest of the group in the caves. "But beware, for lust can come to dominate the mind. Too much thought given to women can spell doom to even the brightest student. Please, remain vigilant."


It wasn't long before the pair of them reached the makeshift campsite, and witnessed the end of an altercation between the bard and the strange foreign knight. Over a girl, for that matter! "Pay attention, my boy," he murmured to Vallen. "Watch them, and when they are finished, tell me what you think."

 

[spandez]

Ragnvald, however, was a slow-and-steady kind of guy. This didn't stop him from somehow getting ahead of Ajax using gliding leaps. He was awaiting Ajax straight ahead, beneath the shade of a sizeable tree, trying to light a fire for a kettle of tea. He'd braided some grasses into a makeshift rope, already tied around... well, his finger. They weren't very long grasses. Of course, he was visibly surprised Ajax was already here. Usually guys that big focused on pure muscle mass, neglecting their cardio- part of why he was preparing to boil a relaxing tea.


This... well, this whole "getting ahead" thing was supposed to be impressive with like a full picnic spread. DAMN he's quick.


"Hello Ajax. Did you have a nice run?"

 

[MechaGhoul]

Pressmaster Crawley pondered upon staying in that location for a longer period of time. However, that didn't seem like the best option. No, Pressmaster Crawley needed other tools and things. Staying here, and continuing discussion with the crew, did not seem like the best option. So without a word Matthew spun around and continued his expedition into the cave.


There were supplies to be found. And by the seas, he was going to scavenge them.