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#1
06-14-2009, 04:46 PM
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Chapter 1.1- The Start and the End
Peaceful. Or was it? It seems too good to be true, an area filled with busy citizens buzzing around all around the city of Luoyang. Were they aware of the Yellow Turbans? The answer was too hard to decipher from the looks of the common citizens. The city itself was one of those typical big ones. The sounds of hammer clanking onto the anvil in the blacksmith, series of yelling and the sound of slamming beer bottle in the inn, and the sight of a large bustling crowd at the marketplace trying to grab the freshest food possible were some of the common experiences seen in Louyang. Few children could be seen playing tag on an empty alley, laughing their heads off as they ran. Couple of guards were walking along the city, looking to see if there was any trouble. Outside the city was acres and acres of farmland with farmers tending their precious crops. Outside the farm, a river, estimated couple of miles away, flowed gently around the city. Last edited by bluejay206; 06-14-2009 at 05:58 PM. 
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#2
06-15-2009, 06:16 PM
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Having pulled together all the money he could from selling everything he and his mom had, Reichin had set off to find the people that had captured her. He traveled for days, pushing himself to his limits, not stopping each day until he could move no more but he eventually lost the trail of the men and had no idea where they were headed. He kept traveling along the road he was on, his vengeance still smoldering inside him when he came into view of a large city. Having no better plan he made way toward the city, no longer pushing his body to it's limits but walking at a measured pace, his thoughts consumed with how to find his mother and the men that took her. When he made it to the city he stopped unsure of where he should go to continue his search. After thinking about it for a moment he realized nothing loosened a man's tongue like alcohol and set out to find a local inn. Having never been in a big city before he quickly got himself lost and after a few hours ended up in the west end of the city where he found a small inn that looked decent. He walked inside and saw the place was mostly empty but got himself a room. Once he was set up, he headed out to wander around the city and ended up in the marketplace. He bought himself a few things that he thought he might need in his new life and then saw some horses. Figuring that there was two ways his search would continue, and in both a horse would make itself useful, he decided to purchase one, then also bought himself a saddle and pack saddle so his horse could carry his gear. After a couple hours wandering around the marketplace he went back to the inn and settled down in the common room after getting his new horse in the stables. He ordered himself a drink and sat down to wait for others to show up.
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#3
06-17-2009, 01:38 PM
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Meiqin had had enough of being confined to the aimless band of refugees that had been brought south, only to find even more turmoil. Like many other nomads and part nomads, she eventually ended up striking off on her own, and had gone a fair bit of li, before her pony had lamed itself on the terrible trails here in the south, and she was forced to walk and hunt her way onwards.
__________________She'd eventually come upon this idyllic town without much money on her, just her weapons and the gear she had gathered before striking off. The proud lass got demeaning stares, both for her odd wear, as it indicated her as a barbarian as well as her visible heritage. There were also lewd stares from those who found her...stimulating to look at. Ignoring them all, she scratched her short brunette bangs, slowly deciphering the different dialect spoken here, looking at all the possible places to go to. She eventually settled on heading for the inn, if only to sit down and get some rest, and warm food that wasn't scorched over an open fire. Nomad she may claim to be, but she was only half of one, and missed a few comforts of settled life, good warm, oven cooked food amongst them...
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#4
06-17-2009, 03:23 PM
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 Stranger (Unknown) The inn was having its usual day. Tables and tables were filled with travelers and wanderer from all different part of the country, some who traveled almost five hundred miles from their home. Laughter and yelling filled the very air with excitement and joy. It was something they all needed to refresh themselves before heading into the world one more time. Suddenly, a man, who was dressed in black rags from head to toe, barged into the inn's door. "He's coming! He's... Silence filled the room as the man slowly retreated to the back of the inn. A shadowy figure was emerging from the outside into the inn. Click. Click. Click. The sound of metal boot filled the silent air as the shadow grew larger and larger. Then it stopped. Click. The inn door open as a man emerged from the door. As he stepped in, he brought his hand to his head to take his hood off. His short brown hair fell to the side. He was wearing a common wanderer's outfit and looked like any other humans, all the same except... Someone whispered. "It's him, look at the tattoo and his eyes!" A weird mark was present in the man's left arm, shaped like some bird out of a myth. His eyes, black like night, pierced through every person as if he's scanning them. He stood there for a full minute before moving to the counter to order some ale. "I'll have some ale." The bartender knocked over a glass in the counter in fright. "Coming r..right away s..sir," the bartender stammered. Onlookers were whispering behind his back. "He's that kid. The baby who was said to be born under the mark of the dragon. He have killed thousand of people without heart, which gave him the nickname, "Demon of Death"..." The man ignored the conversation behind him, finished his ale in one gulp, and asked the bartender for another. He seemed to be rather fixed on a certain issue in this inn. Whatever it is, it was certainly not going to be a pretty one. Last edited by bluejay206; 06-17-2009 at 03:34 PM.
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#5
06-17-2009, 06:15 PM
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An Ruiyi felt the atmosphere in the inn bubble as the stranger entered and cursed his rotten luck for the hundredth time since leaving his home. After what seemed an eternity the sound off heavy footsteps echoed through the inn common room as the newcomer made his way through the crowd. An Ruiyi stared into the thick liquid sitting in front of him that he had barely touched, trying not to flinch at each agonizing footfall. The former conscript didn't even have to turn around to know that whoever was the inspiration for all the ruckus was walking his way at that very moment. That was just how things went for him.
As the stranger approached the bar, Ruiyi tried to piece together the confusing series of events that had seen him all the way to Luoyang, so far from home. It had seemed like a bad dream when he had been enlisted earlier that year, forced to leave everything he had ever known behind to go off and fight in somebody else's war but that had only been the beginning. Life in the army had been hard but at least he had been fed. Then almost three weeks ago his detachment had been ambushed, routed, and An Ruiyi had been left alone in an unfamiliar region with no food, no money, and no idea how to get home. He didn't even really know what had actually happened, he assumed they had been attack by these Yellow Turbans but it had happened so fast. In the confusion he had managed to slip unnoticed into a nearby forest where he had been able to evade detection. When the "battle" was over, Ruiyi had been unable to locate any other survivors and so he now wandered around the countryside without any real direction. Fortunately he had been able to survive of the fruits of the land using the skills his father had taught him... The stranger's voice shook An Ruiyi out of his musings. Risking a glance sideways, An Ruiyi found the stranger sitting only a few stools away downing the foul liquid the owner passed as "ale" in ridiculous quantities. Perhaps being unfamiliar to the local news An Ruiyi could not tell what was so fascinating about this man. Sure the tattoo was a little strange and he could certainly handle his liquor. Nevertheless, An Ruiyi doubted all the fuss was over some local drinking legend and tried to remain as nondescript as possible, hoping to avoid the strangers notice.
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#6
06-17-2009, 08:05 PM
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Anming walked into the city, looking around curiously at the bustling streets. Life here seemed isolated; everyone was busy off with their own lives, their family and friends. Some children suddenly ran past him, running and screaming and just having a good time. When was the last time he had managed to relax like that? To simply run in the wind and pretend like nothing ever happen? Anming merely shook his head and sighed.
Adjusting his scale mail, Anming headed for the apothecary. Stepping inside, he took a deep breath of herbs and medicines. Eager to restock his empty supply, Anming moved to the front of the counter. Tapping lightly, he waited patiently for a clerk to show up.
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#7
06-17-2009, 10:09 PM
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Reichin sat at his table as others started trickling in. He kept his eyes and ears open for any information that would help him. When he saw the man suddenly run in, his ears perked up and he turned towards the door as the man everyone seemed afraid of walked in. Knowing nothing of the city or the people in it, he did not recognize the guy, though he gave off an air of confidence. He heard someone near him whisper the name Demon of Death and let out a low sigh. Someone like that in a place like this, it would not be surprise if there was trouble brewing. Reichin reached down and checked that both his swords were loose in their scabbards then ordered another drinkand sat back, looking around the inn, but keeping the newcomer in the corner of his eye.
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#8
06-18-2009, 12:43 PM
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Apothery Vials and flasks containing variety of liquid in thousands of different color decorated the small apothecary. A misty cloud hung around the room, giving off a mild intoxicating smell of alcohol. Books lined the right side of the store, containing various books teaching a neophyte on how to make simple medicine or finding the right herbs. A wooden counter sat on the back of the room accompanied by a woman. She was wearing a cloak over her head, making it difficult for people to estimate her age. However, people have described her voice as soft and strong, something an old person wouldn't have. The woman jumped as she heard a light tapping sound in her store. A large crashing sound along with a big splash erupted from the backroom. In about a minute, she emerged from the backroom. She was a sad sight indeed. Her cloak was stained in a green slimy substance and her hand looked rather shriveled. She took her place behind the counter and greeted the new customer. "Yes, how may i help you?" Last edited by bluejay206; 06-18-2009 at 06:56 PM.
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#9
06-18-2009, 05:32 PM
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Meiqin had made a beeline for the middle of the room, since she never liked closed spaces, so walls bothered her. After ordering up a bowl of tangy rice in a stir fry, she had sat herself down and started eating noisily, with her hands at that, drawing the eyes of those nearby to her…At least, until the supposedly scary fellow came in and made everyone hush up by his presence.
__________________Meiqin had looked up herself, then, shrugged and gone back to eating. Being of barbarian lands, she was altogether unfamiliar with the local personalities of the place, so she saw no reason to really be all alarmed. There was no reason he would bother her, an indescript…(well, not indescript, as she was fairly pretty, and rather differently dressed)…half-barbarian…(actually, that drew attention around these parts too)…woman…(Hah, they were invisible!) who was by herself. Hmm…well, here’s hoping he wasn’t the lusty sort, or she’d have to pluck out her bow and feather him up some. Anyways, no reason not to keep eating until then...
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#10
06-18-2009, 06:15 PM
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Stranger (Unknown) "Hey, let's get out of here. This isn't a safe place to be." One by one, people started to leave the inn. Some threw a questioning glare at the remaining people as they left, questioning their presence. The "Demon of Death" himself remained silent as if this was a normal, everyday occurrence. After half an hour, only three remained sitting separately at the inn... The man turned around to see if there was any people remaining. He laughed and said: "This is a new 'hic' record. The best was two 'hic' and that was only yesterday!" He laughed again. His face was flustered red from drinking and his eyes half closed. He did not look like the man he was before. His movement looked sluggish and his mind seemed... well.. empty. Grinning, the man drained the last of his ale and barked at the bartender for a bigger tankard. As the bartender ran to the backroom, he turned around to face the survivors. "Say, why do you think we have war?" The question itself was very random, something a soldier shouldn't ask. It was something an old sage would ask, questioning the life of the world. However his tone was serious with no trace of laughter in his voice. Just what was he? He waved his hand in the air to dismiss the question. Maybe he realized the question was irreverent to the situation. Maybe he thought the question was impossible to answer. Or was it both? He sighed deeply and split into deep though. Seconds later he broke his trance and shook his head in disgust. He looked at them once more and asked them in a light tone: "What brings you to this city?" Last edited by bluejay206; 06-18-2009 at 06:58 PM.
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#11
06-19-2009, 02:59 AM
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Watching the people slowly drifting out of the inn, reichin wondered more about who this man was. As he pondered this man and his presence he stared at him as if the answer would reveal itself if he stared long enough. He finished his food and drink slowly, focused more on his thoughts then what was in his hands. When he looked around again there were only two other people in the inn besides himself and the man that had scared everyone off. One was a woman who was stuffing her face as if this was the only food she would have for months, and the other another man sitting at the bar drinking. He heard the scrape of a stool he looked back to the man as he stood and started talking. Puzzled by his first question, he was still pondering it when he asked his second question. Hearing this last question he looked back to the man and stood up "well, i have my reasons for being here, and they are my own. Why are you so interested in three random people in an inn"
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#12
06-19-2009, 01:46 PM
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Meiqin shrugged at the first question, rubbing her bare belly while she wondered if she'd had too much. The scantily clad, fur clothed nomad lass stretched in her seat, then heard one of the men answer the second question with a question. She shrugged, and noted, I'm a nomad born. We're just where the road takes us, and nowhere else. Road took me here.
__________________
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#13
06-20-2009, 06:06 PM
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Anming was browsing the store's selection, looking at all the books while he waited. His finger travelled down one volume after another, searching for something that he just might find useful. Some of these were below his level though, and Anming smiled as he remembered his own learning experiences. The field of medicines were a hard one, but it was surprisingly rewarding.
Anming was suddenly knocked out of his daydreams when he heard a loud bang. Making his way quickly to the front counter, he managed to get there just as a lady stepped out. She was covered in a weird slime and her hand seemed injured, but Anming wasn't sure if it was just now or a past incident. Being the doctor he was, Anming was so deep in thought about the woman's hand, he barely registered what she said. Looking up suddenly at her, he smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry," he said his voice filled with concern. "But are you okay? What happened?"
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#14
06-21-2009, 03:40 PM
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An Ruiyi was taken off balance by the man's first question. He had not expected someone of his sort to be a philosopher. Eying the man, who was clearly very drunk, strangely, the former scout took a quick glance around the bar. Empty. He considered ignoring the mans question and leaving himself but one never knew how a man like this, especially while drunk might take that. Instead he smiled slightly and gave a non-committal shrug of the shoulders, only to have the man himself disregard his own question. As if he knew why here was war. All he knew was that while the noble fought for whatever ideals they might hold, people like him just got swept up in the storm.
At the man's second question An Ruiyi could not help himself. He let out a dry laugh, "I wish I knew the answer to that myself." he wasn't even sure what city this was.
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#15
06-21-2009, 07:07 PM
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Stranger (Unknown) The stranger grins at Reichin's question. As his jaw moved, something shiny illuminated from his mouth. "Do I need a reason? The inn is a common place for strangers all over the country." He then smiled at the other two's answer. "Is that so? That doesn't sound like much fun all," he laughed. "People needs a reason to be somewhere, to exist. That's what I believe. Why do you think I bother carrying this big sword around when I can just rest at home?" He went on without waiting for an answer. "I will kill thousands of people so I can end the war. The earlier the war ends, the less people that will be killed." Is this guy a messenger of god or the punisher of death? While he was talking, the stranger was packing his small, green bag. At the end of his "talk", he wrapped his sword around his leather belt and pull the black cloak over his head to mask his face. Searching inside his cloak, he pulled out one silver coin and flicked it to the bartender. The bartender, astounded, caught the silver coin and bid him good night. "Keep the change." He murmured something inaudible under his breath. Then he quickly stood up and walked toward the inn's entrance. He started to open the door when an angry flash of light suddenly illuminated the sky. He turned around. "Looks like dry thunderstorm tonight. If I were you, I would be careful." He looked at the sky, a sudden "boom!" erupted after the flash of light, shaking the inn. "We'll meet again someday." He swung around and slammed the door behind him. And like that, he was gone. .... Half an hour later, the same door slammed open. A man, dressed in traveler's outfit, rushed into the inn. "RUN! We're being invaded! If you don't leave soon, this inn would be on fire!" The bartender did not believe him. "Louyang is the safest city out there! Who would dare invade?" The man panting for breath, answered: "The Yellow Turbans." ----------- Last edited by bluejay206; 06-21-2009 at 07:34 PM.
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