Crawling in the Stink

"When I arrived in what was left of Port Skell after it had been decimated by the undead I could only think of one thing.

The stench.

There were so many corpses.

Several buildings still stood, but most were destroyed. A small group of Knights of Tomath were busy digging a mass grave. The truly horrible part was that the grave would probably hold 50 to 60 bodies. It was no where near large enough.

Everything looked to be the color of ash, tinged with the red fluids of blood.

I remember seeing a small girl crying, holding onto a doll that had no head. She was so dirty and was missing an eye. Luckily one of the Knights had seen to her wound and had bandaged it.

Port Skell was destroyed. The possibility of it being rebuilt was there, but the probability of that actually happening was not.

This was one of the bad things about Port Skell. It sat so far from any other cities, that getting supplies there by means other than air ship, or sea ship were nearly impossible.

It was at this point I saw one of the Knights post two piece s of parchment onto the side of the small stable they had turned into their camp. The first was for delivery men. The Knights were in severe need of lumber and wanted a group of men, not afraid to travel the roads to go to Peregren and bring back lumber in a wagon train, as well as various tools. The second was a wanted poster of a very large and very ugly human man by the name of Ogrum. Apparently Ogrum had stolen what tools the Knights had, and had left with them, probably to sell them off to the highest bidder for some fresh food, water, or lady friend. Ogrum was wanted dead or alive.

Dead or alive.

This made me wonder.

The Knights wanted a group of people to complete these tasks that were not afraid to travel the roads.

Did the Knights really believe that only Ogrum would end up dead.

That's the interesting part about Aeon. As long as one remembers that everything on Aeon is probably trying to kill them, those people will generally find a way to survive this harsh world if they're smart.

However the moment they forget everything is trying to kill them, they usually will end up in a mass grave far too small for 50 or 60 corpses.

I never did find out if the Knights were able to recruit anyone. Only time will tell..."

Sir Goodfry jumped from the roof gliding down to the ground and handed the hammer to Willam of Greyshore.

"Its about time! What were you doing up there???"

Goodfry didn't know how to answer. He had been taking a nap on the roof actually. Rebuilding the Knight post in Port Skell was not only hard work....it was hard labor. And Goodfry wanted nothing to do with either of those two things. So he had found a nice place to sun himself on the roof.

Ahhh the sun.

Goodfry had last seen it when he was a boy. But now at seventeen he was nearly....A MAN!

So he felt the opportunity to sun himself on the roof was the only prudent thing to do.

Willam felt otherwise.

"It doesn't matter anyways! And quit molting! I'm sick of stupid feathers getting caught in my beard! Sir Karos wants to see you!" Willam said and went back to hammering nails.

When Goodfry walked into the rundown horse stable being used as a temporary base, Karos, sitting at a makeshift table with a large map sprawled across it, looked up.

"Ahh Goodfry my boy. I have an assignment for you. Completion of it could get you a recommendation. I need you to travel to Peregren and help escort a wagon train of supplies for us, back to here in Port Skell. Be on your guard though. Ogrum is out there, and we're nearly positive he plans an ambush. Dismissed."

Goodfry left the horse stable and had his orders. So he did what he thought would best prepare him for his journey. He jumped back up to the roof gliding as he landed....and resumed his nap.

Stepping out from a building, Kam'Hillad peeked around timidly. With the recent zombie attack, a darkling wasn't too eye catching. His pale features were lost to the colors of blood and gore, vomit and debris. Still, the self conscious darkling didn't like being in public.

People were fools. Judging him so quickly. However, it would seem more and more, Kam'Hillad was indeed becoming what so many people feared: "a filthy, dangerous, cruel darkling". However, he was still untrained. Kam had no experience with weapons other than simple training. He eagerly sought out something to do. Port Skell, though devastated, might offer some jobs, and they might be desperate enough to hire Kam.

Moseying around the street by some knights working on a post for themselves. Suddenly, Kam'Hillad broke out in a series of violent sneezes.
He sneezed three or four times until his eyes began to water. He wasn't allergic to dust (as there was a lot settling from debris and construction), which didn't bother him usually. There were some humanoids, nothing serious. Then a feather floated down right past his nose. The sneezes erupted again. When he was able to regain himself he looked up.

"Damn, chicken."

Kam picked up a small rock, "almost a pebble" he'd say. He flicked it up and hit the part of the roof the giant bird was perched on.

The pebble hit the roof.

Sir Goodfry snored loudly.

The pebble bounced.

Sir Goodfry giggled in his sleep.

The pebble bounced again.

Sir Goodfry snored again.

The pebbled landed in Sir Goodfry's throat.

"BKAW!!!!!!!!" he yelped coughing and sitting up grasping his throat as the pebble flew out.

He jumped to his feet.

The pebble landed under his foot.

He lost his balance.

And fell.

"BAWKKKK!"

CRASH!

Sir Goodfry landed on top of his commanding officer Willam.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Willam shouted.

Kam busted out laughing.

"Now that's hitting two birds with one stone!"

However, it probably wasn't the wisest action throwing stones at the authority. Kam quickly ran over to help the human up. Kam left the chicken alone.

"You should watch out for that falling sky, Sir Cluck."

Steven walked out of the bar, "The ale is safe!" he yelled loudly, a bottle in each hand. He swigged one, then the other, and then somehow both. "Yep, still good!"

The pirate was good natured, never had much use for killing. He'd knock your ass out cold for a nice hat, if fancied to have it, but he'd always ask if you were ok, before snatching your vaulables and hauling ass.

He walked down the broken streets, his eyes scanning for anything shiny or fancy. He looked further down the street, blinked his eyes a few times, dropped both bottles, and shook his head quickly.

He walked down until he saw a darkling helping up a knight, "Well hello thur Sir William, remember me?" He said smiling. "I do not mean to be pryin' into business that ain't man, but was you just being mounted by that large chicken there?"

"GAH! YOU DAMN DIRTY PIRATE! I thought I told ya not to be seen here again, after what you did last time to that poor sheep!" Willam roared at Steven.

"I have half a mind to haul you in....no....I have a better idea for you. You're gonna help this "chicken". We need supplies. Go with him. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. And when ya get back, I might....MIGHT...forget I saw ya," Willam finished.

He then turned look at Kam.

"You seem the capable sort. You interested in escorting these two idiots? I'll pay ya plenty of food an water," Willam said to Kam.

"I'm sorry no on told ye, sir. It wasn't a sheep, though meself and others thought so at first, thats just the sound ye mother makes, durin' the act sir, common misconception the rest of me crew tells me," he said with a grin.

"I don't need ye to forget seein' me, ye mother be askin' fer me I hear, I'll likely be back," he said with a wink. "I'll take sum of that food and water too, if that be an option, if not, I'll likely say no to ye little errand, and seems ye need ole Steven here, don't ye sir?"

A ferret crawled up onto his shoulder, eating a cracker that came from heavens know where. "Good Frederick," he said patting the ferrets head. A few looked at him, "Misunderstanding, see I wanted a parrot, but I was a bit slushed at the time I acquired him"....

Willam was infuriated. It wasn't bad enough he had this idiotic fool of a knight, Sir Goodfry to deal with, but now he had quite possibly the stupidest pirate known bothering him.

"Go with the aniver. Bring me supplies. he knows where they are. If you don't I am not going to have you incarcerated. I'M GONNA HAVE YA BLOODY INCINERATED!!!" Willam screamed in Steven's face.

he then turned and stormed off.

Sir Goodfry looked at Steven and Kam.

"Buck-AW!!!!"

Sir Goodfry wrote:

Sir Goodfry looked at Steven and Kam.

"Buck-AW!!!!"

"The hell you call me?!" Kam said, bringing his arm up to punch the bird in the beak. Unfortunately, Kam was allergic to the bird, and instead of a punch, Sir Goodfry got a blast of darkling sneeze.

Kam'Hillod shook his head. His eyes were watery and he was in no mood to hit the chicken.

"Damn bird."

Kam then looked at Steven. He shook his head.

"Damn pirate.

"Well, shall we get going, or do I get to knock the pirate around till he's sober?"

He looked fiercly, although some what bleary eyed, at Kam, "I don't think I like that idea any, how's 'bout you I beat YOU around until I'm sober? See how ye be likin' that, ye darkling bastard," he grumbled the end of this sentence.

He walked over to Goodfry and leaned wit hhis arm on the feathered shoulder, "I don't think Sir Willie likes me, not even a little bit. What do ye think, mother clucker?"

The group left the destroyed city of Port Skell, to head out on their journey.

As they traveled on foot the the Black Desert, night began to fall.

And then howling started.

"Buck..buck buck," Sir Goodfry said in worried tones.

The sound of wolves could be heard.

Sir Goodfry quickened his pace.

"Don't wander too far, chicken. The wolves are less likely to attack a group than an individual... I hope."

Still, Kam pulled his bow off his back and grabbed an arrow for a quick fire. He followed behind Goodfry and also picked up his pace.

"Come along, pirate. Don't want you getting lost and drunk on land."

Kam'Hillod wrote:

"Come along, pirate. Don't want you getting lost and drunk on land."

BUCK! BAKAW!!!!!!


(*translation: HA! HA!!!!!!)[/quote]

Kam just looked at Sir Goodfry.

"You're not the talkative one are you? Don't you speak common?"

A howl echoed in the distance.

"Shh! Stop talking you stupid bird! Pirate, what are you doing?" said Kam in a loud whisper.

Erron wrote:

**********************

All of Nerin Toth, The Epicenter, and Nju Shenghuo felt the tremors of Teseron Isle exploding.

**********************

Sir Goodfry looked at the pirate.

"Did you fart?"

Steven looked back at Kam, "If'n I remember correctly, later tonight I'll be doin' ye mother!" he returned, sipping his flask. His ferret squeeked, and he passed the flask to the little critter.

The ground shook, and the already slushed pirate wobbled some. He looked at frederick, then the flask, "I do believe we've had enuff" he said as he put it away.

Quote :

"Did you fart?"

"So what if I did? I don't see that as bein' any of yer business"

"Don't be dumb! That wasn't gas, that was... well I'm sure it wasn't gas. And I don't think its anything close.

"Besides, how big of a deal could it be? We need to keep moving! You guys are so slow. I'd be done by now if I didn't have to pirate and chicken sit!"

Kam'Hillad looked at the arrow in his hand. He looked at the pirate and grinned. He then made a point of poking the pirate with the point of the projectile piercer.

"Do what I tell you!"

"Figures. I open my mouth one time to say something and I get someone acting like a total drokoni, all holier than thou and what have you. You should be the one trying to be a night, darkling. Not me," Goodfry said.

"I try to keep my mouth shut and just act like a blithering idiot to get out of work, and now I'm stuck with you two BUCKAW!!!!!" Goodfry yelled as he was slammed to the ground, a wolf on top of him.

Four more wolves surround the trio.

(OOC: This is a combined post by Nick and I)

(BIC:) Steven continued walking, patient with the darkling. At first. He stopped, but the darkling continued prodding him, "Listen here, lad, I do not like that, and I'd 'preciate ye stopping."

Poke.

Poke.

Poke.

Smack!

Steven now faced the darkling, holding the arrow in hand. He'd just smaked Kam in the face with the fletched end of the arrow. Then two more times. "I TOLD YE TO STOP!"

Quote :

BUCKKAW!

Kam and Steven both looked back at the bird, "Oh shit," Kam said.

"Oh bloody hell," replied Steven, who threw the arrow hoping the wolves chase after it.

Kam sighed and shook his head, "Good job, Cap'n Dumbass."

Goodfry looked to them for help. Human and Darkling looked at one another, "You know what we have to do, right pirate?"

Steven nodded, "Aye."

It was silent for a moment, then Steven spoke up, "Enjoy the chicken, mates!"

Steven and Kam then hauled ass down the dirt road...

Kam'Hillad looked at the wanted poster then at the pirate.

"I assume the human in this notice is you. But he's not drunk and stupid looking. They did not capture your image at all, Cap'n Ugly."

The darkling tore off the paper and looked at the fine print.

"I think I've got a plan, pirate. Come! I command you to follow."

Kam headed into town. He roamed the streets looking around until he finally found one of the Civil Agents that had taken over.

"I demand your money, for I have slain your foe: Sir Clucker!"

Steven looke at the poster, "It is one of me better pictures, I think they caught me sober," he said, fixated on the picture and sipping his flask, "But then again, I haven't been sober since I was 4," he mentioned with a shrug.

He followed Kam, but only because he wasn't done rambling. As the continued looking through the streets, Steven just continued to blather on. "I don' think thats fair, not like we killed the bastard, hell, may not even be dead! Show me a body! I demand it!" he yelled at no one in particular. "Put the puppies' pictures there! They did it! I'll describe each and every one of 'em!"

Kam started talking to a Civil agent, and tahts when Steven felt that he was being ignored. "Now ye wait jus' a minu- Money? Ye mean we get money for cookin' Sir Cluck's goose?" He said brightening up. Today might be a good day after all

Sir Goodfry wandered sleepily into Peregren. It had taken him quite some time to get to the devastated city, and by the time he had arrived he was half starved and half-crazed from lack of fresh water.

He had escaped the wolves just barely using his powerful jumping abilities afforded to him by his heritage.

He wasn't sure what had happened to Kam or Steven but it was clear the two were blithering idiots and had abandoned him.

His first thought was to find an inn. Most of Peregren was destroyed and he was told by some travelers that the closest inn was in Nekrut, a small farming community, just outside of Peregren.

The travelers directions weren't very good. When Goodfry asked him to repeat them, rather than doing so, the traveler took a piece of parchment down off of a post and drew a crude map to the inn on the back of it.

Little did Goodfry realize, on the other side of the parchment were pictures of Kam and Steven.

"We'd better be getting paid for the trouble we had with that damn bird."

Kam looked at the Agent and wasn't sure if the guy was high ranking or not. All these freaks looked the same to him. He looked around wondering if there were any others. This one wasn't talking. Kam thought about smacking the guy, but that didn't seem to help much; only end with Kam in some form of pain. Kam didn't like pain.

Looking around, they were near what was possibly a blacksmith shop. It had an apartment above the shop. It looked as if it had been abandoned for many, many years. Of course, that was not important to Kam or Steven.

Suddenly, Kam began to sneeze. And he sneezed right in the face of the Civil Agent... every time. Then he wiped his nose on the Agent's sleeve.

"Thank you. Now where's our prize?" he asked with watery eyes. He assumed it was just a flying rat.