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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Aug 20, 2010 19:58:38 GMT -5
Joxer had just left the local tavern and began making his way along a road toward somewhere else. It had been only a few months since he disbanded his armies and sent the men home. He had taken to the road to find his true self and his purpose in life. He had trouble believing that Ares was right about him, his destiny could not be the destruction of everything he touches. He had killed many men women and children, and it had been years since his last good nights sleep. Always his dreamed were haunted by the cries of the women and children he had killed. It was because of these dreams he had stopped his days as a conqueror, instead he has chosen to be a wanderer. When he comes in contact with those he has conquered or wronged in his past, he will do what he can to make amends knowing full well there will be many that he cannot appease. He trudged doggedly down the road out of Corinth, having spent the last few days fighting the local riff-raff at the tavern and helping make the small outlying villages a safer place for the peasant farmers to live. He was no longer concerned with great victories or being remembered, no he now sought only the next challenge, the next great warrior, and hoping to one day find the one worthy of defeating him in battle. He had made many deals with Ares and the only one he has not lived up to is leading the God of Wars armies into battle against any who oppose him. He no longer wanted to be the greatest general in history, he simply wanted to die as a good man.
TAG: Any
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Post by Ava on Aug 20, 2010 21:18:46 GMT -5
"Farewell." Ava said to the innkeeper, as she handed back her key. She was checking out, only to wander the road once more. Telling stories and writing stories to and for others was how she made her living, if you will. Of course most things people gave her she'd either not accept or she'd give them away, mostly to orphanages, hospices, and those she saw that had very little money; not that Ava was wealthy as far as money was concerned, but she always kept in mind that things could always be worse no matter how bad they were or seemed already.
Walking down the pebbled covered dirt road Ava reached into her pouch and pulled out a yellow piece of cloth. She then gathered her hair together at the base of her neck and tied the yellow cloth around her hair. Spring was here and it was showing. Not just in the plant life around, but the sun was beating down unusually hard. Not that Ava was complaining as she loved the sun. It was quite a lovely free gift from the gods.
Though while walking along Ava saw a figure up a head as she was coming to the fork in the road. From the looks of it the person was a warrior. A man too. Reasonable deduction was a small 'specialty' of hers. As Ava got closer he seemed to look familiar. "Hello." She greeted pleasantly as their roads joined into one. Ava fell in step next to him. "Nice day, don't you think?" Ava asked with a friendly smile as she reached for her water, and took a sip. Oh, where are my manners?
She held out her water to him. She was still trying to place his face. Handsome face at that. "Would you like some?" Ava offered. "No charge."
Tag: Joxer
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Aug 20, 2010 23:34:40 GMT -5
Joxer had a warriors sense that told him someone or something was heading his way. Without being certain what it was he kept his hand on his sword until he could identify friend or foe. He saw it was a woman, fairly attractive and from the looks of her, poor. It was not a challenge and therefor not a threat, and without a doubt not a foe.
"Hello."
He nodded his head in greeting.
He watched out the corner of his eye as she fell into step beside him.
"Nice day, don't you think?"
"I have not had a 'nice day' in a very long time..."
"Would you like some? No charge."
He eyed her suspiciously and let it fade
"Not right now, thank you all the same though."
He could not help notice she had a certain twinkle in her eye, as if she enjoyed the never ending journey of a wandering life, he had been alone for some time now, and the company was a welcomed change. He was afraid of introducing himself for fear that he would lose this new walking companion. He new eventually they would have to introduce themselves, but he decided to avoid it as long as possible.
"So, what brings you out this way?"
He decided to try and get to know her, even if she was just going to run from him as they all did when they learned his name... if she was a bard then perhaps he'd get to hear a song or poem while they walked.. he was learning to appreciate things of beauty, something he had never been good at before. He had simply been good at destroying the beautiful things and now he wanted to change that, but who would believe that Joxer the Viscous no longer sought to kill everything in his path? No one thats who. He had spent too long earning the tittles of killer and murderer to think people would just accept that he had changed his ways, especially since he still wore his armor and carried his swords. Maybe the other gods were testing his resolve on this path and this woman was a test. But a test of what?
Tag:Ava
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Post by Ava on Aug 21, 2010 0:24:07 GMT -5
"I have not had a 'nice day' in a very long time..."
"Well that's something we'll have to change." Ava replied happily and with a smile to match her cheerful tone. She was still trying to place his face. Usually she was quite good at such things, but currently she seemed to be blanking. Turning to walk back-wards she put the water away after he turned it down.
"So, what brings you out this way?"
Ava's smile seemed to grow at the question asked. She looked into his brown eyes as she spoke, and continued to walk back-wards.
"My stories. I go wherever my feet take me, and tell stories to people as is the life of a traveling bard. It's something I kind of always wanted to do. When I was younger I'd tell and stories to my brothers and sisters, and others in my village. My father didn't exactly like it though. He wanted me to settle, but eventually when I was seventeen he let me go to Athens Academy Of Performing Bards. It's quite the school! Obviously though I've spent time in Corinth, and am now leaving, same as you."
Ava held up her index finger. "In case you're wondering how I know where you're coming from, I'm no oracle. It's the road. The only two leading in and out of Corinth, well main roads. I never take the back roads. Too easy for thugs or mercenaries to get at you."
Ava then clapped her hands as she jumped up excitedly. "Now I know who you are!" She exclaimed pointing at him. "You're Joxer! Evil doer that fights evil! Why, sure. That's why there was a hustle and bustle in town." Ava tapped her chin as she studied Joxer's face. "Odd. You don't look like a monster." She stopped abruptly and came close.
"Actually, you look tired. When was the last time you had a rest and something to eat?"
"Oh, sorry. My name is Ava by the way." Ava held out her right hand to him.
Tag: Joxer
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Aug 21, 2010 8:44:08 GMT -5
"Well that's something we'll have to change."
He wanted to grumble but did not. Her cheerfulness was refreshing.
"My stories. I go wherever my feet take me, and tell stories to people as is the life of a traveling bard. It's something I kind of always wanted to do. When I was younger I'd tell and stories to my brothers and sisters, and others in my village. My father didn't exactly like it though. He wanted me to settle, but eventually when I was seventeen he let me go to Athens Academy Of Performing Bards. It's quite the school! Obviously though I've spent time in Corinth, and am now leaving, same as you."
That explained her sunny disposition, Bards were known for being perpetually happy. He had a brother that was bard-like, though flashy, flamboyant and an utter disgrace to the family seemed more appropriate terms for him.
"In case you're wondering how I know where you're coming from, I'm no oracle. It's the road. The only two leading in and out of Corinth, well main roads. I never take the back roads. Too easy for thugs or mercenaries to get at you."
"I did not figure you for an Oracle..." He attempted to make it a joke.
"...and i don't worry about thugs, most don't bother me, the ones that do regret it quickly."
He spoke softly, as if his ability to defend himself was something of a burden at times.
"Now I know who you are!"
oh great, he thought, now is where she either begs me not to kill her, or runs away...
"You're Joxer! Evil doer that fights evil! Why, sure. That's why there was a hustle and bustle in town. Odd. You don't look like a monster."
So news of his occupational change had spread rather quickly, and it seemed she may even believe it unlike many others. Was it said he was supposed to look like a monster? Was he supposed to have fangs or something? He'd have to ask later...
"Actually, you look tired. When was the last time you had a rest and something to eat?"
"I ate in the tavern, and I am capable of hunting when not in a town or village."
He paused to think for a moment about her first question
"As for rest, it has been a very long time since I have rested peacefully. If you know who i am then surely you know of my deeds, and I'll bet you even have a few stories and songs that are not all that flattering."
where was he going with this, he had no idea, something had interrupted his thought process, perhaps it was the fact that she had continued talking to him after seeing who he was, or the fact that she seemed concerned about him as well.
"It does not matter how long it has been since I had a peaceful night's sleep, I am certain I will not have another until the gods have forgiven me for the path I chose in my youth."
"Oh, sorry. My name is Ava by the way."
He took her offered hand and kissed it gently
"I am Joxer, but you already knew that."
TAG:Ava
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Post by Ava on Aug 21, 2010 14:33:04 GMT -5
"I did not figure you for an Oracle..."
Ava laughed. "Let me guess, it was my lack of robes and the fact that I'm not coming from Delphi, right?"
Ava attempted a small joke of her own. Very small. She was not the high priestess of jokes, one of her brothers on the other hand he was good at it. His specialty consisted of making pomegranate juice come out peoples noses. Ava tried not to laugh at the memory. But back to the now...
"I ate in the tavern, and I am capable of hunting when not in a town or village."
"The question at hand is are you cooking what you hunt right?" Ava said as she pointed to Joxer. "The spices or lack make all the difference. I could show you tonight, if you can catch us something. And tavern food is just tavern food. It's a business, so not much is put into it, well except the one in Amphioplis." Ava had said that as cheerily as anything else. She was not afraid of him. She figured if he wanted her dead she'd have been killed already.
"As for rest, it has been a very long time since I have rested peacefully. If you know who i am then surely you know of my deeds, and I'll bet you even have a few stories and songs that are not all that flattering."
"True," Ava admitted. "but I could come up with new stories about you if you let me travel with you. I don't take up much space, I don't eat very much either. Also I'm good at cooking, mending," Ava touched the part of his top where she spotted a small hole. "and I could keep you company and tell stories. Help people believe you changed."
Why was she willing to do all that? Well something just said it was right, and could be fun. Ava also figured that he must have been traveling alone for quite a while, and that was no good. Companionship was needed for ever Human, even if it was just a simple friendship.
"It does not matter how long it has been since I had a peaceful night's sleep, I am certain I will not have another until the gods have forgiven me for the path I chose in my youth."
Ava lightly blushed when he kissed her hand.
"Well if you ask me they should have forgiven you already. The path you choose you choose when you were young, and when you're young you make mistakes. It's part of growing up. Also, though some people might not think it when you're an adult a person is still learning and growing, it's just slightly different than a child."
"Homer once said: Yet, taught by time, my heart has learned to glow for others' good, and melt at others' woes. Euripides once said: Danger gleams like sunshine to a brave mans eyes. He also said; Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them; he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account." Ava spoke those words softly, sincerely, and with an air of wonder.
"My thoughts are that those have happened or are happening to you now." She placed a hand on Joxer's shoulder. "Do you know why the gods put our faces on the front, and not the back?" Ava paused a moment to let the question sink in. "It's so we can see where we are going, not where we've been." She said smile up at Joxer.
Tag: Joxer
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Aug 24, 2010 15:08:20 GMT -5
"Let me guess, it was my lack of robes and the fact that I'm not coming from Delphi, right?"
He smiled at her joke. He was beginning to think having her as a traveling companion might be nice. Although if they were attacked because of him being who he is and she got hurt, he doubted he'd be able to forgive himself...
"The question at hand is are you cooking what you hunt right?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"How is there a wrong way to cook? You kill it, roast it over a fire and eat it."
"The spices or lack make all the difference."
"Spices? What are you talking about?"
"I could show you tonight, if you can catch us something."
"Would you prefer water faring or land based?"
"And tavern food is just tavern food. It's a business, so not much is put into it,"
"It's food, it does the job, who feels like complaining?"
"well except the one in Amphioplis."
"Is that where you're from?"
"True, but I could come up with new stories about you if you let me travel with you. I don't take up much space, I don't eat very much either. Also I'm good at cooking, mending, and I could keep you company and tell stories. Help people believe you changed."
It didn't seem like a bad idea to him, he was just worried about her safety.
"Hmm.... Why do I get the feeling you wont take 'NO' for an answer?"
He smiled at her.
"You are not concerned about your safety, traveling with someone like me?"
"Well if you ask me they should have forgiven you already. The path you choose you choose when you were young, and when you're young you make mistakes. It's part of growing up. Also, though some people might not think it when you're an adult a person is still learning and growing, it's just slightly different than a child."
He shrugged.
"Homer once said: Yet, taught by time, my heart has learned to glow for others' good, and melt at others' woes. Euripides once said: Danger gleams like sunshine to a brave mans eyes. He also said; Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them; he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account."
Now she was philosophizing... just what he needed...
"My thoughts are that those have happened or are happening to you now."
He only nodded, contemplating what she had just said...
"Do you know why the gods put our faces on the front, and not the back?"
"I've never given that much thought, no."
"It's so we can see where we are going, not where we've been."
He couldn't help but laugh, he was starting to like her. Perhaps having her with him would help him more than he knew...
TAG:Ava
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Post by Ava on Aug 24, 2010 17:50:35 GMT -5
She had enjoyed their small conversation, and planned to make more out of it. There were after all two things she had yet to reply to. There were also a lot of things that Ava wanted to ask Joxer. Which would not exactly be unusual, well for her. She loved a good Q and A.
"Hmm.... Why do I get the feeling you wont take 'NO' for an answer?"
Ava smiled as she walked along side him. He was right at that. She seldom did take no for an answer, and it didn't exactly matter much who you were. No was never the end of it, and if he had told her to move along Ava would have ended up following him. Joxer seemed a very interesting person to her, and she was quite intregued by him too.
"Because you are a very smart man." Ava replied to his question. "Even if you did say no I admit I wouldn't listen."
"You are not concerned about your safety, traveling with someone like me?"
That was not a hard to answer either. Ava actually didn't think about it too much. She switched her pack to her other shoulder. "No, why should I be?" Ava questioned. "Everyone knows you're a skilled fighter, so who'd be stupid enough to try and knock you off? And believe it or not I don't think you'd hurt me. You changed, and if you had not I would have been dead quite a bit ago." Ava paused in thought just for a moment before continuing on.
"Another thing," Ava looked at Joxer. "do you know how dangerous the traveling alone part of my line of work is considering that I'm a girl? A slave trader or someone else could easily snatch me up. So, I also have it figured that if I stick with you people might think twice, unless of course they have no brain, and you can get a decant meal each night and day for free. So me traveling with you benifits us both."
That was her happy pappy logic at work. A little silly sounding but it made sense in her mind. Helping eachother out.
"And if you can, rabbit sounds good for tonight. If you like I could make a stew with it or we could just eat it after I cook it." Ava was going to leave that decision up to him. She was not all that picky when it came to food.
Just then, as they were continuing on an arrow came out of no where piercing a hole in Ava's pack. She dropped it quickly, and looked around. Five tall and ugly men with scars came out of what appeared like no where. They had a lot of weapons, and a string of people with them; all women. Ava got a gut wrentching feeling that things were not going to boad well.
"Give us the girl, and we'll spare you." One of the ugly brutes demanded of Joxer, pointing his sword at him. A different brute came after Ava, and tried to grab at her. "Hey!" Ava jumped back. "Hands off! I'm not a wrack of lamb!"
Ava picked up her bag and pulled out the arrow. She then smiled. "How about you release those women and run cowering home to your mothers?!"
Waving the arrow at the men she went on. "You can either do that now," Ava smiled as she looked up at Joxer then back to the men. "or five minutes from now." Obviously she had ever confidence in Joxer.
Tag: Joxer.
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Aug 24, 2010 20:47:32 GMT -5
"Because you are a very smart man. Even if you did say no I admit I wouldn't listen."
Great, now he was stuck with her, he looked over at her, from head to toe and decided he liked the idea, could be worse, she could have had no personality...
"No, why should I be? Everyone knows you're a skilled fighter, so who'd be stupid enough to try and knock you off? And believe it or not I don't think you'd hurt me. You changed, and if you had not I would have been dead quite a bit ago."
He nodded; getting the feeling they weren't alone...
"Another thing, do you know how dangerous the traveling alone part of my line of work is considering that I'm a girl? A slave trader or someone else could easily snatch me up. So, I also have it figured that if I stick with you people might think twice, unless of course they have no brain, and you can get a decent meal each night and day for free. So, me traveling with you benefits us both."
"I see your point."
"And if you can, rabbit sounds good for tonight. If you like I could make a stew with it or we could just eat it after I cook it."
"Keep your eyes open for that rabbit and we'll see how good of a stew you can make."
He heard the arrow let loose from its bow and stopped when she dropped her pack, he had both his swords strapped behind him, and he shifted slightly, keeping them hidden from the new arrivals as his fingers slipped around the handles.
"Give us the girl, and we'll spare you."
"Spare me?" He said as he looked up into the man's eyes. He wondered who this man thought he was to declare such a thing... He counted the men, saw the scared expressions on the women faces and was about to step forward and do something when Ava jumped back from an attempted grab.
"Hey! Hands off! I'm not a wrack of lamb!"
Still looking at the man he assumed was the leader.
"Unless you boys are no longer attached to your hands, I would advise you not try and touch her again."
"How about you release those women and run cowering home to your mothers?! You can either do that now, or five minutes from now."
Apparently she had already guessed that he wasn't going to just let them leave, although it wasn't like he had much of a choice here. He had just made his first friend in life, he was not about to let these thugs take her from him. Besides, who else was going to free all those women tied up like slaves.
"Actually my friend here is wrong about one thing."
"Yeah, what's that?" The leader demanded
"You don't have a five minute option."
The slavers began to laugh, perfect... that left them wide open...
He rushed forward while drawing his swords, with a slash of the right he cut the wrist of one of the men, severing his tendons and preventing from ever holding a sword again. With a slash from his left he severed the rope holding the women. He then looked around and saw them trying to surround him, he smiled.
"Perhaps you do not realize the seriousness of this situation my friend. You have two choices at this moment, but know that this is the last choice you will be given by me. Choice one, drop your weapons and leave now. Choice two, attempt to fight me.”
The leader’s face twisted with anger as he ran for Joxer with his sword. Joxer sidestepped him easily and with a quick movement of his wrist slashes the back of the man’s legs, just above the ankle. Having had his Achilles Tendon fully severed this man would never walk again.
“You should have taken the first choice fool. Anyone else care to make the same mistake?”
He looked at the men surrounding them, the leader was flapping on the ground like a fish out of water, and the man whose wrist had been cut had run away crying.
“Now, I could easily kill you all, but I will not. Instead I want you to take this pile of human garbage…” He said as he kicked the man in the butt. “…Leave the women, and run home to whoever it is that was paying you…” They were starting to back away slowly, at least the smart ones anyway. “…and when you get there, you tell them that I, Joxer the Mighty have put them out of business.”
He glared at the man that remained, He didn't look to be all that bright, and Joxer doubted he even had the skill with a sword to defend himself let alone give him a challenge. None of these men had proven worth his time at this point and he quickly disarmed the man.
“Go on now, no reason to die today. Go home, find a new line of work and be someone worth living.”
He sheathed his swords, drew a small dagger and began setting the women free, he then looked to Ava as the last man ran out of sight.
“Thank you so much for volunteering me to save these people.”
He sighed
“At the very least you can write something decent about it.”
After he freed the last woman, he took one of the men’s bows they had dropped, took the arrow from Ava and walked off into the woods. He was gone for only thirty minutes at the most, and when he returned, he had four rabbits skewered on the arrow, and was dragging a small deer.
“Will this be enough to feed everyone with that stew of yours? Or will we need more?”
He smiled at Ava as he said it, he would gladly clean and cut the meat for her if she wished it, but for now he just wanted to be himself, not some hero that had just rescued a half dozen people…
TAG: Ava
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Post by Ava on Aug 24, 2010 21:49:04 GMT -5
Short conversings then wham! Ava ran ot the nearest tree and watched the fight intently, jumping up and down every so often. She was smiling actually, not cowering in fear. She balled her right hand into a fist and punched the middle of her left hand with it in the excitment of it all. "Ouch!" Ava exclaimed in whisper to herself as she shook her right hand. She closed her eyes just once as the Joxer cut the man at his heel. Oh, that has to hurt.
Not too soon after the fight was over and the last were sent away. Ava came running out. "That was so awesome!" She said with utmost enthusiam. "They didn't know what hit them! I wish I could see the look on the ringleaders face when that...that piece of sludge gives him the message." Ava was unusually happy.
“Thank you so much for volunteering me to save these people.”
“At the very least you can write something decent about it.”
"It's no problem. I already knew that you would save them." Ava laughed as she put a hand to her hip. "More like epic! Quill and I shall be very busy tonight." Ava watched as Joxer took to the woods. She then turned her attention to the women that were there. "You can rest easy now." Ava assured them. It had to be difficult to rest easy after seeing a fight like that even if Joxer freed them. "We aren't going to take you anywhere. You're all free."
Some people would have only freed the women so they could take them in and collect the money. That was not the case here. Ava walked up to the youngest who looked about fifteen. "Hi, what's your name?"
"Ginny." The scared young girl replied. "Nice to meet you Ginny. My name is Ava."
Ava then looked at all the others. "Do any of you know where you were being taken?"
They all shook their heads no. One spoke up. "All we knew was that we were being sold into slavery."
"Well not anymore."
“Will this be enough to feed everyone with that stew of yours? Or will we need more?”
Ava turned around and smiled back at Joxer. She eyed the meat. "More than enough!" Ava replied as she picked up her pack. "I'll clean while you start a fire." Ava started to take off but stopped. "Oh, Joxer, the blonde girl with the dark blue eyes, her name is Ginny. I didn't get around to the others yet. Maybe you'd like to do that. Assure them that they aren't going to be hurt."
"Meat please?"
Tag: Joxer.
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Aug 27, 2010 18:36:56 GMT -5
"That was so awesome!"
He simply turned to look at her.
"They didn't know what hit them!
"They usually don't."
I wish I could see the look on the ringleaders face when that...that piece of sludge gives him the message."
"Part of me does too."
"It's no problem. I already knew that you would save them."
He grunted
"More like epic! Quill and I shall be very busy tonight."
"After the cooking right?" Then he headed off to gather dinner...
When he returned she seemed to be having a conversation with one of the younger girls from the slave line.
"More than enough!"
"Good, I'd hate for any of our guests to starve."
"I'll clean while you start a fire."
He looked around and quickly gathered some fire wood, drawing a large knife from his boot and hacking some of the larger logs into a more manageable size.
"Oh, Joxer, the blond girl with the dark blue eyes, her name is Ginny. I didn't get around to the others yet. Maybe you'd like to do that. Assure them that they aren't going to be hurt."
'Is she serious?' He thought, he was never really a people person, and now this man who had slain thousands was supposed to all these scarred frightened women to trust HIM that they wouldn't be harmed... this is just great...
"Meat please?"
He could have taken that line in many ways, but do to the presence of the others he decided to simply hand over the skewered rabbits and drag the dear to her. He then returned to the crowd of women.
"Hello, I assure you that we mean you no harm. Ava there will prepare a meal once I get the fire going. After we eat I will see what I can do about giving you all shelter for the night and tomorrow you may either return to your homes on your own or we will do what we can to get you somewhere safe."
He was certain he had used up all his ability to speak comfortingly and hoped it had worked. He smiled to them and before leaving he looked at Ginny.
"I'm sure Ava could use a hand or two, if your able."
He then ventured back to the wood pile and began building two fires. The first one he made was rather large and it took him a while to light it with his flint and steel, but once it was lit he moved to the smaller one, in which he had dug a hole in the ground and placed the wooden bits inside this hole, he then lit it and maintained it while he whittled several long sticks and fished some metal rods from his gear. He stuck one rod on either side of the fire and placed the third between them over the fire to make a roasting spit, he then pulled out what looked like an iron grate and laid it over the fire pit. He thought to himself 'that should make cooking a little easier on them.' He looked over the fires, one for warmth and one for food then glanced over to Ava as she prepared the meal. The his gaze fell on the faces of the women who had moved to sit around the fire and be warm. He nodded to himself and ventured back into the woods to scout for shelter or anything he could make into a shelter for all of them. When he returned he had more wooden logs with him, and several bundles of something else, he would construct shelters after they ate with the items he had scavenged...
TAG: Ava (Any)
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Post by Ava on Aug 27, 2010 21:15:18 GMT -5
As Ava was preparing their dinner she couldn't help but look over her shoulder a couple of times when Joxer had talked to the women. It was rather interesting to watch, and nice to write about. In stories Ava wrote she usually liked for them to have some sort of tenderness. A moral too. Ava silently picked up her pack and opened the front pocket and started to season the stew. If Hercules has twelve labors to do I wonder how many Joxer will have to do before Hades would let his soul be in the Elysian fields.
"Ava," A soft voice broke through Ava's current thoughts. "do you need any help?" Ava turned to see Ginny. "Help is always welcome and much appreciated." Ava replied cheerfully. "Do you think you could sprinkle the meat with this bottle of herbs?" Ava handed Ginny the bottle. "I'm just going to chop these veggies up."
Ginny sprinkled as Ava said after she had been handed the bottle.
"Where do you come from Ginny?"
"From a small village in Thrace. I was fetching some water from the well for my mother when they came. My sister was with us until it was decided that some of us would be sold over seas." A few tears ran down Ginny's face. Ava stopped chopping the veggies and wrapped her arms around the young girl in comfort. "What was her name?"
"Kara."
"We'll say a prayer for Kara tonight."
Ava looked up when she heard some brush rustling. It was Joxer. He had wooden logs and, something else. What was he going to do with that? Well, she'd find out eventually. "I think we should finish up." Ava said softly as she let go of Ginny. The two finished up the seasoning and cooking. It took a little while, but it was finished.
"Dinner is ready!" Ava called out. The women went rushing up. "Help yourselves." Ava didn't know how long they had been traveling like that, but it must have been a while, for those that were to become slaves didn't get to eat. Ava managed to get a bowel of stew for Joxer. "Here you go. What do you think?" Ava asked as she handed it out to Joxer.
"Joxer," Ava gently pulled Joxer aside and sat down on a log. "Joxer, what are the chances of finding a slave girl from Thrace overseas?"
Tag: Joxer/Any
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Aug 27, 2010 23:56:07 GMT -5
He had heard Ava and Ginny talking as he came back through the woods, it was part of his navigation technique to find them easier. As he was setting the supplies down he began thinking of someway to help the poor girl...
"Dinner is ready!"
"Ah good..." He was going to grab some food when he saw the women lining up, he handed his bowl to one of the younger ones.
"Ladies first." He said with a smile.
"Help yourselves."
He watched as they gathered food and huddled around the fire to eat, some as if they hadn't eaten in weeks, it made him feel sad for them, a feeling he had not experienced before, but it also made him angry. He remembered a time in his life where he had given the order to send women and children away to be sold after he and his men had slaughtered their families. Now he saw the other side of it all and was appalled that he could have been so cruel, so heartless and so evil...
"Here you go. What do you think?"
He was brought back from his thoughts when she offered him the stew, his thoughts of his past had made him lose much of his appetite, but he took the bowl anyway.
"Thank you."
He said as he tried it, admittedly it was the best meal he'd had in a very long time, and he hungrily ate the rest.
"It's delicious, I've never tasted anything like it."
He said, then looking out over the women again...
"What will happen to them now? What will stop others from trying to take them again?"
He was asking out of sheer concern, he was learning more emotions than just anger and hate and it was new to him, although he did not want to admit it, he felt he had no choice but to fear for the safety of these women. His thoughts wandered back into the past and he thought about all those he had sent to their deaths and all the innocents he had sentenced to far worse things as slaves when he was jostled from his thoughts by Ava.
"Joxer, what are the chances of finding a slave girl from Thrace overseas?"
"Slim to none at best."
He did not mean to say it in such a cold manner and attempted to make reparations
"Sorry, I just don't see a anyway for it to be easily done, not without money and connections."
Then he remembered he did in fact have connections, and then wondered if those connections were the same men paying the thugs he had fought...
His contact had been in Thrace...
"I have an idea. I once knew a man in Thrace that, well... I am not pleased to say this... but he handled my affairs when it came to selling slaves. I regret these actions and if helping these women is what I must do to atone for these sins then so be it, we will go to Thrace, I will speak with Aristedes and see what I can find out. You may wish to avoid being witness to the method in which I ask this favor, as he and I are no longer 'friends'. Now, if you'll excuse me, the sky looks like a storm is brewing and I want to get the shelters up before the rain comes."
With that he stood and went to his pile of logs and bundles of twigs, he slaved away, twisting vines into ropes and securing the logs into walls then fastening the twigs and branches into a makeshift thatch roof. It took him a great deal of time and energy to construct such a thing with limited hand tools, but he labored on without complaint until it was completed, as a finishing touch he took his cloak and fashioned it into a door. When it was completed he returned to the fire, added some more wood and looked at Ava and the women.
"Ladies, your humble abode awaits you, it's not much, but it will keep you dry tonight. I was only able to scrounge enough material for one shelter so you will all have to share, I'll be out here to make sure none of you are harmed while you sleep."
When he was done talking some of the women began to move into the shelter and found a small bed of straw for each of them, there was a deer skin rug laid out under Ava's pack and a few thin cloaks that has seen better days folded against a wall if anyone needed one. Once the majority had gone inside Joxer unrolled a tattered blanket and laid it out on the ground next to the fire, he removed his armor, using his padded gambazon as a pillow and placing his swords on either side of him, well within quick draw distance. He then laid down and gazed up at the stars, adding a log to the fire as needed as the clouds began to darken.
"Good night everyone, Sleep well."
He knew he would not be able to sleep, as he rarely ever did, and tonight he had people to protect so sleep was not an option, perhaps once they were safe and he was convinced they were out of harms way he would attempt to get some sleep, but not tonight.
Tag: Ava
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Post by Ava on Aug 28, 2010 0:52:40 GMT -5
"It's delicious, I've never tasted anything like it."
Ava simply smiled. She was hoping for a response like that. Her brothers had loved her cooking too, and it was quite pleasing to see someone enjoying a meal. Most women were like that. If their cooking pleased the person or persons they had made it for it made them happy. So, in this instance Joxer's response made her happy.
"What will happen to them now? What will stop others from trying to take them again?"
Ava honestly did not know what to say to that. They would go home, if they had a home to go back to. She extended her hand and touched Joxer's arm in a comforting way. More was going on in his mind. It was obvious, well to her it was. Though his reply to her other question troubled her some. Slim to none.
Her attention was redirected to Joxer from the ground as he continued to speak. Ava listened carefully. Her spirits perked up a little bit too. "If I avoid being a witness how am I supposed to write about it?" Ava let out a sigh as she just sat and watched as Joxer worked. It was interesting construction at that. Where and how did people learn things like that?
"Ladies, your humble abode awaits you, it's not much, but it will keep you dry tonight. I was only able to scrounge enough material for one shelter so you will all have to share, I'll be out here to make sure none of you are harmed while you sleep."
Like Ava had any intention of letting Joxer stand gaurd alone. Alright, Ava didn't know how to fight, but if she remembered correctly he had said he had not had a nice day, which also could mean he didn't have nice nights either. She didn't know the load Joxer carried with him, but she could imagine.
Ava retrieved her pack and took one of the think cloaks giving the skin to one of the women. She then made her way over to the fire where Joxer was. She moved one of his swords to be with the other. After placing her pack on the ground she did the same with the cloak.
"They're beautiful aren't they?" Ava commented on the stars as she too looked up at them. "Sometimes they remind me of a not so nice persons soul. There's the darkness, but also the small beautiful pieces, the good in someone that shines on occasions, and brightly if one bothers to look."
Ava smiled at Joxer. She then got out her parchment and quill, and began writing. There was so much to write about too. While writing, every now and again Ava would steal a glance at Joxer.
Tag: Joxer/Any
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Post by Joxer the Mighty on Aug 28, 2010 2:12:31 GMT -5
"If I avoid being a witness how am I supposed to write about it?"
He let out a heavy sigh
"The world is not lacking in stories of my cruelty, and I'd like it if you did not see that side of me."
He looked over at her
"Think of it as my way of protecting you from the monster that dwells within me."
He watched as the women ventured off to bed, one by one, including Ava... Then she returned and made up a makeshift bed next to his, he flinched when she reached for his sword and probably would have injured her had he not caught himself. He watched as she moved it and then lay where it had been.
"They're beautiful aren't they?"
"Very, and each one has a story and a name to go with it though I doubt I will ever know any of them."
He turned to look at her
"It is said that those who do great deeds are chosen by the gods to reside up there for all eternity and to have their stories told throughout the generations..." Sigh "...I doubt there is such a place for someone like me."
"Sometimes they remind me of a not so nice persons soul. There's the darkness, but also the small beautiful pieces, the good in someone that shines on occasions, and brightly if one bothers to look."
"Is that how you think of me?"
He asked rolling back over onto his back and gazing upward again.
"That my soul is as black as the sky with tiny specks of goodness floating around? I thought those flecks had died or run away years ago, after having been neglected for so long. Today gives me hope, hope that I can be a better person and use my skills for good. Or something like that."
He glanced at her from time to time, watching her write and occasionally he thought he caught her sneaking glances at him. It was like that game he had once played with a girl when they were children, before his father slaughtered her family for refusing to pay for his protection. Thinking back he realized a lot of what his father had done, and he had done, were things none should ever do and the people that lived through it were less fortunate than those who were killed, now he too had become one that had lived through it. If he had been killed in battle, there would have been a great celebration, but since he still lived none would celebrate him. He had caused too much pain. He drifted into a restless sleep with these thoughts on his mind.
He had a nightmare, and was moaning loudly in his sleep, then he screamed...
He awoke in a cold sweat and sat up, taking deep breaths as tears rolled down his face. He then realized he had not been asleep more than a few minutes as Ava was still writing, he looked at her as he wiped the tears away.
"I'd appreciate it if none of this made it onto any scrolls."
TAG:Ava
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