Guest Adelaide Erindale Posted April 11, 2002 Report Posted April 11, 2002 OOC: I am in school now (being fairly naughty), but I wanted to make sure that I didn't chicken out and decide not to post it later, because I really want feedback and know that I need to post this story here in order to get it... I'll post the newly-made prologue here, and add parts of the story later, I suppose... yes, that's what I'll do. And now, without further ado... Screams were everywhere... flames licked the sides of her house, climbing up, up, ever higher on the wooden building, turning the pine wood to charcoal in mere seconds. It finally got to the thatched roof, which then collapsed-- The girl shook the vision away. She returned to the here and now, which was sitting around a campfire with some friends. Her gaze remained in the blaze before her where it had been, but the vision was gone. She decided in an instant. Adelaide stood, and the group's scattered talking immediately ceased. She didn't talk much, but when she did, these people (her friends) listened. She hesitated... what if they shunned her for it? She scanned the group from right to left, still hesitating. As she came to the person on her immediate left, she saw the kind old druid... Balladore nodded at her, and gave her an encouraging smile. Tell them, Adelaide thought... and she did. "This is my story," she said, and began.
Gyrfalcon Posted April 12, 2002 Report Posted April 12, 2002 Gyrfalcon shifts himself up onto the log from where he had been sprawled out, then leans forward to listen intently. At his feet, Canid naps on a small pile of moss she had grown there, though by the way her ears perk and twitch at Adelaide's words, she was most likely awake and listening just as intently. A large fox jumps onto the log by Gyrfalcon and curls up, tail over his nose- Daryl, the werefox, currently enjoying his fox form. Over the tip of his tail, golden eyes collect the light of the campfire and send the light at Adelaide as he watches, ears pointed in her direction to hear best. OOC: First: sorry if you don't like your placement, Canid- feel free to tell me, and you can disappear elsewhere. Second: I'll be reading with great interest, Adelaide. *smiles*
Gwaihir Posted April 12, 2002 Report Posted April 12, 2002 Out of the forest an elf in brown slides to a point where he can hear better, because this is really interesting so far. ---------- I want to be page 93 of Pineapples, the Avian Crows-Nyyark
Guest Belizean1 Posted April 12, 2002 Report Posted April 12, 2002 *A slight shimmer in the air is seen next to Gyr and the wind suddenly picks up violently causing Gyr's hair to fly around wildly and Canid to hiss in displeasure as she flattens herself to the ground and digs her talons in so as not to fly away... Suddenly it all stops and Bel plops down next to Gyr hearing a yelp under him and leaps to his feet. He hadn't noticed Daryl the werefox... "Couldn't help overhearing the beginning of this storytellers tale, it has already caught my interest! May I sit on this log as well Gyr?" Bel asks and Gyr nods absently while muttering, "Always the one with the big entrance you goof. Poor Canid..." Daryl is tempted to take a bite out of Bel just to teach him some manners but decides not to......* OOC: Great opening! I can't wait to read more
Guest Adelaide Erindale Posted April 15, 2002 Report Posted April 15, 2002 Adelaide smiled... she had so many friends here... and she was glad that they had allowed them to join her... though they perhaps might not allow her to stay after she told them. At least, if they didn't, she would know that she had told someone about it... about everything. She remained standing... again she repeated: "This is my story, and I shall share it with you." And she began to weave the tapestry of storytelling... the people could almost see it, the way she chose her words carefully... they could almost see what she was describing to them now: "Years past, I lived in a coastal town called Clearwater. I believe I have told of this before, but I shall do so again. "In Clearwater, the people were very... closedminded. They didn't approve of fighting or magics of any sort, and thus the children were not instructed to defend themselves from anything-- especially the girls. A woman's place was in the kitchen, or knitting... never fighting. I had but one friend... and even that was discouraged... in Clearwater, the girls stayed home and helped their mothers so that they could learn to run a home someday. They had no choice of husband-- girls were sold to a suitor, and frequently disliked him. No one thought that the system was wrong. No one thought that there was something perverse going on. As I said, I had one friend. Her name was Dawn Pembroke, and she while I was in Clearwater she gave me the strength I needed to go home at night... and face them . We played-- Dawn and I, that is-- in a small glen just outside the gate... we snuck out, mostly at night, and we would dance around and sing. Some of the happiest times of my life were at that glen, with Dawn. She was the most amazing friend; she always knew exactly what to say. I knew that I could trust her about anything-- that I could tell her anything. I kept something from her, though. I didn't tell her one thing... I couldn't. It's hard for me to tell even you..." Adelaide scanned the group then, trying to boost her confidence that they would understand... she had to tell them sooner or later... "I-" she choked on the words... she was about to tell them, but she was afraid to. Adelaide sat down and took a sip out of a canteen. The water cooled her somewhat, but she was still blushing furiously. It was terrible... how could they allow her to be amongst them after this? "I... when I was young... about 12, I think... I was... raped... by my father," she said, and watched for their reactions. "If you don't want me to be here, That's fine... I won't even finish my story, I'll just leave... but if you want to hear the rest, I will tell."
Gyrfalcon Posted April 15, 2002 Report Posted April 15, 2002 Gyrfalcon leans forward, face grim. At his side, Daryl is growling softly, eyes shifting away from golden and towards red. "Neither I nor Daryl believe that a horrible event such as you say is the woman's fault. This is the crime of your father, and you are in no way stained by it, except for the pain it has left you... Please, do not go. I wish to hear your story, and what you have to say, and how you came to be in this place." The fox by his side nods his head in agreement, tail slowly lashing back and forth. And if this man is still alive, he will not be when I find him. Gyrfalcon promised to himself. At his side, Daryl forceably stopped his growl, forced himself to stop thinking of the man, and slowly his eyes returned to gold. But in their depths lurked the red spark, the call of violence unleashed.
Guest Adelaide Erindale Posted April 18, 2002 Report Posted April 18, 2002 Adelaide shifted nervously... only one had wished her continuance of the story... But no one argued for you leaving, replied a cheery voice in her head... her old self... she hated that part of her. Only one wished me to continue, though, argued a bitter, rough voiced conscience. Still, one is more than none, and the majority always rules! answered the other half triumphantly, and so she gave in. "I... I don't know what... to say... I'm sorry if I offend any of you who are too... polite to speak up about wanting me to leave... but you haven't. So, I... I guess I'll continue. "That happened, and I couldn't tell Dawn... I tried to make myself believe that it was because I could handle it myself, but I couldn't... It was really because I was afraid of what she would think... afraid of what she would say... and afraid of what she would do about it. Actually... it wasn't so much the first two as the last one. I knew that she would help me in any way that she could... and in this case, it would mean her reporting it to the town elders. That would mean that my father would be in trouble... big trouble. Eventually, though, he would get out of it, and then he would come after me, because he knew that I had told someone. "He was awful... not only in... that way, but others, too... He drank ale all the time and beat my mother... so fiercely. I remember him making me stand outside while he hit her over and over... people would walk by and see me standing there and wonder what I was doing... like I was something... awful. They couldn't hear him, though... it was like he was immune to all suspicion. "For the longest time I couldn't understand why she put up with it. I didn't know why she would let him do this to her... and I know, deep down, that had she known what he was doing to me at the same time... that she would have reported him. "One night he came home, drunk like never before. I don't know what he had, or what he had done, but he was worse than ever... it was terrible. He went inside to find my mother and I sewing... I hated sewing, like I said, but I loved my mother more than anyone in the world... so sometimes I put up with it. "He told me to go outside... and stupidly, I did. I went outside yet again, and sat on our front porch. As the people walked by, I pretended to be looking at the stars. They couldn't hear it... I couldn't hear it, either, come to think of it... until then. "There was a huge bang agains the door... I got up immediately, and opened it outward. My father was standing there... there was a sick, evil grin on his face... his face... I'll never forget his face..." Adelaide's voice trails off here, and she stares off into the flames once again. The listeners begin to worry about her... she continues muttering about his face, slowly increasing volume. When she is almost at a yell, Balladore reaches over and shakes her. "Adelaide! Adelaide, calm down... it's over... you can't help it now... it's finished..." She returns to her senses shortly, and blushes furiously. She had lost control of herself yet again. "I'm sorry-" she starts, only to be interrupted with a request from someone in the crowd to continue. "Y-yes... ok... um..." and she pauses for a moment, trying to find words to begin again. She eventually does, and continues her tale: "My... my mother was lying on the floor... she had a bad injury to the head... there was blood everywhere... and my father was standing over her, smiling. He was a monster... a beast. "I was angry... and I was disappointed in myself... I could have stopped the whole thing before it got to this... but I was afraid. I got up, and took the nearest thing that I could... it was a knitting needle. I thrust at him blindly, and... I stabbed him... I stabbed my father. "He stumbled backwards... and... he knocked over a candle that we had been using to see... I was sewing something delicate, I don't quite remember what, and my mother had been knitting something else... it was intricate work, and we needed good lighting... the candle fell to the floor and found my bed of straw... it ignited immediately, and then it got to the walls... they caught fire... and... "I pulled my mother out away from the house. People were gathering now. I yelled to someone that my father was still inside, but no one went in... they said he was dead by now. One Elder held a feather over my mother's mouth... she wasn't breathing... they said she was dead and noticed the gash on her head... they asked me about it, and I... "I ran. I ran as fast and as far as I could. I kept on running... just running... I didn't know where I was going or what I would do when I got there... I just ran. "Eventually I was exhausted. I fell to my knees, and gasped for breath. I looked up at the sky, and really did look at the stars. They were... calm. The moon was a crescent... and it calmed me... I was ashamed for what I had done, and what I knew was my fault. I made a vow that night, under that moon that I would never allow anything like this to happen again, willingly, in my knowledge... "And... I'm still not finished, but... having said this, I'm sure you don't want me too... I'm... a murderer... but I turn myself in. If you want me to leave, then I will... I just... I don't want to lie anymore."
Gyrfalcon Posted April 20, 2002 Report Posted April 20, 2002 Gyrfalcon cocked his head in curiosity and spoke. "How is it that you are living a lie? Because you fled from your community, did not reveal that you had killed him, and that he did not die in that fire?" Gyrfalcon shook his head slowly "I personally feel that you have nothing to feel guilty for. This... man," Gyrfalcon said with distaste, "killed your mother, and raped you. He died, perhaps more gently then he deserved." Gyrfalcon sighed. "But these are not words of comfort, and I do not know what to say that would offer comfort in a situation like this. However, if you are determined to return to your hometown, please, let Daryl and I accompany you, along with all others who would join."
Guest Adelaide Erindale Posted April 22, 2002 Report Posted April 22, 2002 "I... I don't want to go... I do want to stay... but if I don't fit the values that have been established here, then I will go... back to Clearwater... "But I like it here. I like the rooms, the floors, the walls... they all radiate comfort and... well... maybe even a little bit of belonging, I thought... but if I must go, then I must. It's up to you people, I guess... "And that's another thing... the thing I had liked the most, probably. All of the people here... were so nice... they appreciated me. And when I joined, I felt welcome... I don't know if I've changed all that by telling the truth about myself, but... well... that was amazing. It's the first time I've felt so accepted in... years." "Please... someone... please let me stay. I want to stay," said the joyful half of her... the less revealed half that had, up until the time she had joined, remained hidden. "Why would they want you?" came the gravelly, rough tones again. "Well... because I like it here, and it really seems like they care." "Hah. Right," repeated the other part of her... doubting her once again. "Well... until you decide, or before I go... I will tell the rest of my story..." said Adelaide, now more unsure of herself. "After I collapsed, I looked at the moon, like I said... I promised myself not to let it happen again willingly within my knowledge. That night, the moon became my symbol... a waining crescent, still like that night," and at that, Adelaide held up the ring that portrayed the crescent moon, pointed to her ear rings, and finally her necklace. "And I slept... I've never slept that soundly since... and I don't think before, either, with him there. "The next day, I ran again. I came to a small town where I begged for food, or money. I was ashamed to be begging... but I knew deep down that it was the only way for me to survive. I almost quit, right there. I almost just laid down and died... but I decided, if I did that, then he would win. And I wasn't going to let that happen... he would not beat me at this game. "One day, I asked an elderly lady for some food or money... and she saved me from shame. She asked me, "Well, I'm not going to just give it to you. You have to earn it. What can you do to earn this crown?" she said. "A whole crown!" I thought... my mind was racing. What could I do? I didn't have any talents-- wait! I could sing. I remembered a song that Dawn and I had sung together in a small clearing near our village. We had held hands and spun around and sung. So I sang that song to her... it goes like this: Though the wind may be cold, And the skies may be dark... I don't know, though I'm told, You should sing like the lark. Oh, sing like the lark! Sing like the lark. Though your troubles may seem dark and grey. If you sing like the lark, Sing like the lark, Happiness, I'm sure will fill your day! And though you may have trouble, Sing your troubles all away! You'll feel better on the double, Sing and happiness will fill your day! Oh, sing like the lark! Sing like the lark. Though your troubles may seem dark and grey. If you sing like the lark, Sing like the lark, Happiness, I'm sure will feel your day! "Then... she applauded. She told me that I didn't need to be begging at all-- that I had a beautiful voice and should try to sing professionally. She gave me two crowns that day, instead of two. I still remember her and am thankful that I met her that day. "So that's what I did. I sang for a living, and didn't do too badly. I sang at inns, got free room and 3 hot meals a day, and any tips I won while singing. "One day, after singing "She runs," (posted in Banquet Room) a druid came up to me. He said that he could tell I had made up that song, and that it came from the heart. I was astonished... how could he tell? He said not to worry, that it's a druidic thing, and he asked me if I wanted to share with him what had happened..." During this, Balladore blushes and twiddles his thumbs... he hadn't told anyone how he'd met that girl in the Broken Sword one day... she was free to tell it, though, obviously... it was her story, like she said. "I just told him everything... he was so comforting and everything... He said that he wanted to show me a place for people who wrote and... he took me here. It's one of the best things that's ever happened to me. "And that's my story. Now you all know..." she said, her voice finally trailing off... "Will they let me stay?" she wondered silently... she had a feeling she was about to find out.
Canid Posted April 22, 2002 Report Posted April 22, 2002 Canid opened her eyes and stood up. She paced toward Adelaide and curled up, her warm fur covering Adelaide's feet. "Stay." she said and looked up at Adelaide sincerely.
Gyrfalcon Posted April 23, 2002 Report Posted April 23, 2002 Gyrfalcon spoke firmly "Stay." At his side, Daryl yips a few times, and Canid looks up at Adelaide "Daryl said that he wants you to stay too." Gyrfalcon looks at Adelaide, expression a little sympathetic, but more kind then anything. "I offered to go with you, not to get you away from the Pen, but only if you believe that you need to visit Clearwater, to clear your conscious or out of a sense of duty or some other personal reason. If you have no desire to go there, then do not go. Stay here, and enjoy this place with us." he said, giving Adelaide a smile.
Guest Balladore Posted April 28, 2002 Report Posted April 28, 2002 The poor girl, Balladore thought... He hadn't know this... "Aye... I wish you to stay as well, Adelaide," he said, flashing her a small smile...
Ozymandias Posted April 30, 2002 Report Posted April 30, 2002 Standing there by the fire, on the verge of a flood of emotion, Adelaide opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again in wonder as she realized she was holding a yellow rose- when no-one had handed her one. Then the gathering heard a deep, soft voice say, "A welcoming gift." From just outside the firelight, the confused young woman and the others saw a leathery skinned old man with bushy, dark grey hair stride forward, dark blue robe swirling. He smiled gently at Adelaide as he approached, and just as she was about to ask him who he was, the man stopped and bowed low in front of her. "I am Ozymandias, Loremaster here," he said simply. "Our house is yours."
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