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Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

Finn moves up beside Rebecca, "Faylinn and I may have to control the storm. If that happens, we'll follow your lead." He nods, and turns in the saddle, "Fay? Can you monitor that storm and still ride safely?"

He looks up at the sky suspiciously, and frowns slightly. "It could be the Black Road, but it seems terribly broad." Finn sighs, "I'd better check a thing or two, lead the way Rebecca. Blake, follow Demon." He closes his eyes then, and focuses. When he opens them he looks down the road and begins to get a feel for the Shadow, to see if it is being manipulated by someone or something other than them.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:08 am Post subject:

As his psyche expands through the symbol of power, Finn can feel the way to another Shadow opening, somewhere behind the low clouds.

No magic appears to be at work here but the phenomenon reminds him of something he encountered in past travels. Benedict had called them 'Shadow Storms'. Natural disasters that cross through Shadow freely and violently, often in the wake of some strange metaphysical happenstance.

The strangeness here, as Finn notices, is that it is forming here, as if the group was a nexus for its power source.
As he looks on and studies it he feels a potential source in Shadow, but it is vague and could be coincidental. Paths are opening and closing with subtlety, as if the fabric of Shadow was folding on itself, twisting around them.

...

The clouds continue to gather quietly. The phenomenon grows in power and soon everyone can sense easy paths through Shadow stuff from where they are, though nothing physical manifests itself in their immediate area.
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Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 543 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca waits impatiently for everyone to mount up. She lays her rifle across the saddle in front of her, keeping a finger on the trigger. Her command is spoken to the horses.

Follow Demon. Stay close and be aware of your riders.

Demon gathers and wheels around, setting off towards their destination at a canter that segues into a gallop as the 'mundane' steeds among them relax into the rhythm of speed once again. Demon strains at the pace that is to him rather slow. Rebecca is sure Blake is doing the same, but it can't be helped. As Shadow starts to change around them, Rebecca keeps an eye on their changing environment; Demon knows where he's going.

Arkadios · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 78 Location: Good old Yookay

Kade mounts up with some alacrity, he stows his newly acquires weapons as best he can. For a moment he is tempted to call upon his arcane sight to determine if the storm is truly natural, but he decides against it.

I can be a team player, so long as everyone else is!

sandrayln · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 190

"I should be fine," Faylinn answers, and she sounds faintly amused at the question. "This mare is very far from being a challenge. Unless you are trying to fall off."

She turns in her saddle to look back at the storm, reaching for her own Pattern skills to study it.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject:

Faylinn notices much of the same phenomenon she has had the chance to witness during her lengthy Shadow travels. It is a rare thing to encounter and she certainly has never felt its effects, always having observed it from afar.

To her keen mind, it is as if the way to Shadow is opening and hellriding is not an option, but a consequence of being near the storm's eye. It feels this way, in any case. The effects of the storm have not developed powerfully enough for them to step off into another Shadow naturally, but it is a possibility.

...

The horses become a bit uneasy, but follow orders dutifully, as Demon begins leading the group away from the cabins.
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sandrayln · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 190

"We are likely to be hellriding again shortly," Faylinn observes. "Whether we plan to or not..."

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 543 Location: Oklahoma

Demon snorts something unrepeatable when Finn takes over the lead again, but the stallion falls back at Rebecca's wordless command and lets him have it -- but he gives off a rather put out air as they take up a position between Fay and Kade.

Rebecca doesn't say anything at all, she just takes off a glove, reaches forward, and lays a bare hand against her horse's head as they ride.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:48 am Post subject:

Finn succeeds in his task of getting them away from the storm and into the maelstrom of his Hellride. The changes are surprisingly abrupt and several times they change course to avoid things in the road, or the lack of road altogether.

Hurdles come as swiftly as they are dealt with and in no way does the party seem to slow down. The four riders get a good pace going for a long while and the Shadow storm and the Black Road are long gone by the time they reach a Shadow near Cimarron. The open plains and distant plateaus are part of the equation and they are close, but two of the horses need rest, yet they are determined and could be coaxed into continuing.

In the distance, to the right of the direction they are headed, smoke rises, visible from what seems like fifty miles.
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Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 543 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca signals and Demon moves to come up within yelling distance of Blake. "Finn! The other two need a rest!" She glances towards the smoke and frowns. "Even if it's jist fifteen minutes!"

She doesn't want to stop; in fact, she's of a mind to keep going since they were this close and let Finn lead the others in. The smoke makes her wary, nervous of what she'll find when they hit Cimarron.

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

Finn is less concerned with Demon's feelings, and far more concerned with holes in Shadow as he gets the group moving. He tries to point them out with landmarks, so no one takes to drifting to far apart. He begins the trip with an impassive expression that evolves into a slight scowl of focus, and then a deeper one of greater concentration. By the time they approach a place near Cimarron, he takes a deep breath, and exhales as if he'd been holding it the whole way. "I don't want to do that again soon."

He raises his hand to call the halt and nods at Rebecca, waving her closer. "I suggest you ride ahead. I'll let Faylinn take Blake. You can Trump us when you're in sight of a barn that these two other horses can rest in. Kade and I can wait here." Finn moves to the case at his belt, and brings out his new Trumps. "Everyone check your Trumps, and make certain they are working here." He checks his cards, and then turns to Rebecca. "Sound reasonable? I'd hate to push these two for this, when they might need that little extra later on, and somewhere less safe than this." Finn pauses, "Safety being relative, of course."

sandrayln · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 190

Faylinn immediately shakes her head. "You should keep Blake. If something happens, you are likely to need a fresh horse."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject:

At his last remark, Finn can tell something is about to go badly for them. A bullet ricochets off of a rock near to him and hits. Based on the trajectory and the time difference between the hit and detonation, Finn and Rebecca quickly understand where it is coming from, as they have the most experience with firearms.

Despite their strategic location for a stop, it seems snipers have gathered at the summit of a rock formation a half mile away ahead of them. It's a hard shot for sure, but soon they'll be showering bullets in their area rather than take such careful aim.

They all know that their next actions will be quite decisive. Going back the way they came would keep them out of harm's way quickly and large rocks able to conceal a man and his horse are not many enough to cover all in the group.
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Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 543 Location: Oklahoma

Demon snorts in surprise and Rebecca immediately goes from about to answer Finn, to snapping her rifle up and peering through the sight to find the shooters.

"Real brave," she mutters. "Hidin' way up there an' takin' potshots. Come down here an' say that, ya gutless cowards."