amberconarizona.theiforum.com

sandrayln · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 176

[OOC: Closer to our group than the riders, though not so close as to put us in danger from the opening, and I was thinking that if opening it up doesn't swallow the riders whole, then a long, wide chasm parallelling our road out would be best. Particularly if it extends far enough back behind us to force them to go around both it and the canyon we just left.]

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

Finn's eyes seem to finally focus, and there is something -- distinct about him. Even if no one could see him, he would be very there, very REAL. He stares out at the riders and scowls again, and then turns to look at Faylinn for a moment, his eyebrows rising.

"The riders are out of the Black Road." He glances to Rebecca, "Whatever else there is either rides with them, or is chasing them." He looks to Arkadios, "I hope you can do whatever it is you're doing quickly -- we're leaving." Finn states firmly, "Follow me, we'll be moving quickly. I've the Design to mind."

Finn gestures, "Now! Follow me! Stay Close! I can't do this forever!"

He begins to lead them away from the Black Road, taking advantage of the symbol and carrying them ahead through Shadow as swiftly as can be done. "Rebecca, mind the rear, if the riders draw to near call out and I'll find a place to make a stand.

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 503 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca scowls and nods. That wasn't as easy as it sounded when one is supposed to be keeping up and keeping the leader in sight. While waiting for the others to move ahead, she leans down to Demon.

"Keep up with 'em," she says before pulling her bandana up to cover the lower part of her face to keep from inhaling the dust.

Then she stands in one stirrup and then turns herself around before remounting her now moving horse, facing backward.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject:

Faylinn releases her spell with the booming voice of the earth. There is a great crack and the landscape seems to collapse entirely, to the side of the Black Road, and a great cloud of dust rises alongside them, shooting straight up. A wall of obscurity.

Arkadios' spell descends from the sky, a powerful swirling tower of winds that quickly moves towards where the riders were last seen.

As the group rides away from the canyon, before they shift, they witness the half-dozen remaining riders seperated from them by a great rift. A chasm 250 feet apart at its widest, from one end of the horizon to the other. They can clearly see what it is the riders were speeding away from: three great scaly worms, plunging in and out of the earth with ease.

As they ride away into Shadow, they quickly outrun the riders and worms alike.

They have weapons. everyone is doing well once again (Arkadios' head could use a pain killer, but he's himself again) and the Black Road does not seem to be shifting with them for the time being. The horses are feeling better about moving, the changes brought on by Shadow shifting is taken as a positive occurrence.

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 503 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca is clearly shaken when she turns back to face the front; and it isn't because she's stunt riding on a speeding horse. She looks grim as she yanks her hat down and lays herself along Demon's neck to cut the wind resistance. The rifle stays in her hand against Demon's side, and she looks periodically behind them so there are no surprises.

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

Finn takes them as far as he deems safe, envisioning a small hunting lodge with food and supplies for a rest stop. A place with proper facilities for the horses as well, in order for them to let the horses get a little rest. He will load his buffalo rifle as they approach their camp.

"We're going to make a stop, give the horses a chance to rest. Don't get too comfortable, we'll be moving along shortly."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject:

The shift through Shadow is fairly easy now, as they are sufficiently away from Amber thanks to the hellriding. The landscape prevents them from seeing the Black Road, but Arkadios and Finn can feel it work on the land wherever they go. It follows them... No more threats appear though and soon enough they have traveled to a nearby shadow, into mountainous and pined lands, following an easy slope of dirt road. No recent tracks appear except woodland creatures. Faylinn can tell this forest is vast, but no spirits dwell here.

There they come upon a large log home, with the necessities that Finn was looking for.

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 503 Location: Oklahoma

Saying not a word as she dismounts, Rebecca drapes Demon's reins over the saddle horn and sends the stallion to the water trough. Silently, she lights a cigarette and waits for Fay and Kade to dismount so she can see to their horses. Things will need to be checked over. She wanders a bit from the others, keeping her troubled thoughts to herself.

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

Finn dismounts as they approach the lodge, sliding from the saddle and pulling the roll full of weapons and ammo off of Blake and onto his shoulder. He turns to the others as Blake moves towards Rebecca and Demon. "Alright, we'll take a meal and a rest here. Fay, could you speak with the trees and see that our perimeter is secure? Arkadios, check the cabin, just make sure we're as alone as I wanted us to be."

He pats the role, "I'll check on what we managed to haul away. Rebecca can help me with that when she's done." Finn eyes Rebecca, seeing that she's troubled, and then moves to the porch to give her a moment.

Arkadios · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 74 Location: Good old Yookay

As he comes to halt Kade dismounts and thanks Rebecca when she offers to see to his mount. Not being used to being given orders Kade bites back a reply when Finn tells him to check the cabin, instead he nods and moves off to comply.

Sword in hand Kade moves to the door and checks to see if its open, if it is he boots it open and quickly enters stepping to the right of the doorway and stands motionless for a second or two allowing his eyes time to adjust.

OOC: He'll check it out warily in other words.

sandrayln · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 176

Faylinn dismounts as well and stands beside Poppins for a moment, looking around. Then she loops the reins over her arm and leads the mare off to the trough herself, casting a small spell as she walks to check within a mile or so in all directions for anything that doesn't belong.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 8:41 pm Post subject:

Judging by the smell and the dust accumulated on the various objects and hunting trophies, Arkadios can tell that the lodge has not been disturbed in over a year. It is quite cozy and lavishly furnished with skins of bears and the heads of many woodland animals adorn the walls.
After looking through the two low-ceilinged bedrooms and the kitchen and bathroom, Arkadios confirms that it is uninhabited and has been for quite some time. He does not even come across scavengers or vermin of any type. Surely, this is a proper and safe sanctuary.

Finn notices that there is less ammunition than he would have liked, but he has brought as many guns as he had intended and surely enough for the whole party and another six or seven gunmen. An long and extended gun fight won't be an option until they get more.

Faylinn is disappointed to find out the low level of magical fields in the area. It will take time to confirm her search of the area. Extending her psyche into the woods, feeling through branches, leaves, pine needles and small woodland creaures, she does not reach anything that seems out of place. There is a group of bears traveling in a direction leading them away from the lodge. The only special place she can feel is a sort of cave located down-mountain. It feels like a burial place of some sort.
If the Black Road is somewhere on this Shadow, it is far from here.
This ordeal is time consuming, taking the better part of an hour.

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 503 Location: Oklahoma

After checking the small stables next to the lodge for feed, Rebecca sends the horses to it to eat and rest while they can. She keeps her rifle nearby - just in case as she goes about her business. She warns them that there may be gunshots fired later and not to panic when they hear them. She tossed a stick of their favorite treats into the feed bin and returns outside.

Seeing Finn still on the porch, she makes her way to him to help look over the firearms. Her boot heels thump on the wood planks of the porch floor as she crosses it to him. She leans her own rifle against the rail, shrugs out of her duster, and lays it nearby.

"How's it lookin'?"

Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

If Finn notices Kade's reaction, he shows no sign of it. He can tell that Faylinn is doing something, and appears confident that she will tell him if she uncovered anything untoward. As a leader, he appreciated those moments where everyone seemed to be doing the tasks they were best suited for. Finn sits upon the porch, flattens out his bedroll, and begins to carefully go through the weapons they mananged to take out of that box canyon with them.

By the time Rebecca walks over he has the firearms laid out neatly, along with corresponding boxes of ammunition. He has a buffalo rifle beside him, along with a couple of revolvers. A two-gun rig would be easy enough to come by, as would the belt he'd need for the rifle. His lips press together as he finishes his count.

"Not bad. Not as good as I'd hoped, but not bad." Finn answers Rebecca, "Your scattergun has some ammunition here." He gestures, "I've got a holdout for Fay, I don't think she'll want or need anything else." Finn taps a two shot derringer, "It takes the revolver ammunition, so she'll be alright there. I got a rifle and a pistol for Kade, but now that he's shown himself to be more 'Clarissan' than 'Rilgan', I'm not so sure he'll want or need them either." Finn shrugs slightly, "It's enough to make an impression, but not enough for a siege. I'll need to uncover more ammunition along the way."

Fin regards Rebecca silently for a moment, before asking, "What's on your mind, Rebecca? You seemed out of sorts."

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 503 Location: Oklahoma

She shakes her head and picks up one of the shells for the shotgun and examines it. Her expression unusually blank. "It's a cowboy thing; Code of the Plain." She pushes her hat back with one finger and smiles "Don'tcha worry yer pretty little head 'bout it."

Turning, Rebecca pulls the shotgun out of her duster and opens the break-action to load it. "How long we got ta rest up here, ya reckon? I think I could eat somethin'..."