[The Road] They always need help on the Road. (Open)

[Talen Stirling]

He didn't really agree with Faylon's answer. Some things were inherently different than others, a blade was at least always honest. Magic was not. And as for the judgement of men... "Well.. That's assuming one's judgement is sound. It's not always, and definetely not for everyone. But I suppose you're at least partially right, it's all about the hands that hold the weapon, not the weapon in itself." He picked up a few leftovers and followed Faylon to the dump, throwing them in as he unloaded. He seemed friendly, though he was more different from Talen than he had thought. Then again, perhaps that could be a good thing. He smiled at Faylon when he told him to forget it all. "I suppose you're right. The Road's not going anywhe---" And then The Road jumped. It all went very quickly. Near the dump site was a medium-sized cliff that hung above some of that which they had cleared, and alot of that which they had not. Apparently, the foundations of it had been undermined and with a roar it crumbled, crashed and fell down in a flood of dust and rock but few meters in front of them. Talen instinctively grabbed Faylon's arm; The Watch hadn't prepared much for this type of thing except a simple ground rule whenever danger came and you were not close to your weapons. Get down and get to them. He jumped backwards and tried to pull him with him as the landslide hammered onto The Road and took part of their work and the work before them with it into a ravine on the other side. Dust covered everything for a few blinding moments, but as it subsided the area in front of them and the other miners, who had somehow escaped without injury was drastically changed. It seemed that the slide had torn off the rocks and dirt, carried it into the dried-up riverbed next to them and left a long stretch of soon-to-be road with only loose rubble in front of them. Unsure whether to laugh or cry, Talen just stared.

OOCThe landslide has in effect not done much but made the work easier for the next several feet.

[Faylon Kwanda]

[Listening to Talen it wasn’t difficult for Faylon to notice how different their views were. Talen was definitely more devote than him and while he did recognize the Gods and that they were real he never would have paid more than lip service to the majority, even the best of them. As Talen spoke of how the judgement of men was not always sound Faylon could not help but agree with him though, there were many things beyond bad intentions that could twist a man’s mind and cloud his judgement such as greed, pride and envy to name but a few, it could be difficult to differentiate between what was right and wrong sometimes.] [Unloading the cart Faylon had focused most of his attention on the job with the remainder shifting towards Talen, he was paying attention to what the man said and what was right in front of him compared to what happened around him, when the road jumped he was caught unaware. “What the he—“...was all he managed to get out before the roar of debris crumbling from the cliff side came and rock started to come crashing down. Before he could move Faylon saw the dust and debris starting to rise as the first pieces of rumble came down and then something took his arm and he was pulled out of harms way. Tripping over his own feet Faylon went stumbling backwards as Talen pulled him and as the landslide finished he tumbled down, losing his footing, and falling onto his back somewhere out of the way.] [As his senses came back to him the rumbling subsided and all that was left was a massive cloud of dust, it made him cough and choke a few times, that gradually began to clear. He couldn’t see anything at first but hearing others around him he would see the silhouette of their forms as the dust began to clear and he propped himself up on his elbows so that he could take a better look around. Talen, who was still close to him, seemed to be staring in disbelief but Faylon broke a bit of the tension by laughing out loud and saying...”Well no one said working on the road didn’t come with a bit of danger attached to it.”...as he climbed back onto his feet. Dusting himself off when he stood straight Faylon would wipe his hands down the front of his thighs and the tunic he wore to clear some of the dust away, covering his mouth with his hand when he coughed once.] [Events such as this tended to cause a man to realize his own mortality and turning to Talen he would extend his hand before clapping him over the shoulder and saying...”You may have just saved my life Talen. I won’t forget that. I’ll repay this debt one day when I can.”...his word was his bond and Faylon took it seriously, if Talen hadn’t pulled him out of the way there was no guarantee he would have been fast enough himself or even that the landslide would have done anything to him at all but it didn’t matter, Talen could look forward to having an ally when he needed it in the future.] [Looking ahead, towards all the loose rock and rubble now that the dust had cleared, Faylon would scan the road and the cliffs above the both of them to see if they could expect another rock slide in the near future. He was no miner or geologist but it looked safe enough to him, as safe as it ever was anyways. Eyes flickered back to Talen then and he said...”What do you think? Shall we clear some of the rubble away or call it a day? Fate may have just told us that there’s no harm in working a half day.”...chuckling afterwards it seemed that this was how Faylon rationalized such things.] [Breathing steadily for a few moments Faylon would wipe his hands against one another and then, maybe unexpectedly, he would turn towards Talen and ask him...”What do you know about the Arsenal? From what I’ve heard it dates back to before the Valterrian. All rumour of course, it could be anything.”...then he would go silent and wait to hear Talen’s thoughts, he was a member of the Watch so he must have heard something now and then, some rumour and so Faylon thought.] [Faylon was naturally curious as to whether or not rumours of the Arsenal were true. Maybe after he had gained a bit more experience he would approach the Captain of Denval and ask for permission to explore it himself but that was still a ways in the future. When the time came though Faylon, looking at Talen, now knew at least one man he could ask to join him. Of course the danger would be real but the benefits both for Denval and themselves could be enormous.]

[Talen Stirling]

Stammering, Talen shook his head briefly to regain control of his body and voice. He felt Faylon's clap and heard his word and responded briefly. "I'm sure you would have done the same.." He was a little rattled, and blinked as he tried to pat some of the dust off his arms, unsuccesfully. His muscles ached, and he also felt emotionally drained all of a sudden. The actions and movements he had made had been based on fear and instinct, nothing else. Faylon's suggestion that they call it a day sounded like relief. The Road didn't feel safe anymore. Not with this, and not with what had happened in the last months. He turned to the man next to him and smiled, bravado hiding the fear and exhaustion that had haunted him ever since the murder outside the Chapterhouse. "Let's call it a day, I think you're right this is a pretty obvious hint that we should. Besides, it seems we've gotten most of what we ought to done." Talen rolled his tired shoulders, and went over to pick up his weapons murmuring half a curse under his breath at what he felt when he bent down and picked them up. He turned around as Faylon asked a question, and sent him an apologetic smile. "Sorry Faylon, rumours aplenty and no truth to be had. Some say there's a horrible Monster, some say it's a sunken castle, some say it's the old Suvan outpost that we all come from. I haven't been told, and guard duty there is assigned to older members who are unusually tightlipped about it. Even when at The Welcome all their wits drowned in Degtine they've got their mouthes knit together." He laughed, although it had been a longtime wonder of his. Perhaps one day he'd learn, when he were to guard it himself. But for now, it remained a mystery that had been there throughout his life.

[Faylon Kwanda]

[Faylon only smiled when Talen’s response to him and he nodded once before the two of them began to get ready for a departure from the road for today. He would have helped Talen if their roles were reversed it was true. Watching as Talen started to pat and attempt to dust himself off Faylon, as though sensing he would agree that it was best to cut the day short, would take the wheel barrow and begin to drive it back in the direction of the Foreman who was supervising the road at the time.] [His arms were tense from working for what must have been hours now and even Faylon had to admit that this business with the sudden landslide had been unnerving for him. It was one thing to hear about men dying on the road and another to have almost been crushed yourself. The Road was never safe though and if it wasn’t an accident that caused the death of a labourer it wasn’t unheard of for some other creature to kill a man before the patrols came to the rescue. Faylon saw the smile that Talen offered as he turned to him as the two started back down the road and he returned it, masking his own insecurities.] [Nodding his head Faylon couldn’t help but enthusiastically agree when he replied... ”Good idea. We don’t need to tempt fate twice and the road will be here when we want to return another day.“...then Faylon would listen as Talen answered his other question, concerning the Arsenal. Most of the rumours seemed like stories to scare children but the idea that it could have been an ancient Suvan Outpost seemed possible considering the history of Denval; Faylon wanted to know the truth about what was there and he told himself that he would one day.] [As the both of them returned to the Foreman he would hand over the wheelbarrow and any other equipment still on his person. There was no talk of wages, Faylon came here because he enjoyed helping Denval and building a good reputation for himself, he only wanted to be able to say that he had worked here when the road to freedom was finally complete. Taking the hand of the Foreman he would shake it, firmly, and let him know that he would be back again in a few days to help again which got him an appreciative smile. Then it was back to Denval for both he and Talen.] [Before he went too far he would smile to the other man though and say...”Maybe we have a drink together another day. I’d love to learn a bit more about the sword and we can work on your fisticuffs a bit too. Think about it!”...then he’d leave Talen with the thought and continue on back to Denval. He was easy to find in the town. Even though his muscles ached from working, his arms sore from lifting heavy rock and his legs throbbing from walking and supporting his body as he cleared rubble, Faylon would begin to job back towards Denval briskly.] [On the way back Faylon would breathe easy and cast a wayward glance in the direction of the sun as it slowly began to descend into twilight and his thoughts would drift back towards the Road, the Arsenal and other things. He wanted to see the Road complete in his life and he wanted to explore the Arsenal just as much, the rumours he’d heard hadn’t deterred his curiosity, but Faylon knew he needed to be patient as well. He wasn’t ready yet but he would be someday.] [Until then he could be found helping on the Road while he was in Denval. They would always need help on the Road.]

[Legion]

Thread Award Faylon Skills Body Building – 3 Boxing – 1 Philosophy – 1 Pick Axe OR Mining – 4 Running – 3 Socialization – 2 Teaching – 1 Lores Being a Good Citizen Layout of Denval Knowledge of the Denval Road & Its Dangers Hard Day’s Work Benefits of Sword & Shield Fighting The Arsenal Is A Mystery Talen Skills Body Building – 2 Long Sword – 2 Philosophy – 1 Pick Axe OR Mining – 4 Running – 1 Shield – 2 Socialization – 2 Teaching – 1 Lores Being a Good Citizen Knowledge of the Denval Road & Its Dangers Hard Day’s Work What Magecrafting Is The Arsenal Is A Mystery Comment You may both choose between Pick Axe and Mining to which to apply 4 points. If you would rather break it up so as to have 2 points in each, that is acceptable as well. Great thread, y’all. It was an easy and eloquent read. Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions regarding your thread awards or if I can be of any further assistance. Keep writing!