[Castles Made of Sand] Chapter 3: While the Iron's Hot, Scene 2 (Mal & Tetsuo)

[WlfSamurai]

Afternoon


Outside Raes


A lonely road ahead


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Bao Nu Shi, you sit atop the wagon, a simple donkey pulling you along the dusty road. Raes shrinks behind you. The young woman you retrieved from within the sand creature lays unconscious still in the back. I light breeze scoops up and some sand and swirls it around then drops it again.


Fade, where are you? What do you both do?<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2013_09/DesertRoad.jpg.43d5bee19270f87e09060ec64d0ecf64.jpg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="24373" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2013_09/DesertRoad.jpg.43d5bee19270f87e09060ec64d0ecf64.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p>

 

[MrSerious]

Bao Nu Shi


The last missive received from his superior in the Bureau indicated that there was one more Solar was out there - somewhere. That was both the genius and the frustrating thing about the fates of the Celestial Exalted - they were their own to make. They could - and did - go and do as they pleased.


Getting just one to move in a needed direction is like trying to herd a cat.


Which was why Gi'Jen's feat of drawing a Circle into Raes was a remarkable acheivement. The last Exalt was reported as being extent within the region. Cardinal Blade of Judgement could only hope that he would be drawn towards the ruckus in Raes... or perhaps Gi'Jen's designs had taken care of that for him once more.


I am but a piece on the board of a larger player..


During the slow, steady creak and rumble of the cart he contemplated ways of drawing the Solar to him. His thoughts were interrupted only by the occasional bray of the donkey.


Bandits? No... Bao Nu Shi would fight off anything less than a scale of bandits or a Terrestrial...


Begging on the side of the ride? Possibly... but a soldier makes a poor beggar and he may smell a trap.


The jolt of a pothole loosens his reverie and a loud -crack- breaks it entirely as the axle on the cart gives way with a snap.


...Gi'Jen... I tip my hat to you.





Watering the beast of burden, the old soldier takes shade in the back of the wagon next to the unconscious girl and proceeds to wait - for bandits, strangers or salvation - only the Pattern Spiders know.

Spoiler

Feel free to check my character sheet here for an image of what Bao Nu Shi looks like. I am presently wearing a Resplendent Destiny so you don't need to worry about Arcane Fate every time I leave your sight.


Love the photo Wlf, was a big help

 

[JayTee]

Fade was marching along the road at a swift and steady pace. He was on his way to a meeting with a few people that would help him expand his operation, and had gotten separated from his escort. A freak sandstorm had hit his group, and he had been forced to find shelter. When the storm had passed, he was alone.


Muttering curses under his breath, he continued on his way.

 

[MrSerious]

The thick haze obscuring the horizon told Cardinal Blade of Judgement the Pattern Spiders had accepted his petition for an alteration to the local destiny.


In retrospect the request was not the minor, unobtrusive, adjustment that he had thought at the time. Clearly he had many, many years of service before he became a master of manipulating Fate.


Sifu will have words with me when I return to his dojo...


Standing on the side of the road Bao Nu Shi spotted what he hoped was the Solar. A solitary outline kicking up the occasional puff of dust as it trudged closer. Lowering his mental defenses, the Sidereal allowed the heat of the day to overwhelm his body and cause sweat to start beading on his skin.


Warily the old man crouched down at the side of the broken down cart next to the mule. He flinches not when the donkey gives a loud bray as the stranger draws closer.


"I seem to have run into some trouble here. Care to help an old soldier?"

Spoiler

Whats your character look like?

 

[JayTee]

Fade smirks at the old man before him. "Join the club, friend. But perhaps we can help each other. What ills have befallen you?" He asked, looking at the cart and guessing the answer.

 

[MrSerious]

The old man's posture is slightly stooped with age but still sure and steady as he stands and makes his way to the back of the cart.


"I'm guessing the axle maybe? I'm not a wheel-wight or carpenter. Theres' also a commotion in the town down the road there. I found this lady layin on the ground and couldn't wake her. Figure she needs a doctor, but the one in Raes has fled with all the fighting and spirits."


Gazing distant at the thick haze the old man sighs. Under the cloth covering the back of the cart lays an unconscious woman.


The only other items in the cart is a haversack, two swords in old, oiled, leather scabbards and a covered shield.

 

[JayTee]

Fade raised an eyebrow at the unconscious woman. "Who's the dame? What kind of commotion" He asked, feeling like he was about to step in to some trouble he wasn't sure he wanted.

 

[MrSerious]

The old soldier rubs his chin casting a gaze over the figure in the cart


"Don't rightly know who she is. She mumbled the word Sandy when she stirred a while ago. As for the commotion theres' all kinds of hell going on down the road. I saw a spirit made manifest as a mountain of sand terrorizing a scale of men. I saw one of the Anathema with bright silver claws bounding out of the residence of one Phios."

 

[JayTee]

Piss and shit. Lunars and Elementals were something he did not need right now. "Then we had best hurry, I do not wish to be caught in their wake should they come this way." He said, giving the wagon an examination. Hopefully he would be able to fix the cart and avoid having to carry the woman on is back.