prologe, before it really starts...

“here, to be specific. My village atop the icy mountain, not very icy right now, being summer. To be vague, the middle of nowhere.” Alexander looked at Myrda’s cuts on her knees and knuckles, ‘should be fine.’ Alexander thought for a moment. ‘I wonder if this is what the will meant? Odd, I didn’t think id need this sort of thing. Guess i should actually go to my hide away and check.’ “Tychicus, be so kind as to escort our new friend back to my village, wait for me there, I’ll be back soon.” he turned and walked swiftly to the end of the lake, a big rock wall, he was surprised the cutouts he made were still there, he used them to get to the cave swiftly. He walked inside, he remembered he and Pete would go to this cave all the time, and have grand adventures, he missed those days.

He looked through the old and worn out boxes and baskets they had stored things in. ‘if I were a key, were would I be.’ he knew what he was looking for when he figured it out. He found the key under a big red box, they usually kept sea shells in it, all of which were broken or missing. He left in a hurry, he wasn’t in the mood for emotion right now.

He ran back to the village, but before he made it back to the campsite, he wanted to make one last stop. He quietly crept back into the tomb he had laid her in earlier. He walked inside, he was going to do this, ‘I’m just going to put the lid on and freeze it, you don’t want to do that.’ the voice and his mind were at it as he lifted the lid. ‘if you put that lid on forever you’ll lose everything, its pain and emotion you don’t need, it’s what makes you human, it’s what makes you weak, you need to hang on to your emotion if you hope to survive, these emotions are just distractions, it’s what’s separates you from it, it’s what keeps us apart and weakens us both.’ just then he heard footsteps behind him, he set the lid down and leaned on the stone platform that held the sarcophagus. Alexander didn’t know who it was behind him, he honestly didn’t care. “what do you want?” he tried to make it angry, but it come out soft, he didn’t turn around, he didn’t want to face anyone right now…

ooc: make shure to say what happend while he was gone at his cave, and it can be 1 or the other who finds him

Tychicus watched Alexander walk off and shrugged.

Myrda asked Tychicus Is it just me or is he weird?

He's weird. But he's lived here at least most of his life, so I'll obey what he asks us to do. I'll take you back to his village...well, what's left of it. It got burnt down something like four years ago.

Tychicus walked back up the path, with Myrda walking slowly behind him. Tychicus called over his shoulder You can rest as soon as we get up there, it's only a few minutes away, I promise.

~

It was about ten minutes later. Myrda was napping comfortably under a tree on a blanket she had dug out of her pack. Tychicus was maintaining a small fire and setting some water on to boil.

~

Myrda woke up again and sat up. Tychicus had his back to her and was busy doing something with the fire. She got to her feet and brushed her brown hair behind her shoulders. Hey Tychicus, I'm going to look around the lake to see if I can find branches that are any good for making arrows.

Okay, have fun.

Myrda picked up a hatchet she had stowed in her pack and walked out of the burnt village and down the path again. She walked around the lake, looking carefully at the trees as she walked past. Suddenly she paused. She was right at the mouth of a cave. Ooh, I wonder if they have purple mushrooms in these caves like back home... those are wonderful for healing scratches, and I've got plenty of those. Myrda whacked the hatchet into a tree trunk and then walked inside the cave.

She waited a moment for her eyes to adjust and saw a bunch of baskets and boxes lying around. There were a lot of pretty knick knacks lying around... sea shells and nuts and knots of wood and colorful stones... Looks like kids used to come down here. Well I don't want to snoop, there won't be any mushrooms in here.

Myrda walked out of the cave again, picked up her hatchet, and lopped off a handy branch. She dragged it back to camp and dropped it next to Tychicus. Don't use this for firewood, okay?

Tychicus smiled. I won't. And hey, could you do me a favor and look around for Alexander? I want to know if he has any of that red spicy stuff left... he'll know what I mean. Tychicus had tossed a bunch of vegetables he had found growing nearby in with some rabbit meat into his pot.

Myrda shrugged. Okay. Where'd you get the rabbit?

I set up a trap while you were asleep. I caught a scrawny little bunny, but it had a little bit of meat on it.

Ah. I'll go look for Alexander.

Myrda walked off again. She found Alexander's footprints easily in the ash, and walked quietly along the trail. The place gave her the creeps, even in broad daylight; chunks of building still standing right next to heaps of ash, a burned bone here and there, a basket full of shriveled carrots that had been left where its owner dropped it... Myrda shivered and walked a little faster. So this is Alexander's home...? I wonder where he was when this happened... or if any of his friends are still alive....

Myrda followed Alexander's footsteps into a building that was still mostly intact. She heard something rustling inside. "What do you want?"

Hey, Alexander? Tychicus asked me to come find you. She realized that he didn't sound very good and walked inside to stand next to him. Alexander... are you okay?

Alexander heard Myrda walk in and stand next to him. He didn’t want to take his eyes of his beloved. He could barely stand, the voice tried to take hold. ‘Alexander listen to me, these two will be no help to you, get ride of them both, NOW.’ Alexander completely ignored it, he couldn’t listen to it. He looked up at Myrda.

He talked in a cold low voice “do know anything of this place, do you know what this place was, this was home. I had everything here, a loving master, faithful friend, I was even go to be married.” he motioned at the sarcophagus, he wanted Myrda to look at her, to see what fire could do to someone. “it was just going to be another day, four years ago, all my dreams came true at once, my master was finally making a living, I was going to be married in two days, Pete my best friend, my best man, my little sister was finally healed. And Mary. I left to get her a rose, I found it. But when I came back, before I made it over that little hill, I saw smoke, and fire. By the time I got back everything was gone, burnt to cinders.” he couldn’t tell any more, not without revealing the hand. He took a few steps back, and leaned on the wall with his arms crossed, he decided he’d ask her something. “did you ever have a home Myrda, a loved one, a family, someplace to just stay and live, not always on the run for your live because of something you didn’t even do. Have you ever none theses things?”

OOC: *sniff* DANG YOU GOTTA BE AN ACTOR MAN. And... I thought it was only Egyptians that called 'em sarcophaguses, isn't the usual term coffins.... just wondering...

BIC:

Myrda glanced at the body and then back at Alexander. Yes. I have a home, far away from here. My father and mother and my little brothers and sisters and my friends... ah. She brushed her long brown hair behind one ear and sighed. I'm sorry Alexander. God gives and takes away and we're not meant to understand everything that happens.

She gave Alexander a quick, reassuring squeeze on the shoulder and then slipped out of the building. Better find Tychicus some herbs or he'll be annoyed. AHA ROSEMARY!

Myrda carefully broke a branch off the little bush and turned around to see if Alexander was coming. Well at least I feel like I can trust both of these guys now.

~

Tychicus was busy stirring his rabbit meat and vegetable stew. Now what would really go nice with this is some good salt, not the stuff I drag with me, some real nice sea salt, and then maybe some rosemary... Rosemary grows on rocks, I wonder if I could find it around here?

Alexander was ready. He decided on a compromise, he’s just put the lid on. Jumped up put the lid on and ran out before anyone had anything to say. He walked back to Tychicus and Myrda. He sat down to were a meal was ready. He ate quickly without much conversation, he put his dish down. He hand started to hurt again. He looked ant Tychicus, no wasn’t him, he then looked at Myrda, not her either. He stood up, he then knew what it was, they had followed him even here, ‘should I stay, or run.’ Tychicus and Myrda seemed to be able to handle themselves. Maybe he could face them now, but he didn’t want to put his friends at unnecessary risk. “we have to leave, now.” he took a few steps away down the path, “if you value your lives, you must come, NOW!”

Tychicus had been very excited when Myrda had come back with her rosemary branch. Even though Tychicus wouldn't shut up about how great his dad could cook and how he could never be that good yadda yadda he made one kickin' soup.

Myrda polished off her bowl gratefully, and gave it back to Tychicus. She watched as he took all the iron silverware and compacted it into a small iron cube that he tucked into his pack. Cool. That almost makes me wish I had iron magic.

Tychicus had just cleaned up supper when Alexander started looking around funny. "We have to leave, now."

Myrda had been making arrows during dinner, and she had fletched them with random feathers she'd found floating around. She stuffed her hatchet back into her pack and put her arrows into her quiver.

"If you value your lives, you must come now!" He jumped to his feet and started walking down the path.

Myrda and Tychicus looked at each other. Weird?

Tychicus slung his pack over his shoulder and hopped to his feet. Where are we going?

Myrda said a fast wind spell and put out the fire with a quick gust. She paused and murmured another spell. The wind could bring her smells and sounds from far away... Hmm, I hear light armor clinking, cloaks flapping, a sword sheath banging on something, uh.... bad guys!

Myrda pulled out her bow and got an arrow ready. She trotted hurriedly after Alexander. Who's after you?

Tychicus noticed Myrda was looking concerned. He pulled out his sword and walked after his companions.

“ill answer what I can. Were going away from here, I have no idea who’s after me, what I do know is they’ve been after me for four years, yes, four years and I know nothing about them, except that I can’t beat them, they want me alive, and they always travel in big groups.” Alexander quickened his pace, “fighting them is usually not a good idea.” Alexander scanned for anywhere they could hide. The brush, there maybe. “you two, hide, there’s only one of them for some odd reason, ill try and hide somewhere, but there’s room for both of you there, go now.” Alexander turned around, he saw a rather large tree. He jumped up into it, and waited for whomever it might be, his hand hurt as the black cloaked rider drew closer…

OOC: Muah muah muah.... Ambush, capture, seperate, sold, grasshoppers, kick butt, rescue!!! The seven part plan of awesomeness. ^^

BIC:

Myrda turned around without thinking and fired an arrow at the rider that was approaching the village from the path. That apparently just annoyed him because he ducked the arrow and rode furiously toward them.

Tychicus let out a yell when he spotted several MORE riders melt out of the shadows and tear toward their little group.

The lead rider hissed at Alexander Give in now. Getting these others involved was not a good idea.

Myrda ran on top of a rock and fired three arrows at once at one of the riders. A terrible scream echoed off the mountains as the rider fell and his horse ran away. Two more riders charged Myrda, and one of them knocked her out by hitting her on the head with his sword hilt.

Tychicus was involved in a sword fight with one rider, until yet another ran up behind him and knocked him out as well.

The dozen riders surrounded Alexander's tree, and five of them pulled out bows with arrows. Surrender.

Alexander dropped out of the tree, and walked in the middle of the group of riders. “let them go, they have nothing to do with this.” a rider from behind hit Alexander on the back of the head, Alexander turned around. “now really, that was just rude.” and fell flat on his face out like a light. “BE CAREFUL YOU IDIOT, we need him alive.” the lead rider spoke in a loud tone. Another spoke. “what of the others?” the leader spoke again. “they’ll make a nice profit in some way, the boy is nicely built, as well as the girl, put them on a horses and tie them down, ill deal with our pray.” The men followed there orders, the leader jumped off his horse and walked to Alexander, he wasn’t completely out yet. “you see, you can’t run forever, don’t worry, well take nice care of your friends, we don’t have room for you, so we will just drag you along.” he tied Alexander’s hands to a rope then to the back of his horse saddle. “now we shall see what you are really made of.” they started off at a walk, then they began to trot, before Alexander was out, he began to think of his father, all he could say was, ‘sorry dad, I messed up.’ and he was out…

OOC: Hmm I think we've got it wrapped up good. I'll skip ahead to two days later.

BIC:

Myrda was so tired, she couldn't even process the thought I'M TIRED. It felt like she'd been hobbling along, her wrists tied to some dark-cloaked rider's saddle, for her entire life. Had it really only been two days...?

Tychicus was wobbling along beside her, they were tied to the same horse. Alexander was getting dragged by the lead rider; Myrda has seen him a little earlier, but right now her brain was so fried she wasn't worrying about him. Her arrow wound from the thieves was throbbing, the entire top of her hands was stinging and bleeding, and her knees were bleeding too. All that Myrda could think was Ow. Ow. Ow.

Tychicus wasn't in much better shape. His face cloth had fallen off, and his cut seemed to be re-infected. He was panting. Water... where's Dad... I'm so tired...


The lead rider held up his hand and the group of men stopped. Tychicus gratefully flopped onto his knees and sat there. Myrda's knees were knocking together, and they hurt like wildfire...

Myrda finally realized why they had stopped. A caravan of slave traders was headed towards them. There were several cruel-looking, scarred, tatooed men riding on dusty ponies around a long line of chained slaves, people from every place imaginable and all covered in bloody whip marks. A particularly fat and ugly man with a dragon tatoo on his shaved head rode up to meet with the lead rider. Myrda was to learn later that the man's name was Tombo.

Tombo got off his horse and went to look at Tychicus and Myrda. He nodded, tossed a bag with clinking coins at the hooded rider, and got back onto his horse. Several other slavers hurried over and chained up Tychicus and Myrda, dragging them off to stand with the other slaves. They were too weak to protest; the hooded men had driven them hard and not let them eat or drink since they had been captured.

The hooded riders, still dragging Alexander with them, took off in one direction, and the slavers turned their caravan toward the ThunderClap Hills....

MYRDA AND TYCHICUS CONTINUED IN "Merchandise" IN THE THUNDERCLAP HILLS BOARD