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Post by Ludovais on Jun 12, 2007 18:28:10 GMT
The trek over the grasslands and into the forest took nearly all day. He'd left the Imperial City at day break, and even with his massive strides which were, at a push, almost a run. He hated to think how long it would take a man of normal size, especially one affected by the mid-day heat. It was cool now, with a gentle breeze washed through the woodland from the South-East and the sky was overcome with red, mourning the setting of the Sun.
Ludovais stopped in a patch of land that had no advantages over any other clearing the half-giant had passed on his way here, yet he felt this small clearing was a good place to spend the night. In a distant clearing came the haunting call of a Wallower, which echoed around the forest. It resembled a wolf's howl, except deeper and bassy, like one of the great war horns. Ludo heard the Wallower and felt it deep in his chest.
A smirk overturned his mouth and he sat down on the hard ground with an 'ergh'. His leg muscles, in particular, ached and his feet were burning. They would have to get used to it, Ludo thought as there was another day ahead of him.
His head rested on the ground, and he looked up at the stippled leaves blocking the darkening sky.
The Wallower called again, though Ludo noted that it's direction was different to the first call, and alot further away. Probably it's mate.
His mind was relatively at rest. He'd not told the others where he was going, but they were probably used to him wandering off. Ludo was on his way to the Monastery, he wanted to clear his mind, and to sit with the people many say were worry-less.
The Half-giant also heard that the monks there would welcome anyone, and help all they could. Ludovais hoped so. He wanted to be rid of his mental burdens and be at rest with what his group had done in the past, and would no doubt, perform in the future.
It was darker now and the insects were beginning to come from their hiding. He could hear the crickets chirruping among the grasses, some were quite close to him. He didn't mind in the slightest. The creatures in this forest were the few who didn't judge him.
His breathing was becoming heavier now, and he felt relaxed. The air was perfectly cool, not too warm, just right. Ludo could feel his muscles getting weightier and soon he was willingly drifting slowly between sleep and consciousness.
A completely rested sleep is an odd feeling - almost an out of body experience. He lost all sense of his body and his mentality was totally relaxed. Ludovais began to dream.
He was sitting in a Ganura style tea house, with it's doors flung open revealing a very snowy garden outside. The snow continued to layer over the soft mounds of white. Each flake was silent, but somehow Ludo could hear soft bell chime.
"Hello Ludo." Came a familiar voice. Ludo looked around him, though the voice seemed to come from nowhere. He recognised it as that of his father's.
"I'm glad to see that you like the snow."
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Post by Francis Howard on Jun 13, 2007 21:21:05 GMT
Francis leaned against a tree trunk his eyes watching Ludo ever so closely. Francis didn't trust none of the group and they felt the same way about him he was sure but Ludo was different although he still didn't trust the half giant he did feel sorry for him. It was true they picked on Ludo and then sucked upto him, Francis was the same and he knew it but Ludo still tried his best maybe it was because of something back in his homeland.
The Inquisitor took a swig out of his canteen his eyes watching Ludo, he was sleeping now maybe Francis was wrong maybe Ludo was the only person out of the group that deserved respect.
Francis held his handkerchief to his mouth the bleeding had stopped now for a good three hours a good sign for Francis.
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Post by Ludovais on Jun 13, 2007 21:28:46 GMT
"I like the snow. It reminds me of home." Ludo replied looking back at the garden. He just noticed a small waterfall at the very end, it's trickle of water had formed a canyon in the white.
"You need to stop worrying about home, Ludo. Worry about more pressing matters." Came his father's voice again.
Conciously Ludo began to feel sorrow. Perhaps he could only hear his father's voice because he couldn't quite remember him. He remembered his size, and the way his father held him when he was younger, but it had been 13 years since he'd seen him, and his vision of him was slowly filtering away.
"What pressing matters? I long to be home with you." Ludo replied getting frustraited. The snow began to slow, and soon stopped in the few seconds of silence.
"The snow is failing, Ludo. It is time to give up your memories of me, and begin your own life." Came the soft reply. The snow had indeed completely stopped, and without the constant flaking of the ground the garden looked cold. The sky was grey, and the garden seemed now to reflect it.
Ludo knew what it meant - his father had died.
The Half-giant woke up his eyes were full of tears, and his body no longer felt tired, but in it's place was an ache, a throbbing and growing pain and he clenched his fists in anger. The man let out a roar of sorrow, wanting to break-down into tears and to end his life - everything he'd worked for, all the rules he'd followed were all linked back to his father, but now, he had now idea what was going to happen, he saw no future, only the darkness that had over come the forest.
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Post by Francis Howard on Jun 13, 2007 21:35:32 GMT
Francis head snapped up to Ludo's howl. The Inquisitor watched the half giant have a nightmare or that was what the Inquisitor thought.
The animals howled but there was nothing within the vicinity of Ludo or Francis was he that terrifying was the huge bulk of a man too much for any animal.
The Inquisitor took another swig of his canteen the cool water moisturising his dry lips.
He wanted to talk to Ludo to see what the hell was wrong but that would be very stupid of him and so he continued to watch the half giant and even heard him sob.
The Inquisitor thought this was a sign of weakness but everyone had a weakness something everyone cared for even Saku had a weakness but she was damned, hell would devour her soul and Francis smirked he wanted her gone her and that psychopath Erias.
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Post by Ludovais on Jun 13, 2007 21:45:20 GMT
He began to sob painfully, before shouting out again.
The man rolled onto his stomach then pushed himself up and raised his arms. Another roar erupted from the giant, silencing the forest with it's echo. His fists were clenched tightly, and his arms looked as thought they wanted to pull themselves from Ludo, flailing and tensing in pain.
He fell against a tree which shook dropping leaves onto the forest floor. A single bird took off from it's branches afraid of the sobbing monster shaking it's home.
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Post by Francis Howard on Jun 13, 2007 21:48:08 GMT
Francis stood up and slowly moved around the trees watching the half giant sob in pain.
The Inquisitor should have left but he was facinated by what was happening.
He had never seen Ludo in such a mess before it was odd but then again it was a learning curve what had Ludo seen that made him act the way he was.
The Inquisitor stopped and somewhere else in the forest was the sound of crunching leaves and the rattle of metal.
They were not alone here someone else was waiting.
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Post by Ludovais on Jun 13, 2007 21:59:22 GMT
Ludo somehow calmed himself for a moment. Coincidentally in that moment he heared a swish, much like the wind except it only came specifically from behind him. He swallowed hard, and looked around the trees with a scowl. His breathing was heavy and his heart ached with every beat. The swish happened again, this time to his right. His eyes caught glimse of something, much like a shadow dart between the trees.
With that came a similar noise behind him, however Ludo was too slow to spot the black figure, and a blunt object caught him in the neck blocking his wind pipe.
The Half-giant fell to his knees gasping for air. His red eyes scanned around as he held his neck. No-one was about.... the forest was dead.
Another swish, but this time Ludo spotted the Ninja rushing him. He caught the man with a quick upward blow to the head, breaking the assassin's neck and sending him into the air like a ragdoll.
Arrows began piercing the ground around Ludo, and he caught a very painful 'venom-fly' arrow to his stomach. The arrows were coming from the trees themselves, and he assumed only that there were more Ninjas resting in the branches. Luckily, his skin was tougher than that of a human, some arrows managed to hold within his flesh, but many hit him, made a cut then fell to the floor. None of them were deep enough to hit any organs, but they hurt almost as much as the heart pain he felt for his father.
His father... It brought the sorrow back to his mind and he clambered back to his feet, before tearing the arrow from his torso. His father's memory would not be taken down now, by some assassins probably hired by The Brethren. He had news for them, however. Ludo was a free man now, he had nothing to loose.
The sorrow soon turned to rage causing a third mighty and beastial roar, shaking the very ground...
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Post by Francis Howard on Jun 13, 2007 22:05:32 GMT
Francis moved his right hand to his mouth and then stroked his stuble.
Ludo was in trouble but now he was like a animal.
Francis would have sworn blind that a demon was inside of him but unlike the rest of the Inquisition Francis did not believe in demons and waitchcraft it was a pity the Inquisition did however because they were laughed at behind thier backs.
The Inquisitor walked around the trees his eyes glancing at shadows creeping along the tree tops the inquisitor knew all too well however did Ludo?
One of a misfired dart landed only inches away from Francis. The Inquisitor pulled it out of the tree trunk and smirked.
He was sure Ludo seen him once or twice but not even the assassins did.
This brought a second question to Francis, was he dead?
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Post by Ludovais on Jun 13, 2007 22:15:10 GMT
Ludo blocked an arrow with his hand, and lifted a large log. It weighed about the same as a man.
The Half-giant proceeded to ignore the dozens of arrows whistling past, and then launched the log much like throwing a javelin. It's aim was precise, hitting a 'shadow' right in the chest and brought him to his death quickly.
Two of the Ninjas jumped from their perches and drew long black blades. In the dark it was hard to make out the figures, let alone thin slits of metal being swung professionally.
Ludovais stopped one of the blades with his bare hand, and although it sunk into his flesh, it barely scratched bone. With his left hand, he brought his fist down hard on the man's shoulder snapping his hands from the sword's hilt and breaking numerous bones in one side. The Ninja fell to the floor in a fit, with black liquid pouring from his mouth.
Ludo was not so lucky with the second blade, which was thrust into his side a few inches. He screamed in agony, then flailed his left arm around to the side of him, unfortunatly for the Ninja one of the punches connected and broke his face.
That left two more in the trees, who were now taking aim for a second volley.
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Post by Francis Howard on Jun 13, 2007 22:22:36 GMT
Francis pulled out two flintlocks his eyes spotting one shadow direcetly above Ludo while the other was somewhere east of him.
The Inquisitor took aim and pulled the trigger of both guns. The sound of the shots made the forest explode in fear. However the shadow did fall and Francis was quick to move again.
He did not want to be seen however he didn't want to walk out and see Ludo right after this fight that would mean he was in on the attack something nobody should want unless they wished death on someone.
Francis slowly started to reload his flintlocks although he had one left he very rarely used it, it was more ceremonial than anything.
The Inquisitor lost track of the shadow but he knew one thing he wasn't dead.
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Post by Ludovais on Jun 13, 2007 22:28:46 GMT
The blast sounded like hell had unleashed itself behind Ludo. He spun around expecting to catch something hard in the chest, only to be greeted with duel gun flares, and the soft thud of a body falling. He snatched the blade from his side and spiralled it at the remaining Ninja who seemed to be trying to make his escape. It hacked off the man's legs and with a scream of pain he fell from the trees and landed heavily.
Ludo would talk to this man, find out who hired them. But first he needed to halt his bleeding somehow. He rushed to one of the corpses and tore a long strip of black fabric, which he proceeded to wind around his redened hand. He pulled it tight to halt the circurlation, then tore another piece, which he wrapped around his mighty midriff. It only just made it around, but he pulled it tight and managed to tie it securely. He hoped it would stop the wound bleeding in his side.
It just occured to him that someone had helped him during the fight. By the sounds of it his guardian used weapons designed by the Ulthan.
"Who goes there?!" He called peering into the darkness. A part of him hoped he would not meet his aide.
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Post by Francis Howard on Jun 13, 2007 22:34:53 GMT
Francis loaded both flintlocks and placed them back into thier holsters.
The Inquisitor took a few steps forward and then peered out of the treeline like some kind of ghost.
"Hello Ludovais." Francis said his lips curved into a smile.
"I hope you don't mind if I tagged along incase something happened."
The Inquisitor was lying again but it was true to a certain extent.
"You should ask your victim the questions you so desire before he bleeds out otherwise theres just you and me and im sure you have no questions to ask me do you."
The Inquisitor's eyes bored into Ludo's he hoped to god Ludo didn't want to question him about anything right now.
Francis took a few more steps towards Ludo and then pulled out a pure white handkerchief and held it to his mouth.
Francis gave a short gruff cough making him cough up the blood already forming at the back of his throat.
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Post by Ludovais on Jun 13, 2007 22:42:53 GMT
Ludo almost physically stepped back in surprise. Of all the people to help him, it was the very person who the half-giant had assumed hired the assassins in the first place.
"You!" Ludo yelled, disgusted with the man. He'd been following him, not 'just incase something happened' but because he mistrusted him, and they both knew it.
The cough of his victim took Ludo's train of thought and he lumbered over to the fallen man who was lying quietly on his back. The half-giant could hear his soft breathing.
"Where do you come from? Did the Imperial send you?" He asked crouching down. Ludo hid his pain well, though in it's place was malice.
The ninja said something in the Southern-Tongue.
"Who sent you?!"
The assassin began to muster a laugh, a very girgling laugh. Ludo tore down the man's mask, and saw that he was frothing at the mouth.
"You poisoned yourself..." Ludo said, disgusted with the Ninja. He would let the man die in the way he chose.
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Post by Francis Howard on Jun 13, 2007 22:47:14 GMT
Francis narrowed his eyes and watched the ninja die.
"Ludo I have said this before I am not your enemy far from it to be exact."
The Inquisitor although feared the mans size he would stand up to him although he may die in the process.
"Tell me Ludo who did you think sent these men after you?" The Inqusitor was intrigued when Ludo looked shook at the sight of Francis.
"So you honestly think I would send a bunch of thugs to kill you? I am not like Erias or Saku."
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Post by Ludovais on Jun 13, 2007 22:51:55 GMT
Ludo stood up slowly and glared at Francis. His breathing was heavy and tired. "I...believe..." He started, restraining himself from the Inquisitor. "...That these men are from the South." He let out.
"Why are you following me, Francis?"
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