< 04Molly > *the next morning, they set off early, the three forresters in the coach, and Morgan riding Xantha. The day is cloudy but dry, the trail they follow is good. As midday comes, they enter in to the forest on the north bank of the Sudlache. It's seperate from the Schwarzenwald, but is very similar in tree cover, making it slightly gloomy. From inside th coach, the teaching can be heard, but only as faint sayings and recitations * @Morgan rides along at a slow walk, leaving some distance between himself and the coach, looking round, talking quietly to Xantha < 04Molly > *there is a very slight noise, just a rustle, but more than the wind * @Morgan stops the horse, nudging him over to the verge < 04Molly > *there is another rustle in a large bush * @Morgan moves the horse further into the foliage, removing his rifle < 04Molly > *crouched behind the bush is a young boy, about 8 or so, very untidy. He looks up at Morgan just as a pistol is fired somewhere in front of where the coach was headed * @Morgan points back down the road, flicking his head to indicate the boy should leave < 04Molly > *he shakes his head, and doesn't move. A loud shouting match breaks out between the carriage driver and an unknown male voice * @Morgan leans out towards the road, looking up to the coach < 04Molly > * the coachman looks down at a tall man in a black cape, supringly well dressed, but wearing a black velveteen mask. He levels his rifle at the coachman, speaking in Eisen < 04Molly > #run along, I have no quarrel with you, but I will have whatever treasure your passengers have... or possibly the passengers themselves, depending....# * @Morgan climbs down from Xantha and holds his rifle across his chest in the crook of his elbows and walks back to the road < 04Molly > *another bandit, similarly dressed appears from the trees on the other side of the coach, walking towards the door. meanwhile, the coachman tells the ring leader that they have nothing of value * @Morgan nods briefly to himself and climbs back up on Xantha, walking him quietly among the trees < 04Molly > *the ring leader points his rifle skyward, and fires once more to prove his seriousness, whilst the second one gets to six foot from the door. There is a conversation in the coach that can be heard from a distance, obviously in Avalonian* < 04Molly > David: What's going on Molly, what are they saying? * @Morgan leans down to the horse and whispers in its ear "Xantha, Gebühr" at which Xantha erupts into a full gallop < 08@Morgan > *steering Xantha towards the first bandit, Morgan takes aim and fires at the second < 04Molly > Do not worry Papa, we are in no danger, it is simply a discussion regarding whether this is a toll road. No doubt it will be easily resolved *her tone is quite cheery, one morgan would recognise as fake* < 04Molly > *The second bandit yells out as the shot takes him in the shoulder. He runs towards the front of the carriage. The ringleader strides towards the noise, rifle leveled, and takes a potshot at Morgan < 04Molly > Martha: *after so many shots, her nerve is lost, and she begins to scream, Molly tries to comfort them both. It is then that the noise of a knocking on the other side of the coach can be heard * @Morgan mercilessly rides down the first bandit before wheeling Xantha round to walk towards the second < 04Molly > *the first bandit swears loudly as he realises the gun is not loaded, before being trampled to the floor. There is a demand from the third bandit on the far side of the coach to hand over their valuables or perish, followed by the sound of the door opening < 04Molly > *the second bandit in front of Morgan pulls out a pistol, firing wildly in the right direction * @Morgan rolls down off Xantha, coming up to bring the butt of the rifle hard across his face < 04Molly > *the ssecond bandit falls hard to the ground, crying out and spitting teeth. The curtain on this side is pulled open, and David watches, shielding his wife against his chest. There is the sound of a sword being drawn, a metal 'shink' sound, followed by thud, and a loud, sharp cry of pain from the far side of the coach * @Morgan drops the rifle and runs around the coach, unsheathing his sword < 04Molly > **the third bandit staggers from beside the coach, a montaigne design sword running from one side to the other of his body, just below the solar plexus. Blood spurts from his mouth as he tries to curse his adversary, but his choking cries do not last as he falls to the ground, then deadly silent. * Molly barrels out of the coach, hands covered in blood, and is promptly violently sick * @Morgan slides to a stop and glances back towards the second bandit < 04Molly > *he is still concious, trying to get to his feet, moving slowly towards his leader at the front of the coach, crawling mostly * @Morgan levels the sword towards him < 08@Morgan > if you're still here the next time I turn around... you're going to die. < 04Molly > *he nods, just as the carriage door on Morgans side opens (does morgan look to see whats happening?) * @Morgan turns his head slightly < 04Molly > *David gets out, carrying a small knife. He looks at Morgan < 04Molly > David: Can I be of any help? * @Morgan shakes his head briefly < 08@Morgan > no... this one is leaving and will not return < 04Molly > *the bandit at his feet takes the quick moment of opportunity and slips the dagger down from up his sleeve, driving it hard at Morgan's calf * @Morgan tries to move his leg out of the way while simultaneously bringing the sword down in a vast overhand swing, bringing it round for the point to come down first < 04Molly > *The blade of the dagger bites hard against the skin of Morgans left calf, wounding, but not penetrating as intended, more a deep cut than anything else. Morgans swing, however, is fatal as it splits the bandits skull neatly in half, exposing all manner of tissues designed never to be seen. The resulting mess, covers a large area of the ground before them, and illicits a hol from the first bandit who has final regained his footing, albeit ith one leg and arm clearly broken < 04Molly > The resulting mess, covers a large area of the ground before them, and illicits a howl from the first bandit who has final regained his footing, albeit with one leg and arm clearly broken * @Morgan looks at him gravely < 08@Morgan > your associate made a bad choice... I trust you have better judgement < 04Molly > #we have familys to feed, this is our only choice... now I must feed his also# * @Morgan looks enraged < 04Molly > *there is are a few shuffling noises and thuds from the coach, nothing alarming < 08@Morgan > thirty years this land has torn itself apart, its sons fighting one another... you would continue that? Get out of my sight < 04Molly > #I will not go home a coward# * @Morgan pulls his sword free and levels it at the bandit < 08@Morgan > you came here a coward... you'll either leave now... or not. < 04Molly > *he pulls a pistol* #I am not a coward, I have done what I had to# * @Morgan draws the sword back and hurls it full force at the bandit < 04Molly > *the bandit fires, missing both men, and the sword stroke severs the arm holding the pistol. The bandit screams loudly < 04Molly > *there is an outraged cry, followed by the sound of a sword being pulled out of a body, a flesh, wet sound. There is a loud, angry shout 'zurück zu bringen, dass jetzt hier, junger Mann!' (bring that back here right now, young man!) * @Morgan walks to the bandit and bludgeons him unconscious before walking back round the carriage < 04Molly > *The boy Morgan found in the bushes sprints away from the carriage, carrying a chest that he has wrenched from the back. Molly chases him, sword out, but he has the advantage of much practised, and she the hinderance of corsets and full hooped skirts. Very quickly it is clear that he will get away. Martha remains in the carriage, pale and afraid. The bandit is clearly dead < 08@Morgan > I knew that boy would be trouble * Molly turns back, shoulders sagging as she dejectedly walks back to the carriage, coming to Morgans side after a few seconds. David, having followed Morgan, sees the body of the bandit Molly killed, and looks from it to her, still carrying her sword, still bloodied. * @Morgan leans his sword against the carriage and takes hers from her, putting it beside his. Looking at her solemnly, he embraces her, holding her tight * Molly breaks down at his tenderness, and cries against his shoulder, keeping her hands off the nice fbrics of his clothes, not wishing to taint them * @Morgan rocks her slightly < 08@Morgan > you had no choice blossom * Molly speaks quitely < 04Molly > there is always a choice < 08@Morgan > aye, there is... your choice was strike or risk all of you being killed... * Molly buries her head more against him, so she doesnt notice David watching them intently < 04Molly > But he must have family, loved ones... a wife, children... < 08@Morgan > and he let them down the moment he took up a pistol * @Morgan turns his head slightly < 08@Morgan > David, get my rifle < 04Molly > David: *he nods, and immediately obeys, going round the other side of the coach* * Molly sobs < 04Molly > does it always feel this awful? < 08@Morgan > I hope so * Molly pulls away, looking at him, eyes red, a smear of blood on her forehead where she's pushed her hair away. < 04Molly > why? < 08@Morgan > Because the day it doesn't feel so bad... we've lost a part of ourselves * Molly nods, obviously trying to pull herself together < 04Molly > Are you well? mother? father? < 08@Morgan > David seems ok... I've been a little busy to ask. * Molly nods < 04Molly > We ought to leave as soon as we can, but I must find a stream or some water to get clean.... * @Morgan nods < 04Molly > David: *he comes back with the rifle* < 08@Morgan > I've got some in my pack on Xantha * Molly smiles a little Session Time: Sun Sep 27 00:00:00 2009 < 04Molly > I shall look for a clean dress *she presses herself against him briefly before pulling away * @Morgan turns and picks up his sword and begins walking towards his horse < 04Molly > David: *he watches her as she goes around the back of the coach, and then follows Morgan* Will there be more of them? < 08@Morgan > possibly... I wouldn't think its likely, though < 04Molly > David: Good. I did not know Molly could use a sword * @Morgan nods < 08@Morgan > given the number of incidents at Lady Torringtons... and with her ownership of the Rose, she thought it would be a good idea to learn * @Morgan pulls a large cloth and a skin of water from one of the packs on Xanthas side < 04Molly > David: *he looks confused* _incidents_? < 08@Morgan > Lady Torringtons guests aren't exactly discerning when it comes to inviting people onto the estate < 04Molly > David: I see, well, best to be safe rather than sorry I suppose, if it'll keep her safe in the future < 04Molly > David; *his demeanour is much more submissive and respectful* * @Morgan nods vaguely, taking the cloth to the blade of his sword < 04Molly > **there is in the background the noise of various commands being given by Molly in eisen to the coachman, involving taking down and unpacking all the trunks. Standing watching, hands still bloddied, she instructs her mother to pull everything out * @Morgan finishes cleaning the sword and sheathes it, then takes the waterskin over to Molly < 04Molly > David: *follows* * Molly stands still, not noticing their approach * @Morgan speaks quietly < 08@Morgan > Molly... water < 04Molly > *she is absorbed in the search* have you checked all of them? at the bottoms? not mixed in with something else? under the carriage seats? Are you sure? Really sure? There is nowhere else to look? *she pleads with her mother and the coachman* * @Morgan speaks louder < 04Molly > *they both shake their heads forlornly* Martha: No Moll, it's all gone < 08@Morgan > Molly... * Molly turns to look at him, the heart break clear in her eyes. She shakes her head slightly < 04Molly > Sorry? < 08@Morgan > water... whats been lost? * Molly 's bottom lip quivers < 04Molly > The chest that was stolen... it has all my things for the wedding, my dress, everything.... * @Morgan nods, handing her the waterskin before turning and walking to Xantha * Molly takes it, and Martha uses an old apron from their things to clean the blood off. The women talk quietly, and then go in to the coach, closing the curtains to allow Molly to redress < 08@Morgan > David, I shall be back shortly * @Morgan takes his rifle and climbs onto the horse, wheeling it round < 04Molly > David: *he nods, and bows ever so slightly* * @Morgan mutters to Xantha, and they thunder off in the direction the boy took < 04Molly > **the woods stretch out around them for miles and miles, but there are many different trails, many of which look purposely made, as if this is a normal hunting ground for this group * @Morgan watches carefully for signs of the boys passing < 04Molly > *there are no signs that indicate any of the trails above the others * @Morgan swears and returns to the coach < 04Molly > ** the coach has been moved several yards further along, to get it away from the bodies. Molly sits on the grass, watching for Morgan. There is the sound of crying from inside the coach, and no sign of martha and david, the curtains pulled * @Morgan climbs down and startings dragging the bodies off the road * Molly watches him, and then goes to Aurora, untying her, and lets her run unmounted for a few minutes. aurora immediately goes to Xantha * @Morgan finishes up and goes to Molly * Molly shields her eyes from the sun with her now clean hand. Its as she watches him she spots the blood on his trouser leg, and she frowns < 04Molly > Have you been hurt? * @Morgan glances down < 08@Morgan > aye... nothing much < 04Molly > I think perhaps it ought to be tended... < 08@Morgan > probably * Molly gestures to the small step at the back of the coach, encouraging him to sit * @Morgan sits down * Molly kneels down, and pulls up the fabric, taking a look at it. She winces slightly, and takes out a bandage, some plain fabric, and the waterskin. < 04Molly > I do not think the chest is to be found... < 08@Morgan > no... I tried to find it * Molly nods, and pours water on to the fabric < 04Molly > I should have been more vigilant < 08@Morgan > No... you did your best * Molly looks up 444 44 closseness