The Case of the Bear-Man [Attn: Gareth/Bella]

Hama Valon, the city around the Grey Tower.
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Welcome to Hama Valon! The aptly named 'mountain guard' is the city that has grown up at the gates of the Grey Tower at the western edge of the Two Rivers. Like all cities, there are quiet quarters with pleasant inns, such as Elman's Creek, which used to be the nearest village when the Tower was young, but was absorbed as the new city grew; its Band of Brothers Inn is still a favorite relaxation spot for many of the Tower's denizens. And again, like all cities the world over, there are less pleasant places--narrow, nameless streets that house hells and other houses of ill repute. Most of the city falls somewhere in between, with hawkers crying their wares in the streets, respectable shopkeepers ready to serve you, and petty cutpurses happy to follow you.

Novices, Soldiers, and drin'far'ji must be accompanied by a chaperon when outside Tower walls or they risk being picked up as runaways and duly punished.
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Jolly
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The Case of the Bear-Man [Attn: Gareth/Bella]

Post by Jolly » September 23rd, 2017, 4:32 pm

Taldorin
He didn't know this place. Never heard of a city this far up in the mountains; curious, that. Then again camp laborers didn't necessarily need to know everything about the world. Not even studious ones like him.

If you saw him at a glance, you might think him some sort of sickly Trolloc - covered in furs and skins; big, but not big like a Trolloc; furs matted in spots, with twigs and leaves old and new caught up in the mix. He moved with his shoulders hunched, shuffling in between the tress slowly.

He was hungry, hungrier than he though he had ever been. It had been a long time since he had eaten real food from a table - a year, two maybe? - and he'd been fine with what things he could catch and cook in the wild. But for a few days now, he'd smelled something he hadn't in a long time - warm bread. Fresh cooked, from any of a number of goodwives in the outskirts of this city he had stumbled on.

He didn't want to be seen - what if someone ran to find the nearest Child of the Light? But he wanted bread. It had been a long time, and bread made a meal whole. Maybe if he just snuck one loaf, while no one was looking. He wouldn't bother anyone else, and it would just be this once. Then he'd move off north, and hopefully not into another city he didn't know about.

He crept up in the mid-morning light. He could hear some bustle in the house he was nearing, but it was further in and away from the open window where a fresh loaf steamed. He'd be gone before they even knew he was there. Edging up, he made a quick peek and nearly spooked himsef; there was a portly woman not far from the window, but fortunately her back was turned to him. Sneaking slowly, he reached out and started to snatch the loaf. But this goodwife must have been mindful of cheeky bread thieves, because she turned to check it with a glance just as he had reached up and snatched it. A harrumph and stomping made him panic, and the loaf was hotter than he could handle. He turned to lope away, juggling the hot bread, when an ear-piercing screech rang out.

"TROLLOC!" the woman bellowed, and crashing could be heard, then followed by the loud clangs of something on metal. Taldorin shuffled back to the tree line as fast as he could - which, unfortunately, wasn't fast. His leg had been twisted and hurting since days ago. Behind him, the woman came out of her house into the street, calling the alarm and banging her pan as loud as she could.
Last edited by Jolly on September 25th, 2017, 9:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Bella
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PC: Miahala Darrow Sedai
SC: Lysira Viathene Gaidin
TC: Gareth Tomosan Asha'man
QC: Natlya Cade Gaidin
QC: Andraste Alhandra Sedai
Location: New England

Re: The Case of the Bear-Man [Attn: Gareth/Bella]

Post by Bella » September 23rd, 2017, 10:16 pm

Trollocs? In Hama Valon?

That was the first thought that shot curiously through the mind of Gareth Asha'man. Now, of course, stranger things had been known to happen, but this idea was so absurd that he couldn't even find it in himself to raise alarm at first. It was more just bewilderment, and wondering if the woman who shouted it was quite right in the head.

A few others seemed to better be able to get over their uncertainty and hurried in the direction that the shrieking housewife pointed. And Gareth decided to follow them, less because he was a warrior to face a beast than he was curious.

Of course, by now the mysterious creature that had raised such trouble was in the trees, and Gareth still refused to believe that it was a Trolloc. He moved with caution and seized Saidin just to be on the safe side, as he meandered warily between the trees. He could hear the sound of other pursuers, but they seemed to be moving in the opposite direction.

As he moved forward, he heard more sounds...coming from ahead of him rather than behind or to the side. And he smelled...bread?

Trollocs weren't known for their baking.

Gareth took a chance.

"Hello?" he called out. "I mean you no harm."

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Jolly
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PC: Taldorin

Re: The Case of the Bear-Man [Attn: Gareth/Bella]

Post by Jolly » September 25th, 2017, 9:16 pm

Taldorin
He had ducked into the trees and switched back and forth, admittedly making too much noise to get away but trying to throw off the pursuers. The bread was hot and half-burning his hands, but only those patches not staiend with dirt or grime from months in the wild.
He had found a hollow stand of trees and ducked into the man-sized notch between trunks. He fought to bring his breathing under control,
pressing his back agaisnt the trunk and trying to make himself smaller. Light damn his size!

Moving nothing but his hands and eyes, he tore a chunk from the bread and stuffed it into his mouth. If he had to run further, the bread might not make it. He'd gone this far for it, he would at least get a bite before it was taken away, or he was caught and hauled to the stocks,
or chained up and dragged behind a cart all the way to Amador, where the Dome of Truth would have the Questioners and--

The fear took over, and something warm seized him. His heartbeat went faster, and he could hear it pounding in his ears. He stopped moving his eyes and squeezed them shut, because the world was too bright, too real. He could hear everything, and the sweet hint of honey and spice from the bread filled his nostrils.

Go away, please go away, please go away... his mind pleaded.

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Bella
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Posts: 5615
Joined: April 14th, 2015, 11:28 pm
PC: Miahala Darrow Sedai
SC: Lysira Viathene Gaidin
TC: Gareth Tomosan Asha'man
QC: Natlya Cade Gaidin
QC: Andraste Alhandra Sedai
Location: New England

Re: The Case of the Bear-Man [Attn: Gareth/Bella]

Post by Bella » September 26th, 2017, 1:14 am

Now, that's unexpected, Gareth thought. It wasn't as easy for the men as for the women, but he still could feel that there was a man nearby who had seized the source. There may have been an Asha'man in the group of pursuers, but they couldn't have gotten to this place this fast. So, that left...

The "trolloc" was channeling. A wilder, then. One who was big, and scared, and starved. The woman had been shrieking about a trolloc stealing a loaf of bread.

"You're safe here," Gareth called out, and the Oaths made it so...which unfortunately didn't help the other man at this point, but maybe it would later. "My name is Gareth, and I'm like you." He projected his deep voice in the general direction he sensed the One Power. "I'm here to help you. You won't be punished for the bread. I can take you to where there's more."

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Jolly
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Re: The Case of the Bear-Man [Attn: Gareth/Bella]

Post by Jolly » September 27th, 2017, 1:56 am

"No safe anywhere," Tal said out loud, though he wasn't completely aware he had. He was tearing off a chunk of bread and shoving it in his mouth, chewing it quickly and gulping it down no matter how hot it was. He didn't know what the man was talking about in being like him; it must've been a ruse, unless there was another half-starved beggar who'd seen him. Maybe he wanted to steal his bread.

But...why promise more, if he wanted to steal it? His chewing slowed, but the panic in him and the shuddering fear wouldn't go away. He blinked his eyes open and shut them again. Everything was still too real. He tore off another chunk and gulped it down, and it tasted so sweet and warm; if there was maybe more...

"More?" he asked brokenly around a mouthful of food. "Really?"

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Bella
Female Channeller Representative
Posts: 5615
Joined: April 14th, 2015, 11:28 pm
PC: Miahala Darrow Sedai
SC: Lysira Viathene Gaidin
TC: Gareth Tomosan Asha'man
QC: Natlya Cade Gaidin
QC: Andraste Alhandra Sedai
Location: New England

Re: The Case of the Bear-Man [Attn: Gareth/Bella]

Post by Bella » September 29th, 2017, 8:49 pm

If there was one constant in this world, that seemed to be food. Gareth had found that it was possible to break through anything, almost anyone, with the lure of food. The man was stealing food, so it had been a safe bet. The Yellow was just glad that it seemed to have paid off, or at least got his foot in the door.

"Yes," the large man called back. "I know where there is more food that you can have and eat without being chased away." He let that settle for a moment. "My name is Gareth." For now, he left off the Asha'man part.

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Jolly
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Joined: September 1st, 2015, 12:09 am
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Re: The Case of the Bear-Man [Attn: Gareth/Bella]

Post by Jolly » October 8th, 2017, 4:35 pm

Fear could only hold on for so long. He couldn't run away, not and get far. Besides, he'd stopped, so any others that were coming to take him into custody would have had the time to catch up to them. The fear shuddered away into dejected acceptance of his fate. He'd run for a long time now, but he was overdue of being caught. Would the give him back to the Children? The world dulled, and it didn't make his eyes hurt much anymore.

Slowly, he pulled himself up, clutching his bread as he limped out from behind the tree and shuffled through the undergrowth towards his captor. He looked a damned shambles, but held the cooling bread tight. "I...I wos just sae hungry. I didn't hurt no one." It felt like a lie, but in this instance he really hadn't.

User avatar
Bella
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Posts: 5615
Joined: April 14th, 2015, 11:28 pm
PC: Miahala Darrow Sedai
SC: Lysira Viathene Gaidin
TC: Gareth Tomosan Asha'man
QC: Natlya Cade Gaidin
QC: Andraste Alhandra Sedai
Location: New England

Re: The Case of the Bear-Man [Attn: Gareth/Bella]

Post by Bella » October 9th, 2017, 4:02 pm

The "Trolloc" was indeed a big man, quite disheveled and haggard, although when Gareth tried to peer past the evidence of life in the wilderness, he thought the man didn't look too old. Above a teenaged youth, certainly, but not quite into deep maturity. Of course, it was only a guess because it was hard to tell.

"No, no one was hurt," Gareth agreed, keeping his deep, rumbling voice even and his tone calm. "The woman was just...startled. She will be compensated for the bread and all will be well. We will get you fed." He pointed behind him. "I live in the Tower that is behind that city there, and it is a safe place. You can come with me there."

He looked at the other man closely, and listened for sounds of the rest of the search party--being ready to back them off if they came too close and risk scaring off the big fellow. "Do you have a name?"

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