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Post by Cerridwen on Aug 19, 2009 14:30:09 GMT -5
The next morning Gitana awoke early. She lived by her own rhythm which generally meant rising just as the sun was begining to tinge the eastern horizon and going to bed not long after it went down. This day was no exception. Quietly she gathered her belongings and made her way out of the tent, mindful of her gracious hosts. Slowly she made her way to the ring in the middle of the encampment. Gitana made her way around the outside of the arena until she found a low grassy hillock that seemed to be out of the way. Taking a seat on the hillock she felt around in her provision bag for something to eat. She eventually found was she was looking for and proceded to have breakfast overlooking the ring. If she could still see she would have noticed that she had a rather good view of the ring but also that one of the squirrels that she had stayed with the previous night was battling away with a wolf. However, in her blind state, all she heard was the clash and ring of steel upon steel. All that she could tell were that they were swords of some type but there was no way for her to even begin to guess at the movements of the fighters below. Gitana's hearing was good but it was not that good. When it came her time to face another in the ring she would have to use all of her skills and senses. This was the test of all that her parents and all those who had helped her since that fatefull night 20 seasons ago had taught her. Gitana refused to become an invalid or begger constantly having to depend on others, each time she had to depend on others for help she hated it. The last family that had taken her in were surprised that she was planning on entereing the Warrior of the Plains competition. She could still hear Goody Bogstump's parting words, "You're always welcomed to stay here, deary. There's no need for ya to go and get yerself beat up or killed at that fight.".
Laying her cloak over her bag, Gitana stood and streatched with her spear laid across her shoulders. Over the seasons she had gravitated from being a dancer that knew how to spear fight to being a spear fighter who was a very talented dancer. Both of which severed her well when it came time for her defend herself. While streatching, Gitana listened to make sure that there was no one close by. Once certain that there was no one close to her she truely began to warm up for the coming day's competitions. Leaving the sheath on the spear head she began to sparred by herself. Her movements were fluid as water as she practiced. Gitana lundged, parried, and attacked while the very movements themselves appeared to be more like the steps to an exotic dance...
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Post by LordStripetail on Aug 19, 2009 17:13:58 GMT -5
(he;s not sure how to roleplay on here) Stripetail watched as the Graf walked out of the ring, all eyes were on the burning remains of the wolf.. a frown passed over the seer's face..
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Post by InkBlot on Aug 19, 2009 21:14:35 GMT -5
Graf's face remained impassive as he stepped past the gawking crowd, half of the eyes on him, the other half still watching the blackened lump of flesh sitting in the ring. Even the vole announcer took a while to recover before announcing the winner in his bass manner. Graf saw and heard none of this, however, and headed straight to the cantina. The rush of adrenaline faded slowly and painfully from Graf's system, and was replaced by a buzzing lightheadedness. Graf looked over his body to make sure this sensation wasn't from blood loss. Nothing so much as a scrape covered his body. He sat at the cantina counter, his own legs unable to support himself, and looked up to order a large mug of mead. He swore. The cantina was empty, everyone still at the ring. In his non-lucid state, he hadn't even noticed. Feeling unnaturally tired, he put his head down on the bar counter and began to doze.
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Post by Cerridwen on Aug 20, 2009 12:27:38 GMT -5
Gitana imediatly stopped when a horrificly familiar smell drifted through the air towards her. It was the smell of burning fless and fur. No matter how hard she tried to she could never for get that smell. Quickly she gathered up her belongings, not bothering to put her cloak on as she hurried towards the ring. The smell on the wind may have told her that there was a fire but the sounds around her spoke of a tragedy at the arena. As she approached the ring it did not take her long to find someone as the end of her spear collided with something wooden and she could sense that there was someone near by. "Please, can you tell me what has happened?" Gitana asked as she laid her hand on shoulder of the shoulder of the creature infront of her. Judging from the height and width of its shoulder she suspected that it was possibly a squirrel...
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Post by LordStripetail on Aug 20, 2009 12:53:57 GMT -5
Stripetail turned and noticed Gitana. There was a fight here. the defeated contestant was burned to death" He said. " A particularly gruesome way to die.. it will take awhile to forget seeing him burned alive. He looked at the otter's covered face.."Graf was the victor of the fight.. i'm going to try and find him, would you like to accompany me..?"
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Post by Cerridwen on Aug 20, 2009 13:04:50 GMT -5
"I will come with you. The smell here reminds me too much of the night I lost my sight. I wear this scarf to hide my scars from that night." Gitana commented as she put her cloak on.
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Post by LordStripetail on Aug 20, 2009 13:15:09 GMT -5
My dear, you have nothing to be afraid of, Show me your scars" Stripetail replied. "I take it you were badly burned in the face, and that is how you lost your sight..
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Post by Cerridwen on Aug 20, 2009 13:44:01 GMT -5
"It's not that I am afraid of my scars so much as how others react to them. Though if you wish to see them then I will show you." said Gitana as she hesitanly reached up to untie the scarf.
She did not take it all the way off but only pulled it down so that Stripetail could see. Behind the blue scarf Gitana's face was disfigured. Thin patches of silver white fur had grown back in the areas that had not been as baddly burned. However where her eyes had been was another story. Where her eyes were was covered in pink scar tissue. Her left eyelid had healed shut while right was a milky white. Quickly Gitana retied the blue scarf before anyone else could see her disfigurment.
"The bandits that attacked the troop's camp set fire to the wagon, it caught quickly. It only seemed like a couple seconds before it collapsed on my mother and I. I was lucky, my mother was burnt alive. The bandits killed my father and anyone they could catch. I just laid on the ground beside the fire despite the pain I was in. I was more afraid of the bandits." she said quietly afterward...
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Post by LordStripetail on Aug 20, 2009 19:50:25 GMT -5
Stripetail looked at the scars on her face with interest, mixed with pity. " I see.. you did the right thing. surviving was your only realistic goal. Were you the only survivor? He asked getting a mental image of what had happened.. " I might have some medicine which might help that left eye open. After so many years, there's not much I can do to restore your sight, but maybe just maybe we can help with your appearance so you don't have to wear that scarf all the time.. " Stripetail said kindly.. "Your scars are not the worst I've ever seen, howeber I can see where you wouldn't want others to see them.."
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Post by Cerridwen on Aug 21, 2009 10:26:44 GMT -5
"Yes, the old squirrel couple that found me said that I was the only survivor. The rest were killed. Afterwards I felt ashamed for being the only survivor because I should have stood with my father. He was a great spear fighter and taught me most of what I know. That is why I have come to this competition. Though, I thank you for offering to help me improve my appearance, Stripetail." Gitana replied.
Stripetail's offer was tempting but ultimately she did not want his help. She was used to the way that she looked, she had felt how disfigured her face was.
"I have no want to improve the appearance of my scars." Gitana continued after a couple minutes of thought, "They cause me no pain and I wear this scarf with honor because it was given to me by Elana the old squirrelwife who nursed me back to health. It is as dear to me as my spear, the head of which once belonged to my father's spear."
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Post by LordStripetail on Aug 21, 2009 11:53:06 GMT -5
I understand " stripetail replied.. " Still the offer remains open, If you should ever reconsider. I can understand how you might be used to your appearance, and used to wearing that scarf. " He paused. "it is your decision, and I will honor it..
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Post by Cerridwen on Aug 21, 2009 14:27:42 GMT -5
"Thank you again. Now, you said that there was someone that you needed to find. Graf I believe it was." Gitana said, indicating that thew should move on to more pressing matters...
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Post by LordStripetail on Aug 21, 2009 16:47:32 GMT -5
Right" Stgtripetail said heading of in the direction io the catana. "He mihght be inside getting a drink. I could use one myself.."
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Post by LordStripetail on Aug 22, 2009 22:22:03 GMT -5
Stripetail entered the catina, where he saw Graf sitting at the bar, he looked like he was sleeping. He looked around, there was no one else beside him and GRaf in the catina at the moment.. "Quite a bloody fight" he said aloud.. "your opponent died a terrible death..
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Post by Redstripe the Strong on Aug 23, 2009 2:03:57 GMT -5
OOC- I'd like to join if thats alright.
Ripfang had signed up for the tournament last night, after most of the other competitors. Than stole away into the forest, he didn't take well to the crowded areas. He sighed as he entered the camp, he heard word of a fight that ended with a flash. He saw what was left getting cleaned out of the arena for the next fight. He was sanctioned to fight with an otter, a young male with a lot to prove apparently.
As he was looking at the sight he sighed, someone was walking up to him. The wolf turned and looked,"What is it." Not a so much a question as an order.
The otter looked at him,"So your the wolf eh? You don't look that tough, with you little halberd. Ha."
Ripfang laughed,"Your mockery has no effect on me, and besides this halberd isn't what I'm using," He bared his fangs and held up his claws,"These are my weapons for this tournament. I decided not to use a weapon, so my competition would have a chance." He laughed at the otter before he could respond and walked away. He was passing the cantina when a familiar figure caught his eye. He didn't care to stop but his instinct made him, just to study the figure.
His mind didn't pick up right away but after a second glance he registered him as Stripetail. Ripfang pulled his cloak around him, covering his features, and entered the cantina dropping to the back and taking a seat.
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