the following few posts are copied from the original eboard rp. I figured it'd be easier to just finish the rp here. sorry for the huge pages. i tried to keep the original integrity in tact.
Joe carried two swords with him into the forrest, his ancient chinese longsword, and a rapier he borrowed from the armory. As he walked into the woods he began his meditation, focusing all his chi into the training he was about to begin. Anything to get these dreams from his head.
As he approached the clearing that was his destination, he released the rapier into the air, and it began to hover in mid-air on its own. Floating to the opposite end of the clearing, it turns to point at Joe as he draws his blade.
Blades clashed as Joe and the sword met in the middle. This type of training was intense for him, both physically and mentally as he focused his energy to control both swords at once. Joe pushed himself harder though, every day practicing more, forcing himself to the next level. Soon though, sweat was pooring off his bare back, and as Joe knocked the invisible sword back, he relaxed, letting his magic stop. Except it didn't.
The sword continued to bob in mid air, as if an invisible hand controled it, but now it wasn't Joe's. Suddenly off his guard Joe had to figt for his life to deflect the blows. The sword no longer acted as it did when Joe controlled it, as if controlled by a man, but it jumped up high, came down from all angles, forcing Joe to fight harder and harder. And the magic, it was still flowing through him, though he no longer controlled it.... the stone Joe reached into his pocket to grab it.
"Argh!" It managed to cut his left arm before he could deflect it, knocking the stone from his grasp.
The Blows came faster and faster, wearing on Joe until his concentration was nearly broken and his body could take no more. He passed out.
As he fell to the ground, the dragon tattoo on his back roared to life, melting the sword with a sudden burst of flames, then ,turned to the stone that had fallen, swallowing it whole, then it returned to his back, but now, its eyes glowed a faint red.
She had loved days like this, pleasantly warm, not humid, and the air smelled of the randomly blooming wildflowers scattered around the woodsy landscape. Today was perfect for a journey to restock her collection of wild herbs that she used in some of the potions she made. She really had plenty for a while but it was a good excuse to go and be out in the sun.
As she crested a small hill, she had seen someone that made her heart beat fast...Joe...she did not know what it was about the arrogant man, but she took a fancy to him. She was frozen in place when she had witnessed what was going on.. She was unsure if it was just Joe pushing his physical and magical abilities to the max, or if there was really a problem until she saw his dragon....
Gasping in fear, she dropped her collecting pouch and ran as fast as she could toward him..all she saw was his limp body laying on the ground, and she had to help him. When she reached him, she knelt beside him and flipped him over to see blood on his face coming out of numerous cuts, along with a deep slice on his arm. In a desperate need to help the one that fascinated her, Safarah tore a length of her skirt and wrapped it around the wound on his arm and fastened it as tightly as she could. Joe was still unconsious, but let out a slight groan from the pain of the tightening makeshift bandage.
As she looked around a flask on the ground caught her eye. Desperately, she hoped it contained water instead of some sort of whiskey. She opened the flask, and stuck her finger into the flask to taste the contents, she was relieved to find that it contained fresh water, however it was a bit warm from being in the sun, however it would do.
Without the stock of herbs and potions to assist her in healing, she did the best she could with the minimal supplies. She had seen some wild mint next to her and knew she could use it. After she picked a handful of the aromatic herb she crushed them up and placed them in a left over piece of her torn skirt. She then poured some of the water over the rag and squeezed it a few times to work in the mint. Safarah knew the mint would give a cooling and soothing effect to the skin wherever it touched, and would aid to slow any bleeding.
As she placed the rag on his head and neck, she saw him start to stir a bit. She felt her heart return to a normal beat as she sighed deeply in relief... This was a good sign he would be coming around soon..
He was sitting in a small house overlooking the mountains. China? He was home... As much of a home he'd ever had, with Lin those 5 years... There was a gentle rain falling outside and a cool breeze coming in through the window. Hot tea sat in front of him at the table. He sipped it to warm the sudden chill he felt from a gust of wind. "Something bad has happened my love," her voice from behind him was soft and sad. Joe turned to see her there, Lin, the only woman he'd truly loved, standing in the doorway, looking exactly like she had when he'd left, four years ago now. She continued talking as she walked over and sat across the table from him, "Some sort of bad magic tried to take control of you. I'm not sure what or why, but I have sensed a link to you and what's been controling you. It is across the continent you are on, near the ocean," and with that, she turned and pointed out the window, which swirled like smoke and water into the image of a sharply peaked castle on a cliff, overlooking a violent sea. As she turned back to him, he tried to speak, had so many questions for her, but all he could say was, "Lin." "I'm sorry I can give you no other information than that, as you may have already found out, the tatoo I put on your back is magical. It is all of my magic. I gave it to you to keep you safe on your quest. You're sometimes too confident for your own good." She gave a small smile, looking down at the table. She looked back up, "I believe that stopping this force, whatever it is, is the last of my power. I may only succeed in keeping it in check, but I can do no more to protect you. ... I love you." And with that, she began to fade, as did the house and the table. Joe still couldn't quite speak, but started to smell the strange aroma of mint.
Everything went dark, and then, Joe opened his eyes to see Safarah kneeling over him with a concerned look on her face.
"Come on Joe.... wake up...the gods are not ready for you yet. Where's that tough arrogant fighter I have grown to admire, now open your eyes."
She sat and swabbed his head with the rag, trying her best to care for her near death stricken friend. As she leaned over again to wipe his head, she saw him open his eyes. The whites were no longer white, they were red, filled with his blood from injury.
"Shhhh dont talk, save your energy. When you have rested more, you can speak, but for now, here, drink this. I am sorry it's warm, but it is all I have."
Safarah handed him the flask and tilted his head up enough for him to drink from it without choking. She had hoped he would be strong enough to walk before nightfall, for she had heard about these parts of the woods after dark, and she did not come prepared to fend off the likes of vampyres, dark necromancers, and orcs let alone all the other negative beings. She looked down at him as he was unconcious again....
"Well my dear friend, it seems you have yet again found trouble, or hence it has found you"......
.::Agustus was walking about questing for the sake of getting away from the pressures of being head of recruiting. Gus wanted some fun, excitement so he ventured into the woods to kill a few badies and maybe find a few trinkets to please both his eyes and his wallet. he left most of the work to his lowly assistant... Joe::.
*Chuckles*
"ill just leave all the work to him, nothin to worry about.hehe so happy i got him under me or else i would be so deep in work i would probably just start making negative clan ads..."
.::Just as he was walking through his usual route through the woods, he heard some rustling nearby.
*Gus pulls out his sword and shoulders his bow*
"Its Hero time...
*Grins*
.::Gus crouches and sneaks through the bushes and stalks his prey... hoping to find bandits or possibly an orch with a bag of stolen gold. As he reaches the clearing he sees to figures one of a woman tending to a injured man... Gus puts back his sword and approaches with caution.
"hmm these bandits get clever and clever.... just incase...
*Gus knocks his heal to the ground to open his boot up with the hidden dagger*
.::Approaching calmly Gus notices that the man laying is his assistant...
"JOE!!! What the hell!!! Wha...
*Pulls out his sword*
"What happened here?!?