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Post by bookity101 on Mar 15, 2009 21:49:37 GMT -5
Luxe nodded his thanks to Jal Slyver as he made his way out of the room to get his clothes bag from the cart. Then he felt his eyes widen as Jal Fugate offered to let him see his blade. "Would you really?!?" He asked, not caring that his excitement showed. "That would be great, I've been having trouble with my carbonized steels, they always come out wrong, which is why I remembered about your blade in particular. To say it simply, I'm still perfecting the technique of producing carbonized steel weapons, or tools." Luxe's face became very serious at this. "With the rumors of war and tensions rising everywhere you look.." He said with a slight shrug,".. I just want to be able to make the best that I can for my country,..." Then, almost as if he was talking to himself he finished in a barely audible voice, "...Even if my father said I wouldn't amount to much.."
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Post by Ladorak on Mar 15, 2009 23:08:23 GMT -5
Ladorak frowned sympathetically at this. Sudden visions of a certain pine marten suddenly flashed into his eyes....those evil...wicked.....black coals for eyes....boring down into him....stealing his will and controlling him....the ermine visibly shuddered at the thought. "Luxe..." he said, looking with compassionate eyes on the blacksmith.
"Look...growing up with a beast who raised me...he wasn't my father....but he was the closest thing to it. He had good points about him....I mean he did raise me after all....but he too said I'd never amount to anything, that I was useless....worthless even.....and well....he reduced me to nothing but his slave from time to time...whether I liked it or not. So....I know what it's like. I haven't forgotten...don't you ever.....let anyone....tell you you'll never amount to anything. It just...isn't true." Ladorak said softly, looking from Luxe to the floor and then back to Luxe again.
Monty stepped back in at that time with the bag, and Ladorak quickly surmised that the bag contained Luxe's clothes. "Ah right.....he had to cut off your pants...." Ladorak said quietly, and turned around while Monty pawed the bag off to Luxe.
"There you are Jal....er...Luxe." Monty corrected himself as he too turned around to be polite. Ladorak and Monty engaged each other in small talk, switching to Spindrick after a bit, and then to the new situation in Kostritz.
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Post by bookity101 on Mar 18, 2009 21:29:46 GMT -5
Luxe chewed his lip thoughtfully as he pulled on a new set of trousers, babying his bad leg a bit. When he stood, he swung his bag onto his broad shoulders. Hobbling over to where the Jacks stood, he reached out a hesitant paw, then dropped it. "Thanks for my bag, Jal Sylver, it would have been embarrassing to walk around town with those cut up trousers on,... Thanks for that Jal Fugate. I guess we both have surpassed what they thought of us then." He said, smiling slightly at the taller ermine. Shaking himself a little, his smile returned. "Now, may I please go see that sword?" He didn't care that the way he said it sounded a little kittish, he was aiming to get the mood a little lighter in the room in the small office.
((Thanks, fixed))
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Post by Ladorak on Mar 18, 2009 22:25:37 GMT -5
((Just a quick reference bookity which you wouldn't have known. Instead of two Jals it would be two jacks, as jack is male mustelid of any kind, and jill would be female. Jal is just Mr. and generally reserved for mustelids but doesn't have to be, and Jis is Ms or Mrs. But yeah in that context it would be jacks, and your use of Jal for their names in this post was correct. ) "Indeed." Agreed Monty, knowing that no one like to have their pants cut off, even if it was for a medical reason. Normally though doctors....or actually veterinarians since that's what this fellow was....there weren't any humans on Galdea, didn't care so much for the clothing and would gladly cut it off in order to save a life. "Um....well yes....I guess we could." Ladorak acquiesced. Bidding farewell to the vet, the detective led the way outside, followed by Ladorak. "I'd like to come over if you don't mind." Monty asked Ladorak, and Ladorak really didn't refuse this request. What other choice did he have? Monty had traveled all the way from Muggidrear to see him, and he suspected it wasn't just to announce the death of Emperor Leopold. Walking over the grassy moors towards Ladorak's stone manor, the ermine grimaced every time he saw it. He missed his castle....and promised himself that once he started working again.....and if he ever became a noble...he'd have one built for himself. Nothing like a castle to raise a family in after all.....whereas Monty didn't need such things. He was content for his small flat in Gusted Manor. The moors were whipped by a strong crosswinds, and ruffled the fur of all present as Ladorak opened up the heavy oak door to his house. Caden ran over to him, his eyes wide. He had seen the party disappear after the fight, but the fight was what interested the kit. About a million words tumbled out of his mouth at once, and none of it was coherent. "Caden..." Ladorak cut the kit off. "Slow down.....why don't you get a glass of water? I'll be with you in a minute, I have some important business to take care of." Caden opened his mouth, shut it again, and then stomped off for the kitchen. "Wait.....no...not water." Ladorak checked himself remembering about sanitary conditions. Although no one knew why, they just knew that sometimes bad water caused illness, and it was better to avoid the stuff unless it had been collected in a rain basin and hadn't been left standing for several days. "There's some punch in the chest...but ONLY a little." Ladorak cautioned. He had a basin....but it hadn't rained in several days, and he didn't want to take that chance. "Why don't you talk with Uncle Monty here for a little bit?" he called after him, and motioned for Monty to follow the kit. Monty shrugged, and started to walk after Caden. Caden was still in awe at how Ladorak had dispatched that one foe.....he used to not give Ladorak credit for anything but finally...here was a beast after his own heart! Of course...he still wouldn't forgive him for taking him away from home. Taking Luxe over to his large fireplace, the jack stopped and beheld the Midlight Hammer with a sort of silent reverence. He seemed...reluctant to even touch it. "I swore an oath that I would never use this thing again except in time of warfare." the mustelid murmured, and stepped aside to allow Luxe to get a good look at it. It gleamed black in the sunlight, its carbonized steel being of a highly refined and tempered quality. It could probably cleave any lesser sword in two. It would be heavy as well...very heavy, being a bastard sword and all. On the hilt in the center rested a dark opal, fiery like a blaze in appearance. It was multicolored, and had a dazzling quality to it. It used to represent something about Ladorak....but that meaning had faded. At the base of the haft was a smaller, vibrant purple amethyst. The thing must have cost a fortune to craft, and it was very powerful at that, perhaps one of the most powerful swords on the continent. It wasn't for beginners, and though Caden lusted after it, the weight alone would have crushed him had he tried to pawdle it. Caden was back in the room now, but wasn't talking. He too was staring at the sword as if hypnotized by it, and his white fur was clearly reflected in the gleam of the black blade. "Well....that's it...the Midlight Hammer." Ladorak breathed in a respectful tone.
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Post by bookity101 on Mar 19, 2009 1:43:31 GMT -5
Luxe was standing in front of the blade that hung from its place above the mantel place. The long black blade appeared to be perfectly balanced, even for its weight, it should be easy enough to use, with some practice, a beast wouldn't even notice that it was heavier than many swords. He ran a paw down the length of the blade, avoiding cutting his paw by long practice. A small clear tone rang into the still room as he flicked the tip of the blade with a claw. Not quite turning completely around he asked "Jal Fugate, have you actually had to wield this? Beyond putting it on your hip, I mean." Luxe had dropped his paw to his side again, seeing as it had almost taken a mind of its own when his inspection had reached the handle. His eyes remained fixed on the blade though, looking over it with a blacksmith's eye, noting the sheen and smoothness of the blade, looking for telltale warp signs that appeared in all of the carbonized steel that he crafted. 'This blade is a about as perfect as you can get..' was one of the few things that was swirling around in his head, and he had unwittingly murmured to himself.
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Post by Ladorak on Mar 19, 2009 9:45:19 GMT -5
Ladorak nodded slowly. "Aye...that I have." he said in almost a grim tone. It was clear that the ermine had a great deal of respect for this blade, and would never mistreat it in any way, shape, or form. Caden too had a respect for it, and desired more than anything to be able to wield it.....but since Ladorak was discussing it he may as well listen.
"I can tell you right now that it's a very fearsome weapon." he said in that low voice that was barely above a whisper. "It doesn't stuck at all cutting through flesh, and has not a problem with bone, muscle tissue, or anything else for that matter. I've used it in combat and self-defense before." he explained, running his two forepaws slowly together as he spoke about the blade.
"Craftsmammalship is very good on it, and I paid a pretty penny for it, I'm sure you can imagine. I've sort of....taken a vow never to use it except in time of war though, as it's truly too terrible to wield otherwise I think." he told Luxe. It was almost as if he believed this blade held some dark power......which it very well may. Ladorak found himself possessed by a combat rage at certain times, though that was probably more of his own stress building in particular situations. However, the ermine was a very superstitious creature, and believed in some small way that the sword really did have something mystic about it.
Caden didn't understand that at all. Why wouldn't Ladorak just wield the thing? It would have been better right? A sword like that would make him into a god at most, at least in Caden's mind, but he had a very different sort of logic than Ladorak did.
"Is it...what you expected?" the stoat asked his fellow mustelid as he finally turned his eyes from the Midlight Hammer to look at Luxe.
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Post by bookity101 on Mar 19, 2009 21:25:40 GMT -5
Luxe could hardly paid attention to what Ladorak was saying, he was to busy fileing away things to look for when he next attempted to make a carbon steel blade. Luxe shook himself as he tore his gaze from the blade. "It's much more than I thought it would be, sir." His voice portraying part of the awe he felt about it. "Its a bit much for me, being just a journeymammel, to actually be able to study this type of blade up close." Luxe's grin reappeared as he thought about the last really good blade he had seen, "Actually," he continued, tearing his gaze completely away form the blade. "Most of the beasts who own this type of blade, keep them under lock and key in a glass case in their main room, so everybeast can see it, but not touch it." Luxe shoved his own paws into his trouser pockets as he finished. figuring that it would be rude to ask to hold the blade, as the owner had said he would only wield it in war.
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Post by Ladorak on Mar 19, 2009 21:41:50 GMT -5
"Well...it is on display, you are right about that but....it's not locked up. No need for that. No one ever comes out here anyways. No one knows about it either. It's just....something I keep above my mantelpiece as a reminder of....things." the ermine trailed off. Things? Yes....things.
"A reminder of the duty I serve to my country, a reminder of...the darker natures that can come over us sometimes, and also, a reminder of how terribly war can truly be...but that it is a necessary evil as well. It also sometimes serves to remind me of my past sins and mistakes....and that I must bear them for the rest of my life." he explained, shoving his own paws into his pockets. He didn't offer to paw it off.....not a chance. It was too dark of an item to just give out after all.
"I hope I have at least satiated your curiosity friend." Ladorak spoke with a vacant, distant tone now, as if Luxe, Caden, and Monty weren't even there. "Is there anything else I can help you with today? I might just have to look you up sometime to craft me some new weapons as well." the stoat had returned to reality, looking at Luxe now, traces of a smile playing at his lips.
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Post by bookity101 on Mar 20, 2009 7:15:01 GMT -5
Luxe nodded along with what Ladorak was saying, noticing the distant look that had passed his host's face for a moment. Realizing that his time was up, he gave one last glance at the blade, then turned again to the others. "Actually, Jal, this whetted my curiosity to learn how it's made exactly, but you can't figure that out by just looking at it." Luxe smiled, then frowned, as his roving eyes looked through the big bay windows, and his gaze rested on the cart that had been mostly abandoned by the road side. Grimacing he looked back towards the group in the room. "I guess I better go get my things settled into the smithy, Glad I got that settled last time I was here." The last bit was more to himself than any other. He walked(hobbled) over to where Ladorak and Monty stood, and stuck a paw out to shake theirs. "Thanks again for the rescue Jacks, I owe you, once I get set up, come over for any of your repairs, special price for the beasts who saved my hide." He said with a grin, then noticed a small white kit standing in the kitchen door. "Or training weapons." He said with a grin.
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Post by Ladorak on Mar 20, 2009 9:34:18 GMT -5
Ladorak finally broke his reverie, and gave a smile back at the blacksmith. "Yes....I'll be sure to do that." Monty nodded as well, though he wasn't much of a blade person. Aside from his cane sword he didn't own any other cutting weapons, and mostly carried around a flintlock pistol or two.
"Twas a pleasure sure, you don't owe me a thing." Monty told Luxe. "It's my job to combat brigands and lawbreakers after all." the weasel explained, giving a polite nod.
Walking with Luxe over to the door, Ladorak thought about this last statement. Training weapon....yes perhaps he could pick one up for Caden before they set sail....whenever that was going to be.
"Thanks.....tell you what....I'll let you inspect the blade before I leave for my next assignment. I can't say when that will be...but chances are it will be in a time of war. We live in a time of peace of course....but I'll be bringing the Midlight Hammer with me for next time, and I'll drop by your shop before I leave, does that sound good?" The ermine offered his fellow jack, knowing it was an offer that the blacksmith could probably appreciate.
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