Race
Tenebrae - Friday, October 25, 2013, 5:28 PM
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--<* H03: Eldwyn Road *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- The Eldwyn Road meanders continuously around hills, wilderness, and farmland, though it is occasionally broken by fingerlets from the great Tornmawr. At one point, the road crosses the Tornmawr itself, which takes place by use of a ferry. Further east and past the ferry are the great Redridge Mountains. These mountains, which run mostly north and south, charge through the landscape, and even through the eastern end of the Lord's City of Alexandria. Towards the south is the city, with its flags rising far above the walls. The fiery Rising Phoenix almost glows in the sunlight and airships may be seen both in flight and in dock, as they make use of a carefully sculpted section of the Redridge. Towards the north, the landscape of rolling hills and farmland breaks into denser forest.
Azog is here out among the wilderness and farmland, carring a gameback over his shoulder. Seems like he's been out hunting again, though it's slim pickings close to the city and the bag is pretty lean.
The sound is a little like a chainsaw going through sheet metal. It's loud, it's victorious, and it's very un-natural. But, it's only once, and before long the birds and various woodland creatures resume their normal activities. It isn't all that long before Munch the Golem strides out of the woodlands, something large and brown draped over his shoulders.
There's a Boshter! Running! He seems quite happy about /something/. Of course, when isn't Boshter happy? This is an excellent question.
Azog gives a worried start at the sudden chainsaw sound, and he goes to investigate. But it's only Munch. "Hello," Azog calls out. Azog is accustomed to seeing Boshter happy. And running. He calls out, "Hello," as the arvek nar zooms along as well.
Munch raises a hand in greeting to the orc and hob, shifting his load a bit. On a closer look, it's a good sized deer, though only a few inches of neck remain, the head quite gone. Still, the majority of the meat is likely still good. "Hello yourself. How goes?"
Skidding to a halt, Bposhter beams at Azog and Munch and then says, "Hello, you too! It is VERY good to see both of you!"
Azog eyes Munch's game bag, and considers his own much smaller one. "It looks like you got the better area today. A lot of deer your way, or just the one? I found nothing larger than a fox." He looks over as Boshter plows up turf. "And you're looking eager and active. Staying warm, then? Out for exercise?"
Munch buzzes happily to Boshter. "Good to be seen again. Finally finished my new legs, got a chance to test them out." He nods to Azog. "Saw lots of deer tracks, but may have just been the one comming and going. Picked it up a ways from here, up where the stones start to turn red? Anyway, took some time to run it down."
Azog nods to Munch about new legs, and running deer down. "Excellent," he says solemnly. "You and Boshter should have a race. I do not have the way of running that you have," he says to Boshter. "It is a great skill."
"I like racing," says Boshter, loudly, cracking his knuckles. "I am very good at racing!" He looks at Munch. Eyeing him.
Munch blinks with a soft clink. "I think I would enjoy a race."
Azog nods gravely. "And I will watch the race. I do not have the speed to run with you. But I can watch and see." He nods again as if this were some solemn duty or important task.
"Yes! This is an excellent idea!" And then Boshter gets ready. He begins to jog in place.
Munch nods, and sets his deer down, peering around a moment. "There? To the red stone and back?" He nods to a large reddish boulder a fair distance away.
Azog moves over to stand parallel with Munch's proposed start/finish line, so he can properly judge.
"That is fine!" And then Boshter is getting ready to go. "Azog, count off to three, okay!"
Munch nods, and crouches slightly, his metal toes digging slightly into the ground in anticipation.
Azog nods to Boshter, the looks to Munch. Seeing both ready, he raises his arm, and counts off. "One!... Two! ...." And down comes his arm as he counts, "Three!"
And then they're off! Well, Boshter is, anyways. He runs pretty damn fast. But hten, well.. he's good at that sort of thing.
Munch takes off in a rush, feet pumping along the ground far faster than any normal person. A moment later, his eyes pop open, susprised at Boshter not only pulling ahead, but doing so at quite a clip. The golem buzzes in annoyance, and redoubles his effort, but still can't keep up with the Orange Blur.
He is indeed the orange blur. Boshter does run fast. Like the wind, even. He is thrilled with it, actually, and the challenge that Mucn provides just makes him work harder.
Azog watches the two blur off, surprised by the turn of speed they both put on. Also, the mud their speed kicks up splatters him all up and down.
Munch knows he's beat, and by a fair margin, but isn't going to slow down because of it. Not until he strictly has to. The golem slams into the red rock at near full speed, banging up his leading arm more than a little, but loseing very little time as he reverses direction. Not enough, but, pride does what it can.
And Boshter knows he's got Munch in his wind, such as it is, but he isn't slowing down either. When he finally hits the end point, he turns and begins to race back to Azog. Break neck pace.
Azog holds up a scrap of cloth as a finish flag, waiting for the leader to cross the line. It looks like it's going to be Boshter, who's flying, though only metaphorically this time.
Munch pushes as hard as he can, but eventually something's got to give. It's not quite so dramatic as the slam into the rock, but the golem's speed drops fast enough that he stumbles a moment. Though the continued run could only be called 'slow' in comparison.
Boshter skids to a halt and then just beams happily. HE's panting, of course. "Wow! That was a hrd fought race! I am very happy," he announces.
Azog waves flag as Boshter passes him. "You two are very fast," he remarks. "You both must have done intense training."
Munch skids to a halt, and near collapses, hand on his knees, a small cloud of noxious steam pouring off him. And whatever is dripping down as sweat -can't- be good for the grass. He's not panting, but then, he doesn't really breathe. "You are -very- fast. I at least expected to keep up."
Renfrey has arrived.
"I am very fast! That is what I do. I run everywhere! To everything!" Boshter beams. "I wonder why more people do not do that? It is very healthy ot run everywhere!"
Azog cheers Boshter and Munch, who have just had a footrace out to a rock some ways away and back. "Fast," he agrees. "There is more to life than fast, but fast is a good thing. But it takes a lot of training to do what you do. And it is an exclusive kind of training."
Munch nods. "Running isn't everything, but it is very good training."
Suddenly out of the darkness Renfrey comes sprinting, very quietly but very fast. However as he approaches the group he comes to a stop and takes a moment to catch his breath. "Is... is she still following?" he says looking behind him. But for the moment nothing comes.
"Eh?" says Boshter, now turning towards Renfrey. "Hello there! I am Boshter of Blar, and I have no idea what you are talking about!" He is beaming, of coure. "We were just running! Very fast!"
Azog peers back along Renfrey's approach, but says, "I see nothing. You were being pursued?" He peers. "Had you done something bad?"
Munch peers behind Renfrey as well, straighting with effort. "She who?"
Renfrey finaly catches his breath and lets out a sigh of relief "Oh hello, Renfrey of Under Lock and Key... "he peers into the darkness to make sure theres nothing there. "Yeah it was Headmistress Hell...um the tree at the bedroom windows... well you see... " he cleares his throat and gathers his wits about him. "The trees at the ladies dormitories are very noisy." he finaly manages, cheeks turning red with shame.
Azog has disconnected.
"...what?s ays Sandy to Renfrey, confusedly. "I do not understand! Is everything okay? Are you being chased? Should I beat someone up?" He sounds excited by the possibility.
Munch peers at Renfrey a long moment, then sighs. "So, nothing intresting."
Renfrey shakes his head to Boshter "Oh no, nobody to chase.. I sorta deserved it I suppose..." he admit but offers Munch a wide smile "Oh it was very very interesting." he winks.
"I am very confused!" says Boshter, puzzledly.
Munch pffts, and gathers up his things. "If I can't kill it or eat it, it's not intresting." Glancing to Boshter, he clarifies. "He's talking about sex." Well, so far as the golem is concerned.
"Oh. That is perverted and gross," says Boshter, firmly.
Renfrey's face turns red "Ah well... elf girls you know..." he says with a whisper but otherwise quite incappable of saying much more.
"You are a bad person!" Boshter is pointing at Renfrey, "Bad!" He nods his head up and down, firmly. "No more of that or I will be forced to hug you!"
Munch rolls his eyes, which all things considered it a bit of a horrifying sight; and start off towards town, slinging his headless deer over one shoulder. "No, I don't know. Don't care, either."
Renfrey's eyes open wide "Oh no, thats not needed... what a hug? No I don't need one of those... maybe if you were an elf maiden but..." his eyes glaze over a little, lost in thought. Munch's departure snaps him back to reality however and he scratches his head "How do wargolems reproduce?"
"Soul forge." Is all Much replies, heading off.