Elendor
Chicken Thief
Acelen deals with a thief in the stable.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Bree
Description: Another hot summer day, the sun just reaching it's highest point in the sky. Going outside is just asking to get get parched in a matter of minutes. There are waves of heat rising from the paved stone streets in Bree, and the open inn yard of the Pony is like an oven. Keldean is leaning against the frame of the open barn door, just inside the shade, but getting the advantage of any trickle of a breeze that flows in. Dust slowly drifts through the air of the stable in a lazy fashion, reflecting in the sunlight that beams in through cracks in the walls.
[Acelen(#32035)]
It is truly a day were any effort is one that most creatures do not wish to make. Even the midges that usually rise above the animals seem to be absent as the sun bakes all Bree. The barn animals have been turned out into the green field bordering a small stream close to the Pony. Nothing seems to be moving, least of all the air-and that is what most Breelanders would most desperately want at this time.
Acelen is sitting just infront of one of the windows sporting a soppying wet rag on the top of his head as he continues to braid leather thongs together.
Keldean suddenly perks up, looking with some interest as a black dog wanders it's way towards the open stable door. It's a big animal, at least fifty or sixty pounds, and sniffs around slowly in a meandering path. The teen glances over towards the stablemaster. "Did anyone saying they're missing a dog? A big one..?" It's when the young man speaks that the stray snaps it's head up to stare at him with an intense gaze.
[Acelen(#32035)]
Acelen pauses in his labors to look over at the stray, blinking as a drop of water from his makeshift hat falls in one eye. "Could be someone's lookin for im," he remarks off handedly. "Looks well fed ta me. Means he either has an owner or he's bin stealin and killin chickens or the like." He finishes off the end of the bozal he's making and flips it towards the dog, "Shoo!"
Keldean looks back towards the dog, his auburn curls hanging in lifeless clumps around his face. It looks redder after the sun has bleached it day after day, while his skin is deepening to a dark tan.
The dog's tongue is hanging out in a pant now, but it continues staring at Keldean without wavering. When the teen moves to take a step towards the animal, it clamps it's mouth shut and lets out a low growl.
"I'd be careful were I you, lad," Acelen says with studied care. "Some o them strays got the madness on them y'know. No cure if you get bitten."
Keldean backs up slowly when the dog seems less inclined towards friendliness. "Madness? What do you mean?" Once he's moved back into the barn, the dog relaxes again and returns to panting from the heat. The teen glances around sharply, then begins edging towards where the broom is leaning against the wall while keeping his eyes locked on the stray.
[Acelen(#32035)] %R
"Well, seems like they get bitten or they eat some kinda wild animal. First thing is that they get really scared of water," Acelen says, his hand inching towards his staff. "They start to foam at the mouth after that and will bite anything moving. Best thing is to kill em with a bow from a distance an' burn the carcass," he continues as his hand finally grasps the lance and he brings it across his lap, never taking his eyes off the animal.
"Maybe he's just thirsty. It's so hot today." Keldean says, backing deeper into the barn as the dog starts to sniff around again, abandoning the broom. The stray moves in a winding path that brings it closer to the open doorway, it's head lifting to sniff at the door frame that Keldean just vacated. "Why's it following after -me-?"
"Likely wants to take a bit outta ye," Acelen says drily, but the staff is now held in one hand at the ready though at a casual glance he still seems quite relaxed. "Why don't you try pushing the water bucket towards him with the rake?" the stablemaster says. "He's not something I want in the stable for long, mind. The horses can be a little skittish of any dog they don't know."
"Uhh.. I don't think that's a good idea." Keldean says as the dog starts walking toward him again, his tone nervous now. Rather quickly the teen stuffs his hands into his pockets to see if he forgot about any snacks he might have snatched. (rather unlikely that Keldean would forget about -food-) The stray stops halfway across the stable, it's eyes moving between Acelen and the teen, licking it's chops. Keldean retreats over to where the stable master is sitting, taking cover behind him.
Suddenly the dog sniffs and turns it's head to the doorway where the few chickens are kept. It seems disinterested in the humans entirely now and moves in a new direction.
Acelen rises as the young man steps behind him. His leather work now falls unceremoniously to the floor as he grips the staff with both hands. As the dog heads towards the chidkens, the stable master takes a step after it. If he goes for the chickens, I'm going to skewer him with me bow," he says tight lipped.
That is most definitely where the dog is going, and when Acelen stands the stray picks up the pace, rushing into the room with an excited yip. A moment later the sounds of the birds squawking fills the air and there's several loud barks. Keldean reaches for the rake now, moving to back up the stablemaster, though a sixty pound dog is more than a bit intimidating for the skinny teen. Luckily no hobbits are around.
"Blast it!" Acelen curses as he quickly moves to follow the dog outside. Once there, he sees the dog pursuing the birds in the limited space of the yard and moves to intercept it just as it grabs one of them by the neck and shakes it. The stablemaster rushes at it with a loud war cry, flailing at it with his staff.
The dog keeps it's teeth locked onto the bird as it sweeps it's gaze back to lock on Acelen, feathers drifting down to the ground. It gives another low, throaty growl with it's head low and it's tail rigid. As the staff swings in it hits the dog with a solid thud. The stray drops the chicken and leaps at Acelen, barking threateningly and snapping at him with sharp teeth.
Acelen neatly sidesteps the dog, swinging one end of the staff now in an upward direction for the dog's muzzle. "Don't get close to im, lad," he growls as he leans into the blow. "If it looks like he's gettin the better of me, you run and fetch help. Don't you go tryin to hold im off yerself."
Keldean is standing back against the wall of the stable, a stunned expression on his face as a fight breaks out between Acelen and the animal. His brown eyes are wide and he holds the rake in a death grip. Rarely has Keldean willingly joined a fight.
The dog takes a glancing blow from the second staff swing, then jumps up at Acelen to try and sink it's teeth into his arm, front claws scratching at him.
The dog is agile and quite heavy. Acelen barely has time to recover from his last swing when the dog is upon him. He holds the staff out stiff armed to fend the dog off while he shouts to Keldean, "Now would be a good time to go for help, lad! Get someone to shoot the animal before he kills anymore birds...or me."
"What?! I don't know anyone with a bow!" Keldean responds, but it was enough to break him out of his entrancement and he sprints away towards the inn to find Barliman or anyone else he sees that's not hobbit-sized.
The dog snaps at Acelen again, then begins backing away with it's hackles raised and a growl to it's lips. It's moving back towards the injured chicken but never takes it's eyes from the stablemaster.
After pushing the animal away with his staff, Acelen follows the dog as it retreats to the dead chicken. The other birds retreat to the far corner of their pen in extremem panic as they try to avoid the fate of their sister.
Acelen approaches the dog slowly, undeterred by its growling and suddenly the staff raises up and comes whistling down in a pwerful stroke aimed at the dog's head.
The dog is just sinking it's teeth into the neck of the hen again when the staff cracks down on it's thick skull. It yipes in pain this time, releasing the carcass to the dirt once again. Dark eyes lift to stare at Acelen as another loud growl escapes the dog. Rather than attack again, the chicken is snatched up in it's teeth and the stray streaks for the exit of the pen, trying to race past the stablemaster.
"And thrice cursed may yer mother be!" the stable master yells as the dog streaks past him. He is unable to land another blow as the animal runs from the pen with its ill gotten gains. A frustrated and angry stable master follows it out into the yard, noting the direction it is running off to. "If only Rhifaroth had taught me to fight with a sword as I asked im," he mutters as he turns to secrue the gate once more.
Keldean returns a few minutes later, out of breath and alone. "I couldn't find.. anyone.. but the cooks." He gasps, the heat of the midday sun beating down on the teen. "I got a knife from the kitchen!" And sure enough, the youth is holding a long-bladed carving knife. "Did you get him?"
Despite his anger at the dog, Acelen gives a deep throated laugh as the young man appears with a blade. "Well, I cracked him a good one on the pate," he says, "but it hardly seemed to phase him. He ran off with the chicken in that direction." He points in the direction of the marketplace. "Seems we have lost one bird. Now that he has found such an easy source of food he'll be back," he growls and then smiles at Keldean. "Quick thinking lad, but I'm glad we don't have to use it. Come - let me buy you a drink in the Pony so we can get out of this accursed heat. Maybe we'll go fishing later, what do you think?"
Keldean looks off in the direction that Acelen indicates for a moment, still breathing heavily from the heat. He turns back to the stablemaster. "You think he will? I'll shut the door to the stable first, so he can't get back in." The teen says, moving off to do that before returning to join Acelen for a drink inside. Keldean isn't about to decline a break from the melting heat.
[Acelen(#32035)]
It is truly a day were any effort is one that most creatures do not wish to make. Even the midges that usually rise above the animals seem to be absent as the sun bakes all Bree. The barn animals have been turned out into the green field bordering a small stream close to the Pony. Nothing seems to be moving, least of all the air-and that is what most Breelanders would most desperately want at this time.
Acelen is sitting just infront of one of the windows sporting a soppying wet rag on the top of his head as he continues to braid leather thongs together.
Keldean suddenly perks up, looking with some interest as a black dog wanders it's way towards the open stable door. It's a big animal, at least fifty or sixty pounds, and sniffs around slowly in a meandering path. The teen glances over towards the stablemaster. "Did anyone saying they're missing a dog? A big one..?" It's when the young man speaks that the stray snaps it's head up to stare at him with an intense gaze.
[Acelen(#32035)]
Acelen pauses in his labors to look over at the stray, blinking as a drop of water from his makeshift hat falls in one eye. "Could be someone's lookin for im," he remarks off handedly. "Looks well fed ta me. Means he either has an owner or he's bin stealin and killin chickens or the like." He finishes off the end of the bozal he's making and flips it towards the dog, "Shoo!"
Keldean looks back towards the dog, his auburn curls hanging in lifeless clumps around his face. It looks redder after the sun has bleached it day after day, while his skin is deepening to a dark tan.
The dog's tongue is hanging out in a pant now, but it continues staring at Keldean without wavering. When the teen moves to take a step towards the animal, it clamps it's mouth shut and lets out a low growl.
"I'd be careful were I you, lad," Acelen says with studied care. "Some o them strays got the madness on them y'know. No cure if you get bitten."
Keldean backs up slowly when the dog seems less inclined towards friendliness. "Madness? What do you mean?" Once he's moved back into the barn, the dog relaxes again and returns to panting from the heat. The teen glances around sharply, then begins edging towards where the broom is leaning against the wall while keeping his eyes locked on the stray.
[Acelen(#32035)] %R
"Well, seems like they get bitten or they eat some kinda wild animal. First thing is that they get really scared of water," Acelen says, his hand inching towards his staff. "They start to foam at the mouth after that and will bite anything moving. Best thing is to kill em with a bow from a distance an' burn the carcass," he continues as his hand finally grasps the lance and he brings it across his lap, never taking his eyes off the animal.
"Maybe he's just thirsty. It's so hot today." Keldean says, backing deeper into the barn as the dog starts to sniff around again, abandoning the broom. The stray moves in a winding path that brings it closer to the open doorway, it's head lifting to sniff at the door frame that Keldean just vacated. "Why's it following after -me-?"
"Likely wants to take a bit outta ye," Acelen says drily, but the staff is now held in one hand at the ready though at a casual glance he still seems quite relaxed. "Why don't you try pushing the water bucket towards him with the rake?" the stablemaster says. "He's not something I want in the stable for long, mind. The horses can be a little skittish of any dog they don't know."
"Uhh.. I don't think that's a good idea." Keldean says as the dog starts walking toward him again, his tone nervous now. Rather quickly the teen stuffs his hands into his pockets to see if he forgot about any snacks he might have snatched. (rather unlikely that Keldean would forget about -food-) The stray stops halfway across the stable, it's eyes moving between Acelen and the teen, licking it's chops. Keldean retreats over to where the stable master is sitting, taking cover behind him.
Suddenly the dog sniffs and turns it's head to the doorway where the few chickens are kept. It seems disinterested in the humans entirely now and moves in a new direction.
Acelen rises as the young man steps behind him. His leather work now falls unceremoniously to the floor as he grips the staff with both hands. As the dog heads towards the chidkens, the stable master takes a step after it. If he goes for the chickens, I'm going to skewer him with me bow," he says tight lipped.
That is most definitely where the dog is going, and when Acelen stands the stray picks up the pace, rushing into the room with an excited yip. A moment later the sounds of the birds squawking fills the air and there's several loud barks. Keldean reaches for the rake now, moving to back up the stablemaster, though a sixty pound dog is more than a bit intimidating for the skinny teen. Luckily no hobbits are around.
"Blast it!" Acelen curses as he quickly moves to follow the dog outside. Once there, he sees the dog pursuing the birds in the limited space of the yard and moves to intercept it just as it grabs one of them by the neck and shakes it. The stablemaster rushes at it with a loud war cry, flailing at it with his staff.
The dog keeps it's teeth locked onto the bird as it sweeps it's gaze back to lock on Acelen, feathers drifting down to the ground. It gives another low, throaty growl with it's head low and it's tail rigid. As the staff swings in it hits the dog with a solid thud. The stray drops the chicken and leaps at Acelen, barking threateningly and snapping at him with sharp teeth.
Acelen neatly sidesteps the dog, swinging one end of the staff now in an upward direction for the dog's muzzle. "Don't get close to im, lad," he growls as he leans into the blow. "If it looks like he's gettin the better of me, you run and fetch help. Don't you go tryin to hold im off yerself."
Keldean is standing back against the wall of the stable, a stunned expression on his face as a fight breaks out between Acelen and the animal. His brown eyes are wide and he holds the rake in a death grip. Rarely has Keldean willingly joined a fight.
The dog takes a glancing blow from the second staff swing, then jumps up at Acelen to try and sink it's teeth into his arm, front claws scratching at him.
The dog is agile and quite heavy. Acelen barely has time to recover from his last swing when the dog is upon him. He holds the staff out stiff armed to fend the dog off while he shouts to Keldean, "Now would be a good time to go for help, lad! Get someone to shoot the animal before he kills anymore birds...or me."
"What?! I don't know anyone with a bow!" Keldean responds, but it was enough to break him out of his entrancement and he sprints away towards the inn to find Barliman or anyone else he sees that's not hobbit-sized.
The dog snaps at Acelen again, then begins backing away with it's hackles raised and a growl to it's lips. It's moving back towards the injured chicken but never takes it's eyes from the stablemaster.
After pushing the animal away with his staff, Acelen follows the dog as it retreats to the dead chicken. The other birds retreat to the far corner of their pen in extremem panic as they try to avoid the fate of their sister.
Acelen approaches the dog slowly, undeterred by its growling and suddenly the staff raises up and comes whistling down in a pwerful stroke aimed at the dog's head.
The dog is just sinking it's teeth into the neck of the hen again when the staff cracks down on it's thick skull. It yipes in pain this time, releasing the carcass to the dirt once again. Dark eyes lift to stare at Acelen as another loud growl escapes the dog. Rather than attack again, the chicken is snatched up in it's teeth and the stray streaks for the exit of the pen, trying to race past the stablemaster.
"And thrice cursed may yer mother be!" the stable master yells as the dog streaks past him. He is unable to land another blow as the animal runs from the pen with its ill gotten gains. A frustrated and angry stable master follows it out into the yard, noting the direction it is running off to. "If only Rhifaroth had taught me to fight with a sword as I asked im," he mutters as he turns to secrue the gate once more.
Keldean returns a few minutes later, out of breath and alone. "I couldn't find.. anyone.. but the cooks." He gasps, the heat of the midday sun beating down on the teen. "I got a knife from the kitchen!" And sure enough, the youth is holding a long-bladed carving knife. "Did you get him?"
Despite his anger at the dog, Acelen gives a deep throated laugh as the young man appears with a blade. "Well, I cracked him a good one on the pate," he says, "but it hardly seemed to phase him. He ran off with the chicken in that direction." He points in the direction of the marketplace. "Seems we have lost one bird. Now that he has found such an easy source of food he'll be back," he growls and then smiles at Keldean. "Quick thinking lad, but I'm glad we don't have to use it. Come - let me buy you a drink in the Pony so we can get out of this accursed heat. Maybe we'll go fishing later, what do you think?"
Keldean looks off in the direction that Acelen indicates for a moment, still breathing heavily from the heat. He turns back to the stablemaster. "You think he will? I'll shut the door to the stable first, so he can't get back in." The teen says, moving off to do that before returning to join Acelen for a drink inside. Keldean isn't about to decline a break from the melting heat.
Players: Keldean, Acelen
Located in: Breefolk
