OOC: Memories

[Woman of Faith]

I have finally been moved to start my own thread, thanks to Godflute2 for wrapping up her thread before I'd barely begun to know a character I was quickly coming to love! So, to explore Summer Thunder's story, I am beginning this thread, which is called Memories.

All the usual rules of CF apply, and I have a few quirks of my own:

Only the GM is allowed to have quirks unless player clears his/her quirk with GM. That would be me.

Please read at least the first three posts of this OOC and get approval of your character from me before posting in game thread.

I like when players post more than a single line or just a few words in each post.

I like descriptive posts with characters that are fleshed out. I like it when players know who their characters really are and play them that way.

If you want to have an uber-powerful character that is fine by me, but you had better have a darn good rationale for why they are so powerful else you won't be allowed to put them into the game. I mean if folks, good explanation of why your character has the abilities they do is a must. I've gotten ragged on for my Pra Yer warriors, but I've also presented a good (meaning fully thought out and well explained) rationale for why they are so powerful. Present me with a good enough argument and you might get to play your dream character. Be flexible and it could be even more likely than that.

I like game play in the game thread and OOC comments in the OOC thread. Period.

If you want to know what's happening in the thread, read it.

This will be a fairly slow paced thread, even going as slow as one or two posts expected a month so do not feel you have to check in every day, but please do check once or twice a week as that is the likely pace. I'll work to be flexible if you try to keep up.

That's it, for now.

Okay, with that business out of the way, and if you are still interested...

I give you, Memories. But first? A little background:

 

[Woman of Faith]

Three years was too long for a caring family to wait to see their beloved daughter and sister. Ten years was too long to grieve. Summer knew she’d always mourn for Jamie somewhere in the deep recesses of her heart, she’d mourn for all they’d lost. He died so young and so tragically, but Summer was still young as well, too young to act the bereaved widow the rest of her life. Her family and friends had tried so hard to convince her of this in the first year after Jamie’s murder that Summer had fled. She’d traveled extensively, rarely going home, it had been three years since her last visit to Thunder Valley.

It hadn’t been easy convincing her commander of that, but she managed it after threatening to quit the Rangers, which she was actually thinking of doing. After finagling one more assignment out of her Captain Taggart had agreed. After two months of tracking and after a deadly shootout, Summer finally arrested Lefty Bowles. Now she could begin her sabbatical. Summer could have taken the train, she supposed, but Midnight would have hated that. Besides she was still preparing herself to return home and a train ride would not have lasted long enough by half. Her ebony mare, Midnight, would enjoy the more leisurely trip the journey from Wisconsin to Wyoming would provide. Riding along a ridge in Minnesota now, the Texas Ranger enjoyed the scenery.

Summer’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of gunfire. From her position atop a ridge Summer could see a stagecoach to the north being driven at top speed in a westerly direction. The gunfire came from the pistols of several bandits riding down on the coach from a ridge farther north. The passengers and the shotgun rider were putting up a fight, but it appeared to be a futile effort. Two men sat atop the north ridge, watching their five comrades attack the stagecoach. “Well, Midnight,” Summer said to her equine friend, “it looks like our vacation will have to wait.”

Summer drew her rifle from its sheath and prodded Midnight down the hill at a full gallop. After some fancy riding and shooting two bandits lay wounded on the ground. By now Midnight’s fast feet had carried her past the coach, where passengers and the shotgun rider continued to fire at the highwaymen. One of the passengers dropped a bandit while at the same time Summer winged another attacker.

That left one robber, who’d circled around to the other side of the stage, and the two on the ridge. Summer stole a glance up there to see they were now riding down the hill to aid their friends. Summer wheeled her horse around to cut off the other bandits when suddenly fire exploded in her left shoulder, she’d been shot! Grimacing at the pain, Summer wondered who’d hit her. None of the bandits had a shot so she could only think one of the passengers hit her, either by accident or poor judgment. Summer put the reins in her teeth and continued around the back of the coach. Suddenly, her lower right side burned with hot pain, she’d been shot again! This time there could be no doubt, someone on the stage was firing directly at her.

Summer dropped her rifle when she was hit the second time and she wheeled Midnight around, the reins still in her teeth. Shocked at what she saw, body stiff with pain, Summer struggled to draw her sidearm. Through the tears in her eyes, Summer saw the shotgun rider was looking at her with hatred in his eyes, frantically reloading his weapon. She thanked God it was a rifle instead of the traditional scatter gun. Didn’t he realize she was there to help? Looking to his right, Summer could see the driver slumped on his side, a bloody hole in his back. The horses he’d been driving were now running out of control. The shotgun knew Summer was there to help alright, that’s why he was shooting at her! Fighting through the pain, Summer managed to level her pistol at the shooter’s midsection and fired. She saw the man fall from the top of the coach, but it was unknown how badly she’d injured him. Looking down at her side, Summer could see she was bleeding pretty badly and she was in a great deal of pain. She needed help. Wounded, and not knowing who her allies were, Summer kneed Midnight toward the east, holstering her weapon as they ran. She knew she’d need both hands on the pommel to stay aboard her trusty steed as she carried Summer away from the danger. It was good she was holding the pommel with two hands because she didn’t get away fast enough.

Just before she rounded a bend she heard two rifle shots, a split second later her right leg felt as if it had been engulfed in flames as two bullets ripped into her thigh and calf from behind. It took all the strength Summer had just to stay atop Midnight’s galloping back. She noticed another hill with a stand of trees nearby and she headed for that cover. It was clear to Summer the bandits didn’t want her getting away, they’d send someone after her. It was the grace of God that she had survived this attack thus far. Summer prayed His grace extended far enough to get her some help. As she gained the top of the hill and entered the thicket Summer stole a glance behind her. As she’d suspected one of the robbers was pursuing her, and would soon be upon her. Summer quickly urged Midnight into the brush, going in as deeply as she could while leaving as few traces of her passage as possible given her now profuse bleeding. She carefully maneuvered Midnight behind a particularly thick wall of brush and did her best to quiet the animal.

Before her pursuer arrived, Summer tore up a spare shirt and bandaged her wounds as best she could. Too soon, the bandit arrived. Summer couldn’t see the man, but she could hear him. He had dismounted and was now stomping through the underbrush in his search for his quarry. Due to the blood she’d lost Summer was beginning to feel extremely weak. The blood loss was also a danger to her in that she knew she’d left a trail most any child could follow, but she was fortunate that this bandit was not as smart as most any child. “Come on, lady!” called the stupid robber, “Ya know ya ain’t gonna make it wit all those holes in ya!” Midnight appeared nervous, not being used to staying so still for so long. The strong smell of blood wasn’t helping the mare compose herself either.

Summer carefully, but deliberately moved to draw her pistol. Her whole body tensed with the effort as she fought through the pain. This was too much for an already nervous Midnight. The dark horse nickered her disapproval and the sound was just enough of an alarm to Summer’s pursuer that he turned and emptied his pistol into the wall of brush behind which Summer was hiding. At the first shot Midnight bolted, throwing Summer from her back. She dropped her pistol in an effort to keep a hold of the saddle, but it was no use. Firing randomly, the bandit’s shots flew wildly all around Summer and her beloved steed. Unfortunately, as she fell from Midnight’s back two more bullets found their way into Summer’s grievously wounded body. One shot entered her left forearm while the other sank deeply into her left thigh. Summer cried in agony as her bullet ridden body hit the ground. Even through the pain Summer had enough presence of mind to get her right hand on the knife hidden in her boot as she feigned unconsciousness.

No sooner had Summer pulled and hidden her knife in the surrounding deadfall than did the bandit come crashing through the underbrush to find Summer lying on the ground. “Well, ain’t you a bleedin’ mess!” shouted the robber. Still, Summer did not move. “Let’s see whatcha got in yer pockets, lady.” Soon he was kneeling down and reaching into her vest pocket. Quickly, Summer grabbed his hair with one hand and drove her knife into his head with her other hand. Piercing the man’s head behind his ear, Summer ground the knife around, effectively rendering the man dead immediately. Unfortunately, he fell halfway over Summer’s chest, pinning her to the ground.

Summer knew she could not stay there, pinned under a dead man, and she prayed for strength to free herself from this latest entanglement. After a long struggle she slid out from under the dead man. Summer knew there were two able bodied robbers left behind at the stagecoach and they’d be coming to find out what happened. Miraculously, Summer had not fainted yet, but her wounds had bled through her poor bandages and Summer didn’t know how much longer she could remain awake.

Summer was glad she had trained Midnight in lying down to allow Summer to mount her from the ground. Too bad she hadn’t been as successful in teaching the animal to remain quiet. Summer grimaced with the excruciating pain as Midnight rose, dragging Summer into the saddle as she went. It was all Summer could do to remain conscious long enough to secure her feet in the stirrups. Summer prodded Midnight into a slow walk, heading east as she slipped into what she prayed was a healing slumber. “Lord, let me stay astride,” was Summer’s last prayer as all went black.

When Summer awoke the sky was black, only the pinpoints of the stars giving any light. Not even the moon showed herself on this horrible night. Summer couldn’t tell exactly where she was, not being familiar with the area, however, she could tell she was in a wide expanse of tall grasses. She felt pain all over her body, but Summer focused her mind as Yoshi had taught her, assessing her current condition. It was not good, she had lost a great deal of blood and she was weak as a kitten. Summer realized she must have been unconscious for hours. All her bandages were matted with dried blood and Summer knew that moving suddenly would dislodge them and start the flow of blood again. She thanked God silently that she was still alive and prayed His favor would continue as she traveled through the night.

Summer suddenly awoke from a fitful slumber astride Midnight’s rolling back. It was still night and Summer didn’t know how far she’d come, nor did she care, but she could tell she was in a grassy valley in a flat plain. Summer just wanted to make it to some semblance of civilization before she was beyond help, which seemed imminent. Struggling to stay in the saddle, Summer wondered if she would live to see the dawn. This was her last thought before sleep invaded again. Midnight strolled on and Summer miraculously stayed aboard her faithful mount. Walking on, Midnight became fitful as the air grew dense and thunder rolled, but even as the horse tensed under her Summer remained unconscious.

What disturbed the horse would have greatly interested, and most likely frightened the Texas Ranger, but she slept through the entire episode. Unfortunately for Midnight, who was wide awake and most definitely afraid, she could not turn back as a mysterious fog lifted around her suddenly and lightning appeared out of a cloudless sky. The lightning seemed to dance around her feet and the horse tried to gallop away, but there was some unknown, unseen force steering her towards what appeared to be a rift in the very horizon.

The horizon, which is usually very far away, grew closer and closer by the moment, along with that rift. Then, without warning, much as it had arrived, the disturbance vanished and Midnight prodded onward. She was happy the storm was over and her mistress would be none the wiser. It was odd that she had not been able to bolt, as any sensible horse would have done, but Midnight did not think on this further for just then she scented something on the wind and began walking that way.

Some time later, parched with thirst and ravenous with hunger, Summer awoke again. It was now growing pink on the western horizon. Had she really been out for two days? Summer now found herself in a forest in what appeared to be hilly terrain, but she could see a clearing ahead. If she weren’t so weak with blood loss, hunger, thirst and fatigue Summer might have though it odd how the terrain changed so drastically. As it was she was only focused on survival. Summer heard the babbling of running water. Thank goodness! Midnight was picking her way through a stand of trees to gain the clearing. The horse seemed rather determined to reach that water. Midnight must be as thirsty as I am, thought the ranger groggily. She didn’t have to nudge the black mare and soon she was standing in the middle of a small stream, drinking greedily.

Summer, too, was thirsty and thought she might manage to get down without too much difficulty. As Summer leaned over, however, she felt her head swimming. Though she hadn’t moved much Summer hadn’t the strength to dismount properly. Nor could she remain in the saddle. The very little she’d leaned over was far too much for her weakened body to take. Summer lost her balance, fell to the ground and struck her head on a large stone at the edge of the stream. She was left lying unconscious and bleeding from yet another wound. Thankfully, however, she landed in such a way that only her lower body was underwater. From the chest up Summer lay on dry land.

It was this sight that greeted the party when they entered the clearing a few moments later. In the dimming light they could see a large and beautiful black mare nuzzling an oddly dressed, olive skinned, young brunette who appeared to be dead, having bled out from many wounds. But, as the group neared the body a low groan could be heard. She was still alive!

 

[Woman of Faith]

Dinruin Quest:_Mother is Close details the discovery of the near dead stranger by Dolemdil and Vai, elves on a mission to find Dolemdil's mother. She'd been joined by her sister Laurelen in this quest and soon, kindly taking the bleeding stranger with them, they did find their mother and save her from the evil men who'd sought to end her life. Thus ended the Dinruin Quest and began another chapter in the elves' lives, if they chose to begin it. How to get this odd human back where she claimed to be from. She spoke strangely, was dressed oddly and made outrageous claims.

Still, the elves saw she needed healing and a place to recuperate so Nimmir, Dolemdil's mother, took in the odd woman. Summer Thunder was found to her her name and through her nightmares they found her claims to be plausible rather than impossible. When Summer had awakened she too had found it hard to believe in elves, having only ever heard of them in fairy stories. However, with their kindness, and the obvious clues that she was not in Minnesota anymore, Summer soon found herself believing these strangers were indeed elves and that they did not work for Santa Claus.

Summer recuperated at Nimmir's cabin and, with the generous attention of Laurelen, she learned their Elvish language, at least enough to converse functionally. Colloquiallisms and other slang gave her problems. She realized her pistol and her rifle were useless to her in this new land so she sharpened her knife fighting and archery skills. Now more than ever she was thankful to her father for insisting she and her brothers all come to have an appreciation for their Lakota heritage. The day finally came that they needed to leave. So, with plans to escort Laurelen home to her family safely first, Summer and her friends set off to find a certain mage who might be able to shed some light on Summer's unique situation.

Game thread: Memories

 

[K9Guardian]

I like the prospect of a slow paced thing that doesn't require me to post every day. In fact I already have a character in stock. She was originally created for GoS but never found a place to be.

Kestrel

I do have a favor to ask. if I'm approved, please do not allow me to add any more characters unless absolutely necessary. I have a habit of overloading myself, and I've finally acquired a semblance of a life.

 

[Spidey76]

Vai is in & ready to help Summer.

Here he is: http://christianforums.com/showthread.php?t=1155482

 

[Woman of Faith]

Yay! We are underweigh then!

Spidey, you can go ahead and start posting. Godflute2 as well, if you decided to join, GF. Obviously, your characters are already with Summer so no delays for you guys.

MD, sorry, you need to wait until we get the show on the road a bit more, but WELCOME! Kestrel looks really interesting!

 

[K9Guardian]

LOL! It's all cool. Flute and Spidey were the first ones I RPed wit on CF. will be cool to play with you guys again.

 

[GodFlute2]

Dolemdil's in. Sorry about the delay. I have been really busy recently.

 

[Woman of Faith]

No worries at all, Flute. This one is going to be fairly slow paced. Real life is more important.

Oh! I forgot to to list that as rule #1!

Hey everyone,
Remember please that God and your real lives are way more important than these threads!

 

[K9Guardian]

Yup yup. God on High!

 

[Woman of Faith]

Okay, Flute? Let's scheme. Is Laurelen going to be staying at home, cause I have been assuming so and do not wish to assume.

Locket's going to be joining us and I am excited about that. Welcome, Loc!

New player means new character so we need to have an encounter soon so MD and Loc can jump in, just need to get my ducks in a row. Take her all the way home, if you like. Once I know details about Laurelen I am good to go. Thanks!

 

[GodFlute2]

Laurelen will be staying at home.

 

[Woman of Faith]

((If you want me to write good byes between the two I can, but we can skip that if you want))

Just giving you the chance to do that if you wanted. No biggie.

If you only have an OOC comment though? Please put it in here, it's a quirk with me. Little OOC comments in the game thread is cool if you post too, but if not... *Robocop voice* Thank you for your cooperation.

 

[LUColt27]

This story looks interesting, however, I seem to be a bit lost as to what the story is really about. I'm sure it's my own fault, because my ADD medication wore off hours ago. In any case, I'm pretty sure I can whip up a character soon to join in. I already have a basic template for this, but I initially thought it was going to be a pure western, and I would have adjusted it accordingly.

 

[Woman of Faith]

Oh, no, my friend. This is far from your typical western. Summer is from the American West, true, but she's been thrown into a world she never even knew existed. You'll still need a Christia type character, no unusual races. Sorry. Let me know if I can help.

 

[LUColt27]

Oh, no, my friend. This is far from your typical western. Summer is from the American West, true, but she's been thrown into a world she never even knew existed. You'll still need a Christia type character, no unusual races. Sorry. Let me know if I can help.

Ok, that explains more. I think I can make my character work with that, but I'll have to do some revamping.

 

[Woman of Faith]

Let me know if you need any help.

 

[Woman of Faith]

Alright, folks. The bugs have eaten a few of our posts so we'll just go on from where they left us. Thanks for your patience.

 

[Sylvengard]

Just wondering...is this thread still open for newcomers? And if so, how would I get started?

 

[Woman of Faith]

Syl! Yes, still open for newcomers, just waiting for the opportune moment, which is actually whenever now. Just get a character together and post a link to the profile here. I'll go over it and give you the okay asap. The three characters from the other thread are now camping. Vai is asleep and the two ladies are having a heart to heart. Perfect time for an encounter! So MD? Locket? Anytime you want to have your characters come around .... they can wander toward the small campfire or meet up in the forest the next day. Whatever. Colt? Still interested? I'm still available to help with character devo if you need it. Same goes for anyone else wanting to join. Thanks for checking it out!