Tales from the Wardrobe...

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I think you should get going; the silent will be silent

Horatius approached a young human page who had been brought along for miscellaneous purposes. He had taken note that the boy's horse, though not a talking one, was well-trained in not fearing him. "Ralph," said the veteran leopard, "have you been taught how to skin and gut game animals?"

"I have, sir," said the 13-year-old boy, patting the belt knife which was one of his most prized possessions.

"Good. When we get clear of this well-settled district and find some sylvan country, I'd like you and your horse to come with me while I hunt for some non-domestic, non-intelligent meat for the party. Once I have a kill, you can help me separate my own portion which I'll eat on the spot. Then you can rig a travois for your horse to haul the remainder of the carcass to the meeting place we'll arrange with the rest of the party."

"Sir, how soon do you reckon we'll split off from the others for your hunting?"

"Not sooner than an hour after departure. Any sooner, and anything I killed bigger than a rabbit would almost certainly belong to somebody. Their Majesties can decide the most suitable time; but they know I do need to eat."

"Shall we buy some salt while we're still in an inhabited place, to salt down the carcass?" asked Ralph. "The inn, as a matter of fact, may have some they'd sell us."

"Yes, excellent thinking. As a raw-meat eater, I don't always think about preservation methods."
 
*Edmund had overheard part of Horatius conversation.*

"Who is your young friend, Horatius? He seems a smart lad. It is always great to trust those who would not normally be entrusted with an enterprise. We don't know where or when, a man or beast may surprise us."
 
"Goodness, that's right, you haven't been formally introduced, have you?" said the leopard. "Your brother the High King accepted Ralph here into his service only four days ago, and Ralph is still terribly shy about speaking unless spoken to. He's been keeping out of the way, watching your two packhorses."

Ralph knelt hastily. "If it please Your Majesty, you did meet my parents once on a tour of the realm. Their names are Balder and Freya, and they were among the very first humans to return to Narnia after Aslan, His name be praised, made an end of the White Witch. They established the first new human-owned farm in the western half of the kingdom."
 
OOC: I am sure CF will find you. He has a pretty good handle on what's going on. Even I am unclear about many of the details, like where you are supposed to be, for example. sorry.
 
Copperfox said:
Posting has dropped off for the night just as a new character has retroactively joined us. This is a good time to outline the main plot from the beginning, so no one turns it into something else.

All events in the RP so far have taken place within less than 24 hours. All Pevensies are over the age of 18 by now. Edmund, in our biggest departure from "known facts," has a wife, named Angela. Aravis, now Queen of Archenland, is visiting Narnia. Her husband Cor would have been along if we'd had someone to play him, but we don't, so he isn't. Assume he has business to attend to at Castle Anvard.

In the morning, everyone at Cair Paravel was getting a leisurely start of the day--except Peter, who went straight from breakfast to work. Thus Peter was first to see a message that the Hermit of Archenland--though not yet observably ill--had a premonition of death. Next, Aslan spoke to Peter, telling him that the maid Adilia had some importance (what, Aslan wouldn't specify) in the quest for a successor to the Hermit. No one was told _where_ the next Hermit might show up either, but Peter arranged for copies of the Hermit's letter to be distributed across Narnia. "Offstage" people are assumed to be doing this in other directions, while the majority of player characters try their luck moving straight westward.

Peter sent Tumnus to fly on a Gryphon to Archenland and visit the Hermit. In Tumnus' presence, the Hermit further foresaw that his replacement would be someone who _seemed_ unsuitable at first, but would later prove worthy. With a little caution, this part (contributed by Loverble who is playing Tumnus) need not conflict with this new bit about fighting for the Hermit's treasure.

Edmund, Lucy and those with them had not gone far before they met some Satyrs who were helping a Talking Antelope who seemed to have been wounded mistakenly by someone hunting for non-intelligent edible animals. The injured antelope was brought by the Satyrs to Cair Paravel, where Peter was joined by Edmund's wife Angela in investigating why the animal got shot. This is a subplot in itself, but does not urgently affect the questing party. (The antelope was just in the wrong place as one Satyr was murdered by another; one reason for having this "detective" subplot is to show that the business of the kingdom continues, and someone--Peter--has to stay at his post and deal with it.)

Other Talking Animals have by now been informed of the quest, and have gone their different ways to spread the word. The royal party has reached an inn with which all its members are assumed to be familiar from past stays. Only one employee of the inn has been distinctly portrayed so far: Shangpo the Talking Orangutan, the only one of his kind so far to have come back up to Narnia from southern regions since Jadis' curse of winter was ended. Tumnus is expected to fly back from Archenland on the second day; until he comes, other player characters will not be aware of what the Hermit said about his successor seeming unworthy at first.
Click to expand...

OOC: This was the latest update from CF. Right now we are at the day after, Peter is coming to join the quest because there are too many other developments, and He and Lucy think this is too important not to have the High King present.
We are about to go further West and Explore more hoping Peter catches up soon.
Aravis, as we supposed is actually the Queen or Archenland, as the events are taking place after HHB and she and Cor are already Married (unless you don't like it).

You just finished archery practice with the Queens and everyone is starting the journey further west. You may come in (as Aravis) and remark anything you like to get back in.

Does that help?
 
Just go one page back, to post 393, the one with colored type (more recent than the one B-King quoted while I was working on this). That will give you a current view. Almost all player characters are in one location; if not posting recently, they are still assumed to be at the inn. They are preparing to progress farther west, but in a zigzag fashion, so that (1) they will meet more Narnian citizens and advise them about the quest, and (2) Peter, travelling in a straight line, will catchup to them. Tumnus, not knowing that Peter has left the castle at his beloved little sister's call, will ride his Gryphon to the castle, then come after Peter when he knows Peter left.

The young servant Ralph has been tossed in because Dayhawk had said she thought it likely that someone of the sort would be on the trip in addition to the ladies-in-waiting.

Here are the clues that exist so far in the quest:

-- Adilia will prove to have SOME unspecified kind of importance to the search.

-- The true successor to the Hermit will at first be thought unsuitable, but then will prove he or she is worthy. (THIS point is currently known only to Tumnus among player characters.)

-- The successor will have to obtain some kind of treasure (again unspecified) that belongs to the Hermit, and will face some form of opposition or obstacle in this.


 
Here, we can involve Silent Susan indirectly

After Edmund set Ralph at his ease, the servant lad found the boldness to approach Susan, who was a bit nearer to him than Lucy and Aravis. He addressed Susan: "Your Gentle Majesty, I believe that while we were on the road yesterday you were speaking to your most noble sister about the wild leafy vegetables which might be added to your travelling diet, now that summer is here. My father has taught me well to recognize the most wholesome of these; and when I go forth with Guardbeast Horatius, I can seek out plants to bring back along with such meat as he may bring down."

=================

* * There, that hasn't quite exactly put words in Susan's mouth, yet acknowledges her presence. Now Aravis could remark on having heard the same assumed prior conversation.
 
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OOC: I will not be mentioning the names of many of the other bit characters, around, as there are now too many and I will only get everything confused. I will mostly be addressing The Queens and Ladies, Horatius, and that she-mouse secreatary (See? I forgot her name already), unless they are absolutely necessary to the plot line

"My Ladies, I believe that more events are afoot, and very soon. However, I do not think that this quest will be over tonight by any means. What do your Majesties, the Queens think?"
 
Kreechikee the She-Mouse appeared just then, and addressed Lucy. "Your Majesty, I was just inside the inn, asking if they had salt available as per the boy Ralph's suggestion--and they do--when I overheard a fragment of conversation. A Talking Rabbit had just purchased ale for himself and a Talking Sheep who was with him. It clearly was not their first round; and though they were not so drunk as those unfortunate Talking Dogs last night, they sounded loose-tongued. As they laughed about something, I heard the sheep, a ram, speak the name 'Nedwal.' That was the name the High King heard in his dream, the night before last! When I tried to ask them what they were talking about, they looked frightened and bolted right out of the place. Last I saw them, they were fleeing northward as if Tash of the Calormenes were chasing them."
 
"Well, then my Queens, Ladies and Friends, lets go find the adventure that Aslan may sent to us and hope for a speedy meeting with the High King."
 
"Am I to understand," asked Horatius, "that Your Majesties desire those oddly-behaving Narnians to be overtaken and questioned?"
 
"Well, Your Majesty, Queen Aravis, I am glad you are here on another adventure with us. If both your husband, the Good King Cor, and my Lady Angela were here, this adventure would be the more enjoyable. As it is, I am glad you and my Sisters are here."
"Maybe tonight we will hear another story from Calormen, do you suppose?"
 
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