Post by C H E Y E N N E on Oct 6, 2010 11:37:15 GMT -7
ooc;; The Egyptian roleplay starts here.
My terrible intro:
bic;; The scorching sands of the desert were relentless as they beat upon the roadside travellers, staining their eyes with tiny minerals and bits of broken down rock. More than one weary man (or woman) would have traipsed along this road, as safety in numbers was sometimes enough to repel the chance attacks from the many bandits that roamed the dunes, their eyes always open as they searched for those reeking with wealth to raid and plunder.
Really, Callius reflected, they were lucky to have gotten this far without being attacked; their goods stolen along with their very lives. The bandits would surely kill them or leave them to die in the middle of the desert, whose sands were ruled, the Egyptians believed, by their god Set, traitorous brother of Osiris. Or so Callius had been told. And really, that hadn't been much: his companion and fellow merchant, Rammao, wasn't known for his distinct socialization skills. Callius had been informed of the basics - enough to keep him from embarrassing himself and insulting everyone else - but that was it. In turn, the fair-haired Roman man had offered the same courtesy, giving Rammao a bit more detail about his own culture. The obsidian-eyed youth had taken it in stride, speaking his thanks before offering that hesitant smile of his and sauntering off, leaving Callius (and Antony) to pack up their supplies in preparation for the long journey to the marketplace in Memphis. Now that they were actually on the road, however, Callius found himself wishing that they could have taken more time packing, especially since they hadn't seen another person for hours.
Praying for safety to his own gods, Callius pulled the white shroud further across his face to shield himself from the particles of grit that stuck in his eyelashes. Leaning forward, he gave his horse a gentle nudge, causing the black-maned gray stallion to pick up his speed with a snort and toss of his head. Right beside him rode Rammao and Antony. His Egyptian friend was hidden by the dark brown mantle he wore, with only his eyes peering out of the fabric. He must have been sweltering, but Callius heard no complaints spew from his mouth. He returned the favour again, not speaking unless necessary. Really, it was a comfortable silence, for why say anything when there was a goal to focus on that required no talking?
Still...
"Mao?" Callius inquired softly as his stoic friend turned towards him, eyes inquiring. "Do you know how long we will be riding?"
From his saddle, Mao offered a small smile, visible through the way the cloth stretched around his mouth. "Not much longer, my friend - a day's worth of moving at the most. Ra will complete his journey today, and when his bark has sailed, we will rest in the shelter of our caravan."
Callius twitched. He almost wished Mao didn't talk at all sometimes, for the Egyptian had a strange way of speaking - all formalities and no real spark of emotion. Still, he smiled back at the dark-eyed youth, nodding his head.
"Why don't we just rest in that rock formation there?" he asked after a moment. "Wouldn't it provide more protection from the sand? I mean, sure we'd lose a bit of daylight in favour of setting up camp, but wouldn't it be worth it?" Callius was nothing if not tactical, and he knew it very well; it was something he was able to relish in, both in and out of Rome. Still, Mao hesitated on his mount, his eyes taking on a slightly frantic look. The Egyptian seemed to relax after a moment, though, his thin shoulders relaxing as he nodded and veered his creamy brown mare towards the rocks.
"We have to be careful," Rammeo declared as he moved, and Callius was forced to hide a smile at his friend's exclamatory tone. "Teremun and his bandits are famous among these parts - we would not want to be caught unaware; I fear they are guided by the desert gods, and the snakes of Apep."
As both horses were attached to the caravan they carried (filled with exotic Roman cloth, spices, an jewelery), Callius tied his own own stallion, Ubaid (t: "faithful"), down for the night.
"If we set our blankets up against a wall, we won't have to worry about being attacked from behind. We can place the caravan in front of us with the horses next to it to provide an alarm in case we are attacked," Callius remarked.
Mao gave him a slightly withering look, but he nodded all the same. That was what their partnership was, after all. You win some, you lose some.
After all, wasn't that a life lesson that never ceased to be taught?
My terrible intro:
bic;; The scorching sands of the desert were relentless as they beat upon the roadside travellers, staining their eyes with tiny minerals and bits of broken down rock. More than one weary man (or woman) would have traipsed along this road, as safety in numbers was sometimes enough to repel the chance attacks from the many bandits that roamed the dunes, their eyes always open as they searched for those reeking with wealth to raid and plunder.
Really, Callius reflected, they were lucky to have gotten this far without being attacked; their goods stolen along with their very lives. The bandits would surely kill them or leave them to die in the middle of the desert, whose sands were ruled, the Egyptians believed, by their god Set, traitorous brother of Osiris. Or so Callius had been told. And really, that hadn't been much: his companion and fellow merchant, Rammao, wasn't known for his distinct socialization skills. Callius had been informed of the basics - enough to keep him from embarrassing himself and insulting everyone else - but that was it. In turn, the fair-haired Roman man had offered the same courtesy, giving Rammao a bit more detail about his own culture. The obsidian-eyed youth had taken it in stride, speaking his thanks before offering that hesitant smile of his and sauntering off, leaving Callius (and Antony) to pack up their supplies in preparation for the long journey to the marketplace in Memphis. Now that they were actually on the road, however, Callius found himself wishing that they could have taken more time packing, especially since they hadn't seen another person for hours.
Praying for safety to his own gods, Callius pulled the white shroud further across his face to shield himself from the particles of grit that stuck in his eyelashes. Leaning forward, he gave his horse a gentle nudge, causing the black-maned gray stallion to pick up his speed with a snort and toss of his head. Right beside him rode Rammao and Antony. His Egyptian friend was hidden by the dark brown mantle he wore, with only his eyes peering out of the fabric. He must have been sweltering, but Callius heard no complaints spew from his mouth. He returned the favour again, not speaking unless necessary. Really, it was a comfortable silence, for why say anything when there was a goal to focus on that required no talking?
Still...
"Mao?" Callius inquired softly as his stoic friend turned towards him, eyes inquiring. "Do you know how long we will be riding?"
From his saddle, Mao offered a small smile, visible through the way the cloth stretched around his mouth. "Not much longer, my friend - a day's worth of moving at the most. Ra will complete his journey today, and when his bark has sailed, we will rest in the shelter of our caravan."
Callius twitched. He almost wished Mao didn't talk at all sometimes, for the Egyptian had a strange way of speaking - all formalities and no real spark of emotion. Still, he smiled back at the dark-eyed youth, nodding his head.
"Why don't we just rest in that rock formation there?" he asked after a moment. "Wouldn't it provide more protection from the sand? I mean, sure we'd lose a bit of daylight in favour of setting up camp, but wouldn't it be worth it?" Callius was nothing if not tactical, and he knew it very well; it was something he was able to relish in, both in and out of Rome. Still, Mao hesitated on his mount, his eyes taking on a slightly frantic look. The Egyptian seemed to relax after a moment, though, his thin shoulders relaxing as he nodded and veered his creamy brown mare towards the rocks.
"We have to be careful," Rammeo declared as he moved, and Callius was forced to hide a smile at his friend's exclamatory tone. "Teremun and his bandits are famous among these parts - we would not want to be caught unaware; I fear they are guided by the desert gods, and the snakes of Apep."
As both horses were attached to the caravan they carried (filled with exotic Roman cloth, spices, an jewelery), Callius tied his own own stallion, Ubaid (t: "faithful"), down for the night.
"If we set our blankets up against a wall, we won't have to worry about being attacked from behind. We can place the caravan in front of us with the horses next to it to provide an alarm in case we are attacked," Callius remarked.
Mao gave him a slightly withering look, but he nodded all the same. That was what their partnership was, after all. You win some, you lose some.
After all, wasn't that a life lesson that never ceased to be taught?
