| To the Floodplains! A Peaceful Stroll Through the Wild?; Open thread for anyone to join in | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 12 2011, 08:40 PM (340 Views) | |
| Caden Taiyou | Mar 12 2011, 08:40 PM Post #1 |
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Weird Uncle Zanther
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Ah, the floodplains. It was smelly and itchy, but it wasn't a miserable maze of a forest nor a rocky nightmare of a climb through the mountains. To Caden, this was almost like a welcome vacation. Not too long ago, he had been dropped off by a nice caravan of traders, having saved them from a group of highwaymen. Now, he was alone again, leaving the thoughts of those who had left him high and dry in the forest behind him to continue journeying ever onward. What's more, Caden had become much more adept at this new energy inside him, his own chakra, the life force inside everyone that he had only now truly realized. It had to have been this that allowed the pair of black-haired brothers in the forest to perform such amazing feats such as clapping thunder, or setting their limbs ablaze to strike with greater power. He was excited to discover what sort of things he could do with this energy, but other than concentrate and 'feel' it, he hadn't thought of anything just yet. Caden's attention was brought to a book he was given by one of the women in the caravan... It was a romantic novel that she was a big fan of, though the premise he was rather skeptical of. She had given it to him as part of her thanks for helping them out but Caden wasn't really sure if this was such a gift, really. Thumbing through it, he'd begin to read a quick passage...
"Wow, this is just BAD!" Caden would quip, tossing the book haphazardly back into his sack. "Vampires and werewolves... what nonsense! Who would even find that romantic to begin with?!" Shaking his head in disgust, Caden continues onward trying to get the nasty aftertaste from reading such an abomination unto literature out of his mind. Oh sure, maybe he wasn't exactly the biggest book buff ever, but it was the principle of the thing! "Man, -I- could write something better than this! Jeez..." This wasn't so far-fetched, in his travels Caden had nothing but time to think, imagine little scenarios in his head... Maybe one day when he's done and ready to settle in one place that'd be what he tried his hand at. After all, he had seen a good portion of the world, knew what many people were like, maybe just maybe it wasn't such a bad idea... "Hmm..." A few hours had passed as Caden continues wandering about idly and quietly thinking to himself, of the misadventures he had been through on his quest as he still went about on making his way northward... Towards his goal, to find the lost kin that he was searching for, the kin that probably didn't even know he existed. A few times the prospect that they would never believe him came to mind, but in the end he truly thought that if he found the real deal, the people that had been the root of his search, that he'd be able to at last find some kind of solace, some kind of purpose in life. Or at the very least, inform his kin of his mother's fate... Edited by Caden Taiyou, Mar 19 2011, 07:04 PM.
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| Wysard | Mar 15 2011, 06:09 PM Post #2 |
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Kyusumi had to the word 'lost' on his head now, but always in different situations. "It seems I'm losing track of where I am" "It's getting wetter here, maybe I'm not lost." "Am I lost?" "Yes, I'm definitely lost." His intention of going to The Pass while running never advanced past the part oh being an 'intention' and not an action. In his humiliated defeat by the hands of some mercenaries that wanted his head, while attached to his body at least, for some easy money offered by someone, he probably lost track of where he was or just confused the commom concepts of 'right' and 'left'. He preffered to think that the battle was to intense for any reasoning and he just ran away. Even though Kyusumi always liked the Floodplains and all those places where their names actually describe what they were, being there wasn't part of his plans. The Floodplains weren't generous with thieves, heck, with ninjas overall. They were plains! No particular good place to hide, no trees, few scattered caravans that could see you from a long distance... And, above it all, it was wet. Really, really wet. When you have only one or two spare shirts, getting wet is a big deal. It makes you slower, mixed with some dirty, it makes you smell. Easily spottable. Actually, the smell wouldn't be such a problem in the Floodplains, it stinks! It wasn't a simple choice of turning back and changing directions, going back to the Foothills or to the Lake Tsunami's direction was dangerous, his mysterious enemy could have sent some mercenaries to chase him around. And after some hours of that seemingly endless of boring views, bad smell and wet sandals, Kyusumi saw a human figure going in his direction on the distance. Thanks to his great vision, the.... human couldn't see him yet. It was time for almost a moral dillema, attack or not attack? "Quick analysis: Going alone. Probably not a merchant, just a brave wanderer, or maybe a ninja, but wouldn't have so few money, since it's travelling alone, unfortunately, no place to hide, run or even cammouflage properly." - Without any cover, the cammouflage technique seemed like a boring trick. - "There's also that terrible possibility of.... him ? Her, maybe. Well, of 'it' being also an outlaw like me and trying to steal from me and that could only result in death..." Kyusumi wasn't against killing. He had killed a handful of people during his life, most of them were guards. But it was their jobs to use weapons and protect caravans, so they toally had it coming in their jod descriptions. Killing merchants is counter-productive since it would be one less to steal from in the futur, but it had happened twice or three times in attacks that resulted in intense battles and accidental cassualities happened. In his last defeat, that merchant that was taken as hostage almost died by Kyusumi's hand. But now? In a one-on-one it was different, it was almost cold-blood, especially if he attacked first. But if his opponent attacked him, well, anything could happen. And that would bother Kyusumi's mind before his sleep. So, he took one Kunai from his pouch with his right hand and hid it under his cape, he was prepared for anything. Walking casually towards the mysterious stranger, the thief finally had enough of a view to tell if was male. "If he doesn't attack, I'll probably just pass by him, maybe even greet him or comment about the weather. Attacking first in an attempt to rob will only result in pain, death and there won't be anyone to talk about it in nearby cities and make me more famous. Well, being renowned actually came back to bite me in the ass, but even then... If he does attack, however, I'm going all out!" |
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| Caden Taiyou | Mar 16 2011, 01:41 AM Post #3 |
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Weird Uncle Zanther
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Caden was still strolling ever so casually onwards when he noticed another man not too far off approaching. Not really sensing anything out of the ordinary with this individual, Caden would smile and wave, "Hey there! Fancy meeting someone all the way out here, huh?" He'd grin, suspecting nothing. Caden had no clue as to who or what this man really truly was, but he had no immediate reason to think ill of him atleast not yet. Besides, he was still ever so ecstatic to be clear of the woods and mountains now. He didn't even care how wet or smelly this place was, like he had thought before this was almost a vacation to him. As he continues forward he would inevitably approach the man, intending to simply walk past him on his merry way. Edited by Caden Taiyou, Mar 19 2011, 06:59 PM.
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| Wysard | Mar 17 2011, 08:03 PM Post #4 |
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Kyusumi's mind was racing through the infinite outcomes possible for that incredibly awkward situation, when paranoia finally overtook his, not very sane, but quick thinking. "Why he seems like he hasn't noticed me? From that distance I should be very visible for him. Maybe he has a problem in his sight. No. That wouldn't make sense, he's travelling alone. Damn it! Maybe it's just a normal guy travelling on his own and running away from a traumatic past. Ha! This is almost like a romance book and is as likely as any fiction that I've ever read. Wait! I got it! He's well aware of all of this and is playing with me!" Kyusumi aligned himself with the stranger's path and stopped and started to communicate with him one or two tones higher than needed for him to listen, his voice sometimes failing to achieve such volume, added with his wet homeless appeareance could make Kyusumi seem like an unstable madman for someone outside this whole situation. "I KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE!" "There's on thing that pursuers never expect that their persecuted knows. Their very own existence. I've learned this the hard way on that last caravan! This mercenary will be off guard for a few split seconds now that will be my chance!" - He thought while tightening his grip on the kunai on his right hand. |
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| Caden Taiyou | Mar 18 2011, 01:46 AM Post #5 |
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Weird Uncle Zanther
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Caden had come to a halt, suddenly noting that this stranger walking along the path was acting a little bit... funny. Standing still he reaches ever so slowly for his bat in a manner that would convey that he was being more cautious than anything. "Hey", he'd begin, "Uhh, are you lost or something? Pal?" The way this person was acting was without a doubt suspicious, and Caden while on occasion rash was far from stupid after all of these years. He had likely made an enemy of bandits and ruffians from all around the place and it was entirely possible that this person had been out looking for him. This wasn't the first time these thoughts had crossed his mind but it was the first time he truly believed he might be in for a real fight. It's unlikely that random riff-raff would send out someone by himself if he was inexperienced... Could this man be a skilled bounty hunter? Caden grits his teeth, believing he may truly be in for a rough time with this individual, standing at the ready now with his bat in hand, though still very apparently standing with a guarding posture rather than engaging. "Hey! Do you need help or something?" he'd shout towards the other's direction. Edited by Caden Taiyou, Mar 18 2011, 02:02 AM.
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| Wysard | Mar 18 2011, 04:55 PM Post #6 |
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Kyusumi analysed the situation... and the results didn't quite please him. The stranger was now in a fight stance, maybe even for attacking and, worst of it all, he had a freakin' huge bat. The lines the stranger spoke actually had a reverse effect than expected by the thief, he wanted to get his pursuer to be caught offguard, however Kyusumi was the one not expecting the outcome. "Big bat. Probably skilled in it, cannot say for sure, the way he wolds his weapon seems to be pretty much standard, but I lack knowledge of this. Maybe not faster than me but better not to risk attacking. Most important, he really doesn't seem to know who I am or what my occupation is." Without really noticing, Kyusumi loosened the grip on the kunai on his right hand, but still holding and hiding it, behind his cape. Those seconds wasted on thinking probably had a bad effect on his interlocutor, the thief wasn't so cunning at all when telling a lie. "It's safer to play crazy." "Yes! We all do, right? Stuck on this humid place, being chased around by those bandits bastards! And you, my friend, with that giant weapon, isn't making such a good first impression!" |
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| Caden Taiyou | Mar 18 2011, 06:40 PM Post #7 |
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Weird Uncle Zanther
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Caden raises an eyebrow at the other's response, and decides to play it safe and simply make a gradual side step to the right, hoping to distance himself and simply walk past, hopping not to provoke this individual. It was all the likely that either of them had no idea what the other was up to, but even then, he'd rather position himself in a much more advantageous position. "Oh? Yeah, yeah I hear yeah pal. I hear ya..." he'd attempt to humor the strange one as he continued along in this fashion, distancing himself as to get out of the way of this one's path but still be able to continue on northward. |
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| Wysard | Mar 18 2011, 06:54 PM Post #8 |
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Kyusumi noticed the bat carrier distancing himself and continuing his way, trying to dismiss the thief or, in a more likely reasoning this individual was having, the homeless crazy guy. Everything was fine and Kyusumi could just let him go and proceed his way, away from the Foothills and his supposed chasers, but the air was now filled with a new scent, the whole Floodplains smelt like money. Time to be less crazy and more eccentric. "You going North? Beware of the Foothills, my friend, new settlements everywhere, caravans going back and forth, merchants going crazy with all the opportunities! However, that means lots of bandits lurking around, you never know when you are going to run into one outlaw camp, right?" - He proceed to shout. Kyusumi started to walk slowly but steady towards the strange guy, he was armed and was probably dangerous and suspicious of him, but who would just walk away in the middle of good advice? "The name's Kyusumi and I'm a th.... Treasure hunter. Hired to take out some famous footpads that are attacking the caravans I mentioned, they got nuts after they found out me! Disposed of three bandit leaders trying to run away, thought you were another one, my friend." - Kyusumi suddenly stopped walking. - "Mind If I come any closer?" Edited by Wysard, Mar 19 2011, 11:58 AM.
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| Caden Taiyou | Mar 18 2011, 10:12 PM Post #9 |
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Weird Uncle Zanther
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"Wait, so you're saying..." This was information he didn't really know of, or had thought to ask before. The foothills to the north, the caravans were heading there and he's speaking of settlements. North was always an instinct to him, but was it really true? By the sounds of this eccentric young man there was bustling civilization up there. And that meant that perhaps the kin he was looking for might be there after all. This was the first real good news Caden had obtained in quite some time. "Is there really civilization up there? Well, that's perfect! I'm looking for some family of mine and uhh..." Caden would ease up just a little bit, letting his bat dangle to one side, though he did not put it away, still maintaining a defensive air about himself. He nods as the other seemed to be steadily inching his way towards him. He wasn't quite as paranoid as he was initially towards this stranger who seemed to be offering him good advice. "Oh yes, I forgot to mention, name's Caden, by the way." Edited by Caden Taiyou, Mar 19 2011, 06:58 PM.
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| Wysard | Mar 19 2011, 11:57 AM Post #10 |
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Kyusumi smiled inside, there was absolutely no point in giving the stranger, Caden, his true name in an attempt to start up a conversation, but no one knew who Kichirou Kyusumi was. The thief had given his name to some other people during his life, mostly ones whom he didn't want to steal from or that he was willing to kill. Being known by only an alias was useful, however, it gave a strange feeling, almost like that the outlaw that committed such crimes wasn't Kyusumi, but Hangaku, another person. Revealing his name to such a seemingly formidable individual raised, even if only by a little, the chances that someday the connection between the bandit Hangaku and the homeless wanderer Kyusumi would be made. Anyway, Kyusumi finally approached this Caden guy, nulling the need of screaming to talk to him, but only after quietly guarding the kunai he was holding on the pouch on his right leg with a swift movemente behind his cape. It seems the man carrying the bat was a bit more willing to talk now and Kyusumi wouldn't let this chance go to waste, in a demonstration of 'no harm intended', he showed his empty hands to the man talking to him. "I wouldn't say it's a 'civilization', but there surely are little settlements popping left and right up there. I'd advise you to be careful even then, while some of these settlements are undoubtedly formed by merchants, explorers and builders trying to find new places to live, there are some....hmmm.... 'unofficial' ones, serving as house for the fallen, the criminals and the dangerous overall and you can't really distinguish them until someone has a knife on your throat!" The most intriguing part is that there was no single lie in what the thief was saying, he, above everyone else, knew about those bandit camps that had no recognizable difference from a normal settlement in an early stage of building. On the last three weeks that Kyusumi stayed on the Foothills attacking caravans, he cycled through at least four of those camps, for about three days each. By the end of his second week, his notoriety at the place was high enough to make the camps' leaders not accept him, because his mere presence could attract bounty hunters or mercenaries. "So he's saying he's looking for family.... If it's one of those in the camp, oh boy, it's gonna get interesting..." The thief wasn't exactly sure on what to do with Caden, the bat wielder before, and now he was even more confused. Thiefs aren't supposed to feel empathy, but to look for a family member sure is something Kyusumi understands... Edited by Wysard, Mar 19 2011, 11:59 AM.
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| Caden Taiyou | Mar 19 2011, 04:37 PM Post #11 |
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Weird Uncle Zanther
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Caden was more at ease now, allowing himself to let his guard down now - if only just a little, believing this strange individual trustworthy enough. His interest would be perked however as he mentioned that there may be quite a few ''bad eggs'' around the foothill settlements where he was likely heading. The sort of folk that could bring harm to innocent people, innocent people that Caden was searching for, innocent people that Caden needed to find. It was his goal, his drive, and he couldn't let that be taken by some bandits, he'd never forgive himself if he found out that he was too late to save is wayward kin... ''You sound like you've had a bit of a rough time with these folks, huh? ...Well, as it turns out, I've made a bit of a career beating the snot out of thieves and bandits to help people, y'know? Show me the way to some of these rotten folks and I betcha I could teach them a lesson or two, right? ...Besides, if the people I'm looking for are up there, I certainly don't want them having to live in fear of bandits or raiders or thieves or any other unsavory sunnova gun that might be dwelling up in there, y'know?'' He'd grin, absolutely truthful in what he had just asked this individual, completely ignorant of what this person was. Caden was a little naive if not totally sincere, it was something that had gotten him into many a rough spot in the past but nothing that he couldn't push past with his own two hands (or maybe a bat) like a real man. Taking the straight path to one's destination and not letting oppressors get in his way --- that was Caden's mantra, after all! ''So how about it, huh? Got some rough customers that need some roughing up? As it just so happens I'm not so bad at what I do, if I do say so myself. Heh.'' Edited by Caden Taiyou, Mar 19 2011, 07:03 PM.
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| Wysard | Mar 19 2011, 05:12 PM Post #12 |
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Kyusumi was speechless, against all odds, he met someone who had inner vigilante feelings and the thief just made them bloom in the middle of the conversation. It was almost like Caden knew what Kyusumi did for a living and was teasing him. While highly amusing, this was profoundly disturbing. "Great, another 'black or white' world viewer. In any other situation, he would break my skull with that giant bat without knowing my name." "A c-career, huh?" "Why have I never heard of him? Is he mocking me?" "Well, you seem pretty confident in your abilities, but some camps can house even twenty-five bandits and some with ninja abilities. Rogues from almost extinct clans, bad characters in general. Some of them ambushed me and I barely made out alive. Look." - Kyusumi moved his cape out of the way, showing his ragged clothes and thin build and the existence of a little pouch for shurikens and kunais attached on his right leg. - "I'm not exactly the type of guy that can fight many people." Kyusumi decided to mix some truth with the lie he was telling not terribly good, his voice weakening sometimes, with some short interrupts so he can think up what to say next. "I don't know who it is, but someone is after me, and wants me alive, for whatever reason." "Shit! Shit, shit, SHIT!!! What have I gotten myself into? Can I simply talk him out of this stupid idea?!" |
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| Caden Taiyou | Mar 19 2011, 06:04 PM Post #13 |
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Weird Uncle Zanther
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Caden's eyes widen at the prospect of dealing with dozens of high-level foes, well beyond the usual level of riff-raff that he got into fights with. These lands were more dangerous than he had initially believed... All the more reason to get there soon, if there is kin out there waiting for him they might be in trouble! He'd open his mouth to speak but then a startling revelation came to him... Why had his mother run away from them to begin with, to come join the Taiyou clan? Perhaps his own kin were unsavory individuals themselves, perhaps they were bandits, outlaws... Criminals? This thought sent chills down his spine, the prospect was not something he had hoped for, and he truly believed that this was just a moment of paranoia, that he was simply over-thinking the situation at hand. The other would show his injuries to Caden, who wasn't all that knowledgeable in medical arts but he could certainly tell a bad scrape simply from assessing injuries when he saw them (after all, he had certainly encountered quite a few of his own over the years given his ''occupation''). ''...Real bad news then, huh? Well, I guess that's just all the more reason to make sure my family, if they're out there, is safe, huh?'' he nods to the man, a gesture that inferred that he was thanking him for this new knowledge... Edited by Caden Taiyou, Mar 19 2011, 06:55 PM.
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| Wysard | Mar 19 2011, 06:49 PM Post #14 |
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Kyusumi couldn't control the immense need to sigh relieved. And so he did. Apparentely, the man, Caden, was more than willing to let the thief go his way untouched and without squeezing out any more information. Information that he probably would have to invent to not reveal himself as one of those criminals. Kyusumi tried to make his relief sound like concern. "Oh. It seems I cannot stop you, can I? Well, I wish you a good trip." The Thief continued to follow his way, the opposite side from where Caden was heading, but was only able to walk three or four steps. The idea of 'family' and how this man was determinated to find them, Kyusumi got caught by the thought of his own little village, his brother Koichi. Echoes from an older time. There weren't only fond memories of those times, though, that crazy religion, Kyusumi couldn't even remember its name, that forced him and his brother to think of themselves as two halves and to live together only for years later to have the bond that tied them together torn by fate. "I'm the remaining half. I'm the evil side. I'm dark gray. More Black than White. Crap! But the world isn't only black and white! That stupid 'equilibrium' thing really got into my head!." Kyusumi stopped and walked back the single digit steps that he had taken after parting ways with the bat-wielder. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not going with you, I have my own issues to take care. But... Well.... The main road is the safest route, of course, but I'd reccomend travelling with a caravan transporting foods and crops even if they take a shortcut. Seeds are hardly considered currency in the black market. If you keep your weapon in sight, in case of attacks, they'll avoid you and take hostages. If you keep it hidden, you'll risk receiving a fatal blow before even reacting, but can save a life or someone's dignity of being taken captive. It's up to you. Beware of roads with many trees in a standard distribution, it might be a trap." Kyusumi finished his little speech and stood still for a few seconds to catch his breath, he had never shared such knowledge before, but it was a different case this time. "So, uh, take care." With this words, the thief showed his back to Caden and continued his way to wherever he was heading. "More Black than White. Dark Gray. The worlds is not only divided in two kinds of people. I'm.... complicated." Edited by Wysard, Mar 19 2011, 06:52 PM.
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| Caden Taiyou | Mar 19 2011, 06:54 PM Post #15 |
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Weird Uncle Zanther
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Caden stops and turns around, heeding the words of the complicated one that had offered him such advice. He smiles, nodding. "Thanks pal, I'll remember that!" His smile turns into a confirming grin, "Y'know Kyusumi, was it? You're alright!" And with that he himself would turn and head about the way he was originally walking, taking the words of wisdom he had learned to heart as the two parted ways. Caden would need to stay on alert for the unsavory folks that this man had spoken to him of, more so than he already did, more so than ever now with the prospect that his goal may be not far from him now. Soon perhaps he'd meet the kin he had been searching for, for so long... Edited by Caden Taiyou, Mar 19 2011, 07:02 PM.
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| Caden Taiyou | Mar 19 2011, 06:54 PM Post #16 |
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Weird Uncle Zanther
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(I guess we're done with this thread then?) |
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| Wysard | Mar 19 2011, 07:01 PM Post #17 |
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(Yes, I guess! Too bad that are only few people posting here to RP with us.) |
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| Caden Taiyou | Mar 19 2011, 07:14 PM Post #18 |
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Weird Uncle Zanther
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(Cool, submitting for grade on my end, I can grade yours if you make a thread about it) |
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