The Tale of Iron Hoof - Ch. 2, Ashen Logic

[13:50] <Iron_Hoof> You make your way to the hillside caverns, their darkness as always clearly cut against the white rock of the sheer cliff.

[13:50] <Arrant> "Well... here we are."

[13:51]  * Hidden_Glimmer takes a deep breath "Yep... now we just need some light"

[13:51] <Hidden_Glimmer> !roll 1d20

[13:51] <GameServ> 19 == 19

[13:51]  * Arrant turns to Hidden "I wish I would've brought some charcoal. We could've marked our way, so we don't get lost."

[13:51] == DuskieAfk has changed nick to Duskie

[13:52] <Hidden_Glimmer> Her horn lights up in a bright, blue light, filling the cold cavern with it. "Alright, let's call him, shall we?"

[13:52]  * Arrant nods "Right."

[13:52]  * Arrant takes a deep breath

[13:52] <Arrant> "HEY! IRON HOOF! YOU IN THERE?"

[13:52]  * Hidden_Glimmer flinches at the loud scream, bringing an even louder echo

[13:53] <Iron_Hoof> You wait a few moments before a rumble and the sound of heavy movement announces the approach of the burly minotaur warrior, his axe brandished as always.

[13:53] == Grease_Lightning [[email protected]] has joined #fourcannon-woods

[13:54]  * Arrant greets him brightly with an even brighter smile "Hey Iron Hoof!"

[13:54] <Arrant> "I hope you don't mind, but I brought someone along with me." He gestures toward Glimmer.

[13:54] <Hidden_Glimmer> (We just heard him approaching...)

[13:54]  * Iron_Hoof rounds the final corner and smiles at the sight "Arrant! Good to see you, and you brought company."

[13:54]  * Arrant nods "I hope thats alright!"

[13:55] <Arrant> [well, I read to fast! Sue me]

[13:55] <Hidden_Glimmer> "Hey Iron Hood, long time not seen!" She greets him with a hug, like always

[13:55] <Hidden_Glimmer> "You still remember me, right?"

[13:55] <Hidden_Glimmer> (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4yy9GmXTiQ)

[13:55]  * Iron_Hoof chuckles "Course I do, I'm good with faces, Hidden."

[13:56]  * Iron_Hoof returns the embrace with a soft hug and pet

[13:56] <Iron_Hoof> "So, what can I do for you two today?"

[13:56] <Arrant> "Just dropped by to say hi, and maybe hear another one of your stories, if thats alright!" He beams.

[13:57]  * Hidden_Glimmer smiles over both ears "Yeah. He told me your last one and it was amazing!"

[13:57]  * Iron_Hoof 's eyes widen in surprise "Really now? That old little tale? I have MUCH grander stories to tell!"

[13:58]  * Arrant eyes brighten up "REALLY?!"

[13:58]  * Arrant grins from ear to ear.

[13:59]  * Hidden_Glimmer jumps a little in anticipation, but calms down after realizing where they're are "Maybe we should get into your cave first? Staying here is... not the best idea if i remember..."

[13:59]  * Iron_Hoof gets up "Why of course! Come along, it's more comfortable in my cave."

[13:59]  * Arrant cheers, grinning. "What are we waiting for? Lets go!" He says, eagerly.

[13:59]  * Hidden_Glimmer happily trots after iron hoof

[14:00]  * Arrant follows Iron Hoof, with pep in his step.

[14:00] <Iron_Hoof> You follow the minotaur throught the labyrinthine tunnels, trying to keep pace with his mighty strides.

[14:01]  * Hidden_Glimmer tries to remember the route he took through the caves on her way

[14:01]  * Arrant giggles following the minotaur

[14:02] <Iron_Hoof> Finally entering the massive cavern, you follow the old minotaur to his home.

[14:03] <Iron_Hoof> Only now do you really notice how...old he is. He has many battle scares and his bones creek often.

[14:04] <Iron_Hoof> Finally he settles down in his simple home and you find... 3 chairs in pony size! They seem hand crafted and weren't here before

[14:04]  * Arrant looks around at the caves and then looks at Iron Hoof, taking a silent note of the scars and creaks.

[14:05] <Arrant> "You made those chairs Hoof?"

[14:05] <Iron_Hoof> "Take a seat, I'll see if I have something to eat."

[14:05]  * Arrant takes a polite seat "Come on Glim."

[14:05]  * Iron_Hoof looks to the chairs and smiles "Yea! I get so many pony visitors, I found it impolite to have them sit on the floor the whole time."

[14:05] <Arrant> "That was very nice of you! Thanks Iron!" He smiles.

[14:05] <Hidden_Glimmer> "Huh. Nice chairs." She takes her place on one of them "Where'd you get them from? The old mercenary camp?"

[14:06] <Hidden_Glimmer> (GOd, sorry, overread you arrant)

[14:06] <Arrant> [Its alright]

[14:06]  * Iron_Hoof rumages through his stuff a little off

[14:06] <Iron_Hoof> "Yea, I collected some wood and nails and got to work, they aren't perfect, I hope they hold."

[14:07] <Iron_Hoof> They really aren't very sturdy, but they'll do and beat the floor anyday.

[14:07] <Iron_Hoof> "Damnit...Only meat..."

[14:07] <Hidden_Glimmer> "They're ok, Iron Hoof. Can't complain, really." She leans back in them, getting more comfortable

[14:07]  * Iron_Hoof mumbles as he looks through his stores

[14:08]  * Arrant sits silently, and waits patiently

[14:08] <Iron_Hoof> "I really need to go foraging later..."

[14:08]  * Iron_Hoof then sighs and gets back over."

[14:08] <Iron_Hoof> "I'm sorry, it seems I can't offer you anything...I've been slacking on foraging recently."

[14:08] <Arrant> "Its alright." He smiles. "I had a big breakfast anyways!" He chuckles.

[14:09]  * Iron_Hoof sits down on his oversized bed, getting comfortable.

[14:09] <Hidden_Glimmer> "It's ok, we've just eaten on our way here. But thanks for your hospitality"

[14:10] <Iron_Hoof> "So, you wanted me to continue my story?"

[14:10]  * Iron_Hoof looks to Hidden

[14:10] <Iron_Hoof> "I presume Arrant told you about where we were?"

[14:10]  * Arrant nods, and looks on, eagerly, with wide eyes, and a big smile.

[14:11]  * Hidden_Glimmer nods "Yes, he told me everything. He was very excited about it, so i figured i'd join this time."

[14:11]  * Iron_Hoof smiles, feeling really appreciated for the first time in many, many years.

[14:11] <Iron_Hoof> "Well then, I should tell you a little about my best friend."

[14:11]  * Iron_Hoof regains his story teller voice as he begins.

[14:12] <Iron_Hoof> "After that fateful hit on the pyromancer...it was...weird."

[14:12] <Iron_Hoof> "Suddenly everything was...quiet."

[14:12] <Iron_Hoof> "So eerily quiet, as if time had stood still."

[14:12]  * Arrant listens eagerly

[14:12]  * Iron_Hoof remiscens of that weird event

[14:12] <Arrant> [Imma make some popcorn, you want some?]

[14:13] <Iron_Hoof> "I had just killed a pony, a living, breathing, thinking pony."

[14:13]  * Hidden_Glimmer gets comfortable, pointing her ears at him (Sure)

[14:13] <Iron_Hoof> "And you know how I feel?"

[14:13] <Hidden_Glimmer> "How?"

[14:13]  * Iron_Hoof looks directly down to the two

[14:13] <Iron_Hoof> "It made me feel like for the first time in my life, I had made a difference."

[14:14] <Iron_Hoof> "I saw the huddled villagers slowly come from their hiding places, to see ME, Iron Hoof, the dumb farm hand, to have saved them."

[14:14]  * Iron_Hoof looks to the celing

[14:15] <Iron_Hoof> "It was so...odd. Me? I could actually MEAN something?"

[14:15]  * Iron_Hoof shrugs

[14:15] <Iron_Hoof> "And then that unicorn walked up to me."

[14:16]  * Iron_Hoof pauses to think

[14:16] <Iron_Hoof> "That was before he got that scar..."

[14:17] <Hidden_Glimmer> "Which scar?"

[14:17]  * Iron_Hoof frowns "Late in our adventuring career he was hurt..."

[14:17]  * Iron_Hoof grimaces harshsly

[14:17] <Iron_Hoof> "So...very bad."

[14:18] <Iron_Hoof> "That was...part of why we...broke apart."

[14:18]  * Iron_Hoof shakes his head

[14:18] <Hidden_Glimmer> "Oh... i'm sorry."

[14:18] <Iron_Hoof> "Anyhow, he came up to me."

[14:18] <Arrant> [/me offers glim some popcorn]

[14:18] <Iron_Hoof> "I hardly knew him, he was some kind of traveling mage, had family in the town or so."

[14:18] <Hidden_Glimmer> (/me happily takes some popcorn)

[14:19] <Iron_Hoof> "Grey coat, silver mane, very oddly dull color combination."

[14:19] <Iron_Hoof> "His name was Ashen Logic, a name that I feel doesn't do him justice."

[14:19]  * Iron_Hoof chuckles

[14:20]  * Arrant continues to listen, with the widest grin on his face.

[14:20] <Iron_Hoof> "You see, he was the 'logic scientist' type."

[14:20] <Iron_Hoof> "Like what was his name? Able Tome?"

[14:20] <Iron_Hoof> "Must come with the coat color."

[14:20]  * Arrant chuckles and turns to Glim "Sounds like Able, alright."

[14:20]  * Hidden_Glimmer nods "Exatly"

[14:20]  * Iron_Hoof laughs again

[14:20] <Iron_Hoof> "But he wasn't at all, actually!"

[14:21] <Iron_Hoof> "Once I got to know him, he turned out to be actually a really bubbly, eccentric guy."

[14:21] <Iron_Hoof> "He just had some really bad experiences when he was young, and was sort of isolated."

[14:22]  * Iron_Hoof 's grin grows wider as he remembers his oldest friend

[14:22] <Iron_Hoof> "Oh man, we had so many good times around the camp fire."

[14:22] <Iron_Hoof> "No one would EVER believe Mr 'Cold, hard facts' would be such an enthusiast for cooking."

[14:23] <Iron_Hoof> "Let me tell you, he loved his cooking."

[14:23]  * Iron_Hoof grins as he points to the two listeners

[14:23] <Iron_Hoof> "Here's a tip from a veteran: Always have a cook in your group."

[14:23]  * Iron_Hoof laughs loudly.

[14:23]  * Hidden_Glimmer takes a mental note

[14:23] <Iron_Hoof> "It keeps the morale high."

[14:24]  * Arrant grins as he listens to Iron talk and tell his story.

[14:24]  * Iron_Hoof continues to forget to tell the actual story and instead talks about this 'Ashen Logic' fellow.

[14:24] <Iron_Hoof> "He...really was the one that kept the group together."

[14:25] <Iron_Hoof> "You wouldn't think, you'd think his cold rationality would tear us apart, if everything."

[14:25] <Iron_Hoof> *if anything

[14:25]  * Iron_Hoof shakes his head slowly

[14:25] <Iron_Hoof> "I dunno if it's a pony thing, but rationality always came second to one thing: His friends, his adventuring group."

[14:26]  * Arrant nods, and smiles.

[14:26] <Arrant> "I'd never leave anyone behind, if I can."

[14:26]  * Arrant goes back to listening.

[14:26] <Iron_Hoof> "You see you two, we took adventuring very seriously."

[14:26] <Iron_Hoof> "This was our hobby, job and life."

[14:27] <Iron_Hoof> "And to an extent..."

[14:27]  * Iron_Hoof pauses

[14:27] <Iron_Hoof> "Our family."

[14:27] <Iron_Hoof> "We were all outcasts."

[14:27] <Iron_Hoof> "And suddenly, we had...others like us."

[14:28]  * Iron_Hoof smiles softly, looking to the ground

[14:28] <Iron_Hoof> "The adventurer's life, isn't it grand?"

[14:29] <Arrant> "It sure sounds grand... Going out, exploring new places, seeing new sight, finding treasure, and with your closest friends no less?"

[14:29] <Arrant> "It sounds fantastic!"

[14:29]  * Iron_Hoof nods a little "It has it's glories, and it has it's depths."

[14:30]  * Hidden_Glimmer knows those depths just too welll

[14:30] <Iron_Hoof> "Let me be perfectly hnoest with you..."

[14:30] <Iron_Hoof> "I am a broken man."

[14:30]  * Arrant flattens his ears.

[14:30]  * Iron_Hoof sighs as he looks over his arms

[14:31] <Iron_Hoof> "My closest family...most of them dead or crippled."

[14:31] <Iron_Hoof> "My own body, hardly functional."

[14:31] <Arrant> "I..."

[14:31]  * Iron_Hoof leans back against the wall

[14:31] <Iron_Hoof> "But you know? It's part of growing older."

[14:31]  * Arrant stays silent and thinks hard on the words "growing older"

[14:32]  * Iron_Hoof shrugs "People go, your body starts to hurt."

[14:32] <Iron_Hoof> "Adventuring just...accelerates the process."

[14:32] <Iron_Hoof> "Adventurers don't live long, I won't lie."

[14:33]  * Iron_Hoof gestures to his cave

[14:33]  * Arrant mumbles "Violent life ending violently, eh..."

[14:33] <Iron_Hoof> "Just look at this, so many years of treasures and daring, and what do I have to show?"

[14:34] <Arrant> "Well, you still have friends!" He says, cheerily.

[14:34]  * Iron_Hoof shrugs

[14:34] <Iron_Hoof> "That's kind of you Arrant."

[14:34]  * Iron_Hoof shakes his head "Woaaah I went compltely of track."

[14:34] <Hidden_Glimmer> "A... good feeling that you helped people who couldn't help themselves, maybe?"

[14:34] <Iron_Hoof> "Sorry it's just...I spent many a night contemplating what an 'adventurer' is."

[14:35] <Iron_Hoof> "Yes, the memories."

[14:35]  * Iron_Hoof chuckles "Wouldn't trade them for all the riches in the world."

[14:35]  * Arrant chuckles "It's alright, Iron! Like I said, we're your friends! Besides, I like hear all this! It's very interesting."

[14:35] <Hidden_Glimmer> "And probably some good advice, too..."

[14:36]  * Arrant nods at Glim

[14:36]  * Iron_Hoof nods "Hell, I could teach you all quite some tricks of the trade."

[14:36] <Arrant> "Right. Always have a cook along!" He grins, brightly.

[14:36]  * Arrant turns to Iron and beams "Really?!"

[14:36]  * Iron_Hoof bellows with laughter "Yes! Learn to cook! Your companions will thank you."

[14:37] == Al_Dente has changed nick to Al_AFK

[14:37]  * Iron_Hoof shrugs "Sure, why not really?"

[14:37]  * Arrant smiles and thinks for a moment on this.

[14:37] <Iron_Hoof> "I know tons of tricks and styles of fighting."

[14:37]  * Iron_Hoof puts a hand to his face.

[14:37] <Iron_Hoof> "Huh, we could even go bug hunting."

[14:37] <Arrant> "Could you teach me some moves some time?"

[14:38] <Iron_Hoof> "Well..."

[14:38]  * Iron_Hoof looks to his mostly empty improvised-pantry-chest

[14:38]  * Arrant grins and looks at the Minotaur, eagerly waiting an answer.

[14:38] <Iron_Hoof> "I was going to head out to forage anyways..."

[14:38]  * Iron_Hoof grins "Why not come along?"

[14:38] <Arrant> "REALLY?!" He beams

[14:38] <Iron_Hoof> "I can show you the tunnels, the fauna, some fighting tips."

[14:39]  * Arrant hoof punches the air with his axe "OH YEAH!"

[14:39]  * Iron_Hoof chuckles "Sure! I'll make sure you're safe and don't get into any trouble."

[14:39] <Hidden_Glimmer> "Sure, sounds fantastic! I'll take everything i can learn."

[14:39] <Iron_Hoof> "Hm, by the way, Arrant."

[14:39] <Arrant> "?"

[14:39] <Iron_Hoof> "Did you get to talk to Lucyne?"

[14:40] <Arrant> "No, sorry. I didn't see her all weak."

[14:40]  * Arrant turns to Glim "Did you?"

[14:40] <Arrant> *week

[14:40] <Hidden_Glimmer> "Huh? No, i havent seen her... well, since we fished her out of that chasm..."

[14:40] <Hidden_Glimmer> "No, sicne we waked her up again... but still."

[14:40]  * Arrant looks down at the ground, thinking.

[14:41]  * Iron_Hoof shrugs "Just wanted to know if she was ok."

[14:41] <Iron_Hoof> "Worry about that one sometimes."

[14:41] <Arrant> "She probably is..."

[14:41]  * Arrant flattens his ears and says to himself, mostly "...I hope."

[14:41] <Iron_Hoof> "Hm, the chasm...yea."

[14:41]  * Iron_Hoof thinks a little to himself.

[14:41] <Hidden_Glimmer> "She's... more or less, after what i've heard..."

[14:41] <Iron_Hoof> "Thinking about it, you ponies work great in groups."

[14:42] <Arrant> "We work better when we're united."

[14:42]  * Iron_Hoof beams down to the two "Why not invite some more friends? Make it a fun expedition! I'll show you were to get some sugary fluff to eat."

[14:43]  * Arrant turns to Glim "What do you think?"

[14:43] <Hidden_Glimmer> "Sugary fluff... like cotton candy?!"

[14:44] <Iron_Hoof> "There are these mushrooms, if you break them open, they have this fiber inside that tastes just like cotton candy."

[14:44]  * Iron_Hoof explains

[14:44] <Arrant> "Can ponies eat them?"

[14:44]  * Hidden_Glimmer beams "Oh, i'd love to eat that again... Sure, we can bring some of our friends over!"

[14:44] <Iron_Hoof> "Of course, Ash would use them to sweeten food constantly."

[14:45]  * Arrant beams "Alright!" He punches the air in excitement. "What are we waiting for!"

[14:45]  * Iron_Hoof gets up, still smiling.

[14:45] <Iron_Hoof> "Ok then, I'll guide you guys out."

[14:46]  * Arrant sits up and nods "Lead the way!"

[14:46]  * Hidden_Glimmer gets up, ready to follow iron hoof

[14:48]  * Iron_Hoof waves the two off as they head back to town

[14:48] <Iron_Hoof> [Ok, I gotta do some things before the adventure]

[14:48] <Iron_Hoof> [I may be 10mins or so late]

[14:48]  * Hidden_Glimmer waves back "See ya later, Hoof!"

[14:49]  * Arrant waves back at Iron "See you later Iron! Take care!"