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 Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:38 am
 One of the various mountain ranges in Italy, the Apennines seperates the northern cities of Italy from those of the middle section of Italy. Here, bandits and brigands are common, making it hazardous to travel through here, but neccesary. Many mercenaries and theives can find a healthy living here, due to merchants and farms always needing the help. But, although the mountains may look peaceful, it holds many climates, such as the arid, Tuscany ridges, to the ice-specked southern end. Crossing may be more easy in the humid, forested areas, but they're also the most dangerous, the easiest to be attacked at. So, you must make a choice when crossing. Do you wish to take the cold, less traveled but more hazardous path? Or maybe take the simple, more used path and risk an ambush? The choices vary to the one crossing them.
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 7:12 pm
Lino pressed himself against one of the caravans further away from the fire. Quietly he drew his sultans dagger and began to whittle the wheel of the caravan, weakening it's structure. It was a slow process but it was quiet and didn't take much attention to detail. After a good fifteen minutes Lino stopped and leaned in to examine his work. The darkness made it harder to see but he knew he had to take the blessings with the curses. Shrugging it off Lino rolled under the caravan and crawled out the other side. A patrol came along so Lino stayed face down. His dark robes easily blending with the dark grass.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:07 pm
As the guards passed, a pair of them stopped, their language that of one unknown to the region, sounding similar to French. Obviously, the bandits had come from some area or been schooled in this language, as one also spoke small slurs of Italian. The guard standing closer to the caravan patted the caravan, no doubt scaring Lino as it shook. Neither man noticed, obviously drunk. After another moment, they continued moving.
Across the camp, two guards sat on chairs, both sleeping on duty. Within the tent they guarded, a heavily armored man sat, overlooking documents. Each one held an odd star-like cross, an unknown symbol to most. This was the seal of the Templar Order.
From where Lino was, he would only be able to see a man looking through documents, though just barely. The actual tent rested a good twenty or thirty yards from him, many tents and men between them both. Reaching the tent would require his entire focus.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:24 pm
Lino reached down to check and see if he had soiled himself when the caravan had been shaking. Convinced he hadn't Lino rose to a crouch and began moving around the camp.
It didn't take long for Lino to locate the supply crates. He opened the closest one up and found it to contain fabrics, silks and other valuable garments. He quietly moved to the next crate and opened it, dried fruits and meats lied within. With an aggravated sigh Lino moved to the next crate. He opened it up and almost jumped for joy. He had found the explosive powder. Quickly Lino pulled one of the bags out and tested it's weight. He could manage but he'd never be able to make a quick getaway. Lino sighed and hefted the bag over his shoulder and began to search for the weapons cache.
After a good twenty minutes of searching Lino had found the weapons cache and dropped the bag by it. Lino used his hidden blade to cut a hole in the top of the bag and tied a bandage around a throwing knife. He placed the knife into the powder and began to uncoil the bandage all the way back to the crates.
On his way back Lino noticed a heavily armored man sitting in a tent. "who's that?" he wondered aloud.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:58 pm
Quickly, the man grabbed the papers, getting up and moving to exit the tent, slapping the back of one guard's head, giving him quick orders. The guard, getting up, ran off, heading towards the caravan.
The man, though, moved cautiously, looking around as he moved toward the storage area, hoping to shoot off some of the fireworks. The papers the man carried, in fact, were the plans for the bandits. The Templars had been seeking a way to strike, and obviously this man had found a way to gain power in the bandit organization, commanding the bandits to strike caravans with weapons and food. With these, the Templars would easily be able to gain power in Italy.
But, as he neared the boxes full of supplies, he felt that something wasn't right.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:29 pm
Lino came up behind the man and drove his hidden blade through the back of his neck. Quickly Lino pulled the body behind some tents and looked over the body. He noticed some papers sticking out of a pouch and grabbed them. 'Plans? these are not just random bandit attacks then, they are organized Lino stood up to leave and noticed the cross on the papers. I've seen that symbol before but where? Lino thought curiously as he stuffed the papers into a pouch.
Knowing he wouldn't have much time until the body would be discovered Lino stepped up his pace. He grabbed another bag of powder and hefted it to the stable. As he reached the stable a loud boom occurred causing Lino to jump. He spun around, sword in hand, only to see some drunken bandits lighting fireworks. Waiting for his heart beat to return to normal Lino seized the opportunity to grab a stick from the fire on his way back to light his "fuse". Quickly Lino returned to the crates and lit the bandage. He thanked god that he had to go in the opposite direction to get back to the stable as the bandage lit up and he tossed the stick into the crates and ran.
As Lino reached the stable he picked up the bag and opened the doors. He grabbed a horse and made sure the bag was secured before he heard the explosion of the powder going off. "Time to go" he told the horse as he climbed in the saddle
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