Subject: FARPG
Date: Mon, 25 May 1998 13:38:02 -0400
From: "sampsel" <sampsel@concentric.net>

    Shinji cursed himself inwardly. He was getting really sick of walking.
Over and over, the same road all the time. Not one sign post or mark to
indicate where he was. Or where he was going for that matter. He prayed
that this carriage knew where it was going. Finally he stopped and just
stood there. Thats it! No more walking! No way! Absolutely no- wait. He
moved his gaze up onto the tree branches.
    "Hmm....." he thought to himself, a small smile appearing on his face.
    The tree branches shook as he landed on them, a few leaves weaving
slowly to the ground. "Yup, this definitely beats walking!" he said to
himself as he landed on another branch. He was covering a lot more ground
this way. He kept his eyes ahead, peering down now and then to see if he
was still going the right way. He did it again now, and stopped in his
tracks. A man was running down the road back the way he had just come. He
was panting loudly, and by the frequency of his looking over his shoulder,
Shinji could tell something was up. He was about to jump down to see if
this guy needed help, when he noticed the man's attire. He was wearing
dirty old clothes that fluttered as he ran. Around his belt were several
pouches and a knife sheath, the knife of which he clutched tightly in his
right hand. A thief, no doubt about it. Shinji hunched down onto the
branch, taking cover behind the thatches of leaves. Just as the man came
below him, he lept down directly in front of him. The man let out a
startled cry, then toppled backwards onto his rear.He scuttled backswards,
brandishing his knife on Shinji. Shinji scowled angrily. He really didn't
like it when people pointed things at him. He spun around, sending his foot
into the man's hand. The man cried in pain, the knife glinting as it flew
through the air and landed in the undergrowth. The bandit sputtered in
protest as Shinji reached down and pulled him up by the collar.
     "Wh- what do ya want from me?" the bandit said shaking slightly. A
coward, this one. Maybe he could use that...
     "Information. What happened," Shinji growled as intimidating as he
could.
     "N-nothing happened!"
     "Don't lie to me! Now talk! Or do you need some encouragement?" Shinji
emphasized that last phrase. Immediately the man broke down.
     "No! No! Don't hurt me! I'll talk! I'll talk!" he said. Shinji glared
at him to continue. "Us and the Boss, we wanted to grab us some quick cash,
so we held up this carriage down da road," he pointed behind him. "Anyways,
this guy jumps down offa the carriage and beats the crap outta all of us! I
ran, and just in time too! 'Cause whens I looks back, this girl that was
with him stands up and, like, does somethin to the guys! I hears 'em
wailing an screaming, so I runs and runs! Den you shows up..." he trailed
of, looking warily at the young man who was clutching him painfully.
    Shinji narrowed his eyes, then tossed the bandit onto the ground,
making a loud oumph as he landed. " Get out of here. Move it before I
change my mind," Shinji ordered sharply. The man babbled incoherently, then
slithered away.
   Shinji watched him go, then turned and ran back up the road. Hmm... a
girl. So he was right about the footprint. And a magic user to, from the
sound of it. He hoped he would catch up to them soon. The guy who beat the
bandits up sounds like he would make a really good training partner...