A third time?! (Open)

[Charlise Aura]

Having fallen asleep once more, thankfully having dodged the Hunters for one more day, Charlise sighed as she led down for a snooze. Glad to have found somewhere quiet and hidden for her to rest.

Oddly though, when she woke up, Charlise heard new noises and she rubbed her face with her hands..... HANDS?!

Her silvery eyes snapped open and she sat up and examined each of the digits before feeling herself; she wasn't in her robes, they were in her bag which was on the side of a building and her Staff was minimised in the bag too but.... She was Human!

Charlise stood up as she gave a small whoop before finding some water to look at her reflection, silvery grey eyes, white-ish hair, Human legs and arms... Breasts, yup still there!

Stepping outside into the sun, she smiled befre seeing all the animals, "Ohh.... This could be fun?!" She stated, happy to hear her own voice as she got to work, finding her old belt and slipping it on with her dagger in it's sheath, Charlise got to work with learning how to farm.

In the mean time, she also wrote a note to travellers to forewarn them about such jumps from places and her experiences. First on the Island, chased by Pirates and Mermaids; and then the Woodlands and how she was a Bear, chased by Hunters whilst talking to Bears, Deer, Foxes and Squirrels.

[Jamie Lane]

This was definitely not fun! Jamie didn't know where he was. He'd been thrust into a world with uncomfortable clothes, ungodly hours of activity and training and worst of all, he had to wear those heavy chain mail suites of armor. It was horrible and painful and really difficult to move in. He didn't know what was going on and thought better to keep his mouth shut and try to blend in. From what he'd read as a child, Arthurian times had one punishment and once punishment only. The Public Hanging.

He didn't want to be publicly hung. And if he was here... who else was here!? What if ... whoever else was here... was... well...Family. It had been a couple of days now and Jamie was falling into routine pretty quickly. Up before dawn, wash, breakfast, join the king for the news of the land then go to training. After training it was either a hunt, the border duties or... the worst job of all, Tax collection. Today was a day for Tax collections and this included going to the little farms just outside the Citadel to go and demand money from the poor farmers.

There was four other knights in his team today and as they made their way toward the first farm, the men beside him fell behind him, and Jamie blinked on the horse that had become his own stead, a beautiful black mare who was just as docile as Jamie. Thank God he knew how to ride because of Reece. Jamie turned in his saddle to glance over his shoulder at the others.
"And now? This?"
Jamie asked politely giving an almost warm smile to his companions.

"Sir James. It's called initiation. You will be the leader for the day. Come now, you have more than deserved your place among us. You nearly beat the king yesterday and the other day, in succession, you knocked Sir Cyril, Sir Tyson and Sir Lawrie off they feet. "
Sir Lewis replied with a smooth smirk shooting that smirk directly at Sir Tyson who shifted in his saddle and muttered something about a lucky shot under his breath. Lewis flashed his eyes back at Jamie.

"Another hurdle and you'll most definitely be trusted by us and by our king. "
Jamie turned himself forward and muttered under his breath.
"Great, Just great. "
Jamie approached the mild looking little farm that was first on their list and pushed himself from the saddle stepping down into the earth. He gently wrapped the reigns of his horse around the hilt of the saddle.

The knights behind him followed suite and when he glanced back. Tyson gave an encouraging nod toward the little humble barn that was sure to hold the farm owner. Jamie sighed and reluctantly turned to moved toward the barn, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he had now become accustomed to doing. His knights followed behind him.
"Show yourself farmer! The Royal Knights have come to collect taxes. If you refuse you will be punished."
That was what they always said. On the trip a couple of days ago when he'd just arrived, that had been what Lewis had called to the frightened old man on the farm just across the tiny stream that flowed close to this farm.

[Charlise Aura]

Humming to herself as she worked, Charlise was steadily working when she heard hooves approaching her area before a voice rang out, 'Tax collection?! What in the name of the Maker?' She thought as she found the small bag of coins that she had found in where she pretty much lived so walked outside.

Blinking as she saw the sun, Charlise shielded her eyes to adjust to the lighting before she saw Men on the ground nearby their horses as she smiled. "Good morrow Sirs..... How much shall it be upon this day?" She asked as her silver eyes examined each of them in turn until they rested on the one who seemed to be the Leader.

He seemed.... Different, foreign.... Almost, in a similar boat to her, thrown into a world not their own as Charlise waited for her answer whilst letting her magic examine him whilst her white hair remained in a plait, thrown over her shoulder in a somewhat innocent manner.

[Jamie Lane]

Jamie blinked when a woman made her appearance already with a bag in hand. He glanced over his shoulder at the other men behind him then tilted his head almost giving her an apologetic look.
"Five Gold pieces."
Jamie announced then mouthed 'I'm so sorry.' to the woman.
"Sir James. She is before the royal guard. I think she isn't giving us enough respect."
Tyson said behind Jamie and he rolled his eyes keeping his back on the others.

"Where's your manners farmer? Kneel before the royal knights or I will make you kneel."
Jamie's voice boomed and he played the part perfectly as he had before back in the days of the Hell Hounds where he was expected to be a terror in the tribe. He again locked his eyes on her and motioned with his hand on the hilt of his sword for her to lower herself down onto her knees. 'Please. I don't want you to get hurt.' He mouthed slowly and clearly for her to see.

"Spread out. Search her home. Sir James, take her and search the barn. Watch her. "
The men swarmed the place. They did so to be able to take their over stock and when they vanished around corners and weaved through livestock, Jamie moved to hold out his hand to her.
"Come, Let's just pretend to make them happy okay? I'm new. Please trust I won't hurt you. I swear it. "
Jamie assured the woman, his blue eyes kind and soft.

[Charlise Aura]

Charlise gulped as she quickly bent her head down before going to her knees as she searched inside the bag, finding only four gold pieces and a few silver, 'Oh no.... Now what do I do?!' She thought to herself as she passed the bag over, "Please Sir, trade has been slow, I only have this much......" She stated with worry in her voice.

When the others left, Charlise spoke softly, "I only just got here! I don't even know what in the name of the Maker a Tax collection is?!" She whispered sharply as she locked eyes with him a little, not at all comfortable with any of this.

She saw his hand and gently took it before she slowly stood up, "My name is Charlise, I should warn you that I am a Mage.... Seen as you are like me after all...." She stated as she looked at where the Knights went off to, hoping they don't find her bag which she had hidden which had many of her Magi components. She was surprise they did not mention about her dagger which she kept upon her person.

[Jamie Lane]

Some of the men's eyes lit up with with malice when she said she didn't have enough to pay the taxes and Jamie had to bite back a groan. Damn idiot woman saying that to them.
"I'm sure we'll find something simpleton!"
Sir Tyson called, possibly the most horrible in their group. Jamie watched them disappear and slowly turned to his saddle, sliding a hand in the Saddle back to pull out a bag of money, his own salary and takings from the bit on top when they collected taxes.

He pulled out three gold coins and slipped the bag back into his saddle bag moving to stand before her again and holding out the coins to her.
"Well, Tax collection is an amount of money paid to the governing body of a region or state to ensure that there is safety, food and good industry available... though... I doubt that happens here."
And who paid attention in school?! Ha!

Jacob was obviously not the ONLY smart one in the family. Jamie waved his hand holding the coins indicating for her to take them.
"Take them. You can keep the rest. Come let's get inside where we can have a little more privacy?"
He asked helping her to her feet and leading her toward the barn, his hand still holding hers. He offered her a sympathetic smile.

"I uh... gathered you were like me. You didn't go white in the face when you saw us approaching. I'm Jamie. Jamie Lane. You're a .... Mage? Where are we? What's going on? Is this a dream cause Jules has a habit of reading bedtime stories out loud and I have a habit of listening so it would totally explain shit."
He explained softly.

[Charlise Aura]

Charlise fought the urge to roll her eyes at them, if they even dared come near her in that sense. They had anything thing coming.... A Stone Fist most likely!

Charlise looked up and saw the coins in his hand as she gratefully accepted the help up as she took the coins from him, "Of course.... The only one in there who is likely to hear us is my horse......" She chuckled lightly as she walked with him, brushing her knees a little, not quite realising that she was still holding the Knight's hand, or he was still holding hers?

Charlise sighed as she partially shut the door, "No, this isn't a dream, and believe me... I've tried waking up! Yes, I'm a Traveler... I've been bouncing around for a while so I've come to accept that things come around out of the blue... You get used to it, especially once you've been a bear!" She stated, the last part sounding very serious as she crossed her arms over a little as her silver eyes looked at him. "The Kingdom of Albanon is one of currently a few realms within... A kind of dimension called The Extensions, all Travelers are from different worlds which somehow interconnect to The Extensions, I know not how.... This is the third place I've been to, though from what I hear of the fourth, this one is the best by far.... And yes, I'm a Mage, a person who can use magic if you don't know what it means...." She explained swiftly and in a whisper.

[The Trouble of Extensions]

You have been visited by


They are nasty creatures who will steal what they can from you demanding you pay before passing through certain areas in the woods.

---

"The Trolls are here! The Trolls are here!" Three huge trolls came bombarding through the vegetable patch. One knight got hit clean across the field with a huge tree. The others made it to their horses and ran. The knight that lay unconscious was scooped up in a huge sake...
"Dinna" A troll grunted and gave a wheezy laugh.

---

Charlise's player is now in charge of the trolls. Please be aware that trolls will want payment to leave. They are simple minded and won't speak very much and they hate nights.

[Jamie Lane]

Jamie knew one thing from spending time with his beloved high school sweetheart. The rule of three. If he let himself help others it would come back to him threefold and he was incredibly grateful for getting the opportunities to help others. His food was paid for by the castle and his accomodation as well so whatever he earned was for spending. For drinking ale, gambling with the drunk and buying the best lay in the kingdom. He didn't like any of these things so he kept his money on him constantly, saving coin after coin for some rather unforseen eventuality.

Jamie followed the other down the little path into her barn and glanced around in amazement at the place. Home... Reece and the horses... the smell reminded him so much of home. He felt an ache in his heart and a frown flitted across his features momentarily before his eyes flashed back to the woman as she began to speak. Jamie's eyes widened and they fixed on Charlise when she mentioned she'd been a bear. He still held her hand. He felt comforted by the feeling of someone's hand in his.

"You were a bear?!"
Oh God. What if Jason or Bell turned into a bear...? Jamie licked his lips and bit into his bottom lip nervousely listening to her continue. She finally let go of his hand and crossed her arms and he gave her a sympathetic look finally seeing the light catch her beautiful, strange, silver eyes. He stared into them fascinated and caught himself leaning forward a bit. Wow, such pretty eyes they were.

She was definitely strange.
"Oh I know what it means and this would explain a lot actually. You see... philosophers from my realm believe there are several dimensions that our souls can go to. Some even believe we live in all of them at the same time. We have things like Outer body experiences or we die and get reincarnated and might end up in a different life or time line or something. It's rather complicated but Bell, my little brother, he'd like a brainiac and I remember him telling me all about i- "
Suddenly there was a cry from outside.

He heard Horses hooves and a scream and within seconds he moved to open the door only to be met by three huge ugly warted off brown creatures heading toward the barn. Jamie shut the door quickly again and leaned against it, wide eyes set on the Mage.
"We're in trouble..."

[Charlise Aura]

Charlise nodded, "Yes... I was..... For a while I had the instinctual thought that I was in the Fade..... A realm of dreams and spirits..... But then I realised that if I was, I would have been in my Human self rather than to have forgotten my body and shifted...." She stated before explaining, "There's one realm here which is basically a woodland area.... And you either shift into an animal or... I'm slightly guessing this part, or you become a Hunter...."

Charlise broke off as Jamie stepped forward whilst he was staring at her eyes, "Umm.... Is... Is there something in my eye, Sir Ja... Jamie?" She stated with a bit of confusion.

But that went swiftly as she heard the shouts and bolted outside, despite the fact that Jamie had shut the door which she re-opened. "Maker's Breath!" She stated as she pulled out her dagger before shouting at the Trolls, "Let that man go, or I swear by the burning flames of Andraste's Pyre, I shall kill you before you do anything else!" She growled as the silver in her eyes turned to a hardened iron. She turned to Jamie though, "I've dealt with worse."

The trolls looked at each other in confusion of what the little woman had said and grunted to each other, "Pay... Nd we go..." One of them stated as it held out one large, and extremely gross, hand to the woman who just stood there in confusion.

[Jamie Lane]

Jamie frowned when she came to the door and nearly threw it open with him still trying to get out the way. She was quite the gutsy sort wasn't she? He watched her throw open the door and scream at the trolls who were about ten times her size. Jamie, however was smart enough to stay in the doorway and not run out unarmed to face giant trolls, outnumbered but then again... this was probably some stupid fantasy novel he'd found himself in where one young woman can beat the odds against anything.

Jamie prayed that wasn't the case. He would ride the four corners of this place in an attempt to find a way out no matter what it cost. He never really liked those inhuman characters...
"Charlise? Really? It's three against one. Leave the knight... It's probably Karma kicking him in the ass."
Jamie hissed from the doorway. Jamie gave a groan at the sound of their words.
"They want money... Just like the knights."
He hissed at her before carefully holding up his hands and moving sideways toward his horse.

"I have gold. You promise you go?"
He tried to communicate with them. Sure they would understand the words have and gold....

[Charlise Aura]

Charlise looked at Jamie as he hissed at her and she merely looked back, "Believe me when I say that.... As a Mage, I've been through worse." She stated as she watched Jamie move to his horse as she looked at the Trolls, "And you'll drop the sack?" She twirled her small sword in her right hand, slight wisps of blue swirling around her hands and the blade barely visible.

The Trolls did too as they looked from the small woman with a tiny bit of metal in order to the man in armour as the word Gold hit their ears. "Give gold.... We go..." The lead one stated as it thrust it's hand towards Jamie as it heard the woman's words and grunted a little before eventually nodding, "Give gold, dinna go free...." It agreed.

[Jamie Lane]

Jamie shoved up the side of the saddle to the sack underneath sighing heavily against his horse when he pulled the bag of gold down from the saddle. Then the idea struck him. They were trolls right? Which meant they were stupid. They would have a short attention span to go with their stupidity and right now they were only focused on the gold. Jamie could do this. He would get the Trolls so distracted that they would tumble over one another to get away from the farm allowing himself and Charlise to escape.

Jamie started to walk calmly and slowly to the trolls and in beside Charlise, the moment he reached her, he through a hand full of gold coins far over the troll's head off into the nearby trees. He then scooped Charlise into his arms and ran to his horse.
"I don't care what you have faced before. This is no time to play the hero..."
He shoved her roughly into the saddle and easily got up behind her then turned his horse and kicked hard screaming 'Ya!' to start it into setting off at a gallop.

He ducked low, his arms wrapped around Charlise as he raced through the forest trees not having a clue where the horse was taking him... as long as it took him far away from the trolls and their poor idiot victim.

[Charlise Aura]

Dropping the sack, the trolls went after the gold, not at all focusing on what was going on at hand.

Charlise, however, was not pleased as the wind was knocked out of her whens he was shoved onto the horse and barely had time to straighten herself before Jamie got on and kicked the horse to run.

Once they stopped and got off the horse, Charlise slapped Jamie clean across the cheek. "I wasn't playing Hero, you idiot! I've faced a bloody Mature Dragon on my own, I do not need some man to protect me when I am perfectly capable of defending myself!" She stated sharply as she held up her left hand, the blue still swirling. "See this blue? That is Mana, I had a spell ready... In fact, I had three ready if things were going to go wrong.... Trolls are easily distracted and barely need any force... A simple spell can cause them confusion, for Andraste's sake!" She shouted at him, the silver in her eyes now completely stormy grey in anger.

[Jamie Lane]

It took some doing getting the frightened horse to stop eventually and when he managed it, they were in a tiny clearing close by a stream. He lead the horse closer to the clearing and eventually allowed Charlise to dismount following her down and grabbing his sack of gold from the saddle. He turned to face her a big grin on his face.
"Look! I got to keep most of it with th-"
He was about to say 'that trick' when he was met with a hard slap across the face.

Jamie's head snapped to the side and his temper spiked instantly. There were two sides to Jamie. The pleasant side and the dark side. Each of his brothers had contributed to the sides of Jamie. He twisted his face back and his eyes were now darkened immensely, looking similar to Jason's eyes when he got angry. Jamie didn't need this. He'd saved her ass twice now... well the last little act was intended to save his money rather than her ass really. He was quickly to step forward and shove her as hard as he could.

"I don't give a shit what you are and what you have. THIS is MY gold and I gave YOU some to help you out and then the trolls to help us get out. They would have taken everything of mine and you were just content to let that happen? Fine. You don't need a guy to save you? Find you own way back."
He hissed and moved to mount his steed setting the animal into a gallop instantly. Stupid female.

No wonder she was living alone. She had her head stuck up her ass so far that she'd never get it out...