[Elrain 0] Introductions

This is a background piece i wrote up for a friend who was willing to do some sketches of this character that i have been working for a long time.  Like, 18 to 24 months long time.  I wanted to post this to begin to share a new story thread i am working on.  While i want to continue Ian and Amber's story line... i have had writer's block for some time now.  So, to fill up the space of my desire to write i have been working on this character and story line for almost 2 years now.  I say this, not to get anyone's hopes up... but i have just been wanting to 'get it right' so to speak.  To figure out some stuff and just not wish it.  So, while i am allowing the introduction piece 'simmer' some (to do some editing, etc.) i will share this introduction.  I hope you enjoy it... please feel free to post any constructive criticism i would appreciate it.

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Ramic took one more glance towards the distant guard tower before he darted out in to the Ash Wastes.  It was bad enough that he was accommodating to the Nomads who frequented Hive’s End, but to be seen slipping out to meet one in the Wastes could be seen as treasonous.  Once he was beyond the floodlights from the Shantytown’s walls he followed the Dunes to where the Nomad said he would meet him.  Without a sound a tall lithe form emerged from the wastes behind Ramic.  The fine resins and debris of the wastelands drifted off the humanoid form, surrounding it in a thin cloud.

“You are late Mon-Keigh”

The tinkerer spun around whipping a brace of bolt pistols from his holsters to drawn down on the ambusher.  What he saw caused him to stay his trigger fingers.  Within the slowly settling cloud stood a humanoid form without a definitive outline, its clothing blended in with the changing dust pattern perfectly.  The one thing he could make out clearly was a sleek looking pistol with a horizontal muzzle held in gloved hands and leveled cleanly at his chest.  Cradled in its left arm was an ornate long rifle of a design Ramic had never seen before.  He knew instinctively that if this man had wanted him dead, he would have been, before he had even realized he was under attack.  He lowered his pistols.

“I had a few customers to tend to ‘fore I came to meet’chu”, Ramic stammered.

Slowly Ramic holstered his pistols, never taking his eyes off of the slanted cobalt blue eyes staring back to him from underneath a deep cowl.  With a twitch of its head the hood slipped smoothly back to reveal a fair skinned oval face, with high angular cheek bones and a respirator that coved both nose and mouth.  Black hair was pulled neatly back into a flat ponytail that tucked into the collar of the ankle length duster that was giving Ramic’s eyes fits trying to focus on.  As his ambusher moved to put the strange pistol into an underarm holster, the front of the duster parted to reveal a neck to foot body suit.  A rune pendant hung from a heavy chain around his neck.  Upon the left breast, among the leather straps securing the holster, was embedded a grey polished stone.  Underneath the right arm, a small satchel secured similarly to the holster on the opposite side. Around the waist a broad belt with several pouches, which Ramic assumed were used for grenades and various other munitions and/or tools.  Upon each foot he wore thick leather boots that extended just beyond each knee.  Tassels with a wide variety of foreign designs adorned the holster of the pistol and sling of the rifle.

“Are you ready?” the stranger asked.

  

“I reckon I am,” Ramic replied slowly regaining his confidence.

The stranger turned and gestured out to the wastes, “we have a long journey in front of us.  Perhaps you should return to your little shop.  I will return in one rotations time, and if you are better prepared when I return, perhaps then we can travel on together.”

Ramic saw upon his back a full pack, more tassels, and a slightly curved longsword with a leather wrapped two handed hilt.  Both scabbard and pommel were adorned with yet more tassels.

“No, I’m good to go,” Ramic replied as he lifted up his own rucksack.

“Very well then, let me introduce you to Coosh,” the stranger made a distorted whistling sound through his repirator and from the dune now behind Ramic emerged a large dog-like construct.  He had only heard tales of such creations, and then only in hushed whispered when the Enforcers came around.  While the stranger stood slightly smaller than himself, maybe 1.7 meters tall, this Cyber Mastiff stood to Ramic’s waist and looked to outweigh them both.  Ramic sized up the stranger… he didn’t have the look of an Enforcer, and he definitely didn’t have the frame of one probably weighing in at a little over 60 kilos, tops.

“Coosh!  Sit!”

Immediately the construct sat its rear haunches in to the sand.  “Well,” Ramic thought to himself, “there’s no doubt who’s in control that mutt”.