Surrender

[fnglkngd]

She looked over the war ravaged land and sighed. Her husband and slaves had left to fight but that was two years ago and now it was her and what she could manage to salvage from the other homes nearby. They told her she would never make it. They told her she would die. They told her to do the one thing she would never do, surrender.


I would like to invite yall to join me in writing a fantastic story of life, love, sex and war. Players need not send pms just post if interested. Male and females alike. Setting will be the deep south around the civil war era.

 

[rvplymates]

Julia Cromwell

OOC: Long brown hair, hazel green eyes
Age: 21
Height 5' 7"
Weight 120

Julia's parents had been transplanted from England. She was about five when they arrived in the south. She loved her plantation home and as she knew no other she fit in very well. The neighborhood children loved her accent, which changed in time to a southern drawl. When the war had started she was 18 and full of hope that the South would overcome. Then a year ago her home was burned to the ground by the Yankees and her family had perished in the fire.

Her heart was full of great hate for the North and for a full year she wandered the South learning how to protect herself and surviving. She carried two daggers strapped to her arms and a pistol hidden under the manly vest she always wore over a long sleeved blouse. She had taken to wearing men's trousers which if it wasn't war time she certainly would have been at least looked at funny or at worst been verbally abused.

In the year that she traveled around the south, she had become cold and hard as nails. If bothered she would fix the person with a stony gaze and wait to be attacked. That she was alive still spoke volumes of how well she could wield her daggers and shoot her pistol. Julia would never give up or never give in.

IC: It had been a long hard day already for Julia as she travelled the South. Walking long distances was now a way of life. She kept alert for any trouble. It was was hot today that her clothing clung to her curvy body and persperation drenched her. As she past a plantation she saw a woman looking at her land. Another victim of this war she thought. She continued her walk and came to a natural lake. She looked around cautiously as she crouched, cupped her hands and dipped them into the cold water. She brought handfuls of the water to her mouth and drank deeply. Splashing her face she felt the water drip onto her neck and down her chest to her breasts. She wanted a bath badly. She looked around again and saw a clump of trees to the right of her and the plantation to the left. Both were far enough away so that she could slip into the waters and not noticed she thought.

She hurriedly took off her vest and laid it on the ground close to the water. She opened the buttons to her blouse and slipped it off. She untied the shiefs that held both daggars and slid them under her blouse and vest close in hand in case of trouble. She undid the holster that held her pistol which she wore either under her blouse or under her vest. Today it had laid close to her skin. She tucked it under her clothing with the daggars and then she pulled off her boots and pants and stepped into the cold water of the lake.

It was a shock at first but she knew she needed cooling and of course cleaning. As she dunked under the water she steeled herself against the coldness. She swam a bit to warm herself and then went back to the shallows. Her hazel green eyes scanned the area to make sure no one was coming. She would crouch in the shallows for just a little longer she thought before heading out again. She drank the water and used her fingers to get the dirt out of her long light brown hair.

 

[fnglkngd]

Charlotte walked the path towards the lake. Weary from working the cotton, she needed a quick place to cool off and think. Her slaves had all but left her and she was alone save for her forman Big Jim and her house ladies. They were more than slaves. They were family and anyone messing with them would bite the end of her musket. She sighed heavily as she topped the rise. From here, she could see Five Pines. It was not spledid as it once had been. The white wash was peeling and cracking. The widows hung askew. The red clay left its filthy hand prints on the walk ways.

Oh well, she would deal with things one at a time and right now, the most pressing thing she could think of was getting this Georgia dust from her body.

She slipped behind a grove of oaks and began undoing her simple shift letting it fall about her ankles. With nothing underneat, the heat would not allow it, she was naked in a moment and soon, she would slide deeply down under the water. She did not see the other woman until it was to late.

They ran smack into each other, head bumping. A quick curse escaped her lips.

"What the hell?" Charlotte said meeting the eyes of the new comer.

 

[Blue Dolphin]

OOC
Charles Richardson
22 years old Englishman
6 foot, brown hair and eyes.
Charles is a sailor, he was on a blockade runner, that never got out of Wilmington SC before the war ended. Charles has decided to stay in the South, and try to make a new life there.

IC.
It was mid afternoon when I came upon the lake, and both my horse and I were sweating, and tired. While I knew the South was beautiful, I also knew about the heat, and today was perfect example.

The horse I had bought in Wilmington, out my pay, and good pay it was, for blockade running to the Americas was a profitable business. I let the horse wander into the lake, letting him splash a little for a few minutes. Then I stood at the edge, scooping water up in my hat, to drink, and pour over my haed, as the horse too drank.

I heard a noise, or was it voices? I wasnt sure, and took out my gun.


"Hello, is anybody there? It`s all right if there is, I mean you no harm, just passing through here, looking for work on a farm maybe."[/i]

 

[macmillian]

OOC

Alexander (Al) Franks
29 years old
6'4" tall
light brown hair (long, past his shirt collar)
blue eyes

Ex.sargent, CSA, Georgia Militia. Lucky to come out of the war without being wounded or captured. Came away with two horses, his and his captains. The captain died on the way home from fever, so I buried him and took his horse. There was nothing left in the south, so I was heading west or found a place to stop and stay awhile. I had two pistols and a Sharp's rifle. Everything else I had two off, mine and my captain's.

That may be how and why I had picked up my traveling companion. She could cook and sew and would be a pleasent distraction on the journey. It did not bother me that she was black.

Cassi Brown
46 years old (approx. she didn't know for sure)
Very long black hair and dark/black eyes
5'6" tall, Strong soild woman witha nice figure (knew she was a woman)

I came upon her when several men had robbed, beaten and were trying to rape her. I had seen enough during the war and so I drove them off. She has been with me ever since then, three weeks now. It had been a very good three weeks. Cassi and I had gotten to know each other and I felt comfortable with her. Like I said, she was a good cook. Much better than I.

OOC; If someone wants to do Cassi, pm me.

ICC

We were riding west through Georgia, our horses were covered the bright Georgia clay, on a very hot humid day. We passed many burned building, a reminder the Federals under Sherman and his march to the sea. Distruction everywhere, no jobs and little food. We were going to have to stop soon to work for food. Up ahead was a large white building and some cultivated fields around the house and out buildings. We sat on the rise under some trees and watched and waited.

 

[rvplymates]

Julia had finished with her hair and dived under the water. As she came up she smacked into something hard. She pushed away from it and surfaced, holding her head and rubbing it. In front of her was another woman who mimiced exactly what she was doing.

"Don't you watch where your going, even in water you have to use the sense that God gave you"

She was annoyed and because of it her English accent buried under the souther thang took over. The woman looked at her angerly. Suddenly, a man's voice rang out and Julia half swam half ran over to her clothing. She slipped her hand under her clothing and draw out her pistol. She looked at the woman.

"Yankees"

She whispered as she pointed her pistol in the direction of the voice.

 

[Blue Dolphin]

I heard the word, the umistakable word that is now so hated in the South.

"Yankees"

Reconstruction, as the North called it, being nothing more than occupation, to quell the spirits of the population. I had to let whoever was here know that I certainly was not a Yankee, and that I had no respect for the North at all.

"Hello, whoever you are, I am NOT a Yankee. I am an Englishman, a blockade runner. I have been bringing supplies to the South these last two years now. I will put down my gun, and stand away, to prove my authenticity to you."

It was very trusting of me I knew, maybe a little foolhardy, but, I dropped the gun.

"I am unarmed now, as I am sure that you can see."

 

[macmillian]

Sitting on our horses on the rise, we heard voices but they were to far away to understand what was said. I turned to Cassi and told her to move back under the trees by the side of the road. We dismounted and I gave our horses some water and took a blanket off my horse and spread it on the ground in the shade by the trunck of a large oak.

"Cassi, Come and sit with me" I spoke softly, " and bring the canteen". She unkhooked A canteen from the captain's horse and came over and sat down next to me. She offered me a drink and I accepted and raised the canteen to my lips and took a long drink. I handed it back and Cassi did the same. She always put me first and I assumed that was how she was taught when she was a slave. I asked her about it and she would not tell me much and I didn't push.

Cassi; What are you thinking? Mister Al.

Al; I am trying to figure out what our future plans should be. maybe
something else.

Cassi; Mister Al, is it me who you think about?

Al; That I do all the time, Cassi. But right now I am thinking about our future. Stay here, (pointing towards the house) or move on and see if there is anything better down the road.

 

[rvplymates]

Elizabeth heard the man but did not believe him. She motioned for the other woman to stay in place and made her way out of the water. She grabbed her shirt and placed her pistol on the embackment. She could feel the material of the shirt clinging to her but right now more important things needed to be attended too. Her shirt covered her torso and arms but a good amount of her long legs were exposed as she headed toward the voice with her pistol in her hand. Her daggers were left by the water and as she skirted the terrain she wandered if she should have put them on also.

She made her way over an embankment and there he was. He had not lied his guns were on the ground and he was holding his arms up as if emploring her not to shot him.

"What are you doing here, were you watch me and then the other woman in the water"

Her English accent was unmistakeable even with the heavy southern dawl. She kept her pistol trained on him as she approached.

 

[Blue Dolphin]

"What are you doing here, were you watch me and then the other woman in the water"

"No Ma`am I was not, I had only heard your voices, and had not looked upon either of you.
I am Charles Richardson, an Englishman by birth, and until recently, ship`s caropenter on the blockade runner Princess. She was trapped in Wilmington, and unable to get out of the harbour, due to the Yankees. I was paid off, got myself a horse, and headed inland. These last two years I have come to love the South, and now that the war is over, I figured you people would need all the help you can get.
Especially after the way that Yankee Sherman torched your country Ma`am. I am looking for work I suppose, someplace that needs rebuilding maybe, or just as general help."

AT least she did me the courtesy of listening, when she could just as easily have shot me.

 

[rvplymates]

Elizabeth listened to the man and paid close attention to his accent. Her cold hazel green eyes took him and studied his mannerisms. After all her parents came from England and they never lost the English ways even though they were buried in the deep South. When he finished talking she made up her mind and lowered her pistol. She held herself erect as she spoke.

"I might be foolish but I believe you. I am not from these parts but the woman I ran into just might be a local and might offer you work. Stay here and don't dare look our way as we both have to dress. Step one foot in the area that we are in and I will shoot your head off. I dont make idle threats, I am a markswoman and have protected myself for over a year. When I leave you may pick up your weapons"

Elizabeth started backing away from him watching his every move. When she got a safe distance she turned and walked back to the woman. She continued getting dressed as she spoke.

"I believe he is telling the truth, he is looking for work, maybe you can use him"

By the time she told the woman all this she was completely dressed. She set her weapons in place and waited a bit before speaking.

"I can stay for a bit if you would prefer to have someone around while you talk to him or I can tell him to get lost, its up to you"

The woman had a lost look about, just like her dead sister and Julia felt she shouldn't leave her alone with him.

 

[landiek]

Cassi

"That I do all the time, Cassi. But right now I am thinking about our future. Stay here, (pointing towards the house) or move on and see if there is anything better down the road."

"Well Sir.. i reckon.. we best be findin a safe place tah be restin ... Yore gonna need some vittles ta keeps up yore strength." Cassi nodded as she smoothed the tattered ends of her cotton dress to sit on the blanket beside him.

He was a young man that was certain but in her belief Mister Al had an old soul. She found comfort in his company as they meandered the country side. Cassi turned her to left and put her hands on his shoulders and began to knead the muscles. "Yore sure tight.. seems ta me.. yore needin a bath.. "

Her soulful brown eyes caught his, she felt the connection eminating from his presense. If he asked her.. she'd return to being a slave to be by his side

 

[macmillian]

Alexander Franks;

"Why Cassi, I belive you want to take a bath too." I respond to her. "" I saw a lake or a small pond on the other side of that ridge just passed the farm. " I roll over and gently pull Cassi down on top of me and I kiss her moist and firm lips and draw her close in a tender embrace. Let"s pick up our things and we will walk over to that small body of water and there to enjoy ourselves.

'What Do you Say to that, Cassie " I quirered of her. A nice swim and a bath would do us both good.. So if you are a good girl, I have a new cotton dress for you . Come on and make ready and we will take the horses with us. I am not leaving them alone.

 

[Blue Dolphin]

I could vaguely hear the two ladies talking quietly. But I heard enough to know that only one of them was a true Southerner, the lady who had spoken to me, had a strange turn to her accent. It was not quite right.

Maybe I would find out in time, and maybe not. At least she had not chased me away, and that made my chances of finding wotk here seem better. Or at least, I thought so, but all that I could do now was to wait, and see what happened.

 

[landiek]

"Why Cassi, I belive you want to take a bath too." I respond to her. "" I saw a lake or a small pond on the other side of that ridge just passed the farm. "

Cassi feels the rush in her body when he tugs her over. Her heart starts to quicken as their lips brush, then as quick as it is there, he speaks again.

"Let"s pick up our things and we will walk over to that small body of water and there to enjoy ourselves."

"Mmmmmmm" Cassi replied not really paying attention but savoring the kiss.

'What Do you Say to that, Cassie " I quirered of her. A nice swim and a bath would do us both good.. So if you are a good girl, I have a new cotton dress for you . Come on and make ready and we will take the horses with us. I am not leaving them alone."

"Yes Sir." Cassi replies with a smile. She turns her hip to the left and starts to rise off the blanket. "Anna I's be aholdin yew tah yore offer."

Cassi couldn't recall ever getting a New dress. It was always some passed down rag and most times smelling foul and sickly. She bounced like a young colt taking the reins of the one horse and heading towards the lake. Yeap he gave her a reason to find good in the war torn world around them.

"Yew reckon we's gonna fine a rab'it ta stew?" Cassi inquired as she could see the line of water ahead and the smell of it.

 

[macmillian]

"the Water"

"Yew reckon we's gonna fine a rab'it ta stew?", Cassi inquires.

"If the area looks good, I will set some snares before I go into the water." I replied to Cassi as we started to walk towards the water. Thinking to myself, I was going to save that dress untill we needed it, but she is so happy to hear I have it. Oh my, what a girl, no xxxxxxx, make that, what a woman. Cassi is all woman in all things.

As we climb the last small hill before the pond, I hear voices and I pull up and placing my hand on her shoulder I stop her progress too. I stand there and listen. Did I hear voices or not?

I smell another horse, just before it gives a little winney and before I can move, my big stallion answers. I pull the sharps out of the saddle boot and hand the reins over to Cassi. Stay behind me and hold on to those reins. I slowly move forward to the top of the rise and look down into the small depression with the pond in the center.

There, just of the road is a horse and a man standing next to it and on the other side near some large rocks and trees are two women. I don't think they saw us and I drop down on one knee to lower my profile. I signal Cassi to stay and I turn back to keep watch. Watching my thoughts drift, " damn, damn, there goes my afternoon, I hope Cassi isn't as disappointed as me."

 

[rvplymates]

Julia made her way up the small hill away from the small lake and away from the man and woman who were now making an agreement for him to work for her. She had stayed just long enough to determine that the two could handle their business without her. Her strong body carried her further up the hill and as she reached the creast she turned to see them walking towards what must be the woman's plantation.

Her heart gave a little tug as she remembered her own burned to the ground by the Yankees. Suddenly she heard a sound to the right of her and swung around. Her quick hand drew out her pistol. She was looking at the face of another strange man.

"What are you doing there hiding"

As she spoke another sound diverted her attention to a colored woman. The man was swift to move and take advantage of the situation. She found herself held tightly, her back against his body, her arms held down by strong arms and her pistol now resided in his hand.

"Let me go"

She struggled in vein as he held her tightly.

 

[landiek]

"What yo reckon it is?" Cassi whispered as the hand gripped her to halt. She quickly scanned the area and took the reins as she watched Alex wander ahead.

Please Lawd don be no soldiers tah hurt him Cassi silently prayed as she pulled the horses to one side and waited patiently for his return. Her hand went to the broad neck of the stallion to calm him from making more noises while Mister Alex oversaw their route.

"What are you doing there hiding" It was a woman's voice and Cassi moved a little closer to see what was happeneing. She looked down on the woman standing with a gun aimed at Alex.

"Please Lawd don let Misser Alex gets hurt." Cassi's eyes filled with tears as she closed her eyes fast praying that the boom of the gun doesn't follow.

"Let me go" It was an angry tone and Cassi opened her eyes only to be dismayed by the sights before her.

 

[Blue Dolphin]

Deciding that i was getting nowhere fast, I got back on my horse, and turned away from the lake.

I would seek my new life elsewhere.

 

[rvplymates]

Julia used every part of her body to dislodge herself from the man. Finally a lucky elbow to his stomach loosened her. She took good advantage of his distress and ran down the hill and away from the two on the hill. She found a road of sorts and kept running. Looking over her shoulder she saw no sight of the two. She saw a clump of trees, dense with foilage and made for it. She did not stop running until the trees seem to infold her. Then she stood by a tree and tried to catch her breath.

When she was calm she assessed her situation. Her pistol was gone but at least she still had her daggers. She couldn't beleive how foolish she had been. She saw a fallen tree and sat upon it trying to figure out what she should do.

 

[macmillian]

Julia used every part of her body to dislodge herself from the man. Finally a lucky elbow to his stomach loosened her. She took good advantage of his distress and ran down the hill and away from the two on the hill. She found a road of sorts and kept running. Looking over her shoulder she saw no sight of the two. She saw a clump of trees, dense with foilage and made for it. She did not stop running until the trees seem to infold her. Then she stood by a tree and tried to catch her breath.

When she was calm she assessed her situation. Her pistol was gone but at least she still had her daggers. She couldn't beleive how foolish she had been. She saw a fallen tree and sat upon it trying to figure out what she should do.

Trying not to hurt the young woman, I took a sharp elbow to the midsection and she was able to break loose. I was able to take her pistol away before she broke free. Once free she ran down the road and into the woods.

The man below had stopped talking with another woman and was mounting his horse. I fired MY sharps into the air and called out as I stood showing myself to the people below. "I Mean nobody no harm!", I shouted, "I only want to talk with you."

I motioned Cassi to join me out in the open atop the rise. She moved up and stood next to me, still holding the reins. I put my sharp's back into the saddle boot and took the horses reins from Cassi and took her hand and started down the hill towards. "my hands are occupied, I mean no one any harm," I said again.

It's all right Cassi, Stand up straight. Everything is going to be all right. there is nothing to worry about.

 

[rvplymates]

Julia's head snapped to the sound of gun fire not that far away. She should not have left the woman alone. Well there was nothing she could do about it with her pistol in that great oaf's hand. She stood up and walked deeper into the wooded area. She now had to protect herself from whoever was shooting up the plantation.

She loosened the sheafs around her daggers in case she needed them and continued her tract inward. At least I have cover from the trees she thought.

 

[macmillian]

The Meeting

We walked down the hill, staying in the center of the road, and kept talking to assure them we did not mean them any harm. As we drew closer,the man astride his horse appeared to be a little nervous. "I ask that you relax, mister", I said in a calm easy voice, "We just want to talk and get some water for ourselves and the horses."

I handed the reins to Cassi, and stepped forward offering my hand.

"My name is Alexander Franks, Sargeant, Georgia Milita, Late of the CSA and the Army of Virgina." I said to the man and woman. It was not the same woman from up on the hill, but older and thinner. "Who'm do I have the pleasure of addressing?, I asked.

 

[rvplymates]

Julia looked about her, the trees were becoming thicker, much more denser. She may have made a mistake coming into this now evergrowing forest. She thought about her alternative and decided the forest was safer then any man's arms. She continued inward until she came to a clearing. She stood in the forest letting her eyes roam the area gauging if it was safe to move forward.

 

[landiek]

Cassi came closer with the horses and her big eyes were concerned with the events that happened.

"my hands are occupied, I mean no one any harm," He said again.

"What was the matter.. Misser Alex? What made dat gurl draw on you fer?" She asked curiously.

I"t's all right Cassi, Stand up straight. Everything is going to be all right. there is nothing to worry about."

"Yes Sirrah." Cassi replied as she moved along side the horse with her eyes on the hillside. Then she noticed the second man and became skittish again as her trust level was threatened repeatedly.

"I ask that you relax, mister", I said in a calm easy voice, "We just want to talk and get some water for ourselves and the horses."

Cassi took the reins quietly and peeked from under the horse's neck at the man that Alex was talking too, then noticed the second woman who was standing there as well.

"My name is Alexander Franks, Sargeant, Georgia Milita, Late of the CSA and the Army of Virgina." I said to the man and woman. It was not the same woman from up on the hill, but older and thinner. "Who'm do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

Cassi remained silent and aloof not wanting to draw too much attention to herself. She watched the trees and the water. Soon the horses started to get restless as the smell of water made the stud prance to go. Cassi gave a second tug on the reins and whispered softly "Yore jus goin ta wait.. likes the rest of us."