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| A Witch Hunt, A Witch Hunt! [Fin]; Open to everyone! | |
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| Topic Started: Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:01 pm (584 Views) | |
| Rin | Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:01 pm Post #1 |
 
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The metropolis of perpetual night thrived even now, when most of the realm was asleep. Due to its shadowy nature, Balefire had no night or day; instead the city was always frozen in the twilight hours, with lanterns strung everywhere to help keep the gloom at bay. Shops usually stayed open constantly, as it was always dark enough to sleep, and the crowd in the twisted streets never thinned. It was a good place to be a businessman, and an even better place to be a thief or dark magician. Its proximity to the Shadow Plane had turned Balefire into a hive for unholy powers, and many of its denizens thrived in activities and associations that were technically illegal in Imythess. Rinrae Dromigg walked through the city with wide eyes, her head constantly twisting back and forth to take in all of the strange sights. Her obvious unfamiliarity with the surroundings was not the only indication that she was a stranger to the city. Most of the denizens of Balefire wore thick, dark clothes to protect themselves from the chill of the blanketing darkness and to hide themselves in its shadows. The young girl wore only a pristine white cotton sundress. A thin strap was tied on each of her shoulders, and the dress stretched to near the top of her knees. Her only other attire was four long silk ribbons, one wrapped around each forearm and shin. The ribbons were an odd silver hue, and seemed to shimmer with their own luminescence in the light of the lanterns. A simple satchel hung across her back, the leather of the large pouch cracked and well-worn. Rin’s face was perfectly symmetrical, with a sculpted appearance that defied description. Her eyes were so bright and blue they seemed to glow, darting back and forth to survey her surroundings. Long blonde hair framed her face, hanging over her shoulders and falling past her shoulder blades. She was thin and slight in build, shorter than many in the crowd. Don’t lose focus. Why are you here? The voice was completely inaudible to everyone but Rin. In fact, she wasn’t even sure if she heard the words, or if they just appeared in her mind. She giggled, spinning around spontaneously in the middle of the street. “To find a witch!” Nearby denizens of the crowd looked at her in outright shock. Her loud outburst had broken the natural murmuring of the city, and several of the pedestrians who were staring at her clearly questioned her sanity. Rin flashed a radiant grin at them before continuing on her way, absorbing the sights and sounds of the city. She began to sing to herself softly, a catchy tune. "A witch hunt, a witch hunt, going on a witch hunt!" The voice sighed in obvious frustration, but did not chastise the girl for her levity, probably knowing that any warning would be ignored completely. Correct. Don’t underestimate her. She has it, after all. Edited by Rin, Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:07 am.
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| Zaki | Tue Jun 28, 2011 4:27 am Post #2 |
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Zaki's armor had no shine beyond what little flickering torches could give it. She had ceased relying on her eyes, preferring to feel the heat around her. Cold and hot masses shifted around her armor, just past the long pleated blue skirt she wore. Her visor was down, hiding her dark eyes and light blue hair. Some growls and grunts reached her ears, the sort of things that she didn't bother letting distract her. Or she'd begin breaking faces in a hostile city, and even Zaki knew that was a poor decision. She pressed down the street, using a halberd as a walking stick. The guards had attempted to take it from her, but they didn't press very hard - the law enforcement in Balefire was a joke. A tiny little girl bounced down the street, crying out about witch hunting. Zaki assumed for a moment she was crazy, but realized there was a slice of seriousness in her voice. Witch hunting when she couldn't have weighed more than a hundred pounds? Zaki threw out her spare arm and stopped the young thing. "If you are going to hunt a witch, I'll hunt it for you." Zaki said. The crowd seemed even more shocked this time. A monolith in armor was taking the girl seriously. They backed away, the circle of body heat retreating. Many were beasts of the night, but none wanted to bother a creature that might be more fearsome than them. "Tell me your name, where the witch is, and their name. They'll die. Zaki Kestrel is at your service." Zaki stated. She dramatically bowed. The crowd around them began murmuring, no doubt preparing to tell their friends who were some sort of mage to flee. Or to get ready. "We had better move somewhere safer, as well." Zaki suggested. One moved nearer to her from behin, and with a twist of her arm she brought the butt of the halberd to their nose. The heat receded. |
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| Kalim | Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:17 am Post #3 |
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I hate this city. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! Kal repeated this several times in his head, but it did little to lighten his mood. Balefire, a city eternally cast in the darkest of darkness. It was strange, how well this city functioned despite it's bizarre nature. There was no effort made to hide the fact that it was a hub for all manner of foul activities, and yet, that very thing made the place seem almost...honest. They had nothing to hide, allowing it's residents to let their true nature show. But the fact remained that it had an air of danger about it. And this infernal darkness! The gloom got to him every time he vistied the city, which was for that very reason as little as possible. It might spell freedom for those that thrived in it, but humans weren't meant for this kind of world. It was like being deep underground, lost in some cave and with no way out. Depression of the sort he hadn't felt since his parents had died years ago settled deep into the furthest reaches of his brain, and no matter how hard he tried to root it out, the melancholy emotion wouldn't budge. One good thing about this place, however, was that it was practically a center for buisness of all sorts, and while he had to cautious not to get himself tangled up in an undesirable job - of which there were plenty - he could usually find something acceptable, and with a fair pay to boot. As much as he would like to just ignore the bastion of opression, he had a policy of being thorough. And so here he was. He was walking along a boulevard that was serving as a road for a fair number of other pedestrians, attempting to stay as close as possible to the lanterns that were the only reprieve to the suffocating blackness, when he heard a female voice shout out above the muffled noise of the city. "To find a witch!” The outburst was so unexpected, so uncharacteristic of the dark civilization, that Kal spun towards the source, hand automatically jerking to his sword as his eyes scanned the street for the anomaly. He wasn't the only one disturbed by the exclamation. Other citizens were openly staring, and he followed their gazes to the source of their bewilderment. There, right in the middle of the road, a girl was standing, and it took only a moment for Kal to determine that she wasn't a local. Her clothing, a white dress, contrasted sharply with the thick garments that most residents of Balefire used to blend into the shadows. Actually, her entire appearance was stood out. She seemed almost surreal, in a way that the mercenary couldn't quite place a finger on. Too perfect, was what came to mind, but that made no sense. Two thoughts simaltaneously occured to him, each quite dissimilar to the other. The first one was, Witch hunting? Sounds profitable. The second was, That girl is going to get herself killed... The first was, of course, completely in his nature, and as for the second...well, it might be none of his concern, but he didn't much enjoy seeing women cut down, even if it was due to their own foolishness. Though something, a gut feeling, told him that he couldn't judge this one by normal standards. Either way, he approached her, trying (and failing) to ignore the eyes of the onlookers. He reached her at the same time as another, and he glanced at her with a mixture of irritation and curiousity. She carried a halberd, and was armored...another mercenary? Well, he wasn't going to give up a potential job opportunity. He didn't expect to earn any money from the girl herself, of course, but he was rather skilled in obtaining money out of just about any situation. It was one of his more useful skills. As he neared them, close enough to speak quietly without being heard, he began almost casually. "This isn't exactly a good place to talk about witches, you know." He looked sharply at the armored woman beside him as she moved her halbard, but she moved it away from them, not towards. A grunt from behind answered the motion, and he eyed her appraisingly. She hadn't even looked back. Not bad. "I'm Kalim Firious." He looked at Zaki, as he heard her say her name was, and continued, almost challengingly. "I'm interested in this witch of yours." |
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| Rin | Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:29 am Post #4 |
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((OOC: Guys, I'm editing this post to change how Rin gets her weapon... She's basically conjuring it, which really shouldn't be allowed. Sorry for that!)) Rin had been skipping through the street for only a few moments before she caught a flash of movement in the crowd. She stopped moving almost immediately, inquisitive eyes drawn to the motion. A female figure wrapped in steel plate armor stepped into the girl’s path, throwing out a gauntleted arm to block Rin’s way. This time, she did not require the voice’s warning to be cautious. She flicked one arm out to her side, twisting her wrist in a odd manner and reaching behind her back. Her hand slipped into the satchel, obviously gripping something hidden in the large pouch. The girl stared at the tall armored figure, trying to determine if she was a threat. Mysteriously, the woman had the visor on her helmet down, completely obscuring her face and expression. She also held a heavy polearm with a wicked-looking axe blade. The Grimoire offered its name before the Rin could even ask. A halberd… Rin’s fingers tightened on the ribbon. An astute observer would have noticed that the ribbon trailing from her hand seemed to shift, starting to take on an unnatural shape as it responded to her deserved caution. All of that changed when the woman boisterously pledged her assistance to the girl, introducing herself as Zaki. Rin’s brows raised in shock, although she did not pause for too long to contemplate the stranger’s generosity. She did not have the chance to; another person stepped out of the crowd, also calling out for the girl’s attention. Lean and with the toned muscles of a trained warrior, he lacked the heavy plate armor of Zaki but still carried a blade with the easy confidence of one well-versed in its use. His hair was messy and blonde, several shades darker than Rin’s own hair. His greeting was less forward than Zaki’s, as if he did not trust the armored woman. Rin had no such reservations. She beamed at both of them, her smile as bright as any lantern hanging above them. “My name is Rinrae Dromigg! You should call me Rin." She assessed the crowd around them, noticing more than a few hostile expressions. "Let us go somewhere that is safe to talk, then!” The girl walked off towards a nearby alley, still smiling broadly. She had not expected to have help in this endeavor, and especially not from two warriors who were obviously experienced. As she walked by a man suddenly lunged at the girl, a scowl contorting his expression. Rin had never met the man before, but he undoubtedly had a family member who sold her services as a witch, or perhaps could be classified as a magic user himself. Before he had halved the distance between them Rin had raised her left arm, her hand shooting out of the satchel with blinding speed. She withdrew a longsword, unveiling the weapon from its hidden sheath with uncanny speed. The steel was merely a silver blur in her hands as she swung the sword, stopping its path just as quickly as she had drawn it. Rin held the blade steady, its sharp edge a mere hairsbreadth from the attacker’s jugular. The man yelped and shied away from the naked blade, beginning to blubber and sob for forgiveness. Rin watched him scramble away with a detached expression, lowering the longsword slowly after he had disappeared into the crowd. The crowd around the trio had taken a collective step back when she drew the weapon, a multitude of eyes staring at the girl with various combinations of shock, confusion, anger, and fear. She turned to Zaki and Kalim, a somber expression on her perfect face. “It will not be safe. Are you sure?” She stared first at Zaki, before realizing the woman probably couldn’t see her through the thick metal visor, so she shifted her gaze to Kalim. When she spoke there was an edge of pleading in her words. “I promise she is a bad witch…” Edited by Rin, Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:05 am.
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| Zaki | Fri Jul 1, 2011 1:30 am Post #5 |
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(ooc: Sorry, I don't have much to do until we get to fightinz, and this isn't my RP so I'm not going to start random fights) Another had joined them, confident enough to open with his own name. Zaki also learned the girl's name, Rin. She was a pretty little thing. The group moved off, quickly navigating through the crowd and into an alley. The monk assumed the girl knew where they were going. A shadow of heat darted from behind her and towards the girl. Before she could react, Rin had subdued the man with her ribbons formed into a blade. A neat trick. It even had some heft to it, which caused her to wonder what other features of a longsword it had. She grunted and moved forwards, clearing a path through the crowd with the haft of her halberd. She hoped they followed her, or else they'd probably get mobbed without their knight. Zaki took them through dark alleys for a minute or two before they finally stopped, seemingly for no reason. "We'll be safe here for a little bit, provided no one is rushing to kill miss sundress right now. Now, Rin, where's your witch. We'll eliminate it handily." Zaki glanced over. She didn't entirely trust the other that was with them. Zaki's motivations were fairly simple, she wanted a fight and she didn't want the tiny little blonde thing to die for no reason. Rin had proved to be a capable enough fighter, but she had no clear means of protection. The ribbons seemed a touch slow, so it wasn't likely those would be an effective defense. Zaki picked up the visor on her armet, allowing more of the light to shine through on her coppery face and pastel blue hair. Hairline scars wove across her face. A few seconds later she closed it shut, closing off much of the natural light again. "We should get moving." Zaki grunted. She hefted her halberd and began to walk. |
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| Kalim | Sun Jul 3, 2011 4:29 am Post #6 |
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Kal nodded with acceptance as Rin introduced herself. If she was easy-going enough to allow them to call her by a more casual name, so be it. Though he didn't consider the girl his employer - not that he had a guaranteed job in the first place - she was still the one who needed something done, and that made her the boss. He had learned to obey the whims of his clients without question, however irritating they could be...things could be a lot worse. He gestured towards the street with a gloved hand. "Lead the way, Rin." As they traveled down the populated pathway, his attention was divided between two sources; the surrounding citizens, who tread far too closely to their party for comfort, and the blond-haired girl. Though he kept a hand on the hilt of his weapon, and ocassionally shot withering glares at anyone that dared step too closely, the latter caught most of his gaze. She was curious, that was for certain. She had greeted them so cheerfully, two armed strangers that had approached her in the middle of a city like this. Most people in the world had caution branded into their brain, and would never accept such a situation. Was she just naive, or did she have a plan? He couldn't decide which was more dangerous. If this little "witch hunt" of hers was an outing to her, just a little afternoon jaunt, they might all end up dead. But if she was actually after something, she might drag them into an unescapable abyss. Magic-users were a dangerous lot to deal with. And yet, I'm following her anyway. Blasted money! Why is it always so damn tempting? No matter the risk, there were very few jobs he refused, jobs that wiser men would stay away from. Besides which, no matter how much he tried to judge her intentions, Rin's honest smile made it extremely difficult to doubt her. Foolish, he knew, letting his guard down for such a silly reason, but there wasn't much he could do about it. His thoughts elsewhere, he didn't notice the lunging man until he realized both Zaki and Rin's motions had changed. With an oath, he jerked at his blade, but before he had it even half-drawn, Rin was holding her own sword, the point of the cold steel aimed unwavering at the man's throat. Kal tensed, ready to move if the fool attempted anything, but the would-be attacker merely collapsed, crying. The mercenary looked at him with disgust. If it was his choice, he would hit him over the head and leave him for the pickpockets. But it was Rin's call, and she lowered her sword. Interestingly enough, she had no fear or anger in her eyes. She maintained the tranquility of a master swordsman, despite what had happened. Kal looked at her, bemused. Just who are you? I've seen female warriors before, he glanced at the armored one standing beside him, but you...don't have that look. That sword had been drawn without hesitation, and her stance had been dead-on. How? Rin turned, looking first at Zaki, then him. "It will not be safe. Are you sure?" she asked, all traces of her earlier happy-go-lucky tone gone. "I promise she is a bad witch..." He placed a hand on his hip, a wry smile coming to his lips. "Aren't they all? His prejudice against mages wasn't extreme, except for certain cases, but his words were honest. Huh. Maybe he disliked them more than he realized. He glanced in the direction that the man had fled, and then back at her, the same innocent appearance she had possessed before the incident staring back at him. "Are you sure you even need our help?" He was joking, of course. As strange as it was, she was obviously skilled with a sword, but a thug in the streets and a witch were two completely different opponents. He shrugged at her and took a step forward. No point in stopping here, where they were still at risk. He talked as he walked. "I wouldn't have even bothered to come near you if I wasn't sure. A witch in this city probably has some kind of shady buisness going on. If we take care of it, I might get my hands on something valuable. Gold, preferably. Money's a good motivator. That's all." Zaki took the lead, easily clearing a path with her weapon. He had to admit, with that heavy armor, she appeared intimidating. He was still curious about her; was she a mercenary or not? No one just randomly offered their assistance, especially in an endeavor like killing a witch. What was her motive? Thinking gave him no logical conclusion, and so he placed his attention where it should have been in the first place, taking up the rear. He might not have looked as impressive as the other warrior, but his sword, in plain view on his back and ready to be used, kept most people from following too closely. That didn't mean they didn't have pursuers, of course. In this bleak city, just about anything could hide in the darkness. At any moment, a blade could find it's way into his ribs, or an arrow could strike his unprotected head... He realized that he was crouching, trying to make a smaller target, and immediately straightened, hoping no one had noticed. Eventually, they came to a halt in a deserted alleyway, or what appeared to deserted, anyway. Here, where there were fewer lanterns to cast light, it was hard to tell what might be lurking. Without a word, he drew his sword and walked down the narrow lane, stopping every few steps and poking his sword towards likely hiding spots. Once he was satisfied, he returned to the other two. "We're clear," he informed them, sheathing the longsword. He was relieved to hear Zaki asking questions. He had just been about to do the same thing, and once the female was finished, he added to it with "Any other information you have would be good, too." No soldier charged into a battle without first gathering all the knowledge they possibly could about the enemy. None that lived, at any rate. He would have liked to ask a few questions about why a young woman was hunting said enemy as well, but he thought that might be going too far, and if he kept his eyes and ears open, he might learn it in time anyway, so he kept silent. |
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| Rin | Mon Jul 4, 2011 4:42 am Post #7 |
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Rin followed Zaki through the maze of alleyways, a smile still curling her lips. She had found good help, and so soon! Zaki towered over the girl like a golem, her entire body covered in protective steel plate. Her weapon also looked dangerous, and the woman hefted it with the experience of long years of use. Kalim also seemed comfortable with his weapon, and had jumped to defend her when the man had attacked the girl. Their presence was a comfort to her; searching for the pages could be lonely, at times, and there was still so much about the world she needed explained. She glanced over her shoulder as Kalim spoke, asking if he was even needed. A confused look crossed across her face, but the levity in his tone suggested it was a joke. He went on to lay a claim to any riches the witch had hoarded. Rin didn’t comment on this, unsure if the witch they were hunting had such resources.She stayed silent while they navigated the alleys, waiting for Zaki to stop walking before she explained herself. Within a few minutes the woman had found a place for them to discuss, and Rin smiled winningly at the both of them. “The witch stole something that belongs to me! Well, to a friend of mine…” She pursed her lips, placing one hand on her hip. She still held the ready longsword in the other hand, its tip resting on the cobbles of the alleyway. “So I need it back! But what she stole makes her magic stronger.” Rin paused, gauging their reaction to her words. The girl had learned a lot about people since her introduction to Imythess. Since traveling with Ezekial had gotten the old elf injured, she had decided to keep the exact details about the Grand Grimoire and its pages secret. She was unsure how strangers would react to learning she sought an item that could alter the fabric of reality itself. Furthermore, she had learned that very few people were willing to help her without motivation. Kalim obviously desired material wealth, although she couldn’t tell if it was due to greed or necessity. Rin wasn’t sure if that was enough of a reason to trust the man, but it would do for now. Zaki’s drive to help the girl was less clear. The woman posed an interesting riddle; the flash she had provided of her features had revealed a multitude of faded scars, and her attire and bearing screamed of a history of violence. Rin kept her misgivings from her features, still smiling broadly at the pair with a naivety that was surely maddening. “Her name is Betrillay, and she has been a witch for a very, very long time. She used to live in Dimmon Alley, before she stole my possession.” The girl reached into her satchel, pulling out a faded and cracked piece of parchment. It was a map of Balefire that she had “acquired” upon entering the city. She had circled one broad section of the town with what seemed to be a blue crayon. “Now she is somewhere in this section of the city, and she uses her powers to control the people around her…” Rin proffered the unfurled map to Zaki first, then to Kalim. If they got separated she wanted the two to be able to find where she had gone. “I tried to bargain for the item, but she refused and tried to trap me. So now… I am hunting her.” Despite her friendly expression and tone, there was a flash of steely determination in the girl’s eyes, and there could be no doubt that she did not intend to fail in her goal. “Excuse me, ma’am…?” The tentative greeting emanated from a quartet of guradsmen who had entered the alleyway from behind Rin. They wore sets of simple sets of matching armor crafted from gloomwood leather. Each breastpiece had the symbol of the city of Balefire stitched into the armor with silvery thread: a wailing ghost in the center of a ring of lanterns. The guard who had spoken wore the helm of a captain, and he had a shield and longsword slung across his back. “You seem to be making some very serious allegations. We do not like dissent in Balefire. Nor do we wish there to be any 'hunts' for sentient creatures.” All four of the guards had an identical eye color, a deep shade of violet that seemed unnatural. They began to move into the alley, although none had drawn their weapons. One had a dagger sheathed on each hip, one had a shortsword hanging from his belt, and the last guard was a burly man whose weapon seemed to be a wicked battleaxe. Rin turned to the intruders, frowning slightly. Her first response seemed anti-intuitive; she closed her eyes. The girl might appear normal, but in actuality she was a construct, made by the Grand Grimoire for the sole purpose of hunting down its missing pages. Now she focused on the part of her being that was derived from the sentient book, searching for fragments of its power in their vicinity. In each of the guards she detected a small trace of the Grimoire’s power, flavored with the workings of another. “Betrillay sent you.” It was a statement, not an accusation, and when the girl opened her eyes they were hard and merciless. “That means you are helping her. Your minds are her playthings.” She raised the longsword to a defensive position, wrapping both hands around the grip steadily. She betrayed no nervousness or excitement, as if nothing mattered besides their defeat. The captain flashed a bemused grin at the girl. “She warned us you might be difficult, so we came prepared.” He drew his own longsword slowly, unlatching the shield and hefting it in his off hand. The other guards followed suit, drawing their own weapons and starting t5owards the trio. “Try to take them alive… but don’t try too hard.” |
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| Zaki | Tue Jul 5, 2011 10:04 pm Post #8 |
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The girl explained her story as Zaki remembered more pressing matters. Bigger fish to impale. She nodded and began edging away from the group, plotting how to make her tactful exit from the girl she promised to help. Incredibly awkward. Especially walking out on an army of people mind controlled by a single witch. That could be fun. It could also leave her with several annoyed people and ruin her reputation before she even got one. "Well, I must be going. Sorry, I remembered I have an appointment to murder a few things out in the woods and have to talk to my boss." Zaki explained. She glanced over to the men who had just arrived. Violet eyes and thin armor, Zaki was already counting the possibilities. Gloomwood leather was softer than the normal sort, this would be over in a moment's time. Zaki shoved her hand in their direction. "I'll be going this way." Zaki stated. And then she did. The guards walked towards her. "Now, why would you bring a dagger to war? Do you realize people in war wear armor? And a shortsword! An ax is okay, I suppose, but it needs more. And the longsword, ah, such a classic. Have you realized your weapon is obsolete?" Zaki inquired. They weren't bothered. She dropped her halberd into a fighting position, spear point up at eye level. The dagger man rushed her, knocking the tip aside with a quick swing. He closed the distance near instantly, striking out with his daggers. Both blows clattered off. Zaki snapped her halberd back, choking back on the haft as he prepared to stab her in the armpits. The halberd came down before he could react, killing him in a single stroke. Incredibly sharp and heavy steel fell, snapping his collar bone and sinking in a few inches. She kicked him off quickly, and moved to duel with the captain. His shield was raised, longsword ready. She stabbed forwards, catching him square in the shield. He rocked back, widening his stance. She thrusted again, slipping the blade around his shield and towards his thigh. He stepped back quickly. His shield came up and knocked her halberd aside. She used the momentum to bring it back as he charged and struck home. A shining sword arced high, deflected by her helmet. It pinged off of one of her pauldrons. Zaki's head ached as she tried to find a good angle around his shield. She immediately stopped trying as he prepared another blow. Her halberd arced forwards, catching his shield full on. The blade sank deep, and she immediately dropped it from her hands. The shield followed the heavy and long weapon, and for a precious moment he was lurching towards the ground. Zaki seized his head and brought an armored knee into it. A sickening crack, she felt slight resistance before a sudden break. Hot blood dripped down through her armor, and colored the exterior. He groaned. She kneed him again, more blood fell. She kneed him a third time, and his body went limp. He fell to the ground, his face battered beyond repair. She raised her halberd, pinning the shield to the ground with a foot. With a little strain she lifted the weapon, the sound of cracking wood invading the noise of bloodshed. She stepped around him, casually sticking her halberd through his throat as she went. "Don't die." Zaki called back as she left. |
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| Kalim | Thu Jul 7, 2011 8:35 am Post #9 |
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Kal grunted as he listened to the blond girl's words. Nothing more than a petty thief, then, this witch was. He had been expecting something a little more diabolic than robbing a girl, but he liked it better this way. It would be a straightforward assignment, nothing like the tangled conspiracies he always seemed to manage to get involved in. This was cleaner, too. If someone stole something, it was only right for it to be stolen back. He couldn't always choose his job, and he had come to terms with that fact, but it was always nice when he had karma on his side. As Rin continued, however, he began to realize that maybe things wouldn't be so easy. If this stolen item boosted magic power, then it had to be some kind of magical artifact itself. Why would she have something like that, unless she was a mage herself? He supposed it could be a family heirloom, but most thing like that were mere trinkets, with simple enchantments that prevented them from being lost, or ever having to be polished, or something of that nature. Certainly not capable of what Rin claimed this thing could do. But, as troubling as that was, there was still more. Kal closed his eyes, barely managing to prevent the groan that threatened to escape into the open air. Mind control. He should have known. This was why he hated magic! It did things that humans just weren't supposed to be able to do! It wasn't bloody natural! He barely even glanced at the map, he was so distracted by his frustration. His thoughts were turning fouler by the second, and if the two women could have heard the curses being screamed in his mind, they probably would have thought he was some kind of monster. As it was, he didn't have much time to wallow in despair, as at that moment he heard footsteps, and out of the darkness appeared four lightly armored men, each with their own weapon. Kal tensed, but his weapon stayed in the sheath on his back; there was no need for weapons. Yet. He rolled his eyes at the guard captain's words; it wasn't like this sort of thing was actually all that uncommon in the city, even if it wasn't publicized. When Rin accused them of being controlled by the witch, however, he shot her a sharp look. "Are you sure?" He was by no means a pacifist, but if this fight wasn't necessary, he'd rather avoid it. At that moment, the captain smiled and drew his sword, and the mercenary shook his head. "Never mind." It looked like it was necessary. Zaki took the lead, which he had no qualms about, considering she was the only armored one. He was surprised by her words, though. Had she had enough? Maybe she had just decided the effort wasn't worth it. At any rate, it seemed like they had lost an ally, though she did leave them a nice parting gift - two corpses. Considering the situation, it was the best present she could offer. "Don't die," she called back as she walked out of sight down the alley. "Same to you," he muttered. She was a good fighter. He wouldn't mind meeting her again, preferably on the same side. At the moment, though, there were more pressing matters. With a metallic rasp that he had heard thousands of times, his longsword left it's sheath and came to rest in his hands, hilt held tight. He shot a quick look at Rin. She looked the same way she had when that man had attacked earlier, and again he was amazed at her composure in the face of danger. She held her sword steady as well, and the look in her eyes that she directed towards their newest enemies left no doubt what she intended. There wouldn't be any telling her to stay out of this fight, and it wasn't necessary to. She obviously knew how to handle herself. "I like axes," he muttered to her before walking forward, approaching the battleaxe-wielding guard. The two strafed around the corpses littering the alleyway until they met in a more open space. "You should have kept your nose out of this, kid," was all the man had to say before swinging his axe head at the mercenary, and with that, the battle began. They traded blows, the manipulated guard blocking with the broad side of his axe before counterattacking with powerful swings that Kal was barely able to defend against. He was used to facing axes in the hands of bandits, not trained soldiers, and he found himself dodging more and more of the attacks, something that frustrated him. He was used to being able to block an attack, step in, and get right in the opponent's face. This particular foe was making it difficult to do that. As Kal sidestepped a low swing that would have cut open his side if it had connected, the axe caught his cloak, tearing a gash in it. He immediately swung his sword down, meaning to hold the weapon there and prevent the guard from returning to a defensive position. In response, the axe shot up, and the two weapons met with a resounding crash. The swing was so powerful that it was all he could do to keep ahold of his sword, and even so, he had been left wide open to an attack, which the axeman promptly took advantage of by swinging the wicked curve of his instrument of death towards the mercenary's stomach. Kal barely slipped past the blade, actually feeling it nick him but nothing more. His left hand shot out and grabbed onto the axe's handle. The guard snarled and tried to swing it back towards him, but the resistance provided was enough to keep it there long enough for him to spin around his adversary and stab his sword through his back. Kal planted a foot against the soon-to-be dead man, and unceremoniously withdrew the longsword in a spray of blood. As the body collapsed on the ground, he looked through the darkness, searching for Rin. |
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| Rin | Fri Jul 8, 2011 11:38 pm Post #10 |
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Rin watched as Zaki jumped forward, wielding her haldberd with an ease that shocked the girl. She was clearly well-trained, a formidable combatant, and she quickly dispatched of the first guard. She had turned to fight the captain before the corpse even struck the ground. Although it the man was obviously more skilled, but his attacks were ineffective against the woman's thick plate armor. She took advantage of her weapon's weight, tearing the guard's shield from his hands. Before he could recover she had grabbed his skull in both hands, slamming his face into her armored knee in a flash. When she released the man his face was a unrecognizable mess. He collapsed with a gurgle, the longsword dropping from limp fingers. Rin expected Zaki to make short work of the remaining men, but instead she sprinted off into the night, her earlier comments about needing to depart clearly not a joke. “Wait... Zaki!” The woman's only response was an curt instruction not to die as she disappeared into the shadows. The girl had little time to react to the woman's departure, one of the remaining guards immediately lunging at the girl. She brought her longsword up in a flash, metal ringing as the blades connected. He smiled cruelly at the girl, violet eyes seeming to stare right through her thin frame. “I promise I'll make this quick, girlie.” He twisted the shortsword deftly, forcing their blades apart. Rin parried a horizontal blow aimed at her neck, taking a step back to give her more room to maneuver. Her weapon might have the advantage in length, but in these close quarters the guard's shorter blade made it much easier to strike. He was apparently aware of this fact, following her retreat with a quick jab at her torso. Rin twisted to one side, bringing the longsword up in a defensive stance near her skin. The shortsword scraped along her blade with a painful screech, the tip of the weapon barely missing the girl's sundress. Her face betrayed no fear at the close call, nor did she hesitate to take stock of the situation. Rin spun nimbly, suddenly reversing her momentum to step inside the man's guard. She shifted her grip on the hilt of the longsword, leaving one hand wrapped on the grip near the crossguard while the other clutched the sword's pommel. She used the superior control of that hand position to swivel the blade quickly,moving the sword in a quick arc to slash at the man's unprotected stomach. An inexperienced opponent would instinctively jump back from her sudden shift in position, allowing the blade to disembowel them. The guard shifted forward instead, the edge of the blade sinking into his leather armor instead of his belly. He shook his shoulders, dislodging the blade as he swept his own weapon at the girl's unprotected shoulder. The two combatants separated, assuming defensive stances. Rin's assault had scored a thick line down the center of the man's breastpiece, the leather's coloration lighter where it had been cut. In retaliation, the guard's counter-stroke had opened a gash on the girl's left shoulder, blood oozing from the injury. She barely reacted to the wound, simply swiveling the joint to make sure it wouldn't impede her movements. The guard chuckled mercilessly, nodding pointedly at the wound. “Don't cry now, little girl... That scrape is the least of your troubles.” As soon as the man spoke she sprang forward again, putting all of her weight behind a powerful stab. The guard stumbled backwards, unprepared for the suddenness and ferocity of her attack. He brought the shortsword up quickly, but only managed to deflect its course slightly. Instead of piercing his heard the sword sunk deeply into the man's sternum, the tip of the blade scraping against the inside of the leather armor on his back. Rin immediately let go of the hilt, dropping to the ground to avoid the wild slash of retaliation. She somersaulted abckwards smoothly, skidding to a halt in a crouch a few feet away from the man. “You talk too much.” The man's only response was a pained gasp, one hand releasing the shortsword to clutch at the blade through his chest. His started towards Rin once more, murder in his violet eyes, but he tripped over his own non-responsive feet. Blood bubbled out of the corners of his mouth as he fell to his knees, staring at the girl. The violet coloration faded from his eyes as he died, revealing their natural shade of green. His body collapsed forward, hitting the street with a meaty thump. The girl waited a few moments to make sure the man was dead before approaching, using one bare foot to run him on his side. With a bored expression she knelt and gripped the longsword, careful to avoid staining her sundress in the spreading puddle of blood under his body. She jerkily removed the weapon, matter-of-factly cleaning the viscera from the blade on the corpse's dark clothes before rising. Although she kept the sword unsheathed, a friendly expression returned to her face as she walked towards Kalim, her bare feet silent on the cobbles. The mercenary had slain the last guard, his own weapon red with blood. “Wow, Kalim! You are very skilled!” She smiled appreciatively and nodded, apparently unaware that her own swordplay had been equally impressive. “We should try to find Betrillay quickly. She probably has other people under her control, and they obviously know where we are...” She looked back at the four corpses, a twinge of sadness entering her expression. “It is better to not exist than to be a thrall, Kalim. Remember that.” She began to walk down the alleyway away from the site of the battle, humming softly to herself and smiling broadly. |
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| Kalim | Sat Jul 9, 2011 11:41 am Post #11 |
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For a brief moment he wondered if Rin had been injured too badly to return, or perhaps worse, but then she appeared, and he bent to the body at his feet, cleaning his sword with it's garments before sheathing it. He noticed that her own blade was still in her hand. She had been sucessful, then. He didn't know whether he should be relieved or disturbed. Was she some kind of warrior-princess, the type only takled about in fairy tales and myths? He shook his head. If he tried reasoning this all out, they'd be here for the remainder of the day, or night. It was impossible to tell in this city. "Hardly," he replied to Rin's praise. He wasn't being humble; it was the truth. While he may have aquired some small amount of talent with the blade over the past few years, he had a long way to go before he could even be considered to be anything more than a decent swordsman. It was luck, and a will to survive, that kept him from falling to his opponent's blades. That man he had just killed had been more skilled - but he had underestimated the mercenary, and that was why the soldier was dead and he still stood. “It is better to not exist than to be a thrall, Kalim. Remember that.” He turned from the bodies, his face stony. "You don't need to tell me that. I already know." Wasn't that why he chose to become a sellsword, after all? His brothers were like those men, slaves to people that didn't even know they existed except as pawns for use in a game called war. He had promised himself he would never become like them. As a mercenary, he had all the freedom he could want. He chose who and when he fought, and when to run. His life was in his own hands, not some uncaring noble. He would prove to his siblings some day that he had taken the right path. But this particular day, he had a witch to hunt. "Let's go." He knew what Rin had said was true; this Betrillay had more servants than these four, and they would doubtless be searching for them. Even as he led the way down the alley, he heard voices behind them, from the same direction that the guards had come from and he quickened his pace so as to not be seen. They would spread out once they realized their prey had escaped, and Kal desired no confrontation with them. The men they had slain were soldiers, and death was an everyday possibility for them. But if they ran across normal civilians, residents of the city? Those people didn't deserve punishment. If they attacked him, he would fight, and kill them if he had to, but he would not enjoy it. It might be sentimental of him, but he was grateful that he still had enough morality to entertain such thoughts. Otherwise, he might become like some mercenaries he knew, willing to kill everything in their path for gold. He couldn't allow himself to turn into such a monster; his sister would despise him if he did, and Yanri was one person in his life that he didn't want to lose. She was his only connection to his years before becoming a sellsword, the only reason he considered himself to still have a home despite being shunned by his oldest brother. It was shortly after they had left behind the corpses that Kal heard a strange noise, and glanced to the side, only to realize that his companion was the source. Is she...humming? They had just killed two men, and witnessed the deaths of two more. He was at the point where he no longer cringed at every life he cut short, but even he didn't have the peace of mind to hum after a battle. "I think you might be insane," he said to her, only half-joking. A young, pretty girl that sings as she slays. Yeah...definitely crazy. He also noticed that she was hurt, a gash on her shoulder. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything he could do to help her. He had no training in treating wounds, a lack that surely would need to be remedied if he planned to survive for long. Still, the wound on her looked so out of place compared to everything else about her, so abnormally wrong, that a protective instinct born out of working as a bodyguard arose. "Take it easy. Getting whatever it is you want back from the witch won't do any good if you die." Kal had almost no knowledge about the layout of Balefire, but he had seen enough of the map Rin had displayed earlier to have an idea about which direction to head, though he took a roundabout way. The streets were out of the question, and so he led the way through a series of alleys and other unoccupied paths, creeping through the city much. Fortunately, the city was well-suited for such stealthy activity, and they were able cover a fair distance with only a few eyes even noticing their presence. As they came closer to the area in which Betrillay was supposed to be lurking, however, more and more people seemed to be out and about, and he didn't need Rin to tell him that these were more puppets of the witch. The mercenary was currently peeking around the corner of a house that provided adequate cover so long as they stayed away from the lantern hanging in front of the door. He moved back and turned to the girl. "Getting through here isn't going to be easy. Any ideas?" They could continue the way they had been going so far, but with so many searchers, they risked being spotted anywhere. What they really needed was some kind of distraction. His eyes fell on the lantern. A thought formed in his head, and that thought became an idea. When he realized what that idea entailed, he was shocked by his own daring. Not even waiting to explain to Rin, he ran up and snatched the lantern from where it hung, along with a second that he found around the back of the house. With those in hand, he returned to her and looked around, searching for what he needed. Muttering to himself, he began roaming down the street, taking care to stick to the shadows. It took ten minutes, every second bringing them closer to discovery, but finally, he stood before it, and he couldn't help but grin. Ordinary humans lived in Balefire, not just bizarre creatures of the night, and they required homes. The one in front of him had just begun being built, and all it was currently was a wooden frame, a skeleton of the building that would eventually stand there. Or not, if this worked. Without further ado, he hurled first one lantern, then the other. The flammable liquid inside spread and caught, and flames began licking their way in every direction. Not enough. He dashed off and came back with another set of lanterns, smashing them as well. There. Now a nice, cheery fire was starting to build up. He looked at Rin, a "how's that?" look on his face. "We should probably get moving. They'll be showing up soon." Who was to say he couldn't be creative when he needed to? |
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| Rin | Sat Jul 9, 2011 3:43 pm Post #12 |
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Rin followed Kalim through the alleys of Balefire, apparently unconcerned with the voices of their pursuers. When the mercenary questioned her sanity she paused in her humming, giggling softly. “I cannot be insane, Kalim! I was not made to be insane.” She still held the longsword in one hand, keeping the weapon ready despite her unconcerned bearing and tone. “I simply have a task I must accomplish. There is nothing else for me until it is done.” Her face flickered for a moment, a flash of sadness crossing her visage. The reason for her existence might be simple, but the girl was starting to question if her only purpose in life was truly hunting the fragments of the Grimoire. There was just somuch to do in Imythess! How could she only seek out the pages when she had yet to see the magical capitol of Striberg, or visit the Green Gryphon Inn, or see the mysterious lizards from the Dark Lands. Every morsel of information she accumulated made her want to know more about the realm, but since her creation she had merely hunted down page after page. Her curiosity and her duty were waging a constant and internal war in the girl. Focus, Rinrae. There will be time for all of that. The girl started as if she felt guilty for her thoughts, although her lips had returned to a wide smile. “Anyway... I am not crazy. Merely determined. Nothing can be permitted to stop me from recovering this object.” She cocked her head to one side as he expressed concern over the wound in her arm. “It is fine. The cut is not deep." She raised her free hand to the injury, tenderly touching the edge of the sliced flesh. Blood had worked its way down the length of her arm, although it halted suddenly at the ribbons wrapped around her forearm, as if the silvery material could not be sullied so easily. “I will heal soon.” True enough, the gash was not deep enough to hit any muscle, and the shallow cut would undoubtedly close within a day. It had already stopped bleeding, suggesting the healing process was underway. Her regenerative abilities had been augmented by the Grimoire at her creation, allowing her to pursue its pages without fearing any permanent injuries. “I am not as fragile as I appear, Kalim... But...” She smiled shyly at the man, her eyes sparkling. “Thank you for your concern.” They continued through the alleys for a short while, the mercenary leading the way. Rin stayed a few feet behind him as they walked, the longsword gripped lightly in one hand. Her humming had apparently disquieted the man, so she did not continue, although a small smile remained a permanent feature on her face. They avoided the heavily-populated streets, sticking to skinny alleyways and empty backstreets. Lanterns still lit every pathway, but they only crossed paths with a few others, and the denizens of Balefire edged away from the strange pair. However, as soon as they entered Betrillay's territory all of that changed. Purple-eyed people seemed to be posted at every possible alleyway and entrance to the area. Kalim halted, suspiciously peering at them from around a corner. Before Rin could suggest anything he ran out into an open house, snatching its lantern as he entered. The girl tilted her head to one side as he moved back and forth in a surge of frenzied activity, but the mercenary seemed to have a plan, so she did not interfere. Within minutes he stood beside her once more, a lit lantern in each hand. He matter-of-factly tossed the light sources at a nearby house that was being constructed, the lanterns shattering as they impacted the wooden beams. Oil splashed over the kindling, allowing the blaze to spread along the half-built house within moments. Rin giggled at the look on the man's face, clapping her hands together once. “Let us go before they investigate!” She took the lead once more, going around the back of a house adjacent to the conflagration they had started. One violet-eyed male was standing in the next alleyway, pretending to be sweeping a doorway while he kept watch. Shouts began to emanate from the next street over, so he stopped acting and turned around, eyes widening at the glow from the blaze. Rin sprinted out of the shadows, slamming the pommel of the sword into the back of his head before the guard could react. He slumped to the ground, immediately unconscious as the girl beckoned for Kalim to follow. She crept up to the next corner, peering around the block they had just circled. An entire crowd of lavender-eyed lackeys were surrounding the burning house, yelling out for water to be drawn from any nearby wells. She grinned mischievously, turning back to the mercenary with a soft chuckle. “Good job, Kalim! That was an excellent plan.” The pair continued to skulk through the alleyways, taking advantage of the roaring fire to incapacitate two more distracted sentries. Rin was beginning to think finding Betrillay would be incredibly easy when a growl sounded from around the next corner. She halted instantly, gripping the hilt of the sword with both hands. Two sets of almost silent footsteps sounded in the sudden silence as a pair of wolves rounded the corner, their lips curled back in a feral snarl. Both of the hounds had bright lavender eyes, solving the mystery of why two dangerous animals were prowling the streets of a populous city. Rin swallowed nervously, remembering the last canine she had been forced to battle, in the twisted tent of the roulette man in Taras. The wolves snarled and loped towards Kalim and the girl simultaneously, barking loudly as they lunged to attack the pair. “I think our cover is blown, Kalim...” She only hoped that the fire would distract enough of the guards that they would not become surrounded. Edited by Rin, Sat Jul 9, 2011 3:44 pm.
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| Kalim | Sun Jul 10, 2011 7:16 am Post #13 |
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Kal had to admit, he was quite satisfied with himself as they left the blaze behind, knowing that the fire could be seen from a great distance away, and that it would draw the attention of their enemies. He was used to just following orders, so coming up with something of his own for once was a nice change of pace. Maybe he wasn't as reliant on others as he thought! His goal was to become a true freelancer, able to take on the most dangerous assigments without requiring the assistance of others. It would take years before he was that skilled, but this was a nice start. Not every human in the vicinity had been baited by the fire, however. As they skulked through the back streets and alleys once again, Rin hastily and professionally took out a number of guards that stood in their way while he kept an eye on their back. His earlier smugness faded along with the light of the burning house. Now that they were back to playing the stealth game, his intincts went on full alert, and every noise sounded to him like the heralding of an attack. His hand ached from how tight he was holding his sword hilt, and more than a few times he half-drew it only to realize that the sound he had heard was just a rat scurrying past underfoot, or somone moving about in another street. He always got nervous in situations like this; when it came to fighting, he rarely hesitated, but this constant waiting when it was known that an enemy waited for you right around the corner...it drove him mad. He began to think that his fears were groundless. No one was chasing them, and the few people they came into contact with were easily dispatched. If the witch turned out this easy, things might not be so bad after all. He actually considered following Rin's lead and start humming. Why not? It seemed to put her in a good mood, and if it worked for her, maybe it would work for him, too. That would have to wait, unfortunately. The mercenary froze at the sound of a growl from around a corner, and as the pair of wolves appeared, he slowly drew his sword, watching them for any signs that they were about to attack. "Good dog..." he said coaxingly even as he turned sideways. "You don't want to eat me. Right?" Wrong. Kal wasn't ready for the lunge, and instead of scoring a hit with his blade, he slammed the pommel of his weapon against the canine's muzzle even as sharp teeth reached for him. The animal didn't make a sound as it was struck, which made it quite obvious that they weren't ordinary creatures. So, Betrillay didn't just enslave humans? This upped the ante quite a bit. As the wolf hit the ground, it immediately hopped back on it's paws and threw itself at the mercenary again, this time resulting in a kick to the face. It got back up yet another time, but it was faster than he anticipated, and he had no attack prepared this time. It latched on to Kal's arms, fangs burying themselves in his flesh. The beast tightened it's jaws. Despite the pain, He drove his sword into it's side, and as the wolf's life faded, so too did the jaws slacken, until he was able to push it away from him. Shouts were coming from behind them, and he looked to Rin, hoping she had managed to kill the other wolf. It seemed that their battle had caught some attention. There was no time to waste, and staying there would lead to a meaningless death. "Where to?" She called the shots in this little adventure, and he waited for her command. He just hoped it came quick. Their pursuers were closing in fast. |
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| Rin | Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:32 pm Post #14 |
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Rin gripped the longsword tightly as the wolf neared the girl, snapping its jaws ferociously. She darted forward, firmly planting her feet before slashing the sword at the canine’s snout. It was far too agile for the obvious assault, twisting out of the way of the blade and lunging at her unprotected legs. Rin jumped to one side, bring the weapon to bear as quickly as humanly possible, but the swipe was still a few inches short of the beast’s thick pelt. It circled her, growling softly as its padded feet traversed the cobbles. Rin followed its stalking with her entire body, watching it with determined blue eyes. The wolf pounced again, but this time she did not simply twirl out of the way. Rin dropped to her knees, bending backwards so her head almost touched the ground. The surprised wolf shot over her body, its sharp claws and teeth both missing their mark. As it passed over the girl she stabbed up with the sword, its tip sinking into the wolf’s underbelly. The creature’s own momentum ripped the blade along its side, leaving a deep wound in its flesh. The wolf whimpered when it landed, its feet scrabbling on the cobbles as blood gushed from the grievous wound. Rin straightened and rose to her feet in one smooth motion, turning to finish the wolf. The bewitching did not fade with its injury, forcing the beast to pathetically attack Rin once more. Significantly slower than before, Rin was able to interpose one forearm in the wolf’s path, murmuring softly mere moments before its teeth closed around her flesh. The ribbons along her arm suddenly shifted into overlapping steel plates, the wolf’s teeth rebounding off of the metal surface. The animal reared back in surprise, its teeth aching from the unexpected durability of the metal. She advanced quickly, lashing out several times with the tip of the sword. The first jab missed the canine, but the second and third slash tore into its shoulders, before her final blow split its skull open. The wolf slumped instantly, not even having the time for one final whimper before it died. She looked up at Kalim, smiling when she saw the mercenary had also managed to defeat his beast, the steel armor along her forearm shifting back into the inconspicuous ribbons. That smile quickly faded when she heard shouts approaching their location, along with the heavy footsteps of several pursuers. The girl bit her lip nervously as she searched for a good hiding location, mentally lobbying the Grimoire for assistance. We are trapped in this alleyway! Even if we find an escape route they’ll see the dead wolves and know we were here. What do you want me to do, Rinrae? Lend me your power. The book lapsed into silence as their pursuers drew closer, and for a moment she feared its would not offer its assistance. Very well. There is a weapon that may help you. Ironically, it is very attuned for witch hunting… The girl’s grin returned as she reached into the ribbons on her forearms, withdrawing an odd object from the silvery fabric. It appeared to be a shimmering piece of paper over a foot wide and tall, the words on its page constantly in motion. She folded the paper quickly, clenching the wad of paper in her right hand and sheathing the longsword with her left. Although there was no wind to speak of in the alley her hair and dress began to twirl around her thin frame as if she stood in the center of a fierce storm, and there was an unnatural light in her blue eyes as she called upon the powers of the Grimoire. When she opened her hand, the paper was gone. Rin did not seem alarmed by the fact, curling her empty fingers in mid-air as if she held another weapon in that hand. When she spoke her words echoed strangely, as if she was speaking from a great distance. “Carnwennan.” The space between her fingers blurred as if it was a mirage, the fabric of reality itself rearranging itself to suit the girl’s desires. In a flash she held a short dagger in the hand. It was a simple weapon, with a hilt carved of white bone and a double-edged blade crafted of matte-black metal. A long piece of dark leather was attached to its pommel, handing from the hilt. Rin quickly grabbed Kalim’s shoulders, pulling the mercenary towards herself in a tight embrace. The blade seemed to draw light to its surface, pulling the shadows of the gloomy alleyway closer to the duo. She waved the dagger in the air and the shadows responded in kind, as if she were a director and the darkness was her symphony. She quickly wrapped the obscuring darkness around the two of them like a cloak, effectively rendering them invisible to outsiders. The girl pressed one soft fingertip to Kalim’s lips as five men rounded the corner, each holding a naked sword in their hands. Standing completely still, she watched as they approached the slain animals, quickly deciding that the intruders must have gone further into the neighborhood. Rin waited after they had rushed off for a few minutes before removing her finger from Kalim’s face, apparently unaware of the fact she was breaking nearly every rule of social etiquette by her proximity. “I can maintain the cloak as long as we move slowly… And stay quiet.” She kept one arm wrapped around Kalim’s gripping his wrist tightly with her thin fingers. She held the dagger in her other hand, its blade pulsing with energy. |
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| Kalim | Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:49 am Post #15 |
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Kal was too busy watching the end of the street, his knuckles white as they gripped the protuding hilt of his sheathed sword, to witness the spectacle behind him. His eyes traveled down one side of the road and back along the other, searching for a suitable hiding spot. The houses were out; any residents would be under the witch's control, and while they could most likely eliminate one threat, they would probably have a family, and sound the alarm before they could be taken care of. They could flee, but that would only lead to a hopeless chase, and he didn't care much for being made one of the witch's slaves. He turned to Rin, eyes narrowed, frustration etched across his face...and froze at the sight that greeted him. Rin was holding her hand out in a gesture that the mercenary recognized; it was like she was grasping a weapon. The girl called out a word that bounced around them as if they were in a cavern, and suddenly she was. A dagger appeared, it's metal black, and a strip of leather, similarly colored, hanging from it's pommel. He blinked, bewildered as she grabbed him and pulled him close, but any consternation turned to understanding as he watched the surrounding shadows wrap around them. He glanced at the blade in her small hands. A magical weapon, of course. The fact that she had one only added to the mystery, but for the moment, he was grateful for it. That didn't keep him from tensing as the guards passed, his free hand instintively moving for his sword before dropping back to his side. He didn't even breath as they came near, but though the men's eyes crossed over them, none showed a sign of recognition. As they disappeared from sight, the mercenary released his pent-up breath. Rin stepped back a short distance from him, and as she explained the cloak's limintation's to him, he wondered why she hadn't used this trick earlier. It certainly would have been easier than setting a building on fire. With her still holding his wrist, he set off again, doing his best to step quietly and slowly as per instructions. Despite being coated in darkness, Kal felt extremely vulnerable relying on magic to keep them hidden, and avoided others as often as possible. Even so, they were required to step past an individual more than once, and the deeper they went into the neighborhood, the more often it was necessary. As Kal went to step onto another street, he realized the path ahead was completely blocked, and was forced to turn around. Those manipulated by their target weren't making this easy. It was about to get worse. An inhuman shriek cried out through the city, piercing Kal's eardrums, and as he looked around, he realized the sound was coming from above. His eyes moved skyward just as they were assaulted with another scream, this time significantly closer. He squinted into the thick blanket of darkness at a shape that was rapidly becoming clearer, until finally it plummeted out of the sky, flaring out it's thin but powerful wings to slow it's descent. It landed smoothly, and immediately began moving towards them. The wyvern was much smaller than it's cousins, the dragons, but muscles rippled in it's hindlegs, and it half hopped, half flew it's way down the street. The creature's glowing eyes left no doubt who it had been sent by. Moreover, they glowed in the darkness, like a wolf's. This beast would have no trouble seeing in Balefire. "You weren't joking when you said it would be dangerous, were you?" His tone was deadly serious this time. Guards and wolves were one thing. A deadly flying lizard was another. He didn't regret aiding Rin, but he was beginning to wonder just what this stolen object truly was. No family trinket, if the witch was willing to go through this much trouble to stop them. He dared not move, lest the wyvern hear him, or perhaps even see through their arcane camouflage, but he realized that they had another problem. The creature's nostrils flared, and it's head perked up, sniffing the air. It promptly began heading towards them, stopping ocasionally to catch their scent. Though he hoped desperately something else would catch it's attention, as fate would have it the beast came closer and closer until it was only a short distance away. There was no denying it; it knew they were there. Waiting any longer was pointless. Even as he made to step out from the protection of the shadow cloak, it hissed and charged at them, and he threw himself out of it's path while at the same time his longsword left it's sheath. "I'll try to..." his words faded, as he pondered over this newest obstacle. What could he do, a human with a sword against an intelligent, vicious beast? But the wyvern was set on a confrontation with them, and as it hopped around, assisted by it's wings, Kal moved also, coming at it from one side, hoping to catch it in a blind spot. The animal was clearly not as graceful on its legs. Their best hope would be to defeat it now, while it was on the ground. He stepped closer, sword pulled back, ready to stab. The wyvern let out another of it's piercing screams, it's wings unfurling on boths sides, shooting out with such force that he was actually hit by one and thrown back, striking the side of a building. Gasping, he straightened himself, and saw as it ran down the street before hurling itself into the sky. He ran over to Rin, eyes scanning the abyss above them. "I don't suppose it ran away, did it?" he asked. He held his sword tight, ready for anything. |
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2:05 PM May 19
