Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]



Destination Unknown

Admins
Iskira
Pan

Global Mods
elvor
Welcome to Destination Unknown, your one stop place for literate roleplay.
(if you can find us that is..ha ha..sorry trying to be funny)

Enjoy your stay in our abnormal, wierd and wonderful world of roleplay, where the very person you don't have to be is yourself.

Questions queries, problems, general concerns feel free to report to the admins or other staff members, or use our help forum
Newbies will be expected to make a decent Introduction, find more info in our newbies section.

Have fun and most importantly enjoy yourselves.
Affiliates


Other Stuff
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
The Necklace
Topic Started: Jan 30 2008, 08:24 PM (450 Views)
Iskira
Member Avatar
Administrator
For Pan, coz i know you wanted a rp with Mantra and Astel.


The wolf woman whom led a band of thieves and bandits stopped to stare at the star of the festival. A priestess woman dressed in fine cream coloured silks to match her blonde wavy locks, and sky blue eyes. The litter on which she sat swayed and rocked, and the men under it grunted as they carried the heavy weight upon their shoulders around the city streets. The priestess wore many jewels, all with different kinds of gems you could think of, but the one that stood out the most was a single necklace that hung around her neck. A delicate white gold chain that sparkled in the mid afternoon light, and from it hung the largest of all the gems she wore, it was clear-ish in colour and when it caught the light, it sent out spectrums along her pale skin; Rainbow topaz.

Astel kept looking from the woman on the litter to his oldest and first ever friend, the wolf woman: Mantra. He followed Mantra to most places, and was always at her side when she needed him. He had become accustomed to her dare devil ways of always going too far just to gain something, and from past references he knew it was desire that had formed the look on her face. Again the roko looked back to Mantra waiting for her to snap out of her trance and either declare a new objective with bright enthusiasm, or return her sights to their original task. However her decision was, taking longer than usual, which gave the young fox boy time to realise just what it was that had caught her eye.

Astel knew the woman was important, most things of value that ever caught Mantra eye like this were something of great value, and usually belong to someone of equal or greater value. What he didn't know was just how important this woman was, and how much trouble they both could get in for even thinking of stealing from the priestess, this is why Astel usually just followed Mantra and her ways rather than carve paths of his own, now if only he had stuck with that philosophy...

More shouts went up, and the clank of steel could be heard close behind, and all the roko boy could think of was, why they were making such a fuss over one necklace. The Rainbow Topaz necklace was secure in his leather pouch under the tan coloured poncho he wore over common white, black and maroon muslin Bandit attire. Having grown up a lot since the first time her met Mantra he was now fully capable of running on two legs and saved his four-legged travel for navigating rooftops.

After returning from the city with the supplies and food they had set out to collect, Mantra had hardly looked herself, Astel had figured she was having second thoughts on leaving such a prize behind. So once every bandit slept within the camp, included his dear friend, he set off back to the city, which lay backed against the range of hills. His stout, sharp claws aided him well in climbing the walls of the lord's palace, and locating just which room the priestess would be staying in. He knew that she only came once a year to this city to celebrate a festival before returning to the capital from where she came, every year she stayed in the same palace. Astel knew this much because Mantra's Bandit camp also visited every year at this time in order to steal supplies from the various merchants and stalls while their attention was on the festivities, and they camped south of the city by the edge of the ford.

Breaking into the room and creeping over to the dresser top where the priest woman had left her jewels had been easy, only when he searched he found that the necklace she had been wearing that afternoon was gone. He looked about trying to see if he had missed it, already feeling disappointed for coming, when he caught sight of it in the mirror; the woman still wore it.

Already realising this was a bad idea he couldn't leave empty handed, he didn't even have a good story for sneaking out yet, and if he came back empty handed then he really would be in trouble, as he hoped once he showed his friend the necklace she'd forget all about the wrong he did for sneaking away from the camp. The woman slept on her side, and the catch for the necklace was quite easily accessible, but with hands like the roko had it was a little difficult, but finally he got it undone, and it was as he was sliding it from her that she sat bolt upright looked him in the face and then screamed. Astel jumped at least 2 inches back the necklace tightly in his hand, the woman saw this and screamed "Thief!"

And that’s how he got into the mess he was in now, the guards had closed the city gates by now in hope to trap the thief within the city walls, and just why they were making such a fuss was beyond Astel, he and Mantra had stolen things that look far more expensive that this and in larger quantities but they had never had this much trouble. There were guards waiting at the end of every street, and if it hadn't been for his advantages being a roko he would have been slaughtered at the base of the priestess window long ago. His only hope was to climb the house in front of him and jump the city wall.

With much struggle, and grinding of claws he was able to make his way over the wall and was now close to the camp, he was pretty sure they would all be awake now, he was pretty sure no one would be sleeping with all the noise. Sure enough the moment he broke free of the forest bush, he could see the fires of the camp had been lit, and his friend was stood staring in his direction, she had already heard him. He trotted up to her, his foxtail almost trailed on the ground; he knew he'd be punished for this. He looked up at her face and awaited his judgement....
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pan
Member Avatar

Flickering tongues of vivacious fire exalted the gypsy's silhouette against darkness, the rigidity of her body contrasted by the fluid movements of the flames. Sternly Mantra looked at Astel, her penetrating glare probing and searching his being for an explanation but all she could feel was confusion and guilt. He had grown, but he had still not matured.

"You were followed?" she demanded, coldly. Her orbits clouded over in violet as she honed her auditory sense above the others. The clangour of steel and footsteps were heard in the distance, and apprehension clouded her features as she heard them moving faster.

She faltered in her decision, then finally rested her gaze on the roko, holding out a gentle and delicate hand. "I suppose your sneaking was justified?" she rang "and by the sound of the guards I can guess what you took..." The hand remained there, inviting.

Both pride and disapproval painted on the gypsy wolven's visage. Her innocent Astel had done a brilliant job in retrieving the necklace, and she felt warmth from the fact that he had understood her desire for it. Yet she couldn't ignore and not condemn his carelessness and recklessness, after all he had caused an extremely tricky situation to get out of, one that was unnecessary. Still, the gypsy longed for excitement after the past few moons' tediousness, so she welcomed the challenge of a full blown socio-political argument.

Urgency flashed in her eyes, she softened her gaze on Astel, she would have to deal with his punishment later. What was mandatory now was hiding the necklace and the roko, and making up a long-winded explanation...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Iskira
Member Avatar
Administrator
Astel scratched behind his left flaming red fox ear, he knew the look of desire was back but he also knew that he wasn't going to get out of this without punishment. He straightened the Tan coloured headband that held his firey hair and the pair of fox ears at bay and glanced at the faces around the camp.

He noticed that most of the members of the camp where now staring at him, some were giving expressions of relief while others cursed him and Mantra's decision to let him stay with the group. His ears slumped almost to the sides of his head, and he gingerly reached into his leather pocket and pulled away the necklace.

Instantly talk went up, "He! Stole that?!" "Stupid child they'll slaughter everyone of us, does he even know what he has done?!" and any other comments were similar, Astel winced, he had put them all at danger, and he looked away from his friend as he dropped the gem into her hand followed by the delicate chain which snaked down into her palm and coiled still.
"Sorry" he mummbled, completly furious with himself.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pan
Member Avatar

A glint of fascination danced across Mantra's eyes, the necklace, so delicate and light, emanated a strange and soothing aura. The gypsy lingered thus for a few moments then forcefully shut her fingers around the object and hid it in her waistpouch for the time being. Her head snapped up, she gave one last glance at Astel and finally straightened up and turned around.

"Farika, Delmon, to me!" the wolf-woman barked forcefully, issuing her commands around the camp. Bandits immediately came to attention, performing the tasks Mantra ordered, following her silently and blindly in obedience and loyalty. Soon she had arranged an impromptu band of singers, with a couple of dancers, and a mottled group of instrumentalists. These she arranged by the bonfire, whilst the rest of the rogues she got to cook any provisions in a make-do banquet.

Satisfied that in the short time provided she had made it look as if the camp's wakefulness was caused by the late-night celebrations, and not because of the roko fox, like the guards might believe, Mantra finally went to attend to Astel.

Keeping her gaze cold and impassive she summoned three of her trusted men, and hissed in urgency "Get him out of here, but don't dare harm him. Go by the ford, wait on the other bank further downstream. I personally will come look for you when the time is right. You are not to punish him, that will be reserved for me." With that she dismissed them with a casual wave of her hand.

Heavily armed and as tense as a strung bowstring the gypsy paced about her camp, waiting for the angry calls of guardsmen.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Iskira
Member Avatar
Administrator
Astel felt a firm hand clasp around his arm and begin to drag him away from the confusion, that he had caused. Again he silently cursed himself for ever going back, the only pleasure had been the small glimpse of her face, she was happy for possessing it, maybe his punishment wouldn't be all that bad, but then if he knew Mantra she wasn't often soft with anyone, not even him.

The four of them continued down the riverside, the one leading Astel hadn't released his grip at all, and the roko boy could already begin to feel his skin becoming tender and red. He had once tried to shake the grip but the bandit only tightened it, so hard he almost cried in pain. However, for the time being he could not blame him for urgency.

They soon came across an old boat, a poor fisherman's boat no less and from the look of its condition, it hadn't been used in a while. One of the bandits steadied the boat while the other one hopped in, "seems sturdy enough" he added a shrug and the other climbed in also. That left the one holding Astel who almost threw the boy into the bottom of the boat, Astel began to wonder if his rough actions were anything to do with the situation, or something else...

The bandit noticed Astel looking at him, his face turned angry and he kicked out at the roko, the boat rock slightly.
"Hey she said not to harm him!"
"You think I care?! Do you know what trouble this stupid kid has gotten us into, and her, I’m starting to have second thoughts on her leadership. She orders us around like she's a master with a whip and we are her dogs, and she favours this, thing! Just look where her ill decisions and loyalties have landed us!"

Astel couldn't believe he was hearing this, and again a pang of guilt punched his stomach, "now they would try to take control from Mantra, why did I go back, why?" he thought to himself even more heart shaken.
The other two looked shocked that they had heard this but neither said nor did anything....

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pan
Member Avatar

Heavy footsteps of armed men now reached even the untrained ears of the bandits. Mantra and the others were still tense, though with the ferocious training of trickery and acting the unruly band managed to pull off a relaxed atmosphere. Angry shouts rang from the guards, one of them broke free from the group and neared the camp and with that Mantra tightened and met the man squarely.

Swiftly the gypsy threw a hand to her thigh, lifted her skirts and produced a throwing knife seconds later. She aimed and threw the knife a pace away from the man and in a thundering voice stopped the guards. "This is my territory, these are my men. Only one of you may pass, for parleys. Attack, and we will be forced to defend ourselves." Her point was clear.

The guards pretended not to hear, and imposingly and defiantly marched their way toward the camp. In the last few seconds that separated the two groups, bellows rang out from both leaders. "Men! TO ME!" barked Mantra, thunderous. A similar order was heard from the score of guards that were fast approaching the camp.

"CHARGE! Kill them if you have to! Take her alive!" roared infuriated the man. In brief moments chaos lingered across the camp, cases were overthrown, carts caught fire, men from both sides attacked in blind panic. And among them, growling like a ferocious beast, was Mantra, defending her camp with life and limb. "To the left!" she cried, aware that though her side was more numerous, they were unprepared against fully armed and fully rested city-guards.

Two men approached her sides, and made for her, but the gypsy jumped and kicked one in the face, eluding the other one just by a whisker. So she continued, but soon weariness took the better of her and she felt two hands grab her arms from behind and lock her. No matter how much the wolf-woman struggled, she couldn't impose any damage in the armoured man, but only more on herself. She saw that this was the fate of a numerous amount of her men, the rest were either slain or had ran away.

"Well well, my gypsy queen..." crooned a sturdy man, who stood before her. She spat, and missed, cursing loudly. "Where is it?" he demanded.

"Foxboy took it. Gone off eastward..." she grunted.

"Five men to the river, go westward... Five, eastward." the man ordered "but first..." and with that his hand lingered to Mantra's belt and tore the pouch off, turning it upside down and empting the contents of it in his palm.

An agonised howl escaped Mantra, one so bonechilling and loud that it would no doubt have reached the city, and possibly even Astel. After the ringing in their ears subsided the guards knocked the prisoners out and loaded them on a cart, to transport them back to the city, possibly for a public hanging if the authorities were generous.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Iskira
Member Avatar
Administrator
The boat rocked, 3 men startled by the chilling howl. One man on Astel’s right lost his face in his hands, shaking his head. The second furthest away from Astel scanned the shoreline for soldiers, a stony expression was carved into his face. The third man however booted the little Roko, “You ‘ere that Swine!?” grabbing the demon fox by his flaming ears and matching hair he spat in his face. The boat threatened to tip as the other two fought him off of the Roko.

“It’s his fault, some of us have families in that camp, because of you now they ‘ither be dead or facing the noose” he took slight pleasure in the distort face upon the Roko child, Astel never meant to hurt anyone, it was only a necklace, an object, it had no soul, no life, yes it value to its owner but she had plenty of riches, just like many others they stole from, why was this one different, all he wanted was to please his friend, now she was either dead or condemned to be, along with everyone else not aboard the small craft floating further down with the current.

“Hey, that’s enough! We got families back there too, the kid was in the wrong Delmon, but if anyone is to blame it be the law, you know as well as I do, Mantra has stolen things as pretty or valuable looking as that thing, and been caught but never has it caused this much trouble. It gotta’ be a higher order.” Astel knew this man as being Farika, the eldest here, a just man and true to his word.
The last one who was still whimpering into his hands was the seed of Farika; Astel was unsure of his name, but he followed Farika everywhere.

“Higher order?! He stole from the most well known woman in these parts!? The Priestess, any of those unlucky not to have been slaughtered by the men back at the camp will be burned in some holy ceremony of her’s, likely alive to release demon and spirits! They await that fate because of him, Mantra that bloody wolf witch too, but I can’t say I am sorry about that either”
“Delmon! You’re talking Madness, you’ll be giving me son awful nightmares, this is …”

Astel looked wide eyed; the son of Farika screamed and saved his father’s body from slipping over the side of the boat into the water. Blood pooled into the bottom of the boat around their feet, most of it upon the son who cradled his father’s dead body willing some how for it to come back to life. “Why? Why’d you kill him...? Father!”

“Shut up! They’ll hear us from shore.” Delmon had stabbed the older man straight through the chest, into his heart, rogues we’re known to be dirty but this was even beyond the level of cruel, causing Astel’s blood to boil. It was fine he hated him; he hated himself but to kill another man, in front of his son, for doing nothing but standing up for Mantra at least.

The minor was still crying, unable to stop himself, Delmon kicked him, and then several more times as the cries of agony continued for his father and now for his own pains, the older man lashed out several more times upon the child. The Roko growled, shaking with anger, before finally lunging at Delmon and sinking both teeth and claw into flesh, where ever he could.
“Possessed beast, get off.” Astel ignored his angry threats and continued to shred the flesh upon his back, cold steel cut his arms and legs as the knife touched his skin.

The boat turned, Astel lost his grip as he, Delmon, the boy and his Father’s body plunged into the water, and vision was blocked by a quickly dispersing cloud of red blood. Astel reverted to the use of 4 limbs managing a kind of dog paddle within the water, lashing out and finding nothing to grip and being lighter made the current quick to pull him away. He came above the water and saw only the child struggling against sinking with his father’s body; he was older than Astel and fairing better at swimming, something the Roko wasn’t expecting to do often nor learnt to do properly.

Something hard hit him over the side of the head, he slipped under the water seeing Delmon stronger against the current had come up behind him and was now holding him under. The Roko did all he could to struggle free, but the man’s grip was absolute. Only moments away from death the grip was gone and he was pulled to the surface, his first instincts to lash out, which stopped as he realised floating in front of him was Delmon, a large cut across his head, but defiantly not dead; the one who had pulled him up being the boy who now trying to rescue his father’s form from the current.

“Little brats!” the knife cross across the Roko’s upper arm releasing a cloud of blood into the current, he yelps in pain and retaliated sinking teeth into the knife bearers hand. Delmon hit him over the head to make him let go “Devil’s swine...” he cursed over and over.
Astel released his grip and went under the water held by Delmon, this time he faced the male, glinting in the water before him his set of knives, the Roko blinked what he had to do somewhere stuck between his brain and muscle synapses, but a cry for air from his lungs sent it on its way. He struggled with one of the knives from the man’s belt and sunk it into his upper leg, Astel found himself racing to the surface, gasping for air and knife still at hand.

It met his chest in almost the same space of his chest its counterpart had pierced Farika’s, Delmon floated away with the current followed by a cloud of his own blood, the knife still stuck through his heart.
“Astel… help”

The Roko did his best to swim but was more carried by the increasing current towards the youth who was still calling for his help; his father’s floating but it was obviously it would take the two of them to drag the heavier body from the water.
“You should leave him, the water will be kind. We’ll come back and leave a marker upon the shore.” The Roko tried knowing he was asking a difficult thing of older child; who refused.
“I can’t, I can’t leave him, what will I tell mother or my sister… what if they are dead too.” He struggled with the body towards the shore.
“I’m sorry…” was all he could manage, because of him his father was dead, because of him, his mother and sister we’re dead or captured, and because of him Mantra would be killed horribly for possession of the necklace and for protecting him. He sawn up under the other arm of Farika and kicked, and lashed with his free arm as hard as he could to bring the body to the shore.
It was a tiring feat but a successful one, he helped to drag the body up into the pine covered floor of the trees that surrounded the shoreline.
“I’m sorry…” he said again “Because of me your Father… and your mother and sister.” Sadness coated his voice, he struggled a glance at the other youth who was slightly bowed over the body muttering something Astel could only recognise at being the death chant, a little piece said by the first to discover the body in order to help the spirit along.
“I don’t blame you, my father wouldn’t want me to either. You we’re doing something for Mantra, and she does many things for us, her guidance, her wisdom, her stories, the food she brings us, if I was as close to her I might have done the same to see her happy, so I don’t blame you, but… you will help me free them won’t you, the rest of my family if they are alive, and Mantra too; everyone. Could you help me with something first?”

“Of course anything!” the Roko’s heart warmed; at least someone didn’t hate him.
“You have strong claws, I always wondered what you are, you don’t have to tell me, but could you lend me and my father your claws, I want to give him a burial before we go and search for others.” He looked meekly wondering if he seemed weak for wanting such a thing, but the Roko grinned.
“Yes! I can do that, you’re Father was a nice man, I liked him, Delmon deserved to get washed away with the current for what he did, but where should I dig?” the child smiled and said thanks and they both went to find a nice spot for the grave.

It was fast work with a Roko but even he seemed slow, the cut across his upper arm complained slowing him down, it continued to bleed; the child who’s name he had now learnt to be Jaren did his best to cover the wound though it was deep and he worried if it would become infected without proper attention. The Grave was dug, and Astel helped him to lower the body into it, leaving him some room to say what needed to be said and give the body what keep safes it needed, before helping to fill back in the grave. Jaren didn’t cry anymore, he explained that his father wouldn’t want him to, so he didn’t Astel admired his courage still feeling a pang of guilt for everything that had happened and wondering if he would see Mantra again. Spurred by this thought he began to run in the direction her last howl had been heard, he was faster than the other boy and quickly made a gap between them.
“Astel! You can’t just go running into the lord’s dungeons and free everyone, we need help there will be others that escaped look at the tracks, remember the code Mantra herself set in place if ever something like this happens, those that get away are to meet up again in 24hours at the same spot, if it is safe to do so and if not then subtle signs must be left to lead those that return to a safe location by the first to return, that would be us.”

Astel didn’t like the idea of waiting but he knew that Jaren was right, they couldn’t do anything just the two of them, they needed a plan and to know what would happen, he was a wanted criminal his face well known from his encounter that evening. He agreed to not go and followed the boy back into the camp.
Signs of the struggle were everywhere, the accounted for several dead, and prints within the mud showed that many had also escaped. Astel sniffed each of these tracks hoping on would be Mantra, he found hers but it did not lead away from the camp and city there were among many, other bandits and soldiers; she had been captured. His ears sank low in his head band, he wondered at that moment were Jaren had gone. He found him close to the tent that his family occupied; it was empty apart from the boy himself who instead of weeping over his find was busy collecting supplies, blankets, food, tinder, a pot, a flask of water and a few other items.

“Come on we’d better move away from the camp in case someone returned, we’ll leave a few symbols in the dirt and trees, the soldiers won’t know what they mean.” Astel nodded making sure to leave the correct symbols etched into the tree bark as Jaren told him too and the boy left some in the dirt. They took a long exaggerated path, making a few false directions to throw anyone who didn’t know the symbols off the trail.
They finally chose a place in some deep bracken and trees, their behind protected by a large overhand of rocks and tree roots. Jaren unpacked the supplies while Astel kept watch from the heights of a near by tree, his upper arm paining him more often now.

All either could do was wait and hope those that had escaped would find their way here…

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pan
Member Avatar

The putrid scent of the dungeons hit them in an overwhelming wave. Broken groaning was coming from the cells they bypassed as the party spiralled their way deeper within the earth escorted from the city guards. Mantra stood, head up, defiant, and drinking in every detail, every turn and minor scratches on the walls. A rat squeaked, startled by the oil lamp, shuddered and skitted off.

All the while her mind was racing, digging paths, finding solutions. She ventured a few times into the "my band is now against me" trail of thought, but swiftly returned to working around it, rather than let it hinder her. As their leader, her escape would be a lot more dangerous and risky. The lives of the bandits under her depended on the gypsy.

"If I get out alive tonight, the guards will threaten and possibly kill the rest to get me back. Some escaped the camp, but doesn't mean they will follow my orders no more. Then again they have families they'll want to save. Yes, that's a good incentive. But I'll need allies inside." Mantra reasoned to herself, biting her lip. She alternated between sharpening her sight and her hearing, glad that if she could concentrate on one of them, her sense of smell would be dimmed.

A stout ugly guard began barking some orders, the captives were shoved into five cells, three for the men on one side of the corridor, two for the women and children on the other side. Mantra was on her own. The lack of light made her uneasy, she didn't like being underground for long, and certainly not this far down. As soon as the guards left the bandits launched into an animated argument, men spitting and cursing and trying to reason, women calming their children and yelling at their husbands. Some cried for the loss of loved ones. Throughout mutterings of "just a necklace, who does she think she is" were passed, cursing the High Priestess.

Before entering the prisons, they were all individually searched. None of them had weapons or sharp objects, they were allowed in with only their clothes. No lockpicking for Mantra... The gypsy wolven slouched and gave a humourless laughter. Tilting her head back, resting against the wall, she let go of a long exasperated sigh. She listened to her men, to the broken gasps of the children, weeping and crying for the rats, bugs and spiders.

"That bloody beast ye call companion! We'll all be hung no thanks to yer majesty" the accusory scream from one of the male cells. Mantra shut her eyes, accepting the fact that she probably deserved it, but rules were rules, and they were still her men. She shot up banging against the bars of her cell and spat towards the man.

"You watch your mouth, Durgal, ye watch yer mouth well! If it weren't fer me ye'd still be in that hell that were the Rakan jails! I got ye out of there dinn' I? I'll get ye out of here as well, all of ye, but I swear to the Rogue god as he is my witness, one more jab like that out of ye and I'll slit yer throat!" she growled threateningly, glaring at him in the dark. It was true, all the men that were under her owed some favour to her, that's what made them loyal. Most had been jail companions at some time or other, others she rescued before they were arrested. They made a good living together, had families, some set up trades to gain money honestly, though all were rogues at heart.

"Mantra... they got us all in! They'll be a-keeping the city gates under guard, and set up scouts to the camp for any straddlers! Ain't no way we can be saved!" called a feminine voice from a neighbouring cell.

"Aye, aye! And I be a-thinkin'. I can't get ye all out at once, so some of yer will have to wait. If I can get ye out tonight I'll need three, maximum five to come with me. Need to be strong, fast and agile. The straddlers know the rules. Meet back at camp, or leave the clan signals. Who's with me?"

A chorus of "Ay" rose from neighbouring cells, and once again there was an animated discussion as to who should go out with her. Only three were eventually chosen, and given careful instruction. Once the plan was decided, Mantra threw her head back and gave a glorious howl, revertebrating through the levels of the dungeon. Some time later a guard appeared, the oil lamp making the prisoners wince. "What's all the racket?" he barked, rattling his sword between the bars of Mantra's cage.

She shrugged, nodding towards the other cells "Look fer yerself"

A man was still on the floor, saliva spewing from his mouth in a frozen grimace of pain. Besides him another man was writhing on the floor, jutting and heaving in between raucous growls, spilling froth from his mouth and looking about him with wild eyes, trying to jab and reach out at any other being in the cell.

"Aw swines! Got bit by a rat did he? Wretch! It's gonna poison the rest of 'em! Priestess wants them alive for the day after tomorrow!" the guard ran off to call for help. Moments later a band of men came, moving everybody to the next vacant cell. Three bodies lay motionless on the floor, the guards hesitated but swiftly slid sacks over them, tying them and loading them on a small pulley cart and escorted the bodies outwards. One of the guards delayed some way behind, returning to survey the cells. Satisfied he made to go back, but spotted something amiss.

Mantra's cell was empty. The gate was locked, but she was not there. Annoyed he put the lamp down, fiddled with keys and opened the cell, entering and kneeling to check for any holes dug, or any sign of witchcraft.

The wolven gave a silent smirk to herself. "Stupid humans" She dropped on the man from the ceiling, knocking him out in one swift movement. Swiftly she stripped him of his clothing, glad to see it wasn't overly complicated, just a chainmail, a helmet, and a sword, and locking the cell she took the lamp.

"I promise ye, I'll come back fer you all in one way or other. Be strong, I ain't let ye down before!" with that she left the hopeful and proud faces of her bandits, making her way to the upper levels. She was lucky the rest of the guards were on patrol elsewhere, the only other guard she saw was the half-asleep, drunken gatekeeper, who grunted a reply to "where'd ye put the dead'uns?" and let her through.

Refreshed by the pre-dawn air, she made her way toward the wriggling sacks containing her comrades, slashing open the jute and patting them on the back. "Well played, men, well played."

Judging by the sky, the sun would break in about an hour, the gates were undoubtedly guarded, and they needed a plan. Eyes sparkling, Mantra immediately made use her surroundings, slicing up the sacks in makeshift cloaks. She stripped off her armour, giving it to one of the men and gave her instructions.

"If they ask ye, yer a newly appointed guard. Say yer getting rid of these two lepers and a dead'un. Let's move, men!" with that she slipped into a sack, seeing as her wolf tail and ears would give her away, the safest bet was playing a dead man.

The four easily slipped out of the city gates, taking a long-winded path to the camp, in hope to avoid possible patrols. When they reached it, they found that someone had been at work, trying to bury of the bodies, but only managing to dig half a grave. Mantra didn't like it, she deemed funeral piers much more dignified, but still bowed her head and uttered her chants to help the spirits. They would come back later, when it was safe, to give a funeral to the lost ones. There weren't many, about five or seven, but from the size of her group it was a considerable loss. She hoped Astel was well.

On thinking this, she quickly spotted the roko tracks he had tried to disguise, and with that, saw the first symbol. A once-white rag tied around a post. It marked the start of a path, the other signs would be a lot less subtle, but the post needed to clearly relate to the others that there was a path to be followed. They swiftly collected supplies and made their way, craftily covering their tracks.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Iskira
Member Avatar
Administrator
Astel spent most of the time up the same tree looking out for anyone approaching; he was well hidden and could clearly see the remains of the Bandit camp from here. The cold had numbed his arm, even with the blanket wrapped around him; but at least no pain could be felt.
He and Jaren had refrained from lighting fires, to do so would be dangerous if soldiers were in the area looking for anyone who had gotten away, or more importantly for him.

Astel shivered and glanced in the opposite direction to where they had created their camp, he had offered to take first watch while Jaren slept, the other boy was lying wrapped in his own blanket; the Roko couldn’t see but Jaren was not asleep, both of them were too on edge to make peace.

Another shiver crawling up his spine the Roko turned back to the camp; 4 dark figures now probing the ruin. He sat forward gently so not to disturb the branch, from this distance it was impossible to see just who they were; then the moonlight glinted off something metal, ‘Soldiers!’ he thought were not starting to investigate the tree Jaren had tied the white cloth too.

Quiet as he could possible move he climbed down the tree best he could with 3 limbs, when he reached the ground Jaren was already on his feet sensing the urgency.
Astel singled using the bandit signs to Jaren what he had seen in the camp, the other boy nodded silently and began packing away best he could the sparse objects around the camp, he took them out of sight into the bracken, then hiding himself on his stomach under a large coil of Bracken; out of sight but still with a clear view.
Astel climbed the over hang, careful not to leave marks from his claws in the rock or tree roots; after the mess he had caused he was a lot more careful with his movements. Satisfied he was well hidden but like Jaren with a good vantage point, he drew a plain dagger from his belt he had retrieved from the camp hours earlier; if they we’re soldiers they would hopeful move on without locating them, if not they would have to run or fight…

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pan
Member Avatar

Wearily the band of men meandered through the forest, careful not to leave a clear track, but also improving the clan signals etched on the trees for any others. They were all tired, the stress was making them even more so, but still they kept going, Mantra alternating between being the lead, and being behind, covering up footprints and entangling leaves they brushed against.

The clangour of the chainmail was not ideal for stealth, but carrying it would make it more of a hassle. If they were ambushed, none of them were armed, but neither were they rested enough to make a quick escape. Pushing these thoughts off their head they finally reached a clearing, the last tree having three diagonal slashes down it, and a horizontal cut underlining them. It marked the end of the trail.

The armour-clad bandit stomped into the clearing first, followed by Mantra and the other two, still dragging along their jute cloaks. It might have looked like a guard was escorting them to try capture the rest.

"Strange" Mantra thought, examining the makeshift camp "Very strange". The tracks were still fresh, they would have been some minutes old, half an hour at most.

Cupping his hands over his mouth, one of the men uttered a hoot, a secret signal to call the attention of nearby comrades. Silence. A twig snapped.

Her eyes flashed purple, ears alert as the turned towards the source. Deep breathing, heart beating, not that far off. She honed her sight and squinted, making out the shape of two beings, larger than normal forest animals.

Their tension cut through the air like ripples of water. "What are you, friend or foe?" called Mantra sternly, projecting more courage than she felt. Her men placed themselves around her, facing the source of the commotion.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create your own social network with a free forum.
Learn More · Register Now
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · One x One Roleplay · Next Topic »
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1