[1:15 PM] Mappy | Best Dog: While guarding the caravan one evening, Churchill (@Persoon56), Persephone (@Kwakadoooooo), Artemis (@Ignia), Delphine (@LadyDeme), and Reize (@Amasuri), who happened to be on patrol that evening whilst everyone else was asleep or off doing something, spot a fire amonst the trees to the caravan's right.
The trees quickly became dense as one strayed from the caravan, making vision extremely low, especially with the sun almost fully set for the evening. The vegetation, while lively, made for the perfect hiding spot for rogues and bandits hoping to snipe some goods from passing carts and supply caravans.
The caravan wasn't going anywhere, so someone decides to investigate.(edited)
[1:20 PM] Ignia: Artemis immediately lightened her footsteps when she noticed the first amongst the trees. She whispered quickly to the rest of the patrol group, "We should probably tred carefully."
Softly, she pulled her tome from her cloak, "Who wants to go first to see what that fire is all about?"
[1:25 PM] Kwakado: Persephone looked over from atop her brother's horse with strained, sleepless eyes. She opened her mouth just a crack to respond, but stopped, simply taking in air.
[1:26 PM] LadyDeme: Delphine's patroll usually involved walking with a book in hand, or some little task. Now she shut it.
"Well, if no one else will, then I suppose I could." This was, she was aware, a bad idea. But Rieze was still recovering from her injury, Artemis was the one asking, and Persephone was... No. No. Let's not. Delphine glanced worryingly between her friend and sister.
"Though I think Churchhill might be the logical choice," she suggested, rather than let herself walk into a bad situation.(edited)
[1:32 PM] Amasuri: "I'll do it."
Rieze grabbed her axe resolutely, with the wyvern behind her scanning the perimeter for possible enemies. Her right eye was covered by a black eyepatch, but the skin around her eye was noticeably somewhat stained by blood. It hadn't been entirely cleaned, and her constant fickling with it didnt help.
"I may be hurt, but im not blind. I can do this."
[1:37 PM] Persoon56: "Alright, though are we sure this isn't some kind of trap? "
Churchill dismounts his horse and starts to look around the camp. Despite being fairly tired, he's snapped to awareness by the sudden seeming threat. Oh crap, she shouldn't go alone. Taking in a deep breath and screwing his boldness up, Churchill softly walks over.
"I'll go with her too, best to work in a pair, eh?"
[1:41 PM] Kwakado: "..and I can keep watch here."
On her back was a dark, wide blade, far too large to be of use for anything beyond some sort of spectacle. The girl's eyes shifted through the vegetation, already hunting for ambushes.
[1:46 PM] Ignia: "It probably is a trap to be fair but with her wyvern, Rieze is probably the one who can flying out of a set trap easier. Technically, she could just do a fly-by and then circle back around." Artemis spoke softly, her mind running.
"Churchill to the front of the group, Seph, cover our backs. Delphine and I will remain in the middle of the formation." A simple, basic formation, one that could be adjusted once she knew what they were facing.(edited)
[1:50 PM] LadyDeme: Having a plan laid out before her was a bit of a comfort, as she shifted her book back onto her belt-clip, and pulled out her staff from her pack. Not one of her healing staves, or even her dainty little Healing Rod. That said, as a medic, she wasn't sure about letting Rieze scout before she was recovered, and she looked openly uncertain here... But she accepted a more certain plan, with a nod instead.
"Reasonable enough, then. If worse comes to worse, I can always pull her out, but that'd be, well, a little pricey." Having staves with her on patrols like these had done a lot for her endurance, but it was always a bit of hustle. "Good luck, and hurry back when you've got an idea of what's there so we can go."(edited)
[1:55 PM] Amasuri: "Don't worry about me. I will be fine."
With that, Neltharion took off, soaring slightly above the ground.
Now... to see what we can find.
[1:57 PM] Persoon56: Churchill mounted his horse Avalon and went on at a walking pace, hoping to no attract attention to himself or the others. Staying alert, his grip on his lance tightened. "I wonder what awaits us." He whispered to no one in particular.(edited)
[2:01 PM] Kwakado: Persephone stays silent, drawing a throwing sword just to sate her nerves. Part of her was terrified of an ambush, yet part of her hoped for one.
[2:13 PM] LadyDeme: Delphine watched Rieze go, her hands fidgeting with the staff, a little nerves playing at her. Her eyes eventually tore away, landing on Persephone. This wasn't going to stand, not for long, anyway.
[2:18 PM] Mappy | Best Dog: There were six enemies furthur into the forest. All of them were men; four of them burly and barbaric in appearance, weilding huge axes. One of them was on the skinnier side, dual-weilding daggers, holding a sack, presumably for anything they pillage. The final one held a bow, and seemed younger than the rest of the group, standing behind them.
The entire party wore rags and teared clothing, likely just wearing whatever they could get their hands on. Their weapons, while obviously not the strongest, were still potent.(edited)
[2:27 PM] Amasuri: Rieze managed to spot the men, backing off slightly once she noticed them.
We can feel.... their soooooouuls
Xal'Atoh spoke in the back of her mind, but she chose not to dignify its comments with a response.
She returned, quickly telling the others what she spotted
"4-6 people. A bow user, some axes and a man with a sack of some sort. Clearly an ambush. I suggest keeping your eyes open, there may be more people than I spotted there."
[2:39 PM] Ignia: Axes, a scouter and a bow... The young tactician ran though a few rough ideas in her head before deciding on one. "Alright, I think I have an idea of what we can do for now. We should probably blitz them. Churchill, your priority will be take out the man with a sack. He's likely a thief or some sort of scout so it's best to stop him before he can call for reinforcements if there are any."
Artemis glanced worriedly at her best friend before refocusing, "After that, if Rieze was able to pick out all of that group, I want you helping Seph with the axe users. Support her and be wary of your disadvantage. If there are more people in that group, I want to move back to where Delphine and I will be to help protect her. Seph, obviously, you'll be the first one to confront the axe users. I'll be helping you to pick them off."
"Rieze, blitz the archer down first, then help out against the axes. Delphine, just focus on healing, I can protect you while helping to pick off the axes."
"How does that sound?"(edited)
[2:43 PM] Persoon56: Churchill furrows his brow in contemplation"Hmmm, seems dangerous to have someone astride a flying mount charge an archer doesn't it? Then again, may not be so bad. If those are your orders, I'll abide by them. Just seems a risk is all."
[2:51 PM] Kwakado: "Hm?" Blinking, the girl tried to follow along with the plan. But Artemis's words seemed so far away. When her name was addressed alongisde talk of some axemen, she gave a curt nod. Kiilling a crowd of ruffians seemed simple enough, even for her.
But Churchill's hesitation brought a scowl to her face, and the girl snapped back at his musings.
"This isn't a a festival, you know..risk is everywhere. Just go along with the plan, and you'll be as safe as you can."(edited)
[3:03 PM] LadyDeme: "I think Rieze can handle that, though; I'm worried about her recovery specifically, but I've seen Neltharion handle arrows before, with no more danger than any others..." Delphine answered. She said it to Churchhill, but along the line, she looked over at Persephone again, and made a little half-nod in her diretion, glancing at Artemis quickly in a subtle gesture of so this is a thing that we maybe ought to be worried about. And then that thought was over, and Delphine was switching rods again, a gesture that still had some clumsiness to it, but was at least fast.
Healing, the real healing that needed doing, would have to wait. She nodded, though... But the prospect of launching a surprise attack that, frankly, might not be needed concerned her.
"...Though I am a little concerned with not knowing their actual intent. Perhaps we could offer a chance to surrender in there? Pain of death assumed?"(edited)
[3:05 PM] Mappy | Best Dog: A rustling can be heard from the scrubs and bushes. This is followed by an incomprehensible whisper and some footsteps.
No one can be seen, however.
[3:08 PM] Amasuri: "I don't know. Bandits aren't the merciful kind. They seemed decently battle hardened..."
Rieze cuts herself off as she hears the sounds, gripping Gorehowl and feeling Xal'Atoh emerge.
[3:12 PM] Persoon56: "Well, it seems the time to act is now..."
Churchill dismounts, readies his lance and stalks over to the source of the noise, cautiously keeping a distance between himself and the noise.
[3:16 PM] Kwakado: "Right." Sheathing the smaller sword, Persephone brandishes Kyron's Sword, urging Yuridia to start walking towards the bushes. The young noble looks ready to charge any instant.
[3:20 PM] Ignia: "...dammit." She had shared that look with Delphine and glanced worriedly to her friend when she'd drawn her other sword... "Don't charge. It sounds like there are more than we know and they're ready to ambush us. Switch to a defensive formation. Rieze, swoop in and out, and pick off the ranged ones, take down anything that looks like a scout immediately. I'll help. Churchill and Seph, keep them from getting too close to Delphine and I."(edited)
[3:26 PM] LadyDeme: Delphine fell back a little, clustering nearer to Artemis. Her hands adjusted their grip on the staff nervously, and she braced herself for trouble, a lingering worry in her eyes. She tried to think in narrative, how to pin down that nervousness, Artemis' tactics. It was almost a meditation.
[3:28 PM] Amasuri: "Got it."
And you stay back
Nothing replied. Rieze flew up again, looking to take out the backline of fighters the bandits had hiding somewhere... she just had to find it.
[3:33 PM] Persoon56: Hearing the plan, Churchill runs over and vaults onto Avalon and circles back to Delphine, warily eyeing the surroundings and giving his lance a twirl, getting feeling into his fingers.
Don't screw this up Churchill, Artemis knows what she's doing...I hope. No! No, no,don't think that way
"Don't worry Lady Delphine, you'll be safe." Churchill states with forced bravado.
[3:40 PM] Kwakado: Persephone's brow buckled, but she complied with her friend's request and rode around aside Churchill to form a sort of "wall" of cavalry. But after a few moments of waiting, her grimace grew more and more volatile, and her muttering grew into a yell:
"..by the Warlover....Enough hiding!" The girl brandished her fiancee's blade at the bushes, hoping to goad them into making the first move. "You're men, aren't you?!"
[3:42 PM] Mappy | Best Dog: Three of the men with axes emerge from the bushes, and charge at the formation with a loud warcry. A single arrow flies over, aimed at Delphine.
[3:51 PM] Ignia: Artemis's aim was the arrow, Rieze would find the archer. A crackle of electricity and the arrow was in the ground. "There's still an axe, a scout and the archer unaccounted for. I'll try to ward off the arrows! Focus on the three in front, you two."
The thunder mage was keeping an eye out on their surroundings, a spell charged and ready to counter whatever came close to her and Delphine.
[3:57 PM] LadyDeme: Delphine breathed a sigh of relief as the arrow crackled to the ground. Sure, she'd proven tougher than she'd expected, but... Yeah, no. Not being shot was good. For the time being, she'd scan around, try to find a way to be of use. It was probably best not to break into the expensive stuff, though, which left her hands a little tied.
"Thanks."
[4:02 PM] Amasuri: Rieze herself was among the treetops, looking for the archer. A young boy, especially compared to the men he allied himself with. Scouting through the areas the arrow came from, she suddenly saw him. His face warped into one of fear as he realised he was face to face with death if he didn't manage to do something. As Rieze swung after him, he quickly jumped to the side, dodging Gorehowl as it was about to chop his head off. At the close range, he wasnt able to draw the bow, but he could abuse the thick forest to hide from Neltharion. However, as Neltharion bit after him, it eventually hit its mark as his two massive fangs ruptured the boy's left arm, making him drop the bow.
[4:12 PM] Persoon56: You know Baiame? I'm not sure if you hate or believe in teaching via throwing me into the deep end, but I'd like to register my displeasure.
Steeling his nerves, Churchill urged Avalon forward and was launched towards the nearest bandit, an ugly little bastard with cruel eyes. Letting out a shout, Churchill thrusted at him, and somehow managed to connect, striking deep into his right shoulder, where the bandit held his axe. This thankfully led him to loosen his grip on the axe and it hit the ground. Sadly, it was still in his hand, and as Churchill yanked his lance free, his foe wasted no time lashing out at him.
[4:17 PM] Kwakado: Yuridia darted around the dueling duo, with her rider paying no mind to their cries as she moved on to the next two.
Bringing the blessed blade to her side as she passed, the girl swiped at both bandits with one blow, tearing one axeman's chest open and forcing the other one to duck out of the way.
[4:21 PM] Ignia: "No problem...warning me if you spot anything out of the ordinary." She dropped her voice so that only Delphine could hear, "And watch for Seph, please."
"Churchill!" She called out loudly as a warning, placing a strike of her magic, close enough to singe the one the lance knight was fighting and hopefully disorient him. Afterwards, she went back to charging a spell, ready to lash out at anyone who approached her and Delphine.
[4:32 PM] LadyDeme: "Of course, I -- OK, here comes Mr. Daggers!" Before she could assure Artemis of Delphine's own concern, Delphine had to duck and dodge, turning her head to follow the action slightly, as the man with the daggers and sack burst out of the bushes behind them, making a slash at Delphine she barely managed to avoid. While she could, she fumbled for the staff with its oddly blackened tip that she used for emergencies, swearing under her breath. The Dagger-man tried to advance and make another go at hitting her.
"Stay still, girlies, and maybe you'll get to live!"
[5:40 PM] Amasuri: The boy clutched his arm as Rieze relentlessly attacked him again and again, sustaining multiple injuries, but nothing fatal. That is, until he backed himself into a massive tree trunk, not managing to duck to the side, before being locked in the hook-like blade of Gorehowl. From there, it was as simple as one last savage bite before his movements ceased, with the boy falling to the ground, bleeding out of multiple massive ruptures in his body.
And now, for the others
[5:55 PM] Persoon56: Taking advantage of his opponent's temporary state, Churchill quickly aimed his lance at the bandit and strikes, thankfully hitting home on his opponent. Knocking him flat on the ground. As Churchill was about to take him out, the Brigand grabbed the lance, trying to wrestle it from his grip. Lashing kicks out at the man, Churchill eventually manages to free his weapon. Thrusting out, Churchill managed to connect with his throat, causing him to start to gag and fall. Looking out Churchill realizes he had left Delphine and rode back over to her.
I hope I didn't screw this up!
[6:05 PM] Kwakado: Persephone, meanwhile, rode even further ahead, ignoring the wounded axeman as she pursued the one who'd dodged Kyron's sword. Yuridia reared up overhead, and the blade came crashing down in an arc that was far off course.
"..larcenous wretch."
Yanking its excessive weight back to her, the girl repelled the man's riposte, then sliced into his shoulder and drew him further back into the bushes.
Yet her focus had entirely overlooked the brigand behind her.
[6:15 PM] Ignia: Artemis cursed upon seeing the dagger user appear behind them, dodging out of the way before tossing her spell in the direction of their ambusher, to stop his second attempt at Delphine.
"Looks like I'll have to deal with you first!" The man turned his attention towards Artemis as she had to quickly backpedal to avoid the daggers aimed for her throat. It turned into a small exchange as Artemis attempted to gather her focus to fire off more than the small electric shocks that the man dodged most of. In exchange, a fair number of daggers had caught on her cloak and barely grazed her arm.
[6:20 PM] LadyDeme: Delphine, in the meanwhile, abandoned trying to find that eerie staff -- to hell with the blasted thing! She ducked into a nearby hedge for some security, and shifted her focus: Better to focus on strengthening the fighter with her. She imagined in a hurried, prefunctory way, the sort of image she thought might be soothing to Artemis: a quiet library, the light only a faint glow for reading books, with a plush, comfortable chair. It became the foundation for the glow of her staff, and could even reach Artemis from Delphine's position.
"I'm no good for the front, but I've got your back."
[7:20 PM] Amasuri: The man was fast, managing to dodge most of Artemis' shocks. He didn't have much room to dodge once the wyvern dropped from the sky, with him unknowingly dodging an otherwise lethal hit, but it was not enough to avoid getting hit by Neltharion's wing, knocking him to the ground
[7:33 PM] Persoon56: As Churchill pulled back to Delphine, he tried to take stock of the situation, twisting himself around, trying to see who was where and what needed doing. Seeing Persephone and her bout with one of the bandits, he noticed that one was behind her, and she didn't seem to notice! Oh great, what are you doing now? Before he could answer this question himself, he pulled Avalon into an about-face, and rode towards Persephone the man behind her.
[7:52 PM] Kwakado: The heiress kept hacking and hammering at her foe, disarming him, then sending his bloodied form crumpling into the ground. She rose the sword to strike once more...then an axe dug into her back from behind, sending horse and rider running beyond the bushes.
All that came from her was a wince as she charged on, searching for the next enemy.(edited)
[8:00 PM] Ignia: Artemis smirked feeling far more at ease and seeing the dagger user knocked to the ground. It gave her the time to focus and unleash a point blank Thunder Reign upon the man, just as he was starting to recover. The spell electrocuted him and as Artemis returned her attention to the rest of the fight, her eyes widened and her smirk disappeared into shock.
"Dammit, Delphine!" She gestured to her best friend's direction. "Rieze, Churchill, fall upon the last axeman!"
[8:07 PM] LadyDeme: "On it!" It hardly mattered how seperate the swear and her name might have been (because Delphine herself was a chorus of damns inside a fluttering moth of a heart) -- she was moving already over as close to Persephone as she could through the bushes and brush. Twigs snapped off into her hair as the branches whipped at her face. She caught up, or nearly, to the wounded rider on her hunt to the woods. If she needed to, she could pull Persephone back, but that wound looked more urgent.
"Persephone!"
It was enough to think of a sunny rock by the Sacred Lake, pulling together the sparkle of light on the water to fuel the spell. Her heart was in it, which was all that counted for the magic to find a little extra barb, a little extra hook, knitting together flesh and respooling blood back under her skin.(edited)
[6:50 PM] Amasuri: "Got it!"
Neltharion rised again, chasing after the last axeman. The trees obstructed her movement close to the ground however, so she had to fly above the treeline, heavily obscuring her view.
[3:30 PM] Persoon56: "Crap! Gotta move." Despite his best efforts, Churchill couldn't get to Persephone before she was slashed across the back by her cowardly foe. As he entered the tree line, he started looking around for the man. Soon after he started his search, he felt a searing pain as an axe came from nowhere and caught him square in the chest, knocking Church square on his back. Recovering as best he could, Churchill clashed with the brigand.(edited)
[6:02 PM] Kwakado: Inteercepting the axeman fleeing Rieze, Perssephone wounded him with a sluggish slash, then doubled back the other way before he could retaliate. That was where she met Delphine.
Persephone felt the sting of restoration, hooked by the heartfelt healer, and let out a pained sigh.
"I'm fine - don't run so far ahead!"
She brandished her blade towards the bandit, who kept his distance from her - putting him right into Rieze's path.
[6:07 PM] Ignia: Artemis ducked beneath branches and she weaved her way through the forest, following after Delphine, a spell charged and ready. Still, she was left lagging behind, cursing her own slower speed.
[6:06 AM] LadyDeme: "I only run to catch you," she said, with a sort of raw smile. It was what she could offer, that little soap-bubble of a smile and a little healing, but she'd see it through to the end. She was, though, relieved to head back to safer lines, falling back towards the group to toss a spell over towards Churchill's way, humming something soothing under her breath.
"We're with you, so hopefully this will give you what you need to counter-attack!"
[10:27 AM] Amasuri: All while Rieze attempted to execute the remaining fighter with the same technique she attempted at the knife fighter. Only this time, she actually succeeded. The man was crushed as gorehowl's blunt side hit him from above at mach speed, not even having time to scream
"No hard feelings."
She returned quickly to the others, a concerned look on her face
"Everyone alright?"
[11:25 AM] Persoon56: "I think my arm is dislocated but otherwise I'm okay, I think." As he mounted his horse, he winced in pain. "That went pretty well, I'd say, eh?"
[11:40 AM] Kwakado: "Passable, at the least. We're disguising ourselves well, if they thought they could threaten us."
With a shallow, distant scowl, Persephone stowed the blade on her back. Just as she'd suspected, the girl felt numb, weary, and unworthy.
[11:46 AM] Ignia: Artemis frowned, watching her best friend closely, as she used a spare cloth from her bag to clear the small cut she had taken from the daggers earlier, "Just a small cut here, Rieze. I think we can report back now but we'll need to keep an eye out, we don't know if these guys were alone and it'd be for the best if everyone was on the lookout."
[12:43 PM] LadyDeme: She listened to the accounting of injuries, her head turned from the sudden display of a man getting crushed. Even the sound made her wince -- but at least, she held her ground. There was nothing to say but a little sigh -- poor idiots. The area was safer without them, and yet... Well, all she could do was draw her breath a little sharp, and shifted her head back towards the camp.
"Your arm?" She nodded. There was more 'not alright' at foot then that, but also requiring more than simple medicine. "Alright, let's see what I can't do once we're back to the group. Try not to move that arm until then. Anything else?"(edited)
[12:58 PM] Amasuri: "Think we are all safe then. Unless they had reinforcements called in that lag behind. Stay vigilant."
She put the axe away again, grabbing Neltharion's reins
[5:06 PM] Persoon56: "Oh dear, I hope...I hope there's no more. Well, guess we should we'd best be careful either, either way." Churchill switches his lance to his other arm and tries to relax his injured shoulder, looking across the treeline.
[5:17 PM] Kwakado: Persephone rode alongside them, just as quiet as before. The momentary rush of combat had all but faded, leaving only the sting of a freshly-healed wound. Nothing had changed... Every day just brought more waiting. Only there was nothing to wait for anymore.
[5:23 PM] Ignia: "Thank you, Delphine." She carefully cradled her arm, "Same formation as when we were moving, I'd say. Just in case."
[7:42 PM] LadyDeme: "Yes, let's."
She glanced back over her shoulder as she began to retreat, in her place somewhere near the middle of the pack, by Artemis. As they returned, she inclined her head towards Artemis, her eyes stationed directly ahead of her. Her voice was low, and travelled like the sound of a leaf stirred by the wind. The circumstances were, if perhaps a little fuzzy around some edges... In others, abundantly clear.
"It's really rather concerning...I think we might need to put our heads together on this one. It's a wound that needs cleaning, before time can start to heal it."
[3:08 PM] Persoon56: As Churchill settled into a comfortable rhythm, he did the worst thing he could ever do. Think. Well, you sure acquitted yourself bravely there, it's a step forward at least. I wonder what possessed those bandits, though, to attack us. There were so few, did they really think they stood a chance?(edited)
[3:09 PM] Persoon56: "What sad, desperate times these are. We must change it." These words spoken to himself, Churchill rode slowly, keeping watch for figures that never came.
===END RP===(edited)
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