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SOUTH WALL - AFTERNOON
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Victoria is sitting at the edge of the wall, looking into the wilderness and giving a bit toothy yawn. Very uneventful day to the point of being even more boring than usual wall patrols. At least the sun is starting to warm up a bit, for which the big feline is very glad, her huge poofy tail swishing lazily as she leans back onto her hands.
Annika approaches, walking along the top of the wall. She was bright eyed, and bushy tailed. Both metaphorically, and literally. Dressed in a simple skirt and blouse, all three tails doing ample working maintaining her balance. "Oh! Victoria! Hey!" She waves over "There you are! It's been too long!" She falls from her standing position to a sitting one beside Victoria "How are things?"
Victoria starts briefly, then feels mildly briefly ashamed for being startled. She looks over her shoulder, giving a wry smile: "Hello, Annika. Things are... well honestly they aren't. Nothing much has been happening for weeks."
Annika: "Well, nothing happening isn't too bad" She looks out over the walls "Things are quiet for me, buuut, I didn't come here to just chat. Remember, we had a deal" She pats Victoria's paw softly "We were going to get you all dressed up and stuff. Get a wardrobe change and all that"
Victoria looks at Annika's paw, then up at her, slightly wincing. "Some part of me sorta hoped you'd forgotten." She sighs: "But a deal is a deal."
Annika: "A deal IS a deal!" She nods "But, lucky for you, I already know where we're going, so you don't have to worry about choosing a spot" She bounces back up again, far too blase about the drop down the wall "Okay, so. Ready? I promise you it'll be a lot of fun"
Victoria gets up, slightly shaking her head: "As ready as I'll never be." She gets up with her usual level of dexterity, standing next to the wall's edge: "I'll determine the fun afterwards, though."
Annika: "Okay" She gently tugs Victoria down towards the city proper "and, I promise not to tell any of your big tough guard friends. I know you have a reputation to uphold and all that" She smiles "Have you any colours you like at all?"
Victoria follows Annika (not like she has options), glancing between her abandoned post and then to her clothing or what passes for clothing to her - few burgundy wraps of cloth with some cheap jewelry attached to them: "I er... I do like reds, I guess. Doesn't care when I get blood on them."
Annika: "Ssh. None of that. Hmmm" She considers VIctoria "There's some nice yellows that might work out. Or purple, purple is always great" She's got a purple shirt on herself, underneath her jacket. "But reds, reds can work too...maybe..very light red..." They're in one of the quieter little parts of town, with lots of little speciality shops "It's not far now!"
Victoria tilts her head in confusion at Annika, then slightly at their surroundings. True, she has walked past here plenty of times, but all this always seemed so... pointless to the near-feral huntress. Although thinking about it, doesn't her favourite knifemaker Hardy live nearby? She's needed his services once or twice. She looks at the fox she's following: "I have no idea what you're talking about, you know."
Annika: "It's all about what colours make you pretty! Or prettier. You're already pretty" She takes a right turn into a small alley, before she pushes open a fairly non descript looking door, to lead into a small shop, adorned with a lot of different fabrics, jewellery and the like. Everything's got a very rustic look, with plenty of silks, and linens. "So. This is the part where you look around for something you might like"
Victoria follows Annika in, feeling more hesitant than that time she attempted to hunt a Moa protecting its' eggs. That didn't end well. She looks around the shop, nothing particularly catching her eye and not sure what should be catching her eye either. "...what, what would I like?"
Annika: "Hmm..how about something like this?" She picks out a long soft purple colour dress. Silk, or something similar. It was certainly a light material, and there was some sort of floral pattern stitched into it "It's got a split leg to it, so you won't be constricted with the movement, but it's nice. Don't you think?" She puts it in front of Victoria, and directs her to look at a mirror.
Victoria awkwardly takes the dress, holding it in front of her and looks at it in the mirror: "I... I guess? If you think so?" She looks at the hems: "Seems really awkward to move in though."
Annika: "Oh! It's really easy!" She shows off her own skirt, and demonstrates that she can stick out her leg from it easily enough. It's quite a nice leg. "If you don't believe me. Just try it on. Then you can see for yourself"
Victoria looks at Annika dubiously, then shrugs and starts de-dressing her loincloth wraps right then and there. Before anyone really is able (or dares) to object, she has slipped into the flowery dress, feeling a lot more awkward than she actually is. She looks around herself this way and that: "It's... odd. Awkward. No idea why anyone would use this. Way not practical."
Annika pouts softly "You're not even giving it a go! You can't just give up like that. Go on, try and stretch out like you usually do. Prove me wrong"
Victoria shrugs as she stretches a bit, feeling very odd at the amount of cloth on top of her thick fur: "I mean, it works, but like... why?"
Annika: "Because now you look nicer" She explains patiently "Isn't there anyone you want to look nice for?"
Victoria looks at Annika confusedly: "...not really? I already look nice enough for the low standards of this town, anyway."
Annika: "Well of course. Nobody is going to judge you for how you look..but..isn't there anyone you like..like..like, like?"
Victoria frowns, shaking her head: "No." Oof, touched a nerve?
Annika: "Oh come on! You can tell me! I'm trying to help here!"
Victoria leans onto a wall: "There is no one. I don't care, okay? Hunting is my love."
Annika: "Well, you can lots of loves you know. Sharing things you love is even better, it's why I want to help you look pretty. Because I like looking pretty, so I want other people to enjoy it too!"
Victoria looks at the dress she's in: "I guess... maybe. Don't really know." She starts getting out of the dress: "This ain't gonna do it, though. If someone wants me, they'll take me as I usually am."
Annika: "Well, of course. If someone only likes you when you're dressed up then they're pretty lame, but it's like..um..bait! You gotta get someone attention, then you can see if they're worth having around, and besides, you can like someone when they're all rough and ready, and still wonder what they like when they tidy up" She idly smooths down a crease in the dress that Victoria was wearing "and..don't you like looking pretty yourself, at all?"
Victoria shrugs, her assets now currently in plain view: "I like how I look aplenty. I'm gorgeous and everyone in this town knows it."
Annika: "Of course! But there's always an improvement. So...how about some jewellery? Maybe a nice bracelet?"
Victoria looks about, still not overly concerned about her lack of clothing: "I do like jewellery, and I guess I lost so many last spring..." She sighs a bit and almost as an afterthought starts picking up her cloth wraps and wrapping them back on.
Annika takes the dress and starts folding it up "Well, maybe less metal stuff..don't want to get that caught.." She picks out a bead bracelet, with green, and yellow interlaced "How about a few of these?"
Victoria hums with thought, clearly more interested in these than the dress: "Hmm. Maybe? They are nice and do remind me of home... eh, sure."
Annika: "Great!" she got a win! "Okay, maybe a few? So you can mix and match them..." She starts choosing a few of them out "What was your home like then?"
Victoria is quiet for a moment: "Cold, mostly. I did beading with my Sister when it got too cold to go outside."
Victoria gives a quiet, faint smile at the thought.
Annika: "Well, maybe some blues? Blue is all icy and stuff" She doesn't push the Sister thing too hard, in case she spoiled a nice memory "How about hunting? You still do that a lot, right?"
Victoria chuckles softly as she pats the hunting machete on her hip: "That I do. The game outside doesn't wander in voluntarily, after all."
Annika: "Well. I've pulled you along to my thing, so if you ever want to drag me along to your thing, feel free!" She pulls out a little florid wreath, and puts it on Vic's head. "Very nice!"
Victoria blinks at the wreath, looking at it for a second in confusion, before turning back to Annika: "...hunting? You? Are you sure you're up to that?"
Annika: "Hey! I grew up in the country. I'm not totally helpless" She acts a little overly offended at the implication.
Victoria gives Annika a bit of a feral smirk: "Well, consider your offer taken, then. I'll go easy on you, even, pick something that won't fight back too much."
Annika: "Okay!" She smiles back "I look forward to it. I'll make sure to dress right too!"
Victoria gives a giggle as she looks at Annika's current dress: "Probably a good idea."
Annika: "Hey! This isn't that bad. I'm well able to get around" All three tails flick behind her, fluffing up "But..I'll be good"
Victoria picks up the wreath from her forehead and gives it back to Annika, though she keeps a couple of bead bracelets to actually buy: "We'll see, then." She seems a bit more excited than just the bracelets would have her be, maybe she's actually enjoying the idea of having company to her hunt?
Annika: "Great!" She puts back the wreath, before reaching into a pocket, and putting some money on the table "Okay! That'll pay for it" There doesn't seem to be anyone actually behind the counter, oddly enough
Victoria smiles at her... friend? Before starting to head out: "I mean, you don't need to pay for me..."
Annika: "I don't, but I want to! Besides, its just a few bracelets, it's not that much" She also buys one last bracelet, and attempts to tie it around her tail. It's a nice little pink and white one.
Victoria smirks: "Fair enough." She looks about at the door: "Anything else in your mind?"
Annika: "Nope. Not for now. I'll get you into some pretty clothing yet though..." She rocks on her heels "Want to walk back to the wall?"
Victoria shrugs: "Sure, why not." She pauses: "...shouldn't really have left it in the first place, but what really happens out there?"
Annika: "Very little, I'm sure!"
Victoria starts heading back towards the wall, having enjoyed this little outing maybe more than she's willing to admit. A break from the monotony if nothing else...
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CARAVAN TRAIL - FAR NORTH OF RESPITE - LATE AFTERNOON
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Lianne Sparr is on her way back from Sarn to Respite. She finds the caravan uncomfortable and annoying, especially in the hotter climate of Aephix. Why is she even returning to Respite? She raises a webbed hand up to her sapphire necklace, holding it up infront of her eyes to stare at. 'You haven't cared about anyone since her.' She thinks to herself. 'Why Gareth?' Was he just a rebound, a relic from the past? Was any of this even worth it? Respite has nothing for her ambitions, career or opportunities. Perhaps, once she's kept her promise and warned Louma, she will simply just return to Sarn, or even her ocean home.
Narrator: The caravan itself is a small collection of supplies and civilians. It's what you'd expect from a normal trip to Respite, with a few guards just to ward off any common bandit attack.
Usid the Swift sits atop his mount as he leads his forces over the foot hills to the north of the foe. The tiny raptor wears the bone-armor over his body, with various feathers blades attached to further his intimidating appearance. The caravan sits before them, soft and unsuspecting. With a grin, he raises a small bone to his mouth and blows it like a whistle, and his infantry begins to pour over to strike. Their orders are simple. Take prisoners. Take supplies. Burn the rest. It is with great honor that the first strike is made by his hand.
Narrator: Some of the guards of the caravan take note of the whistle on the wind, idly looking over at it's source out of curiosity, though it quickly turns into alarm as they note the approaching force. Guards quickly get the attention of the other guards, the caravan stops. Soon, the guards have formed a line between the caravan and the approaching force, with their assortment of muskets, pistols and blunderbuss's raised. The civilians murmur as to what is going on, with a few peeking out the back of their enclosed dwelling to spot what is going on. It takes a moment for them to process, but soon the caravan finds itself in a deep unease. A select few draw their own weapons.
Lianne Sparr is one of these few, drawing her golden sai, as well as preparing her newly acquired magitech gizmos, moving to the end of the wagon, looking onward to assess the situation for herself before she decides to act.
Narrator: A substantial, if not massive, force of reptilian creatures riding raptors, charges the caravan. Though they're not quite an army in their own right, this force is definitely substantial enough to deal with the lightly defended caravan, and quickly a rain of spears is thrown into the front line of soldiers wielding weapons in resistance. Met with active aggression, the guards open fire on the attackers nearly in unison. A couple of them panic and scatter before firing, while the rest fire then scatter. Some are slow, or just even unlucky, and get caught by the rain of spears while trying to take cover behind the caravans. Spears pierce the soft canvas tops of the caravan, sailing right through and impaling supplies and indeed, civilians inside. The panic of hearing guns go off is quickly replaced with the panic and screams of loved ones being speared, and others quickly scrambling to leave the evidently unsafe interior of the wagons. Those willing to fight take up their arms alongside the remaining guards. The rest either remain in the wagons due to panic and fear, cower behind the wagons, or start to distance themselves from the wagons yet look on.
Lianne Sparr is among the first to leave, having seen the first spears cast for herself. Lianne has her sai at the ready, however she isn't like the others in the Caravan. Having in a split moment assessed the likelihood of if she'll survive assisting the caravan against this force, she decides that it'll be far more beneficial to her own survival if she simply leaves the caravan to its fate. She disembarks the wagon, looking to sprint away from the direction of the attackers immediately, though some of the civilians take note of her initiative and follow after her.
Narrator: The raptors quickly overwhelm the guards, taking a few causualties of course, but only a few fall to the gunfire, and their spears take more of the guards more quickly as the cavalry overruns the tents. Those civilians who stayed behind quickly find themselves being rounded up with spears and nets.
Usid spots the small group trying to escape, and with another whistle, points a group towards them, reining in his raptor to pursue them, leading his mount straight towards Lianne.
Narrator: The guards and their allies do their best to fight off the attackers, but ultimately fall. The remaining civilians, panicked and crying, some with questions, allow themselves to be rounded up. Those following Lianne quickly suffer similar fates.
Lianne Sparr herself, staying aware of her surroundings, continues to put as much distance between herself and the approaching attackers, though the exact moment that any one individual is upon her, she reflexively pirouettes to the side and reaches out a hand to grab the bone armour of the rider in order to forcibly yank them off the mount, then immediately leaping on the raptor herself.
Narrator: The raptor jockey gets pulled off the mount with a cry as Lianne grabs them, hitting the ground behind her with a thud and a low moan. The mount protests beneath her at the sudden shift in weight and the unfamiliar owner, trying to shake Lianne free as it rasps angrily. With a sour snarl, Lianne attempts to wrestle control over the beast with her free hand, though quickly loses her temper. With mere seconds until the others are upon her, and at risk of being knocked off completely, she stabs a sai into the raptor's rear, in an act of desperation. The raptor rears up, but begins to make an angry run forward at the rather harsh insistence of Lianne's sai.
Lianne Sparr is kicked forward by the raptor's intense jerk, forcing her to wrap her arms around the raptor's neck somewhat to stay on, almost falling off in the process. She has to spend the next moment righting herself before she can even consider figuring out how to control this damn thing.
Usid chuckles. Moving targets are always fun. Reaching into his rather ornate saddle to pull out an arrow with a strange looking tip mounted upon it. Flicking it against the stone flint upon his side, igniting the arrow, and takes aim for Lianne, launching the arrow at the retreating figure.
Narrator: The moment the arrow is fired, Lianne has barely managed to get herself upright. The arrow cleanly lodges itself into her thick wings, causing her to aggressively grunt out in pain and nearly fall off the mount again. While painful as fuck, at least there aren't any vital organs there. She glances over to the arrow now sticking partially through her, quickly taking note of the soft hissing sound, faint smoke, sensation of burning and the sheer weight of the part of the arrow on the back part of the arrow. Her split-second glance at the package the arrow conceals triggers an instinctive reaction to remove a hand from the mount and reach for her belt, quickly slapping at a magitech device. And then? Lianne explodes, smoke consuming her and the mount.
Usid raises the ridge of his eye in surprise, then laughs. "Ahahhahhah, boom! Boom!" He whistles for the others to finish rounding up the civilians as he rides towards the smoke to observe his kill, pulling out a spear to hold at the ready, just in case.
Narrator: Coughing and spluttering on the ground, Lianne is, remarkably, alive. The crystal powering the magitech device on her belt loses its hue, spent. Lianne's will is unbroken, though her body is struggling to keep pace, having to force her body past its limits just for the task of getting up, defiantly picking up her sai as she does so.
Usid rides through the smoke, spear raised as he spies Lianne's form struggling to stand back up. "Continue to struggle as you wish, it will only make your defeat all the sweeter, little morsel. You face one of Yzzayt's chosen, Usid the Swift. You should be honored."
Narrator: Through gritted teeth, barely able to stand, Lianne refuses to indulge in Usid's taunts, instead taking his gloating as a chance to act. She grabs another device from her belt between two fingers and a thumb, the other two keeping her sai held, using her other arm to pull her wing across her face, holding out the device just past her wing before pressing a button on it. Suddenly, the device emits a deafening crack, as loud as thunder, and emits a bright flash, as bright as lightning.
Usid's mount cries out at the sudden flash of light and sound, thrashing backward. Usid, however, seems surprisingly unaffected, taking the moment to leap from atop his mount to dive his spear into Lianne, laughing almost manically as he descends upon her.
Narrator: The crystal of this device similarly goes dull, it's charge spent for that one burst. Lianne had prepared to act after the flash, though had not expected the device to have no affect. Deprived of her own hearing, she doesn't know that Usid is descending on her until she moves her wing out from her face and opens her eyes to look. As a result, she catches the spear directly into her wing, pinning her to the ground. She cries out in pain and attempts to swing a foot up to kick Usid, though with rapidly diminishing strength, any edge she gains will be short-lived.
Usid takes the wild, desperate kick to the back, pushing him slightly off balance, but his tail whips around behind him to even him out quickly. The short raptor releases the spear, shifting his arm to let the bladed gauntlet upon his arm fall forward over his hand. He continues to laugh, "Full of surprises, eh? But I already told you, Yzzayt's Gift empowers me. You can't win." He punches Lianne with a vicious slash of the gauntlet.
Lianne Sparr attempts to free herself of the spear pinning her to the ground, grunting and pulling it out of her a moment before Usid starts his strike. She haphazardly rolls out of the way of Usid's incoming punch, flicking her venomous stinger out at him in counter-attack.
Usid misses his punch, looking up at the last moment to see the stinger coming. He dives into a roll to evade it, going in closer to kick at Lianne's side.
Narrator: The stinger was more or less Lianne's ace in the hole, to at least have the venom within avenge her own death. She still has a couple of tricks left, but she really wishes she'd kept that pistol right about now instead of trading it in for these gizmos. The kick lands, causing Lianne to grunt painfully once more, though she takes the punishment well as she reaches down for her belt again.
Usid is laughing again, knowing he's won, but thinking he's won completely. He's not the strongest soldier of the Chosen of Yzzayt, relying more on speed, blades, and an assortment of his own rigged up tools and explosives, but he's also enjoying tormenting this wayward captive a bit too much in the moment.
Narrator: Last tricks. Another small click of a button, and Lianne erupts into an inky black cloud of smoke. Sure, she's not going to get far, but that isn't the point. . .The point is to conceal the magitech explosive her other hand is drawing, activating, and then depositing in Usid's general direction before rolling away some more.
Usid curses at the sudden cloud of smoke obscuring his vision and depriving him his fun. He certainly does not notice the second device rolling his way, but before it can do anything, he gives a few short whistles summoning his mount back in pursuit of Lianne, the larger Raptor having slowly recovered from the thunderous assault from before.
Narrator: After five short seconds, the explosive detonates. Lianne herself has barely gotten anywhere - Enough to be out of the lethal blast radius of the explosive, but not much further. The force of the explosive, combined with her already exhausted body, renders her unconscious.
Usid is caught directly in the blast, throwing the little raptor backwards and landing him flat on his back. He groans, coming back to conciousness not much longer, his armor cracked and broken, blood running down his face. He begins to laugh again, "Ahhhh, good boom, good boom!" He carefully pushes himself back up, finding his raptor mount standing over the unconcious body of the ray. A wicked smile breaks across Usid's face. "But not big enough."
Narrator: The Caravan has been completely looted, the civilians rounded up, Lianne's unconcious body amongst them. Usid remounts his raptor and watches the remnants of his forces finish up. He smirks with sharp, predatory teeth as he fires another explosive arrow into the lead wagon, detonating it as his forces leave what's left to burn, an obvious signal to Respite. This is only the beginning.