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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - YZZAYT'S ABYSS - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Usid leads the group of his clan and Respite's scouts through the passages within the canyon walls. The clash of metal on metal can be heard faintly, as Fiora distracts Dyvrisse and the guards, buying them this opportunity. Usid and his warriors are all smaller raptors, surprisingly stealthy when traveling without mounts, as the group moves quickly and quietly through the canyon walls to reach the mines. His voice is low as he whispers, "Not much further. Doubt Dyvrisse would think we know this way in, and unlikely to guard it once we reach the mines."
Victoria has been following, easily keeping pace with Usid. The leopard has dropped all pretense of armor, being in just her usual hunting loincloth and chest wraps. If stealth is the game, any armor just gets in the way - she has currently more weapons than items of clothing on her. She glances steely at Usid: "How many are we dealing with?"
Annika really wanted to have nothing more to do with Usid, and had not been happy to need to work with, and by extension trust the raptor, but...she said she was here to help, and it seemed that enough people trusted Usid to send him here, and..well..she wasn't going to let her own feelings on the matter jeopardize it. Still, she was letting Victoria do the talking, and just focused on her own part. Her magics weren't hugely potent, but they were a ringer, to step in in case anyone might be glancing this way, and perhaps gently nudge their attention away.
Annika was also not in armour, though she had clothes on.
Usid hums, "No more than six at the end of this path. Less if your armored friend is doing her job. Usid has counted several dozens before when visiting Abyss. Better to sneak in, get prisoners, sneak out. Your chieftains, the Captains, told Usid no killing unless lives in danger."
Victoria gives a toothy, determined grin: "Fair enough. No killing unless we have to." She glances ahead, nodding: "Quick in, quick out, silence anyone who would raise an alarm. I hope these guys are as dim-witted as their flying friends."
Annika: "We can try to knock the guards out then" She nods "If we're against killing them"
Usid snorts. "Stupid Nyzai always called herself 'the Clever'. Dyvrisse... is clever. Quiet. Always thinking. Must be quick, before Dyvrisse realizes what is happening. Usid not see point of not killing enemies... Usid is... trying to play by Respite rules. Will knock out guards."
Victoria hums, grasping the hilt of one of her blades: "You'd be surprised what you can live through, though." She's not intending to kill. Much. Probably.
Annika: "I think the rule was no killing that isn't needed. I'm not interested in risking our own people to save a few lives of" She looks to Usid a moment "Slavers"
Usid carefully climbs over some rocks, motioning to others to avoid making noise in passing over it. "Usid will kill if any are in danger, yes. Your people and Usid's." He pauses, glancing back at Annika. "Slaves are... new to us. Do not know why Dyvrisse desired them. Never made sense to Usid."
Victoria glances at Annika and gives her a wink, before follow Usid up: "We can discuss the right and wrong of it afterwards. Show me where the guards are and I'll go deal with them."
Annika: "Right. I'll keep lookout. Make sure nothing goes wrong" She takes out her bow, and does a little finger wiggles, drawing out an arrow from thin air "I've been practicing. Don't worry if an arrow is coming at you. It won't hurt you"
Annika: "Uh..probably"
Annika: "Almost certainly.."
Victoria looks at Annika and gives the tiniest of sighs, before turning to spot out anyone who might get in her way.
Annika just gives a small smile in return, and a thumbs up! She's got this!
Usid slows as the grow closer to the entrance to the Abyss, the end of the path more or less a small boxed off area that isn't really an 'opening' or a door, but just a point where the canyon wall happens to decline less sharply into the Saur's base. He snorts, "Usid shall hope foxes's arrows find the right mark, then." Usid lays flat and crawls to the edge, then points. No guards directly beneath them, but four standing by the entrance to the mines. The rest stand upon the walls, cheering and calling out loudly at the spectacular fight upon the plain. "Two watching. Other two talking. Take out watchers first. Then talkers before they notice. Then we go down."
Annika: "How about Victoria takes out the Watchers, then you take the talkers.." If Usid is to be trusted..then best trust him, right? "I'll hang back, and pick off any that might get missed"
Usid glances at Victoria to confirm, giving her a nod.
Victoria glances at the cheering crowd, before turning back to the others. She looks for a suitable route to climb, which is really any not-completely-vertical-and-smooth surface, finds it and nods at the others. She turns to the side and starts climbing, soon finding herself above a watcher not terribly used to looking for threats from above by the looks of it.
Usid goes the low route, climbing down from their overlook and darting from shadow to shadow as he approaches the talkers. He has knives on his belt, but isn't out to kill, instead keeping a fist clenched. As he gets into position, he pauses to wait for Victoria to strike first.
Annika has an arrow drawn, ready to fire, as she scans the guard line. She has confidence in Victoria, and she supposes she'll save Usid too if needs be...
Victoria hangs above an unsuspecting watcher, a relatively small long-neck type... but not long enough to notice anything amiss. She drops on top of her, bashing her full power on that small cranium clearly not used for much. As the bigger watcher falls, she jumps from the falling Saur to their friend, a too-slow-to-react short brute with a thick head... but less thick throat. Seeing as the quiet part is important, Victoria decides to eschew the no-kill policy and just slits the Saur's throat with her machete. Quick, brutal and dirty. She then returns to her first victim and gives the fallen-but-recovering Saur a strong kick to the head. Both victims silenced and unable to watch anything, she crouches down and glances at the two left, who undoubtedly heard the bigger Saur falling if nothing else.
Usid is already moving as Victoria drops down. With a leap, he lifts his hands over his head, delivering a dual-fisted hammer blow to the first, his enhanced strength helping to fell the plain-looking reptilian Saur. The other, a hard-headed herbivore, is turning towards Victoria, bringing fingers up to blow a whistle in warning as Usid pounces from behind, bringing an arm around his neck and squeezing, cutting off any noise from struggling warrior and choking him out, until at last he collapses to the ground, unconcious. Usid glances back towards Annika and the others waiting, and signals them to come down, stealthily.
Victoria gives one more glance at the two fallen watchers, scoffs quietly then makes her way down without further sound. She may be the best hunter this side of anywhere, but even she has to admit she can't take on the crowd currently cheering for the duel beyond the walls. Well, probably.
Annika doesn't answer, she's being stealthy! She does however, turn back up beside the other two after a brief delay, nodding to them, before tilting her head towards the entrance. Time to continue?
Usid watches the crowd as well as the rest of the group reaches the mine entrance. He motions for a few of his clan to hide the bodies (dead and alive) just in case. Quietly, he nods towards the mine, and Victoria. "Take your team down, and get your people. Usid and his clan will guard the entrance until you return."
Victoria nods as she looks into the cave. She looks at Annika and the handful of other guards, motioning onward: "Let's go. Whoever down there gets in our way, I can deal with." Her blade is already bloodied, and it feels like it's thirsting for more. She doesn't air this notion, though.
Annika nods, and..frowns a little at Usid staying back, but this was the plan, and it was too late to object now. Arguing about it would do more harm than good anyway! "Okay, lets go" She bites her lip, and starts heading down. She's at least somewhat less bloodthirsty than Victoria...
Victoria glances at the crew with them, then starts stalking forward. Her companions know why they're here, and she's about as far from being a leader as possible anyway. She starts sniffing out for remaining Saurs instead, making her way forward.
Usid reaches out to Victoria, placing a hand upon her. "Wait!"
Victoria only barely stops herself from reacting with violence, snarling: "What?"
Usid drops his hand. "Careful in lower mines." He points towards some of the ore brought up to the surface, currently left unattended. "Yzzayt's breath. Touch the wrong way... Boom. Tread carefully."
Annika: "Okay.." She nods "Thanks for the heads up" She starts to head down in earnest. She's got good vision in the dark at least, so she won't need much light to function.
Victoria smirks, now definitely toothily: "Thanks." She heads down with Annika, likewise not needing nor caring about any light. For that matter, just about all of the small rescue crew that's not Usid's clan were chosen for their ability to see in little light... "We should probably start doing in some of the torches. Improve the odds."
Narrator: The mine has no gate or barrier, it's an open stone corridor, sloping downward. As hoped, guards are scarce within the mine. The stone platforms they usually attend are empty, and what few guards remain aren't paying much attention, instead grumbling to themselves about 'having to miss the big fight'. The captives held in the upper mines are currently penned into their usual sleeping areas, large stones shackled to their legs, with only one tired guard 'watching' over them.
Annika doesn't leave this one to chance, once she sees the guard, she takes out her bow, and smoothly draws, and fires an arrow in a single motion, aiming for the head, as she's drawing, she nods to Victoria to get forward, in case he's falling down. She doesn't even want the sound of a thump to the ground to alert anyone.
Victoria glances at Annika, then starts quickly stalking forward, the leopard all but vanishing into the deep shadows of the cave despite her fur colors. Is she on all fours at this point? Who can tell. Soon enough she's close enough to the lone guard, or at least Annika can be reasonably sure that's where she went.
Narrator: The guard glances up as the torch fades, his own eyes not terribly well adjusted to the dark. He mumbles to himself 'First one thing then ano-' and Annika's arrow finds its mark, the body beginning to slump down for Victoria to rise up to catch it. A few startled voices rise up from the Respite citizens, uncertain what new misery is about to befall them.
Annika quickly dashes to the bars, and she peeks through, and puts a glowing hand below her face, to show herself, she's looking around for any that recognize her, and give a smile. She's a delivery fox, so she's gotten to know a decent chunk of people in her time. Particularly in the surrounding area, as those would be the ones most likely to need a delivery.
Victoria stalks close to the guard, taking his fall just enough for him to not make a mark... and making sure he does not make any noise either. Once the Saur is down, she motions towards the other Respite Guards. After that, she takes her machete to rather unsubtly break the crude lock of the gate before turning to see if other Saurs heard any of that.
Narrator: The Respite folks who had been working the upper mines look tired and thin, and it takes a moment before one of the farmers raises his voice in recognition, "Annika?" This, and seeing Victoria break the lock, is enough to get them up on their feet, as the first group of Respite's rescue team quickly heads in, breaking the leg chains as quickly and quietly as possible before moving to guide these people back up to the surface. Victoria's watch is met with silence, for the moment, as it seems no other guards heard.
Victoria nods at the rescued folks with satisfaction, but then directs her attention elsewhere. She nods at Annika: "They've got this. Let's go find the rest."
Annika puts her fingers to her lips "I'm the delivery girl~" She confirms "And someone ordered a lot of innocent people to be delivered to Respite" She keeps an eye out as everyone was freed "Okay. Everyone is going to need to be super quiet. One hand on the person in front of you, and don't freak out, but..there's some Saurs helping us get you out, okay?" She drops the smile for a moment "You might have feelings about that, but lets sort those feelings out when we're all safe, okay?"
Narrator: Several of the farmers and folks who recognize Annika give quiet thanks as they head out of the holding pen, guided by the first group of Respite's guards. There's some confusion over Annika's words, but there's a general agreement. One old Shepard who seems to be in the best health, and who knows Annika well, nods. "We'll do our best. There's more folks down below... be careful. We don't see the folks down there once they're taken below." He turns and seems to take command of the prisoners, and starts working with the Guards to help everyone get them out. The rest of the Guards form up with Victoria, preparing to go deeper into the mines.
Annika: "Okay. Stay safe. We're going deeper" She gives a wink "We'll be back soon, okay?"
Victoria growls as she hears the farmer's words. She tenses up, then starts stalking downwards, blades unsheathed. Her tail swishes slowly as she goes low, only somewhat checking if any of the others are following. Upon spotting another lone Saur guard, she gets as close as she is able (which in the darkness, is rather close) and pounces!
Narrator: The path way deeper into the mines twists into the darkness. The upper mines, glittering and almost beautiful, if not for the dire circumstances, were torch lit. When Victoria and the others turn into the second corridor, the glittering and the torches stop. Instead, the tunnel is lit by strange, green-glowing lichen, gathered into jars, with small insects feeding on it and emitting a gentle glow of their own. There's also a faint smell that grows stronger as they go deeper, like the smell of burning metal, or much too strong cleaning supplies. In the darkness, keen eyes can make out up ahead, where a minecart has been upended, and a Saur is attempting to hide behind it, waiting for them to draw closer to spring an ambush.
Annika has the answer for this one. She focuses, and pulls out an 'illusion' arrow, and draws it slowly, before firing it. It's an illusion, so it just breezes through the minecart, but once it exits, and is moving through the Saur, it becomes quite real!
Victoria looks up from the poor Saur she just unceremoniously stabbed in the back that she's now crouching over. She squints at what Annika is doing, not quite understanding. Regardless, she follows towards the fox, not giving her most recent blade-bloodier any further thought.
Narrator: One Saur falls quickly and quietly to Victoria's blades, and the one waiting in ambush cries out in shock at the arrow that seemingly impossibly lodges itself in his chest. beyond them, there's no remaining opposition. The lower mines look clearly less cared for, and soon enough they find a similar looking cave penned off containing the remaining prisoners. There's less than up above, some of the people sporting nasty injuries, or having clearly been neglected.
Victoria makes sure any remaining guards stay down, unconscious or otherwise, then starts locating the remaining prisoners and breaking their shackles where need be.
Annika keeps her cool as she sees the injured, tilting her head to the Saurs following, and giving them directions, to focus on those that are hurt, and won't be able to move quickly "This is a rescue. These saurs are with us. Please, don't panic..we don't have much time" She bites her lip, and..there's too little time. She knows they'll be traumatized by being carried by those that had hurt them, and so she uses a small charm..just to sooth, and calm them. She doesn't like it at all!
Narrator: These people definitely seem worse for wear, and are already more than a little hurt, exhausted, and going to need any help they can get to be carried out of the mines. Some shy away in fear as Victoria breaks their chains, and as the guards from Respite, alongside those of Usid's clan who journeyed down begin to aid them, they definitely begin to panic, only for Annika's magic to dull their reactions, the anxiety subsiding, as they accept the aid more passively, calmed down for the moment.
Victoria finishes searching the cave but finds no more prisoners... alive ones, that is. Her expression is grim but resolved: "...I think we are done here, Annika."
Annika: "Okay, lets leave..and..try not to think about this until we're all safe, okay?"
Victoria just growls in reply, leaving the helping of the prisoners to the other, more compassionate and less-currently-pissed-off Guards. She kicks at a dead Saur, as though to make clear her thoughts.
Narrator: The people move, the guards aiding them along, back up and out of the lower mines, and back up, following the tracks out as quickly as they dare with these injured folks. It sounds like the battle still rages out in the plains, though the Saurs confident cheers have turned to uncomfortable mumbling, uncertainty, and hatred directed towards Dyvrisse's opponent, who apparently just doesn't have the decency to die. The first wave of prisoners have already been retreated back up to the path they came in, with Usid still standing guard.
Annika doesn't say anything to Usid, she just gives him a nod. He's not forgiven, but..this..this helps.
Victoria gives Usid a nod and barely stifles the urge to spill more Saur blood up on the walls, giving a low growl. It will take a moment or three before the agitated leopard calms down.
Narrator: Usid holds the back of the line as Annika and Victoria get the last of their people out of the Abyss, and back up to the paths to lead them back to Respite's camp. He brings up the retreat, daggers held out as he backs up against the wall, then turns and climbs up last, leaving the Abyss behind them.