| Welcome to our home, a world in which anything can happen. From sprawling deserts and vast forests to massive volcanoes and luscious hot springs, Soare and the Scattered Isles are beautiful places just waiting to be explored. For the brave and the bold or the cautious and the wary, creatures of all kinds roam the earth, looking for adventure or for a place to call their own. Species of all kinds - the well-known and the unknown - thrive here, though not always in harmony. Elenlond is an original medieval fantasy RPG with a world that's as broad as it is unique. Calling on characters of all kinds, the sky's the limit in a world where boundaries are blurred and the imagination runs rampant. Restrictions are limited and members are encouraged to embrace their creativity, to see where they can go and what they can do. It's no longer just text on a page - it becomes real. Enter Our World |
| A Blade Wet With The Shadows Of Memory; T'riss Despath :> | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Oct 23 2011, 08:48 PM (313 Views) | |
| Shrista | Oct 23 2011, 08:48 PM Post #1 |
![]()
Pariah, Apostate, Heretic
![]()
|
[Five Years Ago] Water was dripping somewhere close, the steady patter resounding in echoes that bounced off the walls and far into the darkness. Walls of dark stone and earth, laced with minerals glistening dully whenever a light caught it, slid greasily across the surface. They were quiet yes, very quiet, feet pattering softly on the packed earthen floor of the 'Road', but the soft footfalls still sounded loud to her ears, the creak of leather harness and armour, the faintest jingle of metal and clack of chitinous plates clacking together as the House Guards trooped along steadily enough ahead and behind, the only light illuminating their passage dimly, coming from a small orb following them overhead, the size of a man's fist. Things lurked down here that no man, if he was lucky, would encounter. But lucky usually entailed never stepping foot outside his home. Things that could kill you in a heartbeat of looking at you, things that perhaps, you couldn't even see. They'd already lost two of the men earlier when a fissure had opened in the narrow ravine they'd had to take to avoid a group of Duergar travelling on the road in unfamiliar colours. For all they knew, they could have been foe as much as friend, and down here, nothing was too careful. Even your closest allies could turn on you and shove a knife between your shoulderblades. It hadn't been the fissure that had killed them however but the unseen, a strong gust of toxic fumes and heat seeping out before they could move fast enough to get away from it. She'd watched with nothing more than chagrin and a little frustration as they'd collapsed without even drawing a blade, grasping their throats and gurgling, choking as they fell to their knees, then the floor. No time to give them honest burials, she had heeled her mount forwards, claws clicking in the pressing quiet, forcing the rest of the House Guards to keep pace. They were eight now, not including herself and the Red Sister accompanying them. Personally she'd hoped that the Sister had been one of those to succumb to the toxin, or at least some unfortunate accident during their travels. No such luck. After uttering a few short prayers to Lolth to guide their spirits safely home, the had turned away and continued onwards into the dark. Into the silence, now only miles gone, broken by the trickle of water that she didn't remember having been there on the way to Ched Nasad. Truthfully they didn't so much need the light, with them all having darkvision, but it was safer this way, lest the Road had changed again. The last thing they needed was another crack opening up and half the squad gone before they knew it. Shrista held a hand up to halt and heeled her mount, a great raptor scaled in grey with a slash of red across it's flanks, forward ahead of the party, the light above her head winking out suddenly and plunging them all into darkness, leaving them to shift uncomfortably. She herself had decided against the robes of the High Priestess and was clad in mail much like that of a cleric's, overlapping plates of chitin and thick grey velvet with a cloak of soft grey dyed spider's silk, the emblem of Lolth embroidered in bright silver. Richer than a regular cleric certainly, but she wasn't a simple battle priest. Her hair too, fell in a long pale twist in the dark, tied with silver adornments like webbing. "You there, male. Scout the pass ahead." On his return and murmured report, she urged her ride forwards past him, leaving the company to follow after. Tilting her head to one side, she pulled up short and stood in the stirrups, pressing a hand against the rubble that blocked the pass, her face twisting in anger before she smoothed her expression to one of calmness again. It appeared the ceiling had given, yet on their passage through not two days hence, it had been solid and unyielding. The Red Sister Ayune did not miss the suspicious glance Shrista cast at her, and returned the gaze impassively, her face refusing to yield the tiniest scrap of information. "The road is blocked. I detect no sorcery but it doesn't look natural. We'll have to go around." Ayune hissed, one hand caressing the scabbard on her hip and cast her eyes off into the gloom. "If we leave the road we'll surely be attacked! This smells like a trap to me, don't you think?" "Yes. It does. But what choice is there? We do not have the time to shift this much debris, and it may be more than just this part of the roof that is collapsed. Unless you hold fear of wetting your blade?" The Red Sister bared her teeth, to the priestess' satisfaction, but said nothing, folding her arms across her chest and glaring out watchfully at the dark. Truthfully Shrista liked this no better than any of them, it positively oozed danger. Many of the Underdark's inhabitants were intelligent as well as vicious, using that cunning to draw their prey close until it was too late to escape the jaws of such a trap. Uncertainty ruled for a moment before she shook her head, a pale lock of hair falling across her eyes. "Truly dear sister, I have much unease since departing. I am sure you know that already however." Tucking her hair behind her ear she cast a disarming smile at the hostile woman and turned off the path, fingering the whip coiled around the horn of her saddle in front of her, within easy reach. Long had she wondered on the reason for sending her to Ched Nasad instead of some subordinate, and as to why the Matron Mother had insisted on one of her personal bodyguards to accompany them as well. She suspected treachery, perhaps an alliance behind her back, and would not honestly be surprised. It wasn't exactly the subtlest ploy she'd ever encountered from her own kind. She would however, keep it to herself. The last thing she was about to do would be to instil a fear into the House Guards, all of which she noted, were young, and didn't look to have been outside Menzoberranzan itself too often either. Hand picked no doubt. Inwardly she cursed and sawed the reins a moment to make the raptor turn off the road. If she hadn't been so desperate to get away from the temple a little while, she might have looked harder at them before they even reached Ched Nasad. Edited by Shrista, Oct 23 2011, 09:12 PM.
|
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| T'riss Despath | Oct 24 2011, 04:21 PM Post #2 |
|
Z'hin maglust dal Qu'ellar lu' Valsharess zhah z'hin wund l' phalar. (To walk apart from House and Queen is to walk into the grave.)
![]()
|
It was important to keep surprises to a minimum as a Drow warrior, and even more so as a Half-drow warrior. You could not afford to be surprised by much of anything, because surprises generally came in the form of knives or other sharp objects meant to do you harm in the darkness. T'riss had learned at a very young age to try to be prepared for anything, but he couldn't very well prepare himself when he'd been chosen to be a part of the House Guard that accompanied the Red Sister Ayune and the High Priestess Shrista to Ched Nasad. Of course, T'riss immediately regarded the assignment as being one that was meant to test him or kill him. Well, perhaps it was both considering he would pass the test if he did not die on the journey through the Underdark. He was, by far, the youngest in their group even if he did not appear to be at first glance. Like the others, he wore the lightweight, House Guard armor which covered his chest, back, and shoulders while leaving his arms and legs free for quick movement. T'riss looked to be about the same age at the other Guards, but considering that he aged at close to the same rate as a Human T'riss was much younger than his 'peers'. However, at a mere twenty-one years under his belt, T'riss was still capable. The simple fact that he was still alive after twenty-one years was a testament to his ability to at least survive. T'riss knew the others expected him to be one of the first to die if there would be deaths, but that was proven to not be the case after the first two perished after inhaling toxic fumes. He'd been quick enough to get past the weakened area of the road before the fumes escaped, and T'riss planned to keep his wits about himself so that he could pass this test or whatever it was. The road being blocked caused the others and T'riss to look around for possible reasons for the collapse. A trap was very likely, and the predator who set the trap did not necessarily have to be Drow or even Humanoid in form. Creatures of the Underdark were intelligent creatures after years of surviving and fighting Drow and other races that lived beneath the surface. Of course, T'riss felt Drow were plenty capable of protecting themselves or they would not have survived this long. Even in his own mind that put him at a disadvantage: His sight was not as keen in the dark even if he could see clear enough to fight and use his bow, he was not as fast or strong, and he had less experience considering his shorter lifespan. However, T'riss was not one to worry so much about pros and cons, it was simply 'obey orders'. Honestly it made things much easier. Bow in hand and sword on his back, T'riss moved in silence with the rest of the group and his amber eyes scanned their surroundings for any sign of danger. Of course, here in the Underdark, seeing was generally the first sign that you were dead. T'riss glanced up only once to peer at the High Priestess, but even in his quick glance he did not make eye contact. Even if he was on this mission to Ched Nasad T'riss did not have a death wish. |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| Shrista | Oct 24 2011, 05:55 PM Post #3 |
![]()
Pariah, Apostate, Heretic
![]()
|
A light now was too risky going off the road, although it would be useful to them for a short time to keep the attackers away, at the same time it would give away their position and draw anything lurking out there, hungry and hopeful, towards them. Which would of course be very very bad. Sighing she waited as the company formed up around herself and the Sister, and started off the road, moving as cautiously and quietly as possible. Occasionally as they travelled around the blocked pass she thought she heard muted chitters, the faintest clacking off somewhere, hidden, perhaps waiting. Sometimes the pale phosperence of fungi huddled at the base of a wall casting a sickly glow upon them, and once in passing these, the glitter of many-faceted eyes watching. The paranoia though it was irritating and stressful was not unfounded, but for a moment Shrista wished they lived somewhere else, somewhere where watching one's back, front and everything else was not constantly necessary. Once we take back our rightful place on the surface there shall be no more of this. Let them have their darkness and keep it. A loud shuffling noise, like claws scuffing on stone sounded close to their right and she pulled up short as Ayune grabbed her bridle, the tension around the younger woman's eyes visible as the tension in the air was palpable. "This is foolish, we should turn back, if we don't, we'll be dog-chow before we even reach the road!" Shrista lay the reins across the saddle and turned to glare at the Red Sister, chin raised pridefully just that fraction of an inch, refusing to acknowledge the furtive glances of the House Guards around them. "I am well aware the trouble we are in Sister. We however, are the People of Lolth. She will guide us in these dark times, and bring us safely to the other side. We are strong, and can protect ourselves. We've been doing it for centuries...if you lack the spine to continue, then by all means..." Waving one hand vaguely at the track they had left far back, she turned her icy gaze away, and drew her dagger in her right hand, uncoiling the whip around her saddle with her left. The three snakes hissed and snapped at each other as they stirred to life at the touch, weaving sinuously in the dark, tiny tongues flicking, questing. "Arm yourselves. We have seen and heard enough to know we are not alone." Beside her the Red Sister released the bridle, allowing the priestess to steer the lizard with her knees, and drew her own knives with barely a glance at the older woman, face setting into grim determination. How green behind the ears. Each and every one of them. |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| T'riss Despath | Oct 24 2011, 06:40 PM Post #4 |
|
Z'hin maglust dal Qu'ellar lu' Valsharess zhah z'hin wund l' phalar. (To walk apart from House and Queen is to walk into the grave.)
![]()
|
T'riss could feel the unease of the other House Guards around him, and he would be stupid to say that he was not slightly worried. However, he did take the words of the High Priestess to heart. Lolth would protect them if she saw fit to, and if not then they were obviously not strong enough to carry out her will. Religious thoughts were brought to a close as more noises were heard nearby, and his gaze turned in that direction immediately. T'riss shouldered his bow and instead pulled free his sword from where it was stowed on his back. He held it at a defensive position as he lowered his stance a little to prepare for whatever hellish creature would attack them. He would have a better chance of survival as they were more than likely going to come up against a creature at close combat. He trusted his sword more than the quickness of his hands to reach an arrow. Another sign of movement was heard from another angle, and T'riss turned his head in that direction next to try and catch a glimpse of whatever was hunting them. Unless the creature was particularly swift, there was more than one of these creatures around them at the moment. Considering their group size, the creatures either had to have larger numbers than they had or the creatures themselves were simply larger to feel confident enough to stalk them. T'riss moved into formation with the other Guards as they'd all been taught, but glancing to each side of him he could tell the Drows were feeling fear. It was not that T'riss was unafraid, no, but he was able to forget his fear in that he had a job to perform and he could not cower like a child and perform his duty at the same time. Therefore, fear was cast aside. Something shuffled nearby, and before T'riss could look one of the Guards were picked off from the back of their line and dragged screaming into the darkness and away from the rest of the group. It wasn't long before the scream was cut off abruptly. If they were to die here, at least it seemed it was to be a swift death. |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| Shrista | Oct 25 2011, 02:50 PM Post #5 |
![]()
Pariah, Apostate, Heretic
![]()
|
Something snatched one of the Guards up and dragged him from the group, faster than they could have expected, his screams abruptly cutting off and sending shivers down her spine. The lizard beneath her balked in fear, huffing loudly as it caught the scent of whatever it was now plucking at their defenses. "Kri'sha dosst solen!" Cover your eyes! Throwing one hand above her head, light exploded outwards from the tiny globe, searingly bright in the familiar dark and making her eyes burn and water. There was a chorus of loud frenzied clacking and chittering mixed with wails and shrieks as large forms tried to turn away, their large insectile eyes glittering malevolently in their bird-faces. Through blurred vision Shrista lashed out at the nearest, tines of her whip cracking over it's beak as one of the men pierced the soft underbelly with his sword, wincing at the sticky fluid that splashed from the new opening. She would keep the light up, for now. It may hinder them slightly, but it hindered the enemy just as much, and now wiping her eyes with the back of her dagger-bearing hand, she recognized them. Only once had she ever encountered them, many years ago, and they had all but been driven out of the surrounding land around the city, down towards the Middle-dark. Hook-horrors, nine feet tall with the tough chitinous plate body of a beetle and softer hide stomachs, the clawed feet of a bird, as well as the head containing the pale bulbous eyes. And their most distinguishing feature, two enormous hooked blades, one from each wrist joint on their stubby deformed arms, like the wings of a flightless bird. Double edged, serrated, and incredibly sharp. Intelligent too, but slow. Slower than Drow at any rate. In the barest glance she counted four, though there could be more loitering back there out of sight. A family then, for them to hunt together as such. They probably had young somewhere as well...a fine prize for the matron, no doubt. "Thrityh! Jous mina nau ka'lith!" Attack! Show them no mercy! |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| T'riss Despath | Oct 26 2011, 05:45 PM Post #6 |
|
Z'hin maglust dal Qu'ellar lu' Valsharess zhah z'hin wund l' phalar. (To walk apart from House and Queen is to walk into the grave.)
![]()
|
Like the others, T'riss shielded his eyes from the light. However, his eyes were able to adjust slightly faster than the others and did not burn quite as much with the drastic change from darkness to light. His eyes widened when he saw the Hook-horrors, and he could feel his body tense instinctively in fear. He'd only heard stories and read about the creatures, and he was sure that was how it was for the others around him. There was that moment of shock and awe that the group of House Guards experienced, but all were snapped out of their distracted state by the High Priestess' command. T'riss tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword before he charged with the other Guards. The light had caused the Hook-horrors to back off a little, and the battle cries of the Drow warriors simply added to that. However, the creatures were soon attacking as well. T'riss moved to duck under a blade and he parried another hook with his sword. The Hook-horror was not only taller, but the weight behind the attacks was enough to shake his bones. T'riss managed to avoid another attack and with a strong swing, his blade cut along the soft underbelly of the creature and with a screech the animal staggered away before falling into the darkness. If it wasn't dead now it would be soon. T'riss turned his attention to another and could now see that others were not as lucky as he'd been. However, with each Hook-horror fought back that meant the remaining ones were more outnumbered by Drow. |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| Shrista | Oct 27 2011, 12:17 PM Post #7 |
![]()
Pariah, Apostate, Heretic
![]()
|
Shrista found herself impressed at the training displayed in several of the House Guards, despite that she often snuck away during the day in plainer clothes to watch them practicing in the yards. It wasn't that she longed to return to such a simple position...that wouldn't be proper. She just missed the weighty feel of a blade in the hand, the smooth unision as the whole troop moved as one. Yes that was all. They were young but not all were as unfortunate as the one who'd been dragged into the dark before he was given a chance to fight for his life. She watched as one of men carved a nasty gash in it's hide, fluid spraying briefly as it shrieked and staggered away from them. Others were not so fortunate, the nearest to her suddenly impaled, the giant serrated blade protruding from between his shoulder blades, the other cutting deep into her mount's neck. It staggered for a moment, then fell as she rolled clear, lest she be crushed beneath it, and the light flickered and went out in the distraction. Wails and the clash of steel, chittering and gnashing all about them, she pushed herself up as someone loomed over her for a moment, but it was only the Red Sister, clutching a blade in her hand, her cunning face unreadable. "Ayune!" The drow turned, avoiding the full force of the blow as a hulking form slashed at the woman's back, the blade slicing mostly through the air and catching her side as it passed with a high whistle and she dropped like a sack of rocks. Shrista swallowed and scooted backwards as the hook clanged off the floor, once, twice, scrambling to avoid it and recoiling when her hand found something soft. A face, lips wet with the warm stickiness of blood. Her own foxish visage twisting in horror and disgust she snatched her hand back as a long rent in her cloak was shredded, the pull on her shoulders reminding her once again of the very real danger breathing down her neck. Huddling, she looked up at the luminous, bulbous eyes, mouth slightly open as she uttered a word with the barest breath. "Flurry." The creature howled as the air around it came to life, a thousand tiny whispers of wind like the pattering of hundreds of tiny wings, and dozens of tiny cuts began opening across its body, gradually becoming worse. It only lasted a few seconds until it dropped. Perhaps dropped isn't the right word, burst was more akin to the sudden spray of fluid and organs as it was quite literally ripped apart, and the High Priestess felt the faint pressure on her chest before it lifted, taking it's price in strength. Strength that she would no doubt need to help their troop recover, if any remained. The fighting seemed to be dying down for now, but where there was one, there were always more as the saying went. Well here they had four. There were likely more back at their nest, with the young, of not a second hunting party lurking out there. One was more than enough. Getting to her feet unsteadily, Shrista glanced from the fallen Red Sister to the Guards. Priority dictates that she should see to the females first, but what good had Ayune been, simply standing there. She would lose much face for this when they got back, she would see to it personally. If she had helped there would have been less death here today. Flicking a little of the sticky fluid from her filthy form with her hand, she turned her back on the Sister and made her way towards the men instead, and the last hook-horror. |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| T'riss Despath | Oct 27 2011, 02:44 PM Post #8 |
|
Z'hin maglust dal Qu'ellar lu' Valsharess zhah z'hin wund l' phalar. (To walk apart from House and Queen is to walk into the grave.)
![]()
|
T'riss fought alongside his fellow Guards, but even those numbers were getting smaller. In order to get to the weak spot of their enemy they had to be within close range of the creatures. This had led to all of them either being injured or possibly dead if not fast enough. The Hook-horrors seemed to learn about them as well, and had been sizing them up in the battle. Their cunning showed in how none of the remaining Guards had gone unscathed. Each of the Drows around him were bleeding from some cut or gash from the Hook-horror's sharp 'wings'. T'riss himself had a cut across his chest after being too slow to avoid an attack completely. It was not enough to slow him down...yet, but it was bleeding. The creature had managed to slice through his armor which told him that if he'd been even a little slower he would have been much worse off than just a little blood. Fatigue was another issue. The Hook-horror's attacks were all strong which were aided by their size and stature above the Drows, and it was showing in how they were being knocked back so easily even by one of the creatures. Keeping in some semblance of a formation was getting more and more difficult. T'riss certainly hoped that there were not more Hook-horrors hiding out in the darkness which increased as the High Priestess' light went out. That caused him to look over his shoulder to check and make sure the High Priestess was still alive. His attention returned to his opponent, though and he was nearly knocked down but he kept his footing and blocked the downward strike, locked a serrated edge of his own blade with the serrated edge of the Hook-horror's, twisted, and nearly managed to get close enough to the soft underbelly, but was knocked backwards by the second blade. T'riss had barely managed to bring his blade up in time to block, and so with his focus on that he ended up on his back and scrambling to get back on his feet to avoid getting impaled. |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| Shrista | Oct 27 2011, 05:34 PM Post #9 |
![]()
Pariah, Apostate, Heretic
![]()
|
One of the Guards was locked in desperate combat with the last one, and now seemed to be on the losing side of it, the others clustering and getting a strike in where they could, few that they were now, and all of them injured in some way or another. Well, at least they're alive, more than could have been expected in this situation...and those that live will grow to be stronger. Blades, all of them, and none truly tall enough to reach...well perhaps she could lend a helping hand without getting in the way too much. If she darted in and started stabbing with her knife, no doubt she'd be made into mincedmeat as surely as those swallowed into the dark had been. But she did have one advantage. Cracking her whip against the stone floor she circled around until she was at T'riss' back, focused and waiting for an opening. As she passed she murmured encouragement to him, one hand drawing back angled away from her, the snapping tines of her priest weapon hissing. "Keep it up. You're doing well." The strength exerted to ward off those blows must be incredible in itself, and she could see fatigue was wearing at him, as well as the others. Poised, she flicked her wrist hard, not as accurately as she had liked but it still caught one of the beast's eyes. Shrieking as the tough hide bit into the soft flesh it recoiled, and she stepped back, wishing to put her hands over her ears at this range. The length of her whip had the advantage over the swords when it came to hitting the face but all she'd managed to do was blind one eye. Still, it was better than nothing, taking these things without the strength-eating magic required at least more than one person. She couldn't recall any who'd ever accomplished it solo without some aid of magic or ambush. |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| T'riss Despath | Oct 28 2011, 07:55 AM Post #10 |
|
Z'hin maglust dal Qu'ellar lu' Valsharess zhah z'hin wund l' phalar. (To walk apart from House and Queen is to walk into the grave.)
![]()
|
T'riss was somewhat surprised at the compliment. In all honesty he was not used to them, but of course that came with training. You were not complimented on a job well done...You were to take surviving another day as your reward and you were to come back the following day with the mindset of either learning a new skill or strengthening the ones you had already accomplished in prior days. His thoughts could not dwell on such things for long, though, and he moved into more of a defensive position as the High Priestess was behind him. T'riss' eyes were barely able to see the whip as it lashed out, but he could see the result. He winced a bit at the creature's shriek pierced his ears and left them ringing even after the Hook-horror was finished wailing. It covered it's face for a moment as if collecting itself through it's pain, but before any of them could exploit it's moment of weakness the Hook-horror had struck out again. T'riss moved to brace himself with his sword protecting his side as one of the blades sliced at him sideways. Even though the creature now had a large blind spot it was still managing attacks at all of them simply because of it's size. He lowered his stance, but even with his feet set wider he was still moved to the side from a hit that felt like it rattled his teeth. However, he stayed sharp because the others had moved to use the creature's blind spot to their advantage and he was not going to move from his position between the Hook-horror and the High Priestess. Her survival was most important out of the rest of them. |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| Shrista | Oct 29 2011, 10:06 AM Post #11 |
![]()
Pariah, Apostate, Heretic
![]()
|
((Sorry for uninspired post, I'm really distracted, it's been raining since last night and I love the rain, always get super distracted like I'm meant to be doing something on rainy days. o_0)) At movement behind them, Shrista turned, split cloak rustling as it whirled and clung to her back, the other part fluttering desperately. With a disgusted noise she reached up and unlatched the delicate crystal pin holding it shut and put it in a pocket, letting the ruined garment fall to the ground, more to avoid it hampering any movement. Kicking it aside away from T'riss so it wouldn't get in his way either, she pressed her back against his, lending support and leveling her knife at the dark behind them, hand only slightly shaking. Something was out there. Maybe it ate Ayune. It would be a weight off her mind if it did. She didn't think they could last much longer if more arrived, as well as they had done so far, they were fatigued, and still had to make it back to the city as well. "Lolth protect and guide us in our hour of desperation, for we call upon you to watch over us lest we die in your name and our souls be lost in the Abyss. Guide us home to your arms. Guide us to our salvation..." The prayer rolled off her tongue without so much as a thought, soft as a whisper and barely heard, but uttering it made her feel more sure of herself, and positive their faith would pull them through. That did not lessen the tension in her back however, the fear in her veins. She was not afraid to die, but to be one of those who would wander, lost. The Red Sister had been watching them, and stepped now from the shadows, an odd smile on her face, toying with the shortsword, the blade resting flat on her other hand. The Priestess' eyes followed her as she approached, apparently helping the troops. That a female could stoop so low was a disgust. There was barely a moment to react as she stopped in front of the woman, almost close enough to touch, but for the fact she was pointing a knife at her. "You can stop pointing that thing at me now." "You could get off your arse and help us you slovenly wench!" The Sister's eyes widened a bare fraction before narrowing to slits. A priestess she may be but they hadn't cured her of her soldier's tongue it seemed. Perhaps she should cut it out after all, it would be enjoyable just to watch her squirm as she lost everything. Ordered of course. It was duty. Stepping within range she deflected the jabbing blade but before she could make her own attack Shrista had flung herself at her, sending them both down hard onto the stony earth and driving the wind from her lungs, rolling a short distance until she came to a halt, still grasping shortsword firmly in hand. Her opponent she could see was already on her feet, watching her guardedly and circling, her whip lying beside the fighting group. "You know, you could have been more subtle about it. You're not very good at this." |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| T'riss Despath | Oct 30 2011, 11:16 AM Post #12 |
|
Z'hin maglust dal Qu'ellar lu' Valsharess zhah z'hin wund l' phalar. (To walk apart from House and Queen is to walk into the grave.)
![]()
|
T’riss could hear the movement behind, but couldn’t turn to look as his focus was stuck on the Hook-horror. It seemed to be calculating something, and T’riss didn’t like that at all. It was an intelligent creature and so far it had adjusted to each attack, but right now it didn’t seem to be looking at him. He wasn’t sure which it was looking at, the whip or the High Priestess herself, but T’riss could tell the Hook-horror knew who had taken its eye. His back straightened a little more as he felt the support of Shrista behind him. He glanced quickly over his shoulder to make sure it was the High Priestess, and the slight surprise showed on his face once more. T’riss could only hear part of what Shrista said, but he could tell she was praying simply from the tone used and how her words flowed. However, T’riss’ attention was caught and his gaze moved up to the Red Sister. He could recognize loathing when he saw it. T’riss knew from their journey alone that the two females did not get along, and it was deadly for anyone else to get involved in their quarrel. However, right now was terrible timing for them to take out their aggression on one another. T’riss was not one to suggest ‘teamwork’ or anything like that, but their situation was already dire. Adding to it was not on T’riss’ list of things to do at the moment. His attention on the females’ fight was taken by the Hook-horror which seemed to recognize Shrista’s voice now. It tried to scuttle around T’riss, but the Half-drow was naturally faster even though he was tired. He moved to block another attack made by the Hook-horror which seemed annoyed now that T’riss was in its way. Ducking low, T’riss placed one hand on the floor to brace himself and his blade was scraping on the ground as one of the creature’s blades whistled almost silently over his head. Once the blade was past, he pushed up with his hand and forced his body to move forward and he swung upwards with his blade at the juncture of the Hook-horrors’ wing and body with quite a lot of effort which also showed in his voice as he growled with the effort. The appendage fell to the ground with a dull thud, but it was not heard as the creature screamed in pain. It seemed to be contemplating taking revenge on the Half-drow for removing its arm for a moment, but then seemed to think better of it and quickly scuttled into the darkness. T’riss contemplated following it and finishing it off, but instead he made sure the creature was gone before turning. His eyes traveled to the whip lying on the ground before he watched the females fully. It was obvious the young male was unsure of what to do in this situation so he simply remained silent and stood by to catch his breath a little. Fatigue was starting to weigh down his muscles more now, and he thought about stowing his blade on his back to give his arms a rest but considering the fight going on and the possibility of other creatures possibly lurking in the darkness T’riss felt he needed to keep it ready just in case he was needed. |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| Shrista | Oct 31 2011, 05:53 PM Post #13 |
![]()
Pariah, Apostate, Heretic
![]()
|
One of the House Guards stepped forward, but was held back by a firm hand on his arm and a shake of the head. "Stay. If you get involved, you may suffer for it. Not our fight..." The younger, still older than T'riss looked across at the pair and shook his head ruefully. At the end of the day, if he intervened and the priestess lost, the Sister would have him killed afterwards. It was not worth any of their lives to jump in where they might risk it simply for breaking it up. Politics. "Why be subtle at all? It was obvious you knew what to expect. You know. I know. Why try to cover it...?" Ayune and Shrista circled, occasionally stabbing out at each other and inflicting minor wounds, trading hissed insults and goading each other to attack, hoping for a mistake, an opening, anything. Backing away, Shrista smiled disarmingly. She knew she was the weaker of the two in regards to blade, but would it really seem fair to use magic in such a situation? Her people never fought fair, why should they, they took anything that could give them the upper hand. But with others watching, she hesitated. There was something about this combat that demanded she fight honorably, instead of simply trussing her opponent like the sow she was and sticking her. Her decision to go around the road had already cost them much more than expected and would not be a happy thing to report. And yet...if she didn't fight unfairly, she felt she would be betraying them as well. A smart woman always grasped whatever she could, simply to survive. If she had an advantage and refused to use it, then she deserved the death, and the scorn. Smirking, she stepped forward, brandishing her small dagger. "What's the matter Sister, getting tired? If I'd known your bladework was so sloppy, I'd have opted to train you myself." The distance closed and the clash of steel echoed off the walls for a moment before the priestess grinned, and cast her weapon aside, opening her arms wide. "Give me your best shot, slave. For that is all you are, and all you will ever be. Slave to the Matron. Her little..lapdog." Running her tongue over her lips she continued to grin, her foxish face mocking, even as the Sister shrieked in rage and plunged the blade into her, a foot of steel glistening wetly from her back. And the pain of course, was incredible. Not as bad as the training she'd had to endure to acquire her position, but still, like a red hot iron inserted through her midriff, only growing worse as the woman extracted it again. She smiled still, a red film of blood on her teeth. "Silly me." One hand gripped the Sister's jaw, surprise in those widening eyes at the strength, though it was slowly weakening, the other, the wrist holding the sword. "Lolth dislikes it when you murder her Voices. I suppose we'll have to fix that." All said in a hushed whisper at the other woman's ear. During this time she had been scrying herself for the extent of the damage, and satisfied, linked herself to the now struggling Sister, like a fly caught in a web. The magic was her method of healing, but for the exception that she was not taking the wounds from Ayune onto herself...she reversed the process, the wound in her own stomach stopped bleeding, the flesh knitting together even as it tore open in her enemy. The strength in her arms went and she released the woman, allowing her to drop to her knees as she stepped back, turning and leaving her where she had fallen. What remaining strength she had left was for the survivors now. Stooping, she picked up her now inanimate whip, and paused for a moment, catching her breath, eyes straying to the severed arm of the hook-horror, her face growing thoughtful and impressed. "Those of you who have sustained injury, form a line. I shall alleviate what pain I can. Then we move. Those things...they will no doubt come back for us." Edited by Shrista, Oct 31 2011, 05:54 PM.
|
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| T'riss Despath | Nov 14 2011, 07:37 PM Post #14 |
|
Z'hin maglust dal Qu'ellar lu' Valsharess zhah z'hin wund l' phalar. (To walk apart from House and Queen is to walk into the grave.)
![]()
|
T'riss watched in silence with the others, and he observed the females' fighting styles. He tried to avoid politics as much as possible, because why should he trouble himself with something that did not include him? There was no need to him to trouble himself over the political background of the fight, but the fighting itself did interest him. However, he did jolt forward a little when the High Priestess was stabbed. She had fought bravely, and was no doubt fatigued from the battle with the Hook Horrors...that was an advantage the Red Sister had, and she used it. However, he was confused as to why the High Priestess had opened her defenses so obviously...it was as if... He watched and realized what had happened. It was simply a ploy, and the Red Sister fell for it. T'riss was not gifted in the use of spells, so he did not understand the intricacies of what happened. However, he did know that the High Priestess healed herself by using the Red Sister. That in itself was impressive as well. The fight apparently over, T'riss stood at more attention and looked at the others to inspect their injuries and he moved to check the fallen to see if any could be saved. Upon finding the cause lost, T'riss moved back to the group and fell in line with the others who were injured. His chest wound was still bleeding, and his body was tired but he felt he would not slow down the party with the injuries he had. If the High Priestess was to lead them on she would need her strength, and if that meant he endured his injuries until a later time then so be it. Silently he moved to the end of the line of injured, and kept his eyes on their dark surroundings just in case the Hook Horrors came back sooner than they'd like. |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| Shrista | Nov 17 2011, 05:16 PM Post #15 |
![]()
Pariah, Apostate, Heretic
![]()
|
Shrista began the arduous process of healing the remaining warriors, simply taking their wounds from them or lessening their pain and taking it unto herself. She would of course not take more than she could handle, having them carry her back would be absolutely unthinkable. She did not even spare a glance for the fallen Sister, to do so would be to acknowledge her death, to acknowledge that the fight had even happened. She began with the first, taking the deepest wounds and lessening them, a slash here, a puncture there, halving their pain as the wounds grew shallow, inflicting it on herself. By the third she was breathing slow steady breaths through her nose. She could take a beating as much as the next man or woman, more so perhaps with the pain resistance she'd built up over time, but it was starting to waver, snipping at the edges of her. "Your arm." The man was obviously reluctant, and in a great deal of pain as he lifted his arm, still clutching it tightly, the tightening around his eyes the only sign of how much it actually hurt. How noble. "Broken." "High priestess, I can-" "You will remain silent, male. Your arm is far more valuable to us than mine. I do not require mine to perform." As if she needed to explain herself in such a situation. They would need every sword they could get at the moment, especially in the case those things came back. The sound of his bone mending and her own snapping seemed oddly loud in the quiet, and she bid him through clenched teeth to fetch her cloak from where she'd left it so that she could bind it like a sling around herself before continuing on. The strain was showing around her eyes when she eventually reached the half drow, the youngest perhaps though he didn't look it. No doubt he aged faster than they. The last of the six left, and in fair condition compared to some, though he appeared restless, uncomfortable with this. She reached out, placing her hand on his chest, fingers spread wide. "Deep breath boy, this will be cold." |
| (OFFLINE) PROFILE | QUOTE GO TO TOP |
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Roleplays · Next Topic » |

















