Lord of Azure Flame Chapter 6: Standing against the Bolivian Army

[Inactive Account]

After depositing her with the others who'd been captured, the soldier escorting Kelas held out a hand, gesturing toward her bow. Kelas passed it to him resignedly; she couldn't draw it in her current state anyway. Next to her another soldier was going through Arrin's satchel. He confiscated Arrin's Elthunder, then picked up the other book. It was all research notes, written in code; it was useless in combat, except maybe as a bludgeon. Arrin watched, waiting to see what the soldier would do. "The hell is this?" the soldier asked, scanning a page. "'Book of Tales?' No idea why we'd need to confiscate this rubbish... better take it anyway though." He looked at the tome in Arrin's hand. "That one. Hand it over." Arrin did his best to look confused, and concentrated: Daranau vanished. "Goddess!" the soldier swore. "What is that?"

Another soldier attempted to take Amari's reins. "It won't work," Kelas said tiredly as the man jerked his hand away and Amari's teeth met with an audible click. "She's worse than wild with anyone but me. She'll follow me; no need to tie her." Kelas doubted the soldier would believe her, but it was worth trying; otherwise, she'd have to tell the mare to run.

[Ether]

"What the hell just happened!" Damian was quite confused at the moment.After he had been healed,he had quickly placed his armour back on,as it seemed the troops were close.

Volleys of dark arrows,explosions,the fort collapsing.It all happened so quickly.

The Elyisimian force had been near wiped out by the arrow rain and the explosion,and several members of the group seem to have surrendered.The remaining soldiers seemed poised to capture the group.

Approaching Damian and Aiya,Ulfhrahn reared up and roared,and the Cavalier's horses spooked.

"Where is your Captain?" Damian asked the soldiers, and as it seemed he was about to get a snappy remark,he continued;

"Is a violent solution the best thing for you to search for at the moment? That third party killed most of your force,and I wish to attempt to speak to your Captain.Would it not be best to allow it?"

The soldier seemed unamused,but couldn't argue,and pointed Damian toward Viveka after he gave his Silver Lance and Spear to Aiya.

Approaching her,it seemed she knew Chase,as they had assumed.

"So,you are the Captain of this contingent?" Damian asked Viveka,putting on a diplomatic tone and face.

[Snike]

Eric slowly opened his eyes, body aching.

"Damn... I guess that wound was a bit too deep, after all..." he said. Feeling too weak to get up, he reached into his coat and pulled out a vulnerary. Hands shaking, the traveler lifted it to his lips, drinking about a third of the bottle. Feeling his strength returning to him, he rose, and inspected his injured side. Already the medicine was sealing the wound, and regenerating lost flesh. At that moment, Eric smelled smoke. Turning around, he realized that a wildfire had started, and was rapidly approaching him.

"... Yep, should have seen that coming." He began to run for it, but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a figure lying on the ground, several hundred feet away from him, but only about fifty feet in front of the blaze. Stopping, the traveler turned to look again. He couldn't make out who they were, but they appeared to be unarmed. The fire advanced to about twenty-five feet in front of the person, and Eric had a decision to make: Should he go try to rescue them, or just run for it?

"By the Goddess, they had better still be alive," Eric muttered, as he sprinted towards the person. By then, the fire had reached the trees above the person, but miraculously, left them unharmed. As he drew closer, he recognized that the person was that brown-haired girl from the group. Reaching her, he picked the girl up by the waist, slung her over his shoulder and took off towards the outskirts, beginning to cough due to the smoke. The added load slowed him, and his eyes watered from the heat. Within minutes, the man could barely breathe, but he kept on going, thinking, Not yet...

Eventually, Eric made it out of the inferno, covered in ash, and stopped a good hundred yards away from the edge of it. Kneeling, he gently lifted the girl off of his shoulder, and placed her on the ground, face up. It was then that he noticed the minor slit on her neck, which was bleeding slightly. Frowning, he tore a strip of cloth off of the tail of his coat, and lightly wrapped it around the girls' neck, stemming the cut. Having done, Eric stepped away from the unconscious woman and looked around, while he waited for her to regain consciousness.

Edited May 27, 2010 by Snike

[Phoenix]

As Damian came closer to Viveka, she noticed him, and quickly called out to some of the nearby soldiers!

Viveka: Get the injured out of here immediately! Make sure that no one else is in that fortress, and will someone get me some rope?!

She kept Chase's hands behind his back hoping to keep him from trying anything while she stood both of them up.

Viveka: Alright, who are you? One of Chase's men?

Meanwhile, Iso was trying to figure out how to help Katie get her books back. Nothing was coming to mind as the soldiers flipped through pages. One of them was going through Iso's old journal, the one Katie had been using to relay messages.

Soldier: Miranda? That this TISME lady here?

Iso: Oh for heaven's sake -_-

Soldier: "play tea?" Wait a second ... are you ... Harold's daughter? :o

OOC: Have to go, be back later.

[Kanami]

Kamilla groaned as she felt herself being moved, most likely some soldier had captured her. She was about to complain about how roughly she was being handled, but she simply lacked the energy. She could smell the smoke still but it was getting weaker and weaker, perhaps someone had put out the flames?

As the figure carrying her reached his destination she was placed on the ground, just as she was about to relax and pass away, I mean out XD she felt someone strangling her. She groaned in protest and the man stepped away having done what he intended. She was about to drift off when she felt something hit her face, a small droplet of water. Groaning in protest she tried to ignore it, but another drop hit her face. "I hate this world" she mumbled to herself as she came around. She looked over at Eric and sighed heavily, "So when am I getting executed?" she asked sarcastically, not really recognizing Eric as her eyes still hadn't focused.

OoC: No, I haven't discussed rain with Snowy, but I have mentioned storm clouds on the horizon around the time when Percy was about. Was going to use it to quell my next fire attack :/ But I guess no one remembers anything I post :/ If I have to, I'll go get a quote. If you have issues with rain, then it can be a bit of spitting only.

Edited May 27, 2010 by Nadesico

[Ether]

"Chase is just someone I came across,and ended up journeying with us.Despite what you might think,we are not a gang assembled by Chase Veshkal." Damian told Viveka in response to her question.

"As for me,I am Colonel Damian Cleine of the Halton Military.I ventured toward the capital in an attempt to clear up several misunderstandings with General Jackson,however,it seems your troops felt it necessary to hound us the entire way with no intention of allowing me to speak." he told her,and stopped advancing towards her,now standing at a distance of about 5 feet.

"If we were to be allowed passage to speak with the General,even escorted if you feel the need,then there is no reason for combat to take place here any more than those shadowy bastards already started.I cannot speak for Veshkal's case,but I ask that you do not bind anyone else here until I can speak to the General and attempt to resolve this diplomatically.Do you have any objections?"

[Snike]

Hearing the girl awaken and ask about her 'execution', Eric smirked. "If I had wanted to kill you, I would've left you in the forest."

[Snike]

OOC: >.< Wrong topic. Ignore this.

Edited May 27, 2010 by Snike

[Kanami]

"Hmm?" she murmured trying to focus her vision, several moments of silence passed as Kamilla could see clearly again. "Oh, you're... the guy with the sword, haven't been told your name yet, I'm Kamilla" she said, trying to sound as casual as she could while ignoring the throbbing pain coursing through her body.

"What happened? Where am I? Why am I still alive?..... Who am I?" she added staring at Eric and managing a small smile at the mans reaction. "Don't worry I know who I am, but really, what happened? Last thing I remember is arrows flying around."

*OoC^lolxD

Edited May 27, 2010 by Nadesico

[Snike]

"I'm Eric," he said. "As for what happened, I passed out a while back, on the way to the fortress. I woke up, and saw you lying on the ground, along with a forest fire starting up. I got you out of there, and, well, here we are. There wasn't any archers, or arrows around, though."

He looked around as he spoke, but couldn't find anything, other than the burning forest.

"Say, do you know where the soldier and the others went?"

Edited May 27, 2010 by Snike

[Snowy_One]

With a slightly annoyed and PO'ed look in her eyes, Katie nodded in response to the question of her heritage. She really hated to do so, but she hated being muted even more! Without her book, she lacked the ability to communicate with others, and thusly, was once again mute.

---

"Hey! Put me down! Put! Me! Down!" screamed Esphyr as she was captured and carried over to the others in the group. "I am a mercenary! I demand my mercenary rights, like to be considered a free traveler! Put me down... Or... Or... Or it will cause a incident when I tell my boyfriend Daiman about it!" she cried out, eager to avoid being taken advantage of.

[Kanami]

Kamilla tried to manage a shrug but found it too hard, "Forest? Oh right, right, forest" she mumbled to herself trying to get her memory sorted. "No idea where everyone went, I only just woke up remember?" she said coughing out a sound that sort of resembled a laugh. "Last I checked they were standing around dumbly hoping everything would work out, might of been captured, might of died, no idea"

She looked at Eric again, "You wouldn't happen to have anything I could write on?" She doubted it, but it didn't hurt to ask.

After Eric response, "So what are you plans now? You could probably make an escape if you act now?"

Edited May 27, 2010 by Nadesico

[Snike]

"I see. Something must've happened at the fortress. Also, just give me a second," Eric said, rummaging throguh his coat pocket. Eventually, he pulled out a small book, and tore a blank page from it. "There you go," he said, handing Kamilla the page, and replacing the booklet.

"So what are you plans now? You could probably make an escape if you act now?" she asked.

"I could, but I don't think the soldiers are after me, at the moment, or that they'll pursue me. From what I'm looking at, there will be no pursuers for a bit. So, the short answer is I don't know what I'll be doing, for now, but eventually, I have to go to Ilyphina. I'm looking for someone," He paused, and looked at the girl. "Say, are you alright?"

[Kanami]

"Depends on your definition of okay" she said still lying on the floor, Taking the paper making sure not to let the rain drench it, she quickly scribbled a message on it

"Selizara, Crimson, found, promise, payment, send"

(Signature)

Having written her message she passed the page back to Eric, "Well if you manage to get away, would you mind handing this in at any church?" If things go right, they might even reward you for it" she paused "If it's a friend there might be something in the churches records under Orphans, though they seldom update that anymore I think."

Slowly pulling herself up into a sitting position she groaned, she was finding it hard to breathe, she reached up to her neck and found it bandaged...... "Thanks... I guess" she whispered quietly.

[Snike]

"Alright," Eric said, folding the page closed. "I doubt that they would be in there, but I'll try looking for them."

"Oh, did I wrap it too tightly? Sorry," he said, noticing the girl tugging at the makeshift bandage,. The traveler produced another object, another vulnerary, but it was unused, and passed it to Kamilla. "Drink this. It'll heal that cut, and most injuries. Then, you can get rid of that."

[Snowy_One]

I'm back. I got Super Mario Galaxy 2! And Super Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door! And Mirrors Edge! And World of Warcraft Cataclysm preorder! And a New 360 controller! And a Rock!

[Snike]

OOC:

I'm back. I got Super Mario Galaxy 2! And Super Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door! And Mirrors Edge! And World of Warcraft Cataclysm preorder! And a New 360 controller! And a Rock!

WIN. <3 TTYD.

Edited May 28, 2010 by Snike

[Balcerzak]

No sooner had Tessa finished healing Damian than it had become apparent that the group was surrounded. People were suddenly talking about surrender, and she was a bit confused. None of the heroes in any of the epics ever surrendered that she could recall. Not in Le Mort d'Orson, nor in The Song of Orlando, nor in the ballad of Ystan and Tribolde. The forces of good were never humbled, they either triumphed... or they died heroically. Coming to that conclusion she was forced to swallow at the sudden lump that had mysteriously found its way to her throat. Glancing around the group, it was plain to see that morale was dangerously low, and very little in the way of self confidence was present.

Still... there had to be something. Tessa desperately started wracking her brains. With only two exceptions, she knew this group was full of good people. They had to be in the right. There must be some way to pull through this.

But the fact of the matter was, that there simply wasn't enough time.

She had barely begun to start weighing the options, when fighting broke out. It seemed that they had not been the only ones taking refuge in the fort, and whoever was here with them was antagonistic with the forces on the outside as well. Things quickly went from bad to worse as the nomad and her brother engaged the new group in a shooting match. No longer safe to remain, no longer safe to leave, and options rapidly dwindling Tessa let herself get caught up in the momentum.

Following a general surge of people and horses towards the forest, she suddenly realized she couldn't see Morgan. Had the shaman remained behind? Conflicted Tessa, turned and dashed back in the direction of the fortress, but not watching her feet, she found herself suddenly falling. A large ditch, an unfilled section of what had must have been the moat when the fortress was still active? Tessa landed badly, and felt something in her ankle give way. Biting back a cry of pain, she looked for the best way out of this hole.

The situation wasn't as bad as she had feared, there was plenty of room, and the walls were sloped, steeply, but not impossibly. She should probably be able to climb out, she told herself. It was rough work with her ankle in the condition it was in, but she was making progress...

...until a large tremor ripped through the earth, and the ground heaved, upsetting her balance and sending her tumbling back down. A rain of stone fragments and clods of earth fell down from the heavens and pelted her mercilessly. Thankfully nothing was large enough to do any serious damage, but she sustained several scrapes, and would likely have a matching number of bruises within short order.

But that wasn't the worst of it. The event harkened back to the events of this afternoon, fresh in the troubadour's memory. The feeling of being trapped underground. The earth crushing in upon you. Trying to resist, feeling her sanity slip away as her eyes widened in renewed panic, it was all she could do to keep from screaming wildly, which she knew would only draw unwanted attention. Rolling over, she lay on her back, allowing herself full view of the sky, which she hoped would be as calming as it had been earlier, and tried to take deep calm breaths.

Her plan was thwarted though, when a second explosion tore apart most of what remained of the fortress, and as she watched a large segment of wall that had been blasted free come falling towards her, it was too much for her mind to handle. Her eyes rolled up in her head, and she thought no more. She didn't get to find out that she was either truly blessed by The Lady or she had The Lord's own luck, as the fragment was large enough it simply ended up straddling the ditch, rather than crushing her outright.

[[OOC: A cookie to whoever can tell me which real-life stories I based my fake ones off of.

Also, ended up going with a slight modification to my original plan. If soldiers find her, they find her. If the group finds her, they find her. If not, she'll eventually wake up alone and scared, and I'll figure something out then.]]

[Phoenix]

Viveka: What?

She gave Chase a surprised and slightly disappointed look. She fully expected him to be the one in charge.

Viveka: So you expect me to believe that you people were NOT responsible for those fires?

Meanwhile Iso was getting fed up, but he tried his hardest to remain humble.

Soldier: Hmm ... why're you with criminals?

Iso: She can't speak -_-

Soldier: What?

Iso: She can't speak, alright?!

Soldier: Why not? Shy? Head case? Shut in?

Iso: No her father's a damn lunat-

Iso quickly stopped himself. He didn't want to call Harold anything disrespectful, even if Katie didn't care. He may not have been the best father, but Iso didn't even have a father. Within a split second he came back out of his thoughts!

Iso:Just ... just give me that book!

Soldier: Hey!

Iso quickly snatches his old journal from the guard and handed it to Katie.

Iso: You can keep the others for now, but that's just for writing messages.

Soldier: Fine, but if you try to do anything like that again, I'll shank ya!

Iso: Noted -_-

[Inactive Account]

Arrin saw the section of wall falling, entirely too close to Tessa. "Tessa--!" he shouted, about to stand up, but the soldier who had confiscated his tomes shoved him back down. Arrin glared at the man, tears beginning to form as he realized that there was nothing he could do from where he was. He blinked them back and gritted his teeth, hating the uselessness of just sitting there. To complete the despair of the situation, it started to rain...

-------------------------------------

The soldier still hadn't made up his mind what to do with Amari, and was glaring at the mare suspiciously. Kelas considered. Could she order Amari away and make it look like the mare had just spooked and bolted? Thunder rumbled, giving her an idea... "Well?" she asked the soldier tiredly.

[Snowy_One]

Lord Harold cut out my voicebox. She quickly scribbled down before brushing aside any hair that had been blocking the scar, showing her story to possess a grain of truth. Now please don't take my book again. You wouldn't deprive a old man of his walking stick, so why a mute woman her writing book?

[Phoenix]

The soldier reading Katie's note was utterly shocked. The ones nearby were leaning in to see as well.

Soldier: H-Harold ... did that? Ah gee ...

Iso: We'll ... cooperate, but please take it easy ... we've had a rough day.

Iso's words were hard to form. They still had Proxima, but he didn't want to make a scene by taking it back, especially not by summoning ...

Soldier: Urmm ... we still need to restrain you ... but since you're a mute, you can't cast anyway ...

The soldiers huddled closer together while the other one tried to decide how best to handle the hero's daughter.

Soldier: We'll be gentle.

He nervously turned to face the others and leaned in toward them trying to keep his words from carrying too far.

Soldier: Somebody go find the Captain. We gotta figure out what the hell Harold's daughter is doing with a bunch of criminals.

Iso:

[Kanami]

OoC: Sorry Snike XD Didn't see your post :P

Kamilla took the object reluctantly, at first she was suspicious, immediately suspecting poison, but it didn't take long for her to acknowledge the herbal smell of a vulnerary. Furthermore, Eric had no reason to kill her, not after dragging her out of the forest and saving her life.

She stared at the bottle(?) hesitantly, uncertain whether she should drink it, deciding she didn't have much of a choice, she took a mouthful of the vulnerary before redoing the lid and handing it roughly back to Eric. The man was about to say something but Kamilla cut him off "I'm not taking the rest, and I'm not accepting gifts, if I ever survive this nightmare I'll find a way to repay you" she glared at Eric as if daring him to voice his protest. "Kamilla closed her eyes, and forced herself off the ground, her body hadn't fully healed yet, but she was feeling slightly better, well enough to walk at least. "And.... thank you" she whispered inaudibly, a slight blush on her face which she quickly hid by turning away. And staring at the still smoking fort.

[Inactive Account]

The soldiers dealing with Arrin and Kelas were called over to consult on the subject of Katie. Arrin began to stand, thinking to run to Tessa while they weren't looking. Kelas stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "<Don't. It won't help our case,>" she told him in an undertone, slipping back into the nomad language. "<Wait.>"

Arrin nodded, but hissed back, "<Barely speak this language. Know Common better.>"

Kelas raised an eyebrow, then gestured to wait. "Amari, Tessa kanse darao," she hissed to the mare, pointing where Tessa had followed. Amari ambled off with seeming nonchalance, breaking into a canter when she was gotten far enough from the soldiers. "She'll bring Tessa back here, if she can," Kelas told Arrin quietly.

She glanced over. Isotov and Irina were next to them, also disarmed. "What d'you reckon they're going to do with us?" she muttered to them.

OOC: I was waiting for the soldiers to do something with Kelas and Arrin, but being distracted is fine too. And no, I don't expect the loose horse to go entirely unnoticed. Soldiers will notice or not notice Amari as their players see fit. Addendum: the set of actions "Notice" does not contain the actions "maim" "permanently steal" or "kill" (though the stealing bit's hard to pull off unless you're hax Morgan anyway)

edit: Also OOC: Now introducing <translation convention brackets!> (For me to cover up the pitiful state of the lexicon. Or just to be useful.)

Edited May 28, 2010 by Darth Lacuna

[Snike]

OOC: Falling off the face of the Earth has never been so easy.

"Alright then," Eric said, putting his vulnerary away. He looked at the forest again, and saw nothing, until he saw a gap through the woods, where the trees had burnt to the ground. Through it, the traveler saw a ruined fortress, and a seemingly endless wave of Elyisim(i)an soldiers. Judging from the smoke arising from it, it had recently been the victim of some sort of fire.

"Yeah, uh, I think I'm going to go back to Istample. That would be the best way to avoid being imprisoned. Care to come?"