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Crouching Owl, Hidden Leopard

Started by Rhindeer, February 25, 2016, 04:50:45 PM

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Rhindeer

[@DaGlobster !]

It was a dark, moonless night.

Or maybe not moonless, but the moon and stars were covered by a thick layer of low storm clouds, the smell of rain heavy in the air even though it hadn't yet fallen. But from the electric feeling in the air, the way Owl's hair and clothes crackled with static when she moved, and the distant rumble and flashes of light, they were in for one hell of a storm when it finally decided to deliver.

Which made Owl rather uneasy, considering she was currently perched atop a roof.

Eyoni, please don't zap me, she prayed, beseeching a local thunder goddess as the building wind whipped her ponytail right into her face. She scowled and shook it out of her eyes, waited for the last flash of light to dim--it was distant, but just close enough to reach across the sky--before using the darkness as her cover as she picked her way across the roof.

Beneath her, a group of men swaggered together, laughing and cracking crude jokes, and she followed alongside them from above.

It was only one of the men that she was interested in, a man off to the right dressed in a long coat and wearing an overly large hat.

He was the man she'd seen on the wanted posters. He was the man wanted for the rape and murder of street urchins.

She wasn't really supposed to be out on a mission. Tonight was just supposed to be another training night, but as luck would have it, that bastard just delivered himself right to her. She had some time to kill anyway, since she was early...

And she wasn't about to let that fucker get away.

But for now, she just followed him, observed him.

And when an opening presented, she would take it
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

It was the perfect night for a training mission. Herrick had been keeping an eye on Einin while she forayed as Owl, usually watching from a distance. He knew that she was hell bent on capturing the serial murderer who'd just came into their neck of town.

He was going to let her catch him, and then when she was on her way to training, he'd ambush her in disguise. Make it look like her life was really on the line.

And well, what better disguise than a mask?

He looked a the matte black leopard mask in his hands. It was in the same style as Owl's, as it was designed only to cover the area above the nose, and to complement it, he wore a homemade balaclava-type garment under it so as to be disguised to the maximum degree. He even changed up how his armor looked and shaved his head so the balaclava would fit!

Inside, he kind of hoped that Owl would like his outfit. It was also going to be his way of announcing to her that he had decided to become her partner in justice.

Rhindeer

The opportunity finally presented itself, and Owl's vigil soon came to an end.

The murderer bid his friends goodnight as they slipped inside a brothel, but he did not follow, which made Owl's hackles rise. Instead he turned and headed off into the night, making his way toward a poorer district. Silently, Owl tailed behind him, sticking to the rooftops where she could and following a discrete distance behind on the ground when the rooftops ended. The average homes and businesses soon made way to dilapidated buildings and streets lined with rubbish and piss and worse, the smell strong enough to make her gag--but she'd been down in the sewers themselves before and nothing was worse than that.

It was quieter here, save for the sounds of fighting cats and the raucous shouts of a drunkard arguing with no one. It was a good, secluded place to confront him--but she didn't confront him just yet. She had to be certain it was him. She needed proof, as she had with Rufus that one night at the brothel, when they had  taken down a man who preyed on whores. It was the worst part, the anticipation, the fear that she might not be quick enough, the worry that maybe she was wrong or maybe he wouldn't do anything questionable...

But that was when he slipped around a corner and into an alley--and before she could catch up to see where he'd went, a muffled yelp rang out, the sounds of a struggle, and the "shhh, shhhh" of someone trying to hush another person. A person who had begun to sob.

Owl's heart stopped, but she used to broken crate to vault up and catch the edge of the roof, silently haul herself up onto her belly, and crawl to the edge to watch. And sure enough, to her horror, it was the man in the hat, only his hat had been knocked off in the struggle and he now clutched a shabby-clothed boy, no older than twelve, in his arms, a curved dagger pressed to the boy's throat. His hand covered his mouth, wrenching the boy's head back, and he smiled perversely as he took a drought of the kid's oily hair.

"Shhh, it's okay. It's okay. Be quiet now," he whispered, and cast a look around the alley as though planning his next move. "Shhh. Everything's going to be okay, little one. I'm gonna take real good care of you."

The boy struggled as much as he dared, tears streaming down his, and the man only pressed the knife in tighter as he started to walk them both backwards out of the alley.

It was all the proof Owl needed.

She just had to be smart about this, or this would become a hostage situation--or the boy would be accidentally injured.

Reaching into her pocket, she drew am enchanted fuiyun card and flicked it to the ground at the man's back, and before he could take another step, a hideous beast erupted into existence, a creature ten feet tall and covered in pus-oozing boils, too many mouths, and saliva that hissed when it hit the ground. It roared, its breath hot on the man's neck, and he was so startled he howled in alarm and dropped the boy as he spun to face the terror looming before him.

And as he spun to face one horror, Owl dropped from the roof behind him, fisted a hand in his hair, and snapped his head backwards even as she viciously drove her knee into his kidneys once, twice. He went down like a felled tree, breathless in agony for several long seconds before he heaved his stomach onto the cobblestones, adding to the filth of the place.

Owl had her sword out and pressed to his neck before he could finish. "Move and I'll chew you up and spit you out like the rat you are," she growled, while her illusion still towered behind him, snarling and swiping harmlessly at him. The urchin was already gone; the moment he was free, he'd booked it, and Owl didn't blame him, though she hoped he'd be okay.

At least he'd be safe from the likes of this asshole.




Needless to say, Owl was late for her training.

It had taken time to truss the creep up, and time to march him along to the nearest patrol. She shoved him at the surprised guards, quickly told them she'd caught their good man about to prey on another urchin, and then she'd booked it before they could ask too many questions.

That could get messy fast.

In any case, it took a lot more time than she'd anticipated, and now she was running a good twenty minutes late for her actual training session. Hopefully Herrick wouldn't freak about that, she hoped as she slipped into the warehouse where they usually met.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Of course, Herrick followed Owl along her vigil. He was her teacher, after all, and he wanted to see how she'd improved. Two months ago, Herrick started Owl's training, and he keenly watched her as she navigated the rooftops after her quarry, smirking a little bit to himself every time she used a technique he'd taught her.

Perhaps, if it was two months ago, Herrick would have his eye out for Varian, but the man had simply disappeared. He stopped terrorizing them almost immediately after their incident, and if Herrick didn't know any better, he'd say the man had lost interest entirely.

But still, he trained her.

And it was with a certain degree of satisfaction that he saw her engage the man in the hat, observing as she used that hair-pull-into-a-knee-strike combo he'd taught her a couple of weeks ago.

Now that Owl had her prey, Herrick saw it fit to use his head start on her and prepare for her arrival.

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

When Einin arrived in the warehouse, the place was almost pitch black. There was no immediate sign of Herrick. In fact, he was on the rafters above her, throwing knives ready and rapier drawn. He'd used an illusion kit to make his signature broadsword/rapier look like a much more mundane weapon, and on top of that, he'd switched out his dragon hunting pistols for a pair of ordinary flintlocks.

When she stepped inside, she'd only have a few moments to look around and wonder where Herrick was, for right as she stepped beneath his rafter, Herrick threw the knives, aiming them at the ground in front of her, that and the small creak she'd hear from above as Herrick dropped off the beam, intending to land behind her and kick her to the ground.

Rhindeer

Knives struck the ground at her feet, and Owl yelped in surprise and jumped back--right as a sound from above tipped her off, followed by the soft thud of someone landing behind her.

She had her sword out and cutting through the air as she spun around, before she could even see who the figure was, some small part of her thinking maybe it was Herrick trying to switch things up. But as she twisted around, sword arcing, she saw in that split second that she didn't recognize this masked stranger at all--

And a fresh wave of anxiety clawed at her throat.

"Get back!"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Herrick ducked under Owl's sword as she spun about, and he hopped back, putting a little bit of distance between them.

Even his fighting stance was different. After all, Herrick had taught Einin enough about street fencing to significantly augment her style and skill, but he'd always kept a certain style to himself:

Proper Adelan court fencing.

He straightened up, rapier held out as he put his free hand behind his back. His leopard mask caught what little light there was quite nicely. He stood therein his stance, waiting to see what Einin would do.

Rhindeer

"Who are you?" Owl demanded as she began to circle the stranger, a sick feeling coiling in her gut at the sight of the mask--as though her adversary had been watching her and was now mimicking her. Some friend of one of the criminals she'd put away? A friend of Varian's or Smed's? The latter two seemed unlikely, but it still put her on edge.

Whoever it was, he was out to get her, and Herrick was missing, and the Wolves were not here, and she didn't have the advantage of surprise; this was for real, and she wasn't about to rush in before she had a chance to size him up.

Sword held steady, and took a step back, further into the center of the warehouse where she would have more space and ran less of a risk of getting cornered against a wall. "Speak up, now! Who the hell ARE you?"
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Herrick remained silent, and after a few more moments of tense silence, he advanced on her.

He opened up with something rather simple. A series of slashes with the tip, intended to put her on her toes, followed up with a series of thrusts, all the while keeping that hand at his back, fingers right next to the handle of his pistol.

The pistols were loaded with smoke rounds, so all they were good for was making a bang and producing a whole lot of white smoke.

Rhindeer

Fortunately for Owl, she was very familiar with fencing. Perhaps not this particular style, but fencing  was fencing, with regional variations, certainly, but plenty of common ground. She had practiced Serenian court fencing from childhood, and been taught the dirty stuff by Rufus--and now Herrick, too.

Quick on her feet and quick with her fingers, she parried his blows, keeping her movements small and tight and controlled--and then, when she saw an opening, she circled her blade beneath his in a circular parry that smacked his blade away and brought hers to the inside, where she executed a swift thrust to his lower abdomen.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Herrick had taught her well. But unfortunately, he was still the master, and she the student. His arm flicked out from behind his back and he twisted, revealing that he had a parrying dagger sheathed behind his back. He caught her blade, and wrenched her forwards to deliver a knee to her stomach.

Rhindeer

That blow would have left her breathless and vulnerable--if she weren't wearing her armor. As it was, she still felt the shock of it, but it did little beyond that but make her grunt.

It did bring her really close to her assailant, though.

Free hand jerking up, Owl smacked him hard across the face in a backhand that used her wrist bracer rather than her hand, then brought her knee up sharply--but went for his groin, rather than his stomach.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

The steel leopard mask proved to be a worthy purchase indeed, as the shape of it combined with a slight dip of Herrick's head sent Owl's bracer skidding along the forehead of it and leaving her arm open.

She never got enough time to knee him in the groin, for Herrick moved in at that. They were already so close, so all Herrick had to do was grab her collar, slip a leg behind hers, and sweep her off of her feet in a move that'd slam her against the ground.

Rhindeer

Owl realized her mistake the moment her bracer clanged against his mask.

Shit.

The world tilted abruptly and suddenly she was on her back, gasping from the force of her landing, but her hand was still on her sword and she had no time to waste on getting her bearings. She brought her sword up and across her body, already on the defensive, and scrambled up until she was sitting, ready to hop back to her feet.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

And her sword came up just in time, too, for Herrick's clanged against hers as he brought it down against hers. It was less an actual attack, more a tactic to keep her on her back as he waited for an opening, striking at her whenever it looked like she had an opportunity to stand.

Rhindeer

Owl parried each strike, gritting her teeth as he kept her down, knowing the longer he kept her pinned, the more vulnerable she was. She knew she had to make a move quickly, before he decided to.

The next strike he made, she parried more aggressively than needed, viciously slapping his blade away with her own to knock it out into a wider arc--just enough to give her the precious extra seconds she needed. She threw herself to the side, rolling out of the way, and hopped back to her feet before thrusting her blade at her adversary.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Herrick didn't perform a complete dodge, preferring to let Owl's rapier glance off and keep moving in order to leave her more open. Experience had taught him that the front of her head was a pretty much pointless target, so he swung the guard of his blade at her side instead.

Rhindeer

...Fuck.

His guard slammed into the side of her head as she was just a second too slow in ducking, and for a moment the world exploded in bright lights and pain. She didn't crumple to the ground, but she did stagger, disoriented and dizzy from the blow.
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

The stagger was all he needed. Herrick weaved to her side and snapped a kick across her chest, using his powerful legs to try and floor her.

Rhindeer

Owl went down with a cry, her sword skittering across the floor. Gasping, she grabbed for it, but it was far out of reach, so she pulled out her ice dagger instead and scrambled backwards. Her head still swam, her heart beating fast as she looked for an opening. She didn't intend to take him out with a dagger alone, but she could at least block him--and also hopefully distract him long enough to make a lunge for her sword.

She stared up at him, forcing a nervous laugh, still shuffling backwards until her back bumped a crate. Focus, Einin. Focus. She had one shot to do this right, so let him think he'd beat her in the meantime.

"W-whatever you're planning on doing, I'd rethink it!" she said. "You may be some sort of weird cat thing, but owls?"

Without warning, the shadows in the warehouse deepened impossibly, plunging them from darkness into pitch black as she stretched her illusion magic, as all her practicing in her room and in the Wolves' Den finally paid off. A smoky mist rose around them as she dared herself to take it just a little farther, letting it obscure her completely.

"We rule the night."
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

DaGlobster

Ah, Serenian illusions. If Herrick didn't know that Owl was proficient with them, he might've been in trouble. Of course, Herrick being Herrick, he came prepared, and while he couldn't perfectly see through her illusions, she wasn't as concealed to him as she thought she was.

He played  along, raising his sword defensively as he looked around, pretending to not know where she was.