Jarrus pushed open the heavy tavern door and strode inside. It was still early in the day, but nevertheless a few travellers and pub-goers had gathered to enjoy some conversation, food, and, of course, the drinks. Jarrus glared at them as though they were the cause of his recent problems and stalked over to the bar, removing his coat along the way.
setting down several coins on the rough bartop, Jarrus called for a drink, which was quickly delivered.. As Jarrus turned to go find a secluded table, he was interupted halfway through a sip from his stein by the bored looking bartender.
"Sir, I understand you've most likely just arrived here, but we have a few rules at this establishment. We humbly ask that no unsheathed weapons are brought into the tavern."
Jarrus looked down to his side, where 3 feet of naked steel hung from his belt.
"I'm afraid I don't have a sheath, friend," he said, taking another sip and grimacing slightly, " and the last of my money has just been spent on this rather disappointing ale."
The bartender shrugged, still wearing a look of complete boredom.
"Then I must ask you to surrender you weapon to me for the time you stay here. It's nothing meant to insult your character, sir, but some people may view it as a threat."
Jarrus thought for a moment. On the one hand he didn't like giving away his sword- even for a short time. It was one of his only possessions, and he felt nearly defenceless without it. On the other hand, it had been a long enough day already, and he would rather make his plans in a cool tavern than out in the noisy city streets.
Grudgingly, Jarrus drew his sword out of his belt and handed it to the bartender. He quickly retreated to a dark corner table, reassuring himself that at least he still had the twin daggers concealed in his shirt sleeve and boot if any conflicts arose. Not that he expected any, but if never hurt to be prepared.
Downing some more ale, Jarrus pondered his next move. It wasn't likely the idiot captain of the ship that brought him here would want to risk a return journey. The fool didn't even know how they got here in the first place. Jarrus mentally slapped himself for deciding to book passage on a ship. Now there was no going back. Not that there was any good reason too... not with an enemy like his.
Jarrus settled back and tried to think of a way to use the situation to his advantage. Perhaps it was luck he was here after all. If even he didn't know where he was, it would be hard for his enemy to discover him. In the meantime, he should find a job- something to keep him occupied. Certainly someone in this godsforsaken land would have need of a sword for hire? Jarrus relaxed, maybe it wouldn't be so bad here after all. After the last few months it would feel good to let loose a little. Jarrus finished his ale, determined to make the best of the strange twist of fate which had led him here.
He wouldn't be picky, he'd determined. Any port in a storm, as the saying went, and this was the only port he'd encountered thus far. For travel it would be ideal, but for accomodations... Feh.
Solari Runeseeker treaded foot through the town's landscape, surveying the nice homes and humble shops that littered the plaza. It was all so pleasant, so welcoming... And he couldn't give less of a damn. Suppressing a "humph!" he stepped forward to the first building in the plaza, which, as it turned out, was a tavern. Such places were beneath his notice, but for the time being, Sol couldn't deny the allure of a cool drink. So, he walked ahead to the bar, rustling around inside his vest and drawing a few bills to the table.
"Whatever I can get for that," he grunted, pulling up a barstool and sitting himself down. "Just for that," the bartender said, "I can offer you a glass of milk, kid. You don't look like you're ready for the tough--" "I didn't ask for any speculation," Sol retorted. "I just asked for a drink, SIR. Perhaps you'd be best fitted for giving me my dues, or...?" The thought was left to the bartender to ponder, and upon further thought, he shrugged, and readied a glass and ale. Better.
The young manipulator gripped the tender glass with aching digits, fingers that screamed for action, for some thrill or excitement, but would find none. For the moment, he contented himself with a sip of the ale, cool, and certainly refreshing to his palatte. He gave a soft cough as he finished, his alcohol tolerance not yet catching up to his boasts. "You sure you're...?"
"Shut it," growled Sol to the bartender, suppressing a second cough. "I didn't ask for a lecture, either."
"But?"
"... It better be fresh Moo Cow Fuck Milk, or you're dead."
"Roger," the bartender said jovially, as he switched the ale for white cow's milk, fresh as could be. With another cough, and with a glare to either side of where ridicule awaited, Sol cautiously sipped and glugged down a swift helping of the liquid. He placed the container gently onto the bar, and turned to see a friendly establishment, where you could almost bring your kids.
What the fuck kind of tavern was that, anyway? Giyarie shifted uncomfortably on Sol's back, rustling in its scabbard sharply, as if it agreed with the approximation.
(( I hope you don't mind me butting in, ZenMasterWalrus. I just figured I'd kick in the action a little. Do as you like. ))
((Damn. Beat me to it.))
A heavy storm had started to build up while they sat there in the tavern. The doors slammed open and a cloaked and hooded figure entered from the store. The figure reached a gloved hand to its hood and pushed it back. By doing this she revealed beautiful features framed by waves of golden hair. She headed towards a seat and removed her cloak and hung it over her seat. The cloak dripped water to the floor as she took her seat. Shedding the cloak revealed that she was dressed simply in formfitting leathers that conformed to her very feminine figure. Nobody was stupid enough to approach her, both because she moved with the effortless grace of a seasoned warrior, and the fact that her piercing blue eyes revealed the fact that she was well familiar with the blades hanging at each of her very curvaceous hips.
She tossed a gold coin onto the table. “Whatever elven spirits you stock here.� She told the bartender in a melodic voice. Her slender form belayed how though she was. She started to prove this when the bartender came with a glass of fine elven wine. She downed the potent spirits with ease. It’s floral taste hide the fact that it had a kick like a fierce warhorse. She keep an open ear to all the others at the bar. She was in need of work and she knew from experience that you could find plenty of work in taverns.
((I don't mind people joining at all! The more the merrier! This is my first IC thread, so I'm just trying to find out more about the setting and give Jarrus some direction))
As it grew later in the day more customers began to trickle into the tavern, though the storm would probably keep most bar-goers at home. Most of the newcomers were the typical riff-raff, but the boy with the sword had made Jarrus grin, and the woman made him slightly uneasy. She looked dangerous and out of place.
Jarrus had sat in thought for quite a while, and was growing restless. Though it was clear he wouldn't be travelling far tonight, he had nowhere to stay, and he would very much prefer having a job right now to sleeping in the rain. He had no money for a room.
Finally Jarrus decided that his only course of action was to ask the bartender where to seek a potential employer. The man was unpleasant, but those in his profession had a reputation for knowing things. Jarrus stood and stretched, heading for the bar once more. He sat down next to the boy, giving him a quick nod of recognition as he did so.
"Excuse me," he called to the bartender, "I wondered if I might ask you a question."
The bartender looked up from where he was cleaning out some glasses. "Well, certainly sir, but I can't give any guarantees I'll have your answer. I am only a humble bartender."
"Huh, yes. Quite... As I said earlier, I'm in need of some coin. I simply wondered if you would know of anyone that would be willing to hire me. Perhaps then I could keep my weapon properly covered while visiting your establishment."
Perhaps antagonizing the man wasn't the best course of action. Jarrus was unsure if anyone else would have any useful information. Still, he had touched a nerve, and Jarrus wasn't one to keep his thoughts to himself.
Well, it wasn't fresh-fresh, but it was still Moo Cow Fuck Milk, so... Eh. Solari took a swig of the white stuff as a stranger sat down beside him, a man who had been there since 'ere he arrived. The glance he shot at the boy startled him, though it was a simple acknowledgement. Was he mocking him, or...? It was unsettling. Sol's fingers twitched, ready at a moment's notice to flex to a fist, but the man's words set him more at ease than usual.
It would seem that this fellow, this... strange man, was a mercenary of some sort, much like Solari, himself. The comment about keeping his sword sheathed evoked a stifled chuckle from Sol, as he found it rather humorous that in this 'family friendly' bar, weapons were frowned upon, which made him in a mood to gloat at having kept Giyarie. The idea of teaming up for once was interesting, alluring, but not an option. How could he trust this guy? How could he trust anyone, even himself? Everyone and everything is my enemy, his mantra went. Everything.
Clearing his throat after the chortle, Sol commented, "Oh, so you can't have open weapons in here?" The bartender nodded. "Hah! How great is that? Hah... Still, what kind of backwater do you need to spawn from to not be able to afford a scabbard? Hell, I'm piss-poor broke and I can still afford one. Hah... Beautiful." Sol took a slow sip of his milk, eyeing the stranger warily, as if daring him to do something. Pussy.
((Actually she’s human))
Saleswords. Storm almost spat when she realized what they were .There weapons as well as the fact that they seemed to talk about work with no discernable skills gave it away. She hated saleswords because they were undisciplined and destructive. However this could come into use for her. There were some giants nearby that were endangering the town and she couldn’t stop them by herself.
“Barkeep.� She called out quietly. When he came he pulled out a bag of coppers and wishpered to him as she pointed at the two arguing with each other. After he nodded she gave him a small bag of gold for a bottle of his cheapest elven wine. When that came she took it and her glass and headed towards the corner where she could see everything. The bartender brought another round of drinks to the two and nodded in Storm’s direction.
((Sorry about the elf thing, I've edited my post.))
Jarrus looked over at the boy. This wasn't improving his mood any.
"Hell, backwater doesn't even begin to describe it. I've spent the last two months of my life wandering around a desert while a large variety of people tried their best to kill me. I barely managed to find a voyage out of the damn place. Right now I'm thinking I should have saved my money. A scabbard would have been a better investment than that useless captain."
Jarrus absent mindedly rubbed under his odd looking collar. "Not that I would have needed a scabbard if I hadn't lost my old one... along with my damn sword in it." Jarrus wished he had money for another glass of ale, he was in a drinking mood. "Listen, don't feel too smug about keeping that pretty toy strapped to your back. Scabbard or no scabbard, I could still kill you seven times before you drew it."
There, that ought to put the boy in his place. Still, Jarrus admired his audacity. Unfortunately the boy was a potential competitor for any jobs that might come up. Jarrus doubted anyone would hire a child over a grown man, especially one with his talents, but perhaps warrior boys were commonplace here. It wouldn't do to be making any assumptions in this place.
He admitted he was backwater. Interesting. The trials and tribulations he faced... Sol didn't really give a fuck. What his deal was, he couldn't tell, nor did he wish to know. So, the young swordsman took the other man's words in stride, until he directly challenged his ability. You should have seen Sol; his throat caught on the milk in his gullet, white spewed from his nose, and in a great fit, he reared back his head and laughed.
"Beautiful! Beautiful!" exclaimed Solari, his raucous cackles disturbing the other patrons. When at last he'd managed to calm himself down, Sol looked at the stranger, whimsy still in his eyes. "You really think because I'm young, you can kill me? You're a fuckin' comedian. Hah!" Still chuckling lightly, the swordsman threw down a couple of bills, craned his neck as he stood up, and said to the bartender, "Give this motherfucker all the beer that can buy. He needs some false reality... Heh."
Sol stepped off from the pedestal, and turned towards the door, extending a hand forward as he walked. Power surged from his blood to his flesh, and from flesh to the air, as a great bolt of aura struck the grand door to the tavern, blowing it straight off its hinges and splintering it to pieces as it fell further.
"H-Hey!" The bartender prepared to protest, but a quick glare from Solari shook him. These weren't the eyes of a boy, or even a killer; it was that dangerous stage in between, where killing became sport. Sol's eye caught Jarrus, and with a whimsical grin, he returned and stepped out from the shattered tavern doorway. His fingers ruffled around his vest, and threw out a few bronze coins to the floor.
"That ought to cover repairs," Solari said jubiliantly, walking away from the tavern. "Come see me again if you want a fight, old man."
"Hmmm, looks like I upset him a little." Jarrus grinned once more. It probably wasn't a good idea to go around insulting people he'd just met, but the joke was on the young swordsman. "I think I'll have that ale now." Jarrus payed using the money left on the bar, and stuffed the rest into a pouch on his belt. He wasted no time downing the ale, then stood up. He wasn't accomplishing anything here. The bartender was more concerned with his door than helping Jarrus out.
Retrieving his coat and sword, Jarrus strode to the door. "Sorry about the trouble, kids these days huh?" The bartender merely grunted. The weather was still awful, but Jarrus didn't feel comfortable in the bar anymore. Too much attention.
Now, to find somewhere to sleep. He doubted the few bills he had obtained would be enough for an inn. More likely he'd end up sleeping in an alley somewhere. Still he'd had worse accomidations before. Briefly, Jarrus considered trying to find the boy... that spell had been impressive. But he decided there wasn't much to gain from it. It would most likely result in a confronation, and while a duel would be a nice chance to let off some steam Jarrus didn't want any trouble until he found out more about this place. Pulling his coat around him, Jarrus went in search of a relatively dry alleyway.
How dare he? That old fool, implying -- nay, stating -- that he, Solari Runeseeker of the dynamic Runeseeker family, was weak! What nerve it took, what... balls. As he wandered the streets of the city, weathering the storm in hopes of finding a boat the hell out of here. Hah. What was he doing, worrying about some old coot? It was ridiculous.
Quote from: "Jarrus"... Scabbard or no scabbard, I could kill you seven times before you drew it.
His eye twitched, followed by a spasm from the entire left side of his face. What kind of nerve did that take? This wasn't right. He wouldn't let that asshole pass up his skills and rob him of all that money on top of it (he distinctly forgot that he threw the money at him)! No, he wouldn't let this pass. Presently located near the central plaza, where he'd wandered away from and back to, Sol pressed two fingers to his forehead, and allowed his aura to run limply.
All returned to blackness. All returned to silence. All returned to the null and void. He could sense his heartbeat; not hear it, but sense it, the vibrations of his life's strings. Another beat gave way to a dozen more beats, and those dozen beats waylaid into a hundred. The auras of these people... Most of them weren't worth half a damn. But this man's presence would have to be strong, vile, rude -- the bastard. The beats of a thousand hearts echoed in Sol's spirit, until, at last, he came upon a familiar signature. Whipping his head up, he directed towards the source of the disturbance -- the pub. But it was kind of weak...
...
"Shit!" cursed Sol under his breath, as he turned back to sense again, when the power hit him. It was wandering, like himself, but different -- calmer. And, it had power behind it. That had to be it. Solari rose to his full height, eyes still closed, and continued to feel at the strings of life. There was naught but a few select citizens in the main plaza area, while Sol remained on the bank of a fountain. He wouldn't chance flight, literally, but he could at least walk. Those soft, paddling steps turned to rumbling beats as Solari stampeded through the streets. The bastard was on the move, slowly, easy to catch. What nice blood it would be.
As he ran, the young energy manipulator felt the beat of a heart, strong, proud. Now safely hidden behind an alleyway facing directly away from the buildings crossed by Jarrus, Sol charged energy into his soles and leapt, rebounding off of the roughly-shod roof with a crash, and continuing forward to just behind and above Jarrus. Sighting his prey, Solari's hand darted up and withdrew Giyarie, his beloved silver blade, and brought it to the side as his opposite hand swerved to face the offender while falling.
Best to start with a bang, he reasoned, and so he leaned away and thrusted forward to release a single, spiraling blast of simple aura at the one who had offended him. "DIE!!" At this point he was in the air, and still vulnerable, but once he'd landed and gotten his bearings, slicing open this fellow's throat would seem to be a simple task. This would, most importantly, be fun, and distract....
QuoteLUNA!!
... That was a former life, a flash from the distant past, which Sol threw aside and readied to bring his sword and legs to bear for a frontal assault.
(( I hope you don't mind a little... action. Mwa-ha. o.O ))
(( Edit: Upon reflection, perhaps I was too... forward? I've edited to clarify intent to attack for fairness. ))
Well it looked like this was the best he was going to do. The alley was relatively dry, not that it mattered. Jarrus was already soaked to the bone. He'd just have to make himself comfortable and hope the rain would stop soon.
As he entered the alley, Jarrus began to feel uneasy. He felt like someone was watching him. Looking back at the alley entrance he...
"DIE!!"
Oh shit.
Jarrus flipped a dagger into his hand, intending to throw it at his airborne assailant, but some sort of blast hit him and nearly knocked him off his feet. Recovering his balance and drawing his sword, Jarrus stepped into a defensive stance.
Well, at least it wouldn't be a boring night. Whoever attacked him was fast, and just might last more than a few minutes. Jarrus tried to make out whoever it was through the gloom. Ah, of course, the swordsman from the bar. Some people... In any case, this would be entertaining.
Defensive form, drawn blade... Slightly scarred from the aura burst. He had to be confident if he thought that such methods would defend against another shot. Sol landed, somewhat gracefully, fingers digging into the rain-soaked pavement and skidding back with a thrust of the legs. His sword-arm fingered Giyarie, and brought it up in an offensive stance, left arm sliding back and right arm extended forward flatly. Usual for him, but it ought to at least even the odds.
"... You're decent, at least... But..." Sol's left hand, which lay palm-down at his side, rose, and curled into a cupped form, soon privy to a small ripple of aura. It wasn't really very strong, this blast, but its range would outdo any degree of strength needed to put down this fool. "... You're dead." The air bent as Sol's arm swung, hurling the wave of power outward. The effect was to break the single blast into a half-dozen, which gave birth to another four. A spread-fire pattern, they called it.
Lurching forward, Sol followed in the path of the blasts, weaving in and out of the slower ones' paths, and readying Giyarie for a single, decisive thrust. It wouldn't be to a vital spot, no. That would be too simple. Sol's target would be the bastard's sword arm, and it would spread out from there, just like his attack.
This feeling... so sweet.
(( Short Post Syndrome ))
((Let me try to get back in this.))
Storm sat and drank her wine as she saw the arguement reach a climax. She calmly finished her drink and stood after the two had left. She approached the bar and reached into her coin purse. She pulled out a gold piece and handed it to the bartender.
"For repairs to the door. I suggest you get the best door and locks possible." she told him as he gaped at her in surpise. Good doors cost alot and good locks even more. She had a feeling blood was going to be shed and it was her duty to make sure that didn't happen. As she walked out the door she grabbed the bow she had left there and strung it with one smooth motion. It was elfcrafted and priceless. The bow was as tall as her and she could hit a target about 300 paces on a bad day.
Storm nocked a arrow and then dissapeaered into the night. She took to the rooftops so she see far and cover a lot of ground. She arrived in time to see the boy ambush the poor swordsman. Storm narrowed her eyes when she saw teh arua attack. Such skill in the use of life energy was raw outside of monestaries and the fighting monks that made them thier homes. The boy was a fool, but he was a dangerous one. She pulled back the bow string and took carefull aim. She let loose a shaft and followed it with four more in one breath. The shafts formed a a neat line in front of the charging fool, also by design interceoting the arua attacks. "Halt, Young Fool!" She called out to him as she drew another arrowed and prepared.
Damn! He had cast an attack spell and was charging behind it! It had been a long time since Jarrus had fought someone who could fight well and also cast a decent spell. If it was just the spell or the charge, Jarrus could have easily handled it, but both together would require some improvisation.
The spell was expanding as it approached, meaning dodging was out of the question. Alright, this boy wasn't the only one with some magical tricks up his sleeve.
Jarrus brought his left hand up, hurling his dagger at the charging manipulator. That should slow him down! Lowering his sword, he then brought his hand accross his body in a complicated gesture.
There was a slight flicker as his shield came into being... Sloppy! It meant he was being innefficient with his power. It had been a while since he had needed this particular spell. It should scatter the blast around Jarrus, leaving him unharmed. It was good there was no-one around, It would be impossible to predict where the shattered pieces of the spell would land.
But then:
QuoteHalt, Young Fool!
Five arrows sped out of the darkness, It seemed as though they would intersect with the most deadly blasts of the spell. Such shooting! Still, Jarrus wasn't willing to trust his survival to some unseen archer. The shield would remain up.
This was going to get a lot more complicated.
(( Never had a threeway before... Cool. ))
Feet bounding against the rain, Sol ground to an abrupt halt as the arrow shafts pierced the night. Their whirring sounds broke the darkness, and with unparalleled accuracy, disrupted five of the shots he had sent at Jarrus. The remaining five continued on, and would likely enclose that bastard either way -- those arrows could only negate so many of the ten blasts -- and, in the long haul, the bowman may very well HELP, by trapping Jarrus into a two-sided conflict. ... Damn, the shield erected by the stranger deflected the simple blasts with relative ease. How sad.
Still, the immediate concern was to break off the attack and regroup, having lost the element of surprise. Solari readied himself, finding a dagger heading towards him. This fellow had some audacity to try throwing a weapon at him in this darkness! Energy surged through Sol's sword arm, acting as a repelling current of a shield, and with a swipe he misdirected the knife to the side of a building, where it lodged with a pleasant SHUNK. The energy wielder's slender digits caught the pavement, and slowly, he steadied himself to a stopped position. Looking behind the bastard, a girl was to be found, brandishing a bow as large as her. That didn't look good.
"You have some nerve, lady," Sol announced, bringing Giyarie to bear once again, this time in a reverse grip as he stood. "This is a man's fight; females ought best to know their place: OUTSIDE of battle." Foolish girl. What was her business in all this, anyway? Her motives... Was she going to make a move at him? Try to protect that bastard? Hah. If arrows were all she had on her side, he could kill her easily enough. The other one, though... That shield was decent for an old codger like him. If it would take more power than that to dent the barrier, he couldn't risk going all-out inside the city's perimeter.
Sol spoke, "You aren't half-bad, old man. I'd just advise you to watch your step, lest you find your head disconnected your neck. Farewell, strangers." He crouched for a moment, bounding up with tremendous strength (aura-induced), and flipping to the top of one of the buildings in the area. He sheathed Giyarie, feeling the reverb comfortingly, and with that, he darted off, aiming to leap from house to house until he'd fled the city.
(( Discretion is, after all, the better part of valor. By all means, try and pursue me; I won't bite. I'll just blow ya up. ^_^ ))
((Jarrus will pursue alright. Not like he has anything better to do.))
The dagger had failed to pierce the boy's throat, but hey, you win some, you lose some. The shield, at least, had worked. Besides, Jarrus was just getting started.
But now the insolent little boy was running away. Probably smart of him. The jump had been impressive, one of Jarrus' own favourite little tricks in fact, which he quickly put to use. In mid flight he drew his second dagger from his boot. Better be more careful with this one.
Jarrus paused on the rooftop, looking for Sol... There! He wouldn't get away, this was the most fun Jarrus had had in a long time. Taking off after the boy, he yelled to the archer: "Thanks for your help, but it's not needed. I can handle this myself!"
((Storm has something to say about that.))
Storm let off one shaft angrly at the arragont youth at his comment. Outside of battle indead. She thought angrly as she outlined him with Faerie Fire to make a more attractive target. She was already on a rooftop so it was a small matter to follow both of them as they left. She unstrung her bow as she kept pace. "I don't think so." she yelled inreplay to the man as she closed with him. Her aim for being out here in the first place was to stop any bloodshed. That was the reason she didn't take out teh boy when she had the benifet of surpise. Her bow made a effective staff when unstrung, so she swung it at the Jarris' knees.
Jarrus grinned. This was it, the thrill of the chase and all that. The ship had been so boring, so... confined. It would be good to run.
Something hit him in the leg.
Jarrus went down hard onto the wet shingles of the roof, nearly losing his grip on his weapons. Looking up, he saw the archer standing over him.
"The Hell woman? Why are you interfering?" he was screaming at her now, "He attacked me, it's my right to kill him!"
Jarrus attempted to scramble to his feet. His legs hurt, but he'd had worse. If he could get away from this crazy woman, he should still be able to catch the swordsman.
Storm stood over him and shook her head when he demanded that his right was to kill his attacker. "No, your right is to protect yourself. The name is Storm by the way, man. Your lucky I didn't take you down hard. You will stop with this follishness." She told him as she went into a combat stance, with her bow held as a quarterstaff. She had both blades also, but didn't want to kill this person who was obviously new to this land.
The words had barely escaped his mouth, his body had barely turned, before the arrow flew at his frame. An arrow well-shot, but it was still an arrow; Sol simply gestured and, with a wave of aura, deflected the arrow to the side while continuing his escape. From one rooftop to another, and from that one to the next, he would continue on, regardless of whether or not those two clowns had anything to say about it.
Still, for good measure, the warrior readied a charge around his frame, stopping for a brief moment to prepare. It was a bluish aura, deep green in some places, one that he had seen fit to use only once before, during his village's attack. Yes... That was the last time he'd fought an enemy that dictated any real attention. He could still feel the life being snuffed out of Luna, even now, a feeling he couldn't shake as he continued ahead.
Quote"Gh--!!" Giyarie slid into the space between the man's neck and shoulder, gathered momentum, and flung the head away with an audible pop. Its holder didn't pause to wipe the blood from his sword, turning instead to face the onslaught of bandits that he now encountered. There were simply too many of them to fight fairly, so a little aura-play was in order. Solari shook with strength, and that same aura he would later craft surrounded him.
"Who wants some...?" Augmented by the aura, Sol tore through the brigands, sword and fist clashing against steel, iron, and leather with disastrous results for his foes. These were all just cannon fodder; were there no true foes here?
"...!" Solari stumbled as he moved to attack another thief, having felt a sudden pang on his heart. That string was familiar, soft, a part of his very existence... And now it was gone.
"LUNA!!"
Best not to think too much. As Sol ran, he heard a great clatter, though he didn't risk turning to run into a feint. Something seemed to be chasing after him, and then stopped cold.
Cool.
(( You two just fight amongst yourselves. I get to get away~ Yayy. ))
((I've got to stop skipping straight to the bottom of threads. I almost missed your post again Arcangl.))
Damn. No chance of catching up with the boy now. He no doubt knew this place better than Jarrus did, and had a sizeable lead.
Jarrus shook his head and stood up. The woman- no, Storm- had put her guard up.
"Relax, my fight's not with you." Jarrus stretched. That fight had been, quite simply, a disaster. A few months ago Jarrus would have eaten the boy for breakfast within 30 seconds. If he hadn't been surprised... if he hadn't been out of shape... if he hadn't been out of practice... if he hadn't lost his family sword. If, if if! Jarrus was getting lax. It wouldn't do.
"I am Jarrus, of house Sariet. Not that it means anything anymore." Jarrus examined Storm "So? Why were you following us?"
"Well met Jarrius. Storm Eagleyes." She introduced herself as she extended her hand in a warriors clasp. At the same time she slid her unstrung bow into a special slot built into the quiver located on her back. Armed to the teeth discribed her well."Simple, I saw a murder in the making. I was expecting that fool to ambush you. I was also expecting you to wipe the floor with him, but he surpised me with the arua blasts. By the way that was an impressive shield." It had surpised her to see two who had powers like that in one location. The other got away, but she didn't worry about it. She did have to start using her special arrows however.
She was glad to see the read she had gotten off of them at the tavern was correct. "I actually want to discuss buisness. Thats why I had teh barkeep give you a message you ignored."
Yes, the blasts had surprised him as well. Was everyone here some sort of incredibly powerful warrior?
"Message? I'm afraid we must have been too deep in our argument to notice. But yes, I am looking for a job. Perhaps you can tell me the details in a more comfortable setting though? I'm completely drenched."
((Sorry, a short one. Not sure what else needs to be said.))
Sol's aura faded as he escaped further and further, unhindered by his 'pursuers.' Their auras seemed more in tune, now, as he had adjusted to their unusual bend. Time would pass and, if he were lucky, he could even catch that fool off-guard again. Maybe the...? No. He still had enough dignity left where he wouldn't outright attack a woman. As he reached one of the last buildings in the row, just inside the city's walls, Solari slid down and landed on an alleyway's floor. No one around... Perfect.
Placing one ear to the wall facing the way he'd fled, Sol shut his eyes in focus, and attempted to 'know' the signature of that man. Time passed, indeed, and the feeling of the man's strings reverberating became more and more pronounced. Though, at the same time, the aura-user felt that his little crusade was a little unjust. He wasn't admitting responsibility -- hell no! -- but maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be wise to kill someone and leave a corpse inside city limits. Even if he took the risk of hiding the body, he'd be identified and placed on a wanted list for sure. That... was not acceptable.
So, with a sigh and a heave, Sol lifted his lids, and pulled himself straight, walking through the turbulent night air to the edge of the alley, where he laid down, crouched, and relaxed, though he kept his legs in such a position where he could retaliate to any threat. At this point, it was a watch-and-see sort of thing, so he would only be able to wait until he saw the rain let up. He would get wet, yeah, but it wasn't like he was going to melt or anything. Time to relax...
(( I'll be a few houses down at this point, crouched in the dark alley with my legs bent into a sort of leaned back position. What should I do now? I could continue posting here, if you still have business with me, or I could make my own thread. I'm at a bit of a loss. ))
((Um up to you. You can start your own if you want, or jump into this one later.))
Storm laughed. "I like this type of weather." It was true, a ranger loved nature in all of it's forms. She approched an alley and jumped down to street level from there. "We can discuss it at my home if you wish. It's a twenty minute run from here. Follow me." With that she started off at a fast pace. When she said run, she meant it. They ran threw the outskirts of the city until they reached some woods closeby. She led the way up a hill before entering the woods to reveal a simple cabin.
((Hmm, yeah. It really depends on where you want to go from here.))
By the time they reached the cabin, Jarrus was gasping for breath. Yes, it was definetely time to get back into shape. He hoped he'd have time to rest awhile before starting on this woman's job. It had been quite a day. Still, with any luck he'd have some coin soon and then he could make plans for himself. In the meantime, he should probably set some wards in place just in case he was attacked again.
"Nice place," Jarrus glanced around the cabin. "a little small, but home is home eh?" He peeled his coat off his body and held it up. "err, where should I put this?"
Storm opened the door to reveal a tiny room. It consisted of a tiny bed, a small table, two chairs, and a small wardrobe with only one door. She pointed at a hook next to the wall in answer to his question. She was soaking wet herself so she removed her cloak and placed it there. "I wish to hire you to assist me in getting rid of some rouge giants nearby." She explained as she went to her wardrobe. She unlaced herself and removed her leathers. She then removed her undergarments which had also soaked through. She stood there compleaty bare as she open her wardrobe and started looking inside. She bent over to pick up a new set of undergarments. "They have been attacking the vilage on and off for a few months. They are too strong for me to take on by nyself." Storm explained as she slipped on the undergarments and then a linen shift not making any particular hurry. "You looked like know what you were doing."
Jarrus hung up his coat and turned back to Storm. She was naked. Well this was awkward. Women didn't generally do this back home did they? He certainly couldn't remember any who could. Jarrus tried to stop himself from staring. She was attractive certainly, but he knew nothing about her, and this wasn't the time to get involved in anything. He tried to examine her motives rather than her... uhh...
Jarrus was relieved when she put some clothes on. Back to business. So...
"Giants huh? Do you know how many?" Jarrus thought for a second "Giants can be pretty damn hard to kill. How much are you offering? As you said, I know what I'm doing, but I don't come cheap."
What was it about her that made him so uneasy? It must just be the strain of the day. A lot had been happening lately.
Storm raised an eyebrow when she saw him staring. "See something you like?" she asked with an impish smile as she gyrated her hips. To be honest the shift she was wearing wasn't much better as one could see right threw it. "To answer your question, about a dozen. They are teh smalelst, a breed known as verbee. They are rouglhy 10 feet tall. How much do you need? To be honest I was going to hire both of you, but can't help that now."
Dammit Jarrus! Stay focused! She might be trying to swindle you out of some money somehow. It wouldn't do to let his guard down! Jarrus chose to ignore her first comment, skipping directly to the giants.
"A dozen small ones? Shouldn't be too much of a problem." and now for the money... "Honestly, I don't know what the currency is here. I've just arrived, and what little money I had I made by selling some of my possessions. I expect I didn't get a fair price for them either." Hell, was he going to tell his whole story to this woman too? Certainly he hadn't had that much to drink tonight. Best change the subject. "First though, I'd like to know more about the giants. Will I have to fight them all at once? Do any of them know magic? How skilled are they? You know, that type of thing. I'd prefer to be as prepared as possible."
Storm sat down and montioned for him ot do the same. She started to braid her hair lightly for sleep. "Well if we do our job properly, we won't have to deal with more then two or three at a time." She paused in what she was doing and went to a cabinet and pulled out a bag. She tossed it on the table. Even though she lived simply, she had a fair amount of money for emergancies like this. "Thats 100 gold pieces. If you spend it wisely, it should be enough for the rest of your life." She finished the braid as she went to her bed and bent down to reach something underneath. She pulled out a thick rool of parchement and a heavy steel nubed pen. She sat down again and started to an image on the parchment. "As for your other questions, I'm not sure. I expect the chieften to be tough at the very least and who knows, all of them can be trained soldiers. As for teh other, they might have a shaman around who can cast magic." she told him as she finished up. She pushed the parchment to him. "This is a rough idea what thier lair looks like. It's a small series of caves in the nearby mountains."
Enough for his entire life? For a few pitiful giants? This woman must really be desperate. Either that or there was a catch of some kind. Was she playing him for a fool?
Enough. Jarrus wasn't in the mood for speculation right now.
"I accept your offer Storm. You've found the right man for the job. However, first I'm going to require a few things. First, I need a good night sleep. It's been a busy day for me. Secondly, I'd like to pick up a few more daggers, and maybe even some light armour. As I said, I'd like to be prepared. Ah yes, and most importantly," Jarrus grinned, "I need a good scabbard."
Storm nodded when he accepted the job. "I can help you with all but the armor. Armor is not really going ot help if you get hit by a giant anyway." She told him as she approched a chest. What she said wasn't compleatly true, about the giants and the armor also. There were suits of armor that could protect one, but suits like that cost a fortune. She cracked open the chest and pulled out a scarbard as well as a pair of fine daggers. Her inherentance came into handy sometimes, that was for sure. "You can sleep here for free." Teh problem was that there really wasn't enough room on the floor unless they moved all the funiture over. That meant that they would have to share the bed.
"Okay, mobility it is then." Truly, Jarrus didn't think the armour would be much use against giants anyway, but he might as well try and get as much out of this as he could. He gratefully accepted the daggers and scabbard. This was nice stuff? Where did Storm get so much money anyway, and why was she living in this tiny cabin? Jarrus resolved to ask her in the morning when he had some more energy.
Wait... share the bed? Was she serious, or was this her idea of a joke?
Storm went into the chest again and pulled out a couple of bundles of arrows. All the while she debated wiether to tell Jarrus the truth. She resovled to in the morning. "We have an early start. I suggest you start preparing for sleep." She told him as she went through her inventory and selected some very powerful arrows. They would take a long time to replace if she ever could, but the mission required it. After chossing her ammo for the next day she shut off all the lamps after creating a floating globelight with a wishpered cantrip. She got into the bed and slid over as much as possible. "What, don't you want to share a bed with a woman like me?" she teased him with a smile as he stood there.
Enough of this. Jarrus was tired of hiding his thoughts.
"Frankly, I don't know what a 'woman like you' is like. We've just met, and if you recall, your first action was to hit me accross the knees while I was about my own business. I don't trust you, and I think there's some sort of catch to this job. How come someone with your wealth is living in such a tiny cabin anyway? You're an incredible archer. In fact, I think you could handle 2 or 3 giants at a time without my help. What exactly is your game Storm?"
Perhaps a little too forward. But it hadn't been a good day, and Jarrus was damn tired of all this.
Storm sat up and nodded. "Take a seat, it's a long story." she told him as she reached out and turned the lamps back on. He was quick, that boded well for what she had planned. "I haven't been telling you the whole truth. What I told you about the giants is true. However there are a few things that I left out. The giants are very rare and unique. That makes them especially dangerous." She started. Before he could ask a question she continued "They are all psionics." she explained, naming the rare people who could create magical effects using just thier minds. "Not only that, but they are just the servents of my real target. He is a mage known as Incánus. Incánus is a powerful summoner, someone who specializing in controling dangerous creatures. His speciality is demons and fiends. Now you see why I needed help. I'm not even sure all the defense we have to worry about." She finished telling him. "My story is my own. I will tell you if we survive tomorrow." she informed him in response to his first question.
"Thank you for your honesty Storm. I apologize if I was rude, but I dislike being lied too. This way I'll be more prepared for tommorow as well." Jarrus sighed. He hadn't always been this way. Why couldn't he control his temper anymore? It was unbecoming of a Sariet. Still, at least he had recieved answers. "Very well," he sighed, looking at the tiny bed. "Let's get some sleep."
"Yes we have an early morning ahead of us." Storm replied as she shut of teh lamps again and layed down. "For what its worth, I was going to tell you in the morning." she apoligzied to him. After that she closed her eyes and attempted to sleep.
Jarrus woke up early as he always did. It would be a tough day, and he'd like some time to prepare. Taking care not to wake Storm, he crawled out of the tiny bed. He quickly grabbed his coat and weapons, and headed outside.
Jarrus ran through some swordplay excersices. Warming up for the coming fight. He checked his magical wards and performed a few practice spells as well, exulting as he made impossible leaps and flips. He hadn't felt this good in quite a while. It was time to forget his past trials, and start over.
Storm awoke soon after Jarrus. She got up from her bed and started to stretch. Today was going to be a very long day indeed. She put on her leathers and made sure to put on her weapons. They had much planning to do, but she had matters of a personal nature to take care of first. Even though she lived in the woods she still believed in cleanness. She also had to pray to Mielikki, her goddess. She grabbed a hunting horn from a hook on the wall and exited the small cabin she called her home. Storm stopped dead as she saw Jarrus practicing. It looked like she picked the right person to help her. “I’m going to bathe. If you need me, I’ll be right down this trail.� She said pointing down the direction she was about to go. “Break your fast, but if you hear my horn sound twice, come with haste. When I return, we start planning.� She instructed him before heading down the path to her favorite pond.
After a walk of about 20 minutes through the shaded woods Storm arrived at her destination. She enjoyed this pond because of it's unique nature. The pond was heated by a natural hot spring. That meant that the poll was always pleasntly warm, with out having to haul water into a tub and heating it. She hung the horn and her sword belt on a tree branch before stripping out of her clothes. She waded into the water and took a seat. This daily bath helped her with various things. The warm water relaxed her, and it also gave her time ot think. She sat and mentally prepared herself for the battle later on in the day.
After a long soak she came out of the pond and went to her bags. It was time now for her prayers. She removed a acorn from her belongings and headed towards the edge of the clearing. Since the Forest Queen was a nature goddess, Storm always did her prayers at this time of day, bare except for the beautiful blonde hair that fell partway down her back. She had just spent the last week removing a stump from this location in preporation for this. She placed the acorn in a whole she dug out with her fingers then covered. All the while she muttered a prayer to Mielikki. She did not stop until the prayer was finished, even though she felt eyes watching her.
It was that feeling again. Why did he keep having these... premonitions? He had felt it before he was attacked last night, and it was probably the only reason he was alive now. But this time he couldn't tell where the danger was coming from. The feeling didn't disappear as he scanned the forest nearby. There were a million places one could hide in the tangled wood. Was Storm...? No, the danger was close, he could tell that much. Jarrus was bewildered.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Good work Jarrus, if it's an assassin at least your last words will sound confused. It would match the rest of your life well enough.
Storm started to get nervous when the unknown figure didn't revieled itself. She reached fro her dagger and relized she left all her weapons by her clothes. Her full lips moved in a silent curse as she relized how stupid she had been. She still had the presence of mind ot make sure she had the horn and could call Jarrus with it, but even at a full run it would take him at least five minutes to reach her. She stood up straight and commanded "Reveal yourself!". She wasn't sure what she could do if the being was hostile however.
No response. Whatever it was wasn't talking, and it wasn't making a move. Just... watching. Jarrus found himself infuriated by the situation.
"Show your damn self! I don't know what game you're playing, but I swear I'll tear you apart and leave the pieces for the birds!"
Not the most original threat Jarrus had ever made, but maybe it would get a response. Then again, maybe not.
Enough! Was this simply a false premonition? Jarrus still didn't know why he continued to have them. But every time in the past something important had happened, he couldn't just ignore one.
The feeling felt familiar. He'd known it before many times. Maybe... could there be a way to control it? Jarrus sheathed his sword (he could do that now!) and focused on the premonition. It felt more familiar by the moment. When was the first time he felt this way?
There! A flutter of recognition. The danger lay not in the woods but...
"The hell?" No, the danger wasn't hidden in the forest around him. It lay in the ground beneath him! Jarrus bolted. It wasn't safe in the open. Was it safe anywhere? Get off the ground!
Jarrus forced energy into his limbs and his run became a graceful jump. Landing on the roof of Storm's cabin, Jarrus drew his sword and scanned the ground around him.
((Ugh, I think I can do better than this. The brain cells are frying.))
Storm waited and heard no response. Since she was unarmed she decided to be overly careful. Her long fingered hands grabbed teh horn and let loose two long blast. Hopefully that would get her stalker to reveil itself. If not then she would have backup soon. To be safe she started to creep back towards her weapons. She was rewarded for her efforts when the creature stepped out and faced her.
((I'm waiting for somebody to jump in. If not, then I'll NPC it.))
“Help! Help me please!� A young man, almost a boy even, shouted frantically as he raced toward a lone cabin in the forest, “He is going to kill me! Please!�
The youth was roughly five and some half feet tall with shoulder length red curls and fear filled green eyes. His heart raced, almost bursting out of his chest and he desperately sucked air in through his mouth as he continued to call for help. He was only a hundred and fifty feet away from what could be his salvation.
“Is anyone there? Can you hear me? Please!�
After the boy’s last outburst the sound of a hound barking began to ring out in the forest. A hundred feet behind the fleeing youth was what would seem to be a hunting dog. It was a large beast with a dark back and almost golden flanks, it had pointed ears and a long, snarling and foaming snout, its dark eyes were filled with a murderous desire. The beast wore a spiked collar leading a rather thick and long chain around it’s neck. The hound belonged to someone but there was no sign of anyone, yet.
Fifty feet until the young man would be safe, hopefully, he couldn’t see anyone coming out of the cabin. His solution, to just close his eyes and continue to run. The boy’s chest and legs ached and his arms pumped as hard as he could, the sound of the dog gaining on him completely filled his mind with the fear of an imminent death. That was when the second purser entered the scene, a large man wearing dark green armor that almost matched the colour of the forest, his chest and most of his legs were covered by a simple beige robe that was attached to his waist by a simple brown belt and flapped loosely over his moving legs. He was considerably far away from his hound and even father from the boy. In his right hand he clutched a wide double-faced hammer adorned with a spike both on the top and bottom of the weapons’ iron shaft, his left hand pressed a canvas bag to his side. His face was twisted by a mix of anger and fatigue, it was evident he had be running for a long while, sweat ran down his red race and beaded on his near bald head. As he ran, and after many attempts he finally managed to make a single declaration,
“Surrender now fiend and I promise you a swift and honourable death!�
Jarrus looked up when he heard the plea for help. There was someone running towards the cabin. Could nothing ever be simple? Jarrus didn't want to leave his perch for the perilous ground, but as he saw the young man's pursuers he decided he had no choice. It was none of his business, but this looked like it would lead to unnecessary bloodshed.
Ironic, that may have been exactly what Storm had thought upon observing Jarrus and the swordsman at the bar. Of course Jarrus had been acting in self-defense, which didn't seem to be the case here.
Once again charging his most used spell (mobility is a wonderful thing), Jarrus leaped to put himself between the boy and the ones pursuing him.
"Get inside the cabin and lock the door, but for the sake of the gods, don't touch anything." Jarrus shouted to the boy. "I'll sort this out."
Still wary of the danger under the ground, Jarrus turned his attention to the pursuers. Using a modified version of the shield spell, he formed an invisible wall of force in front of the hound. The dog didn't seem to be a normal animal, but the shield should stop it in it's tracks, and perhaps discourage it from approaching the cabin.
"Halt!" Jarrus used his best commanding voice, the one he had learned growing up in a noble house. At least I few things he was taught had come in handy, the real world was much harsher than he had ever imagined back then. "I wish to know your quarrel with this boy. It may be he has stolen from you, or insulted your honour, in which case his life is, of course, yours. However, I don't want unnecessary bloodshed, especially so close to my host's residence. Perhaps we can work this business out."
It was then Jarrus realised he hadn't sheathed his sword before he leapt. Damn. Well, he'd never been good at diplomacy anyway, and that hammer looked like it could do some damage. Besides, Jarrus would rather come off looking threatening than weak any day.
Still, for the sake of diplomacy:
"I am Jarrus, of house Sariet, a traveller to these lands."
That was how diplomats did it, right? Introductions always made you seem friendlier. Actually... had Jarrus ever even met a diplomat? Certainly not during his time in the desert. Maybe he should just attack the man before he made things worse.
The hound froze dead in its tracks when the warrior fell from above. It’s murderous gaze turned to the new man as it let out bellowing bark after bark, partly to warn the new comer to stay back and partly to alert his comrade to the danger he posed but it never moved toward or away from the man nor did it ever look away from him. After a few seconds the panting and sweating warrior in green arrived beside his dog as it continued to bellow.
“Dante!� The man shouted, effectively silencing the dog as he took a moment to comprehend what had just happened. A man apparently leapt down from the sky and let the demon he was chasing past and into safety. Could he be a mage? His hound was acting almost as if he was, but what if Dante was simply startled? His dog alone would be reason enough to kill a suspect who could not injure those around but this man was different, stong. It was a solid possibility that he wielded magic, but he also appeared to be a skilled warrior and Sanguinius was tired from his long run, fighting this possible monster had to be the last resort.
“I am Sanguinius of the Connlaoth aristocracy, and a warrior on a mission to save our world from the darkness that my prey and his kind aid in heralding.� Sanguinius paused an took a step past his snarling beast and a slight smirk cracked his flushed face, “he has not stolen nor has he insulted my honour however his bloodshed would be in no way unwarranted. He is a threat to this world an all who desire to live peacefully in it for he has the taint of magic within his blood.�
The green-clad knight then slowly rose an accusing finger towards the member of house Sariet, the plates of his armor slowly grinding against one and other with every movement, his deep brown eyes narrowed and seemed to pierce through the warrior before him as he muttered,
“Now I am assuming I have left the boarders of my homeland because I have never heard of your ‘house’, but don’t think that’ll stop me from killing you if you don’t aid me now. After all, he who aids the mage is truly a darker evil then the mage itself.�
Sanguinius did so love to attempt to intimidate people and frighten them into doing what they do know to be the right thing. Although this Jarrus seemed older and lighter he surely wouldn’t be able to run forever, no one can hide from the light of Sanguinius’ righteousness fury forever. Despite his arrogance there was still the small voice within his mind always whispering the what ifs, the worst case scenarios... What if Jarrus was a powerful political figure? What if he was a mage? What if he wasn’t the only mage here? What if this was all an ambush set up but the darkness to kill the divine warrior and end his quest to save the world? Sanguinius shook his head slightly as he tried to ignore the growing paranoia within him and stay focused on his current task, slaughtering the boy hiding within the cabin and using his tainted blood as protection from future wizards and witches.
"It's no surprise you haven't heard of my house. The place I come from is far from here, accross the ocean." Jarrus regarded the newcomer. He seemed to be some sort of fanatic. "I don't know if you are still within... Connlaoth? I've just arrived here."
Jarrus looked back at the cabin. It seemed the boy had made it to safety. This was most confusing. Jarrus had seen no evidence that magic was considered a crime here. Still, it would be best to keep his own talents a secret from this man. Keep trying the diplomatic approach.
"Alright. Let me get this straight. The boy hasn't insulted or stolen from you, but you feel you must kill him anyway? Because he is a mage? I fail to see how that is such a terrible crime. Besides, he doesn't seem much of threat at the moment. If he truly knows magic, why did he not blast you away when you began chasing him? I feel your anger is misplaced."
Jarrus might be a bit of a rogue, but he wasn't going to allow an innocent to be killed simply for possessing the gift of magic. This man was obviously a zealot, given his comment about "he who aids the mage."
((sorry, a little bit short.))
Sanguinius let out a loud sigh as he lowered his head slightly and brought his plated hand up to his brow. He then looked at the warrior before him once again and began to speak as though he were talking to a child.
“Magic is what brings about the downfall of civilizations. We of Connlaoth have discovered this. Are you aware that we are not the first peoples to inhabit this world? Civilizations have been wiped out by a great darkness, this darkness being magic.� As he finished speaking, he looked past Jarrus to the cabin where the aberration lay in hiding. “The magic this boy was seen using was that which affects the body. He was seen by some loyal, good folk reviving a bird in the forest, lucky his powers so far cannot affect any major damage. The boy knows what he is and he should come out now to accept his punishment and be set free from having to suffer being a demon. It is like someone who is going to die a slow painful death. Would you end it quickly for them and leave them some dignity or would you leave them to suffer and rot away into a horrid mockery of what they once were?�
As he spoke Sanguinius slowly began to arrogantly walk back and forth, occasionally turning his head enough to shoot a glare at Jarrus as see how he was taking the information. The arm holding his hammer was now bent so that the shaft of his weapon rested on his plated shoulder his other hand was on his waist, his thumb hooked over his belt and now between it and his beige robes.
“So in short my friend, no, my anger is not misplaced. My anger is not at the boy himself, I personally love children,� He froze suddenly and looked at the boy’s would-be hero inquisitively with a tilted head, “and it is because I love the boy that he must be freed from this damnation that the powers of darkness have set out for him.�
If you can’t convince the confused and misguided with logic you can always attempt an appeal to emotion. Another step toward the last resort sadly, but what must be done must be done. For the good of every person in the world he would kill this man, and the boy he has decided to try and save, as brutally as will be required.
((Ha ha... I forgot to log in... Oh well my bad :lol:))
Jarrus snorted. Who the hell did this man think he was? The downfall of civilizations? It didn't take magic for that to happen, just stupidity.
Reaching down, Jarrus pulled one of his new daggers from his belt, then straightened into an offensive stance, his sword extended in front of his body, and his dagger near his side, ready to be thrown or used to guard.
"I've heard enough. You want to kill a child for healing innocent forest animals, then I have nothing more to discuss with you. The boy is now under my protection. If you want to fight me about it, I have no problem gutting you."
That hammer looked like a nasty piece of work. Best to dodge it rather than trying to block. Though it was obvious this man wouldn't be employing any magic, he might have other tricks up his sleeve. Plus there was that unusually large dog.
Jarrus shifted his weight, preparing for some sort of attack. "Well, I thought I'd be fighting giants today, but this will do nicely as well. You can turn around and leave now, or you can fight me. I guarantee the second will not be a pleasant experience for you."
“It is a shame that you are willing to die for no reason, other then a misguided belief that you are protecting an innocent. How do you know that he isn’t sitting in that cabin right now, using his dark power to use you as a tool,� Sanguinius spat as he backed away from the tainted soul he was about to release. He calmly lifted the pack that hung from his shoulder over his head and set it on the ground behind his still growling hound and calmly pulled a fairly short, curved dagger from a sheath that was attached to the back of his belt.
Sanguinius held the small dagger with the blade pointing downward and stood with his left side facing his opponent. He lifted his hammer slightly off of his shoulder and held is ready to swing in a downward arch. His heart began to race and bash against his chest as adrenalin began to flow through his system. He kept his face somber and attempted to remain as calm as he could when he issued his orders to his hound, “Dante, surround.�
Dante paused in his growls and murmurs the moment he heard his name and paused as he attempted to recognize the sounds his companion had made. Within a fraction of the moment the command was issued the hound was snarling again, this time he was circling around to the right side of his assumed target in an effort to be on the opposite side as the one occupied by his ally.
“I will give you a rare chance, Jarrus,� Sanguinius began, an air of confidence in his voice, “You can surrender now and I’ll ignore this evident sign of evil that you have shown and accept that it was possibly the powers of the young devil you are now protecting that is pushing you to this deed. However, if you don’t take this offer you should know that you will die.�
"Don't talk to me about dark power. You're a saint compared to some people I've met. And the last one who tried to use me as a tool needs three servants to help him dress."
Still, did the man have a point? Why was Jarrus risking his life for someone he'd never met? probably because this man really irritated him. Innocents be damned, this was a waste of time!
Now the hound was circling around to his rear. Not good. The man had a dagger out and looked ready to fight. But what was this? A chance to surrender? Jarrus nearly burst out laughing. It was the same offer he had made only moments before. This man really had no idea who he was dealing with.
"If you think you can kill me you are very, very mistaken. I've been through a lot, and I still haven't met anyone who could best me in a fair fight." Fine, so this was technically a lie. Jarrus was still alive wasn't he? He certainly wasn't a pushover in any case.
Best not to waste any time. As soon as the man figured out Jarrus had refused his offer he would be on the attack. Jarrus intended to beat him to it.
Jarrus drew back his blade as he charged at the man, readying it for a wide, horizontal slash. Risky, but it should catch his opponent off balance. Whether or not it hit didn't matter, it was mostly a distraction. The real attack would be a quick follow-up thrust from his dagger, hopefully ending this fight before it started.
“I don’t think, I know I can-“ Sanguinius cut himself short when he realized that he was being charged and quickly shouted, “Dante, attack!� as he began to stumble backwards in an effort to avoid the attack of his foe. The blade was going to slice right across his stomach and Sanguinius had no desire to test the strength of his protective plates. To try and defend himself he swung his hammer out toward his attacker, unfortunately as Sanguinius began to swing he immediately lost his balance and began to fall back. His accidental slip up however, quite possibly saved his life as the blade sliced through his robe, the tip of the weapon just barely scratching against his armor.
When Sanguinius hit the ground Dante attacked. The hound let loose a vicious wave of barks as it pounced toward Jarrus, paws outstretched, Dante was going to pin this warrior to the ground and then do everything he could to tear apart his prey’s throat.
Sanguinius quickly began to scramble away from Jarrus and climbed up to one knee. He hoped that Dante would be able to end this bout quickly, or at least be enough of a distraction for Sanguinius to do so. He held both his weapons away from his body and readied himself to swing his hammer at Jarrus’ legs if he did come close enough.
So much for the charge. The warrior in green had avoided it. Nearly losing his balance himself, Jarrus managed to keep his footing just in time to be hit from behind by the massive hunting dog. Jarrus went over, attempting to guard his face and neck against the beast's attacks. At risk of having his arm ripped off, Jarrus rammed the large band on his wrist into the dog's mouth, temporarily stopping him from biting.
This was not a good situation. At any moment the warrior could be back to smash Jarrus' head in. It looked like it was time to resort to a magical means of attack. Jarrus prepared a hasty spell that should knock the dog off of him. He'd wait until the man came close, to perhaps catch him by surprise.
Dante had the man pinned. However, he had stuffed his guarded wrist into the hound’s mouth, effectively preventing any bites. Sanguinius was pleased with his hound, the animal masters employed by his father had bread the beast well and trained it even better, his use in a fight was almost as useful as that of a skilled human warrior, so long as the proper commands could be given.
“It seems you have finally met your match. I hope the demon child was worth your life, Jarrus of house Sariet,� Sanguinius began as he stood up and readied hammer high over his head. An enormous feeling of pride and arrogance filled the green knight as he savored the moment, this would be his first non magical creature he has ever killed. This man, this unwitting slave, would be the first once innocent life taken by Sanguinius, although he knew full well the pawn was no longer innocent as he was under the control of the demon child in the cabin.
“You should have stood aside, Jarrus!� Sanguinius shouted as he charged at the man his hound had pinned, his hammer held high . Sanguinius was going to shatter Jarrus’ skull and liquify the contents of it with one brutal blow. Three steps away, two steps, one more step taken then Sanguinius lunged and began the downward swing of his gleaming, silver death dealer.
His opponent was approaching, he'd better time this right!
Just as Sanguinus began his deadly swing, Jarrus activated his spell. The hound was forced from Jarrus' prone body, the hapless animal flew upwards, hopefully distracting his master. At the same time Jarrus rolled out of the way of approaching hammer. Leaping to his feet, he took a few steps back, twirling his sword in an impressive maneuver to bring it into a backhanded grip, and raising his dagger in front of him. He'd be more wary of the dog next time.
"Alright warrior, if you insist on trying to get past me, don't expect me to hold back. If you are my match, then I'm very disappointed."
Sanguinius watched with a mix of shock and horror as Dante was launched into the air and away from his prey. The gleaming hammer struck the ground in almost the same instant, and there was no satisfying crush of bone which caused the green clad warrior to look down from his surprised stare at his pet. His hammer had embedded itself in the ground and Jarrus had rolled to safety and was now on his feet apparently showing off as he changed his grip on his swords.
Dante landed on his side with a dull thud and a slight yelp. He lay there motionless for a few moments, stunned and dazed. The hound was motionless, save for his deep long breaths while he attempted to recover from the shock of what had just happened, and the pain from the landing.
The surprise of what had just happened quickly faded from Sanguinius’ mind and was replaced with a burning hatred. His suspicions were right, Jarrus is a mage, he is the enemy, he had to die. The green knight shut out the rest of the world, he even stopped caring if his hound was seriously wounded by the fall or not all he cared for now was tasting the blood of his foe and knowing that it will help in making him even more powerful.
“You are an abomination!� Sanguinius bellowed as he lifted his hammer over his head, “and you will die for what you represent!�
He charged. His hammer held out at shoulder height as he rushed at Jarrus. Sanguinius was going to simply swing his hammer horizontally at his target’s head, and unleash as many blows as he could, as fast as he could.
((Gah! Sorry I haven't posted here in a while. Kind of forgot about it honestly, please forgive me?))
Jarrus barely had time to react as the green-armoured warrior charged once more. The man didn't seem to keen on finesse, but he was certainly strong and fast. The hammer was once more swinging directly at his head, and all Jarrus could do was interpose his sword between it's shaft and his skull. The steel flexed from the impact, and Jarrus was knocked off his feet again, but he seemed to be intact.
Damn but if he wasn't out of shape, and out of practice. Jarrus resolved to do something about that when he finished this guy off. The man was deranged or something, chasing children through the forest and attacking complete strangers.
In any case this had gone on long enough. Jarrus gathered his magical sources, flinging his own body into the air. From here he would dive down onto Sanguinus, hopefully catching him by surprise, and where he was unprepared and unused to defending from an attack. Mobility was the key to victory, and Jarrus had it in spades.