• Closed • Breadcrumbs

[Pegasus]

15th Cylus 718

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Arlo pulled Willy back and the man looked at him with a surprised glare on his face. He was not one bit amused and, just for a moment, Arlo saw the killer this man was - the man he could be was obvious in his eyes. Just for a trill. But then he pulled back out of Arlo's grasp and nodded. "Thanks," he said, patting Arlo's arm gratefully.

Earlier, Arlo had asked him to.. or more precisely told him to.. shut up and he had not, thus far, in any way complied. He hadn't grumbled or argued, he just did not, ever, stop talking. About how dark it was, how cold it was, how damp the walls were and how uncomfortable he was. Hungry. Thirsty. He asked about any women they might know - girlfriends, wives, sisters, prostitutes, didn't really seem to matter and if questioned (or if not and allowed to just continue talking), it would become obvious that Willy had a fairly negative view of females as anything except objects of pleasure.

Specifically, for him - and every woman was. For him.

Still, Arlo grabbed him and stopped him from getting sliced in two - maybe. When Tio suggested that he was the "spare person" however, Willy knelt down and fussed the dog, who was obviously quite agitated. His fussing calmed it and he looked at Tio with a glowering, angry glare. But then, Tio said he was just joking, which was a good thing as far as Willy was concerned.

A puppet? "What about one of those?" He asked, motioning towards 'over there' and back the way they'd come. It was a distraction, of course, and they realised as soon as they either saw the flash of movement - far, far quicker than they might have thought and they heard the brief, cut off yelp of the dog. The knife in Willy's hand, concealed and thusfar unseen by either of them, glinted with blood as the dog exsanguinated, blood covering the cut-throat's hands until he shoved the dog forward and, indeed, the trap sprung and a guillotine-like blade dropped, putting the dog out of it's final moments of misery at least. "Yeah," Willy said, the dagger in his hand flashing. "Who'd have thought it." Looking at the two of them, the man who could move faster than either of them with a knife grinned.

"We can get round it now, yeah?"

Off Topic

I gave him a dice roll against your skills. It felt the fairest thing to do. He's very fast. You won't stop him killing the dog in terms of that, but everything else is able to be stopped, though the push into the trap is also very fast and you'd have to move super quick.

[Arlo Creede]

Arlo hadn't been fooled for a trill, and he wasn't under any false illusions where it concerned the nature of the man called Willy. It would be too easy to think that because he talked too much, because he was crude, vulgar and had another dozen or more unappealing traits, that he wasn't dangerous. In fact, from Arlo's perspective, it was all those things that made his disposition an unreliable one. Just one reason why Arlo had never put away his pistol crossbow, and why he'd never un-nocked the bolt.

He didn't say it to Tio. He probably didn't need to. But maybe Arlo was just waiting for a good excuse to arise, one he could easily use to justify killing the man. And generally speaking, Arlo wasn't a killer by nature. "I know cause I can see it...Or I can see what it's done at least," he explained when Tio asked how he knew about the trap in front of them. "You remember the fog? The pirates ghosts and the graveyard?" he asked then, but didn't elaborate any farther.

Suffice to say though he didn't have a spare puppet on hand, and was about to say so before Willy distracted him, and then the dog yelped. And Arlo swung back, his bow at the ready. Too late. "What are you doing!?" Arlo shouted. It was too late, the man had moved faster than seemed natural. But that dog had saved their lives more than once. And now? Of all the reasons he'd had up to now to justify filling the man up with bolts from his bow, this one turned out to be the final straw and the one that Arlo wouldn't and couldn't let pass.

He was more than a good hand with a bow. In fact he was far better than most and Arlo used that to his advantage as he fired, first at Willy's hand, the one that gripped the knife. And in a split trill, he fired again, this time just above the man's kneecap. But shots intended to cause the most pain, to cripple, to crumple but not to kill. Because Arlo wasn't finished and having disarmed the man and, firing too bolts into him, he'd deliver a solid left hook beneath the man's chin, meant to send him sprawling back into the water.

And still, Arlo wasn't finished. He'd make sure that he and Tio both were safely past the trap before hog tying Willy, hands to ankles behind his back so that he'd have to struggle through a constant effort to keep his chin above water and stop from drowning. He'd have to struggle all over again to stop himself rolling back into the same trap that he'd sent the dog into. "He's worn out his usefulness," he said to Tio before taking the knife that Willy had used, along with his shoes and anything else he had on in besides his shirt and his trousers.

Looking back at the ghosts then, Arlo shook his head and pointed at Willy. "He's one of the ones responsible for what happened to you," he said, just in case they were in a state of listening to him. If they were, then maybe they'd find a way to exact their own brand of justice.

[Tio Silver]

The puppet had been a long shot, and so Tio was surprised when Willy claimed that there was one right behind him; surprised enough to not even think about turning his back on a guy like Willy. There was a short yelp and the sound of liquid spilling to the floor, and Tio looked back around just in time to see Willy throwing the freshly slaughtered body of the dog into the trap and set off the guillotine. For Arlo this was a step too far past the line, and a moment later the bolt he'd been itching to fire since the thug had first opened his mouth sailed free from his crossbow and into Willy's knee.

Quite honestly Tio wasn't exactly sure what to make of this situation. On the one hand he really didn't like dogs, and they had needed to get past the trap somehow. He wouldn't kill an animal if it could be helped, but he would rather sacrifice an animals life than a sentient being. Yet on the other hand the callous efficiency with which Willy did the deed was completely disrespectful to the hound considering how it had helped them so far. Was it fair for him to judge Willy's actions as evil just because of his cruel manner, when he would have done the same thing? Manners wouldn't have mattered to the dog.

He stepped over the threshold of the sprung trap and watched in sullen curiosity as Arlo fetched a rope. When it became obvious what the traveller intended to do however a frown began to grow across his face. "Arlo... this isn't right..." he began to say, but made to movement to actually stop his as Arlo began to hogtie Willy to the ground. "He's an ass, sure, but leaving him like this is an indirect death sentence. Smith's gang use these tunnels, and if they find him I doubt they'll welcome him back with open arms. Even if they don't the water will rob him of enough heat to freeze him to death, especially with that wound in his leg. He's no threat to us. Cut him loose and leave him to hobble back to civilization on his own."

Speaking of the wound in his leg something about the sight of the red-stained water was bothering him. Blood and water? Hadn't he heard that somewhere before? "There's water, you're surrounded by water. I see someone approaching you, and you don't see them. There's blood, droplets of blood in the water and there's a key, a silver key. Someone is baking bread and you... you mustn't trust the gift given to you. It won't save you." Tio spun around as if stung and drew his weapon to face behind him, instantly on guard for an attack! Of course, how could he have forgotten Joelle's prophecy! Here he was, surrounded by water filled with droplets of blood. Did that mean the unseen person was here too?![/color]

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[Arlo Creede]

It wasn't right? Arlo looked back at Tio, as if the other man had sprouted horns from his forehead, then shook his head in wonder. As far as he was concerned, there were those rare individuals who weren't just beyond redemption because of life going wrong for them. They were simply rotten to the core and had been born that way. Willy was one of them. "You've never struck me as the sentimental type Tio."

Arlo didn't turn back or make any move to untie Willy. And he wouldn't. "He's one of them that is responsible for us being here. He'd have made sure we were enslaved without a thought of our own left in our heads. He'd have left us there to burn to death in that kitchen if he could have. He'd be one of the ones going after our loved ones if not for being down here with us." That list went on and on and the trial wasn't long enough.

"He still might try if he manages to get out of here alive. Suit yourself if you have to," he said, gesturing back towards Willy who he'd left tied after taking anything he could possibly use for a weapon. "But first chance he gets, what he did to that dog he'll do to you. I wouldn't turn my back on him that's for sure." Arlo wouldn't be, that was a given. And even before heading out again, his only goal getting out of this place and back home, he had his bow loaded and ready for firing, just in case.

[Pegasus]

15th Cylus 718

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Willy's screams echoed around the cavernous tunnel they were in and a lot louder than the sound the dog had made. He was not a brave man, it seemed, and he certainly didn't have a high pain threshold. Although, just as he screamed and then Tio stepped in and interceded, both of them noticed at the same time that he looked pleased as Tio did. There was a glint of pleasure in his eyes, and the apparent pain that he was in was, almost certainly, faked.

But how could that be?

Willy lay there, tied, and Arlo most certainly didn't back down, didn't untie him. They spoke and discussed it. Willy remained quiet, during this, and had fallen quiet when he was tied. The blood oozed out into the water and Arlo made sure that he didn't turn his back on Willy. Tio, however, did as he spun around looking for the person in the darkness, remembering Joelle's words. Willy watched him as Tio turned and, in turning to look he turned away from Willy and that? That gave Willy his opening.

Arlo had tied him. He'd tied him well and he knew he had. But as Willy stood, fluidly and without hesitation, without any hindrance or any indication of being either tied, or hurt, in any way. He lunged for Tio. Tio, by virtue of what he was doing, because of the very prophecy which was currently in the process of making itself come true, could not see Willy, whereas Arlo, because of his determination not to let the man out of his sights, could, and that had been Willy's mistake - to focus on Tio so close to him. By the time Tio realised what was happening, Willy's hands would be drawing one of the weapons Tio had looted from his belt.

And damn, but he was fast. If the being tied up / untied, shot twice and - if anyone stopped to look - now having literally NO injuries didn't give them the clue. That was some kind of supernatural speed there.

Off Topic

And we're in a state of combat. But you know, if you'd walked away and both had your backs to him, it could have been worse!
Tio - you have ONE action.
Arlo - you have TWO actions. One before Willy gets to Tio, as he's moving.
Actions are things like acrobatic moves, attacking, defending. You can both vocalise as much as you like, within a roughly 10 second timescale.

[Tio Silver]

Tio shot Arlo a wry smile at his fair assessment of the many terrible things Willy had done and would likely continue to do. "I know he would be, and I know that he deserves everything you want to give him and more.
But even people like me have to draw a line somewhere when it comes to deciding what is right and wrong, and no matter how much of a git he is I can't kill a man in cold blood, or stand by and watch someone else do so, and call myself a decent human being afterwards. This is wrong Arlo. Let him crawl back to wherever it was he came from and die of his own accord, don't waste your morality on him."

Then came his realisation of Joelle's warning, and when he spun to face what was behind him Tio was shocked to find that there was nothing there. No assailant creeping up on him, or even a stir in the water to suggest that something was amis. Had he been wrong then? Had Joelle's prophecy not referred to this part? But if not now then when-...

His train of thought was disrupted as a hand grabbed ahold of the pair of daggers on his belt and ripped them free of their sheaths. Instincts took over and Tio dove forward to get away from whoever had drawn weapons near to his exposed back, rolling over as he hit the floor to gain some more distance. Soaked with water, he scrambled back up to his feet and spun around to face who had taken the weapons.

It was Willy! But how?! He'd been shot in the leg and tied up, and yet not a trill later was standing there looking absolutely fine! Was he some kind of magician; a honer perhaps? He hadn't gotten the impression that hone gave people the power to regenerate or free themselves from bindings, but then again he really didn't know much about it. Perhaps he was some strange kind of undead, or under the influence of a magic potion? It would certainly explain the psychotic behaviour.

There wasn't another chance to make a move, and so Tio readied his axe and kept his eyes focused on Willy. A flash of amber crossed over the blue of his eyes as the mark of Syroa reacted to the fury beginning to well up within him.

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[Arlo Creede]

Tio, Arlo figured when he kept on insisting that Willy be cut loose, had completely taken leave of his senses. That's if he'd had any to begin with. "My sense of morality where it concerns that bastard, is in very good working order," he said, and made no move to turn Willy loose. "It's exactly where it ought to be on my list of priorities. A few ticks below self-preservation, a dozen lower than the safety of my loved ones and a half dozen more below basic common sense. You turn him loose, he'll kill you first chance he gets." It warranted repeating after all,

And having repeated it, just a half trill later Tio did turn his back, and Willy moved at an unnatural speed, attempting to do just what Arlo had predicted he would if given half a chance. He hadn't expected it to happen in just that way, but in either case he'd been prepared already for just about anything. His pistol crossbow had already been in his hand, a bolt loaded and ready to go. Arlo was a pretty good shot and he fired off the bolt, aiming at the back of Willy's neck, just at the base of his skull.

Once he'd released the bolt, he thrust his right hand forward, curled in a fist. It was the ring he wore, that was the focus. That, and Willy of course, who he meant to imprison in mound of earth and rock just long enough for Tio to get a blow or two in with his axe.

[Pegasus]

15th Cylus 718

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Tio rolled - should they survive this particular encounter he might notice that he wasn't just wet from the water on the floor as he got up - he'd rolled through the remains of the dog. That was probably for later, but there he was, prophecy made true by his own wondering about the prophecy, as so often happens, but either way, he didn't get stabbed by his own daggers.

Probably a good thing.

Arlo shot him, and this time, Willy did not scream. The bolt embedded deep in the base of Willy's neck, but it didn't make him pause or stop. In fact, though Arlo couldn't see it because of the angle he was at, Tio saw Willy smile. There was no pain, no emotion... no humanity in his dead eyes.

What he looked was certain. Arrogant, maybe. Sure that he was going to win. Because he knew these two, he knew that they could fight but he could fight better than them. Tio, of course, recognised that the blow to the back of his neck should have killed Willy. He was emotionless and dead and still moving - oh and he'd regenerated. Hmmm.

But what he did not expect was to be suddenly encased in thick earth. Whilst he was, undoubtedly, at the peak of his physical strength, he was not supernaturally strong and so, the earth wrapped around him and suddenly, Willy was encased and both Arlo and Tio were able to act. Willy's face snarled as he struggled, though, and how long Arlo's earth would hold him, who knew?

At least, with the bolt still in him, he wasn't regenerating - but really, that was a short term solution.

Off Topic

You've got about 10 seconds maybe 15 before he starts to wiggle his way out of this. FYI he definitely regenerates.

[Tio Silver]

Okay, so Willy could also take a crossbow bolt to the neck without flinching; or for that matter without even dying! Definitely some kind of undead then! Could he try to usurp control over it? Possibly, but the fact that he'd been so convincing while pretending to be a human suggested that he was definitely some kind of special high-quality thrall, something beyond what he had the capability to create, and that the one puppeteering him knew what they were doing. Was it worth wrestling for dominance when he didn't think he'd be able to win? He'd also end up giving away his status as a magician, which he was saving to be his ace in the hole. No, his best move right now was to destroy this... revenant? He wasn't quite sure just what exactly it was he was dealing with here.

As Arlo's mound of earth encased Willy Tio saw an opportunity. There had been many violent deaths in this place; many souls that had cried out in anger as the traps and thugs loitering these tunnels had brought their lives to an untimely end, and he could feel the presence of the tiny red spirits that'd been drawn here by their fury flittering around in the corners. One of them had been drawn over to the violence, and through Syroa's mark Tio could feel its eagerness to join in; to rip and tear away at flesh and bone in an attempt to satisfy the neverending inferno that raged inside. His eyes shone a brilliant amber as he tapped into that connection, and with a cackle of malicious glee the wrathling sped through the air and sank into the blade of his axe, upon which a blood red tinge manifested.

With an enraged snarl Tio charged forwards, axe pulled all the way back to deliver the widest, most powerful swing he could manage. Willy couldn't go anywhere, and the daggers he'd stolen didn't have much of a range to them, which in Tio's mind made this the perfect time to hit him hard. Once he came in striking distance Tio planted down a foot, put his back into it and swung a wide, brutish blow across at Willy's torso, aiming to cleave him right in half from above the area encased in earth.

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[Arlo Creede]

After the last round, where Willy had suddenly got himself loose, popped up off the ground and put himself to rights, Arlo hadn't really expected a bolt to the back of the neck to kill the man. In fact, by this time the traveler and storyteller had as good as concluded that Willy wasn't a man at all. Or at least not your usual run of the mill one.

Of course Arlo lacked, unbeknownst to him, Tio's understanding of necromancy and how it worked. But in the end, he'd only hoped that bolt would slow Willy down, that the mound of earth would slow him down even more, and that Tio would have a chance to finish it. Or at least survive the exchange.

The way Arlo figured it, Tio had a good handful of trills to act, and then that mound of earth that he'd created around the man would collapse and he'd be on the move again. If he'd known what Tio was thinking, he might have agreed that cutting Willy in half was the way to go. If it worked? Well maybe he'd put himself back together eventually but they could at least make it harder for him by scattering his parts all over the tunnels. At any rate, in this case Arlo merely waited, watched, and kept his sword now in hand. He knew better than to get between a man and the ax he was swinging.