Eris Coulson
Soldier
"Sometimes goodbye is a second chance"
Posts: 106
Profession: Mercenary
Affiliation: Ambition
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Eris Coulson
OoC Alias: Tsunderis
|
Post by Eris Coulson on Dec 27, 2016 21:04:28 GMT -6
One would have imagined that Eris would have learned to account for her horrid luck. Granted she at least had to take equal accountability for a few of the more unfortunate events that had occurred to her throughout her life. That was a fact that Eris had begun to grudgingly accept. If she wanted things in her life to change, then she herself had to change. If she didn't want to wind up lost in a country she didn't like, forced to flee from a situation she wished she could have helped prevent, and so on...then she needed to be focused. Goal driven, like she used to be. Not just some grump vagrant who wandered Elibe submerged in their own self-pity.
That was a change she had begun to make. And she could take some small measure of pride in that fact.
However, she should have damn well known that her damned fortune would make no small effort to deter her. To bar her path. This mission was proof of that effort. She was told she would be intercepting bandit raiders from assaulting a caravan. The lack of information that surrounded the mission had been her sole red flag, but the pay convinced her to take it.
And there she was: about to be killed by some arrogant **** on his demented mule.
If she hadn't been killed in the rebellion, and she hadn't been killed by her brother, and she hadn't been killed by those cultist pricks up in Ilia, then Eris would be damned if she was killed by some small **** ****** on her first damned job!
“And who the hell are you?!” Eris rolled to the side, grabbing her lance just before the massive boulder the man had conjured crashed into the ground. Eris had very narrowly evaded that blow, and would have no doubt been crushed to death by it. Flattened like an Bernese hot cake. Her chest still hurt, and her breaths were a bit labored, but she scrambled to her feet, lance poised. “To think you know what league I'm even in?!”
For once, though, Eris didn't let that hot rage completely blind her better judgement. The fact of the matter was that these enemies WERE out of her league. Even so she could probably handle just one of them on her own, but there were still three. Vincent was locked in combat with the one he had dismounted, but it did not sound like the convoy guards had done so well.
Retreat was very likely to be the only option she and Vincent would have. But maybe, just MAYBE they could injure one of them. Maybe even kill one. If they captured one then there was a chance his allies would hunt them down. In Eris' mind that was no longer an option. The mission was already a failure, but Eris refused to let her reputation start off on such a pathetic note. She had to at least put up a fight, she had to at least force that cocky prick up on his high horse that he had no right to talk down to her.
And what better way than to slaughter the stupid mule he sat upon?
Spells took time to cast, and Eris was still close to the mage. So she ran straight at him, eyes narrowed on his hands. Electricity danced all across his being, and the odds were he was about to cast a spell that would utilize that very electricity. Before he could, though, Eris took a wide swing at the front legs of his mount.
The horse bucked back, rearing up on its hind legs and letting out a loud whinny. This time, though, Eris didn't get kicked. She made a small hop back and bent her knees once she landed, the beast's hooves flailing inches away from her face. With a scream she jumped forward and thrust her lance up, and the pole-arm punctured the horse's head from the lower jaw straight through the roof of its mouth.
“Let's see you talk your crap when you're on my level, jackass!” Eris ripped her lance out of the horse's head and moved aside, readying her pole-arm as the man's mount fell to the side. He flailed and leaped from the mount, his spell disrupted from his movement, and his horse crashed to the ground. Dead.
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Jan 1, 2017 15:32:43 GMT -6
Vincent and the paladin continued to trade a furious exchange of blows but Vincent was not making any progress here and he knew he needed to act and stop at least one of them. They could kill three so long as they captured one. "Think fast!" Without warning Vincent abandoned his axe and threw his dagger at the knight's shin. Caught unaware it connected, but did not pierce very deep. "Gotcha!" With a yank on the rope he pulled the paladin's leg out from under him and with another he recovered the dagger.
It was now Vincent realized the convoy guards had either escaped or been rounded up and slaughtered. He could not handle anymore opponents and from the looks of it, Eris was holding up but not too well... heck, maybe better than him actually. "ERIS! We need to get out of here!" With a stomp of his foot he knocked the paladin unconscious with a steely heel, smashing his nose as well. One unconscious but no way to bring him back, he cursed his luck.
"You!" The mage looked to his horse and then the girl. "YOU B****!!!" He was enraged. The mage left behind all semblance of control or desire for powerful spells for rapid casting just wishing to hit her with something. Electricity danced in his hands and he produced two whips with which he conducted the electricity through. "Come on!" With a warning swing he struck the ground releasing a loud clap as lightning danced.
Noticing Eris's vicarious position he wanted to help but the moment she stepped the great knight intercepted him with his shield bashing him in the face and knocking him onto his back. The ranger meanwhile moved to the cart to check the goods.
|
|
Eris Coulson
Soldier
"Sometimes goodbye is a second chance"
Posts: 106
Profession: Mercenary
Affiliation: Ambition
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Eris Coulson
OoC Alias: Tsunderis
|
Post by Eris Coulson on Jan 2, 2017 18:24:47 GMT -6
Amongst the endless cacaphony of chaos, Eris did manage to make out words that inspired deep mixed feelings within her. Vincent made the call to retreat. The worst part was that it was the best call to make. Eris had been ready to make it herself, but...damn it, if she could at least kill one of them. Have something to show for her work. If she was going to fail her first mission she was going to come as close to success as possible.
In reality, that was likely the mere act of survival.
Unfortunately, no thanks to Eris' own actions, retreat had become a far bit more difficult. She now had one pissed off mage before her, and he had begun to truly unleash his wrath. Whips of electricity tore across the ground wildly, burning the grass and scarring the dirt. These twin whips cracked as they were swung through the air. Their range easily surpassed Eris', and they were far more dangerous than any spear.
Her little bit of vengeance had come and gone. She was clearly outmatched here, and the only thing worse than failure would be for her to die in the process.
Rather than attempt to simply run from the mage, or bother to try and tussle with those whips of lightning, instead Eris' eyes shifted about her surroundings. Vincent had moved from his previous position, though he had succeeded in actually knocking out one of the enemies. However he seemed to have been caught off-guard in an attempt to provide Eris with aid. He had been knocked onto his back by the heavier armored rider.
Heavily armored...coated head to toe in metal. A human lightning rod, or close enough to one.
Eris turned her back to the mage and dashed at the Great Knight. She didn't need to attack him, she just needed to position herself behind him – and FAST! If the mage tried to attack he risked mortally wounding his comrade, roasting him alive in his own armor. Eris didn't exactly like to forge a plan based around how much her enemy cared for their ally, but it seemed the most tactical move.
So Eris darted around the armored man and his steed, moving towards Vincent. “Get up, fast. We stay any longer we're as good as dead!” She held her lance out and slid into a defensive stance. All Eris had to do was parry the blows of her enemy, and pray that the mage's magic couldn't reach her from her current position.
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Jan 19, 2017 7:17:38 GMT -6
The blow to his face was staggeringly hard causing him to bleed profusely from his nose, that was without mentioning him cracking his head on the ground. If this was a happier moment that did not hinge on split second decisions for life and death he may have quipped about how he longed for the simpler days of his career when he was taking down simple crooks and robbers that he could completely overwhelm. Simply put, this was not those days.
"Get up, fast. We stay any longer we're as good as dead!" The words reached him in a bit of a garbled haze. His response was slow and deliberate. He had to force each word carefully at the moment, and contend with the blood seeping into his throat and spat back out his mouth.
"Yeah." He spat. Attracting the attention of an angry great knight is not a part of Vincent's definition of a good thing. Neither is having an angry mage with two electric whips trying to kill you, but they had both. In an ironic twist of fate Eris had come to his defense? The great knight had struck him while passing him by but the speed of the assault required him to ride back which offered them precious moments to recover.
The great knight was now rushing Eris with axe and shield ready to kill while the mage was now looking to tear Vincent apart to get at Eris for killing his steed. "This is mad!" Vincent shouted spatting out more blood. He was beginning to look like a victim of a terrible disease and the less said of his clothing now the better.
As the two opponents began to converge on them Vincent began to understand what Eris was thinking. "You're brilliant!" If the two survived this he knew that she would certainly go very far. The axe began to fall upon Eris and the mage aimed for Vincent's torso.
|
|
Eris Coulson
Soldier
"Sometimes goodbye is a second chance"
Posts: 106
Profession: Mercenary
Affiliation: Ambition
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Eris Coulson
OoC Alias: Tsunderis
|
Post by Eris Coulson on Jan 21, 2017 12:04:39 GMT -6
Now Eris may have been desperate, but she sure as hell wasn't an idiot. The armored rider charged them next, axe poised to strike her as his steed galloped closer and closer. Momentum was on his side, if she held her ground and simply tried to block the strike it wasn't going to end well. All she needed was a chance to break for the tree line, where the riders would at least have to dismount them. It killed her to admit it but the mission was a failure.
But either way, if she stood her ground, the knight WOULD kill her. So rather than risk her life on the block she instead threw her bodies into Vincent's, knocking them both to the ground, and out of the path of the horseman's charge. The mage's lightning whips crackled as they arced over their bodies, one of them coming dangerous close to striking the armored rider, just as she had hoped. Well, she had hoped the strike would connect, but she still got the rider to veer off his path. He cursed back at his magically inclined ally.
“Get up. Come on. NOW! We need to head for the damn trees!” Eris ordered down to Vincent. If the sellsword couldn't get up himself she...damn it she didn't know what she would do. He was too heavy for her to carry. It'd slow them down too much, and she'd wind up a sitting duck. Eris didn't want to find out if she could even survive a blow from the rider's axe, let alone from the mage's whips. She'd stared death in the face once that night and, frankly, was not eager for another chance.
So if he didn't get up and move then...well, one thing was for sure: Eris wasn't dying here.
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Jan 21, 2017 12:21:54 GMT -6
Vincent had no idea how he was going to combat the flailing mage at the moment, perhaps he would let him strike his leather gauntlets and pull the mage in for a kill. There was no telling how much it would hurt him but it might be a sound enough strategy to take him out? Maybe, or he could get bodied from behind and knocked onto the dirt road. "Ugah!" Was about all he could utter under such a circumstance as this.
As he struck the ground he felt Eris's weight on his back and could see his blood staining the path. Neither was very pleasant for him. Then it was followed up by incessant shouting, shouting at him. Shouting from the person that knocked him onto the ground in the first place and it was aimed at him; to stand back up. It honestly felt just a tad unfair, not that he would be voicing that opinion.
As Vincent began to rise the great knight had been forced to stay away from the combat in order to not be stricken by the mage's unruly weapons but the mage was still focusing in on the two. "Die already!" The mage shouted swinging the electrical whip. Hardly in a standing position Vincent was forced to dive out of the way tumbling back across the floor cursing his luck. From the ground Vincent swung his dagger off its rope in an attempt to cut at the mage's legs. The mage was too quick and jumped over the attack, but it gave the two a very valuable moment to recover.
"Thanks for saving my life there," Vincent applauded, "But lets get out of here!" The two of them were more than ready to make for the treeline and escape. Vincent then realized the two were empty handed. "Blast!" The paladin was unconscious and while he could not take him back he could retrieve the shield with the enemy's crest. "I'll be right back!"
Vincent took off into a dead sprint gunning for the shield and the great knight saw his chance to pursue. The ranger meanwhile looked into the cart and joyfully shouted, "They have mines! Lots and lots of mines!"
|
|
Eris Coulson
Soldier
"Sometimes goodbye is a second chance"
Posts: 106
Profession: Mercenary
Affiliation: Ambition
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Eris Coulson
OoC Alias: Tsunderis
|
Post by Eris Coulson on Jan 22, 2017 4:06:24 GMT -6
Between the hoof she had taken to the chest earlier and that dive she had just made, Eris' body had begun to grow sore. Ultimately her plan had been a success, but it was unfortunately VERY short lived. There was still the threat of imminent death, but the Great Knight had at least been forced away by the magic of his own ally. Wasn't there at least another ONE of these riders? Gods help her, Eris was already reduced to flopping about like a brain damaged carp just by two of them!
Vincent, despite his injuries, had managed to start rising to his feet faster than Eris did. Her grip still firmly on her spear she began to push herself up, only to see Vincent leap aside. Oh no, what was he trying to d-
A scream ripped through the strawberry blonde's throat as hot lightning crashed down right beside her. The air felt as though it were ablaze once the mage's lightning whips slammed down onto the ground. The hot air was suffocating, and worse still was the electricity these unstable whips let off. Small arcs of lightning streaked off the whips proper and up the shaft of her weapon, while others coursed through her armor. Between the great force from the whips, which had been enough to crack the earth beneath them, the incredibly rise in heat, and the sheer voltage that poured through her, pain wracked Eris' entire being.
Following the initial crack of the whips was a boom. A second rush of hot air accompanied by another powerful surge of lightning. It tossed her body aside, left only to bounce across the dirt for several feet. Her mind was rattled, curses of pain the only coherent thought she could hold onto. At last she managed to skid to a halt. For another few seconds she lay, face down on the ground when her body finally ceased to move.
Once again. Just like with her brother, that night in Bern, she thought the end had come. But just as she'd been back then she just...Eris wasn't happy. She wasn't ready for it. There was so much for her to do damn it! Lingering static fizzled along her armor, the tunic beneath burned in several areas. She'd been lucky she hadn't taken a direct hit...wait, why hadn't she? Eris was a free target at the moment: she ought to be ripped asunder by the powerful magic at that mage's disposal.
Vincent...seemed to congratulate her effort? She had saved his life? When Eris had been able to look over her should se saw tha the mage had jumped back a step. Pain began to subside, no, pain was overrun with adrenaline. Her heart pounded in her chest as she finally saw her ticket out.
Survival instincts kicked into full gear as Eris, with no small effort, forced herself to her feet. Vincent for some reason had run off to the Paladin in some sort of suicide mission. She...no, she couldn't try to save him again. To her immense fortune the armored rider was set to pursue her, and the mage had not yet attacked.
Without a second thought she ran. Her muscles, still assailed by lingering static, practically screamed in protest, but she pushed them all the same. Across the grass and to the tree line, where she could hide from these...these monsters. Pride had fallen away completely in the face of this threat. If Eris died fighting these men that night, she would have nothing to take pride in all the same.
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Jan 23, 2017 14:25:41 GMT -6
Vincent had no time to check and ensure that Eris was safe, he just had to have a little faith, and more importantly, he had to put everything he had on the line and for what? A blasted shield! This was not how he wanted to approach this fight, or any fight for that matter. He panted for breath with every step, he was spent but he needed it. He spat out blood as he got closer, the hooves of the Great Knight's steed closing in.
The mercenary was pushing his body hard, too hard even, his legs hurt, his lungs hurt, his head hurt, and pushing himself like this was not going to stem the blood. Once he was close enough Vincent dived to the ground grabbing up the shield and rolling with it. Turning he raised it just barely managing to deflect the rider's axe. The blow pushed him back onto his back but he was so far still safe and had the shield.
The ranger said the carts were full of mines did he? The briefest of glances spared Vincent knew he was safe to do it. "PHOENIX HEART!" he shouted allowed drawing all focus to him. These riders were the same ones he stole it from in the past, so he knew they would recognize the name, and the moment he drew it.
"The blade of will and internal flame, reflected back into the material world, a divine flame that will consume the weak willed!" As Vincent declared this mantra passed to him through the blade itself it lit with holy blue flame. The Great Knight tisked as he tried to bring his mount back around in time but he was too far. The Sage had no hand upon his staff and the ranger was simply too slow on the draw.
"Face the divine flame of my strength!" With a swing of his blade the flames flew of the edges and towards the kart of goods. It was a terrible loss, but far more dangerous would be letting them have it. The ranger instinctively leaped out of the way of the flames and the cart caught fire. There would not be much time before the mines were affected and so all parties began to flee.
Exhausted Vincent let the flames exhaust and he dragged himself to the treeline in hopes of finding Eris. "Eris!" BOOM!!! The first cart blew in a way that shook the trees and even sent a shock wave that could be felt shortly followed by a BOOM BOOM!!! As the other two went with it. Vincent laughed lightly to himself. What a mess this was. Oh boy, how would he explain it to his employer... but at least... he had the shield right? He fell to his knees. "Eris!!!" He called once more. "I need..." His voice faltered. "...some help getting back..." He toppled to his side and laid still. He still lived but he was hardly in any shape to act.
|
|
Eris Coulson
Soldier
"Sometimes goodbye is a second chance"
Posts: 106
Profession: Mercenary
Affiliation: Ambition
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Eris Coulson
OoC Alias: Tsunderis
|
Post by Eris Coulson on Jan 24, 2017 14:05:08 GMT -6
Oh Eris had run, but her body couldn't carry her that far that fast. She stumbled over some undergrowth in the woods and nearly fell forward once again, her entire body seized with pain. The mercenary wasn't actually sure if she had sustained any permanent damage. She wasn't bleeding and felt nothing that could potentially be a broken bone, but by the f**k**g gods did she still hurt like hell all over.
The sound of rushed air erupted behind her, and as Eris looked back she was briefly blinded by what looked to be an explosion. She had to squint her good eye as the shockwave ripped through the forest, leaves and twigs alike kicked up by the force, but after a few moments she saw a figure approaching her. It...it was Vincent? Had he caused that explosion?
The white haired mercenary uttered...something to Eris, but she couldn't hear it over the crackling aftermath of that explosion. Before he could speak further he seemed to fall onto his side. Eris...didn't quite know what to do. On the one hand she wasn't exactly in shape to carry the man, armored and armed as he was. He'd even picked up a shield on top of what he already had.
On the other hand Eris...didn't like the idea of leaving an ally behind. She'd been prepared to do it, but if she could avoid it then damn it, she would.
Eris stumbled her way through the brush over to Vincent's body, studying his expression as she looked down at him. Hell the ground looked pretty damn comfortable. Eris was inclined to just flop down and lay there for a few hours, maybe a whole day. But as harsh as the pain that plagued her was, it didn't quite stack up to the injury that nearly cost her damned eye. If she could walk through that agony then...she at least had to try and keep standing through this.
“Hate to break it to you...but there's no way in hell I'm going to be able to carry you.” Eris wasn't really sure if Vincent was conscious, but she was even less certain she had the time to find out for herself. “At best I can drag you, and even then I'm not sure how far. So if you're awake right now, then you can think. And if you can think, I suggest you think about moving.”
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Jan 25, 2017 12:50:58 GMT -6
As Vincent laid there looking lifeless he saw from the corner of his eye as Eris approached him. “Hate to break it to you...but there's no way in hell I'm going to be able to carry you.” Well, he should not be surprised if he was honest with himself. “At best I can drag you, and even then I'm not sure how far. So if you're awake right now, then you can think. And if you can think, I suggest you think about moving.” It was sound advice, and boy did it take some effort but he managed to push himself into a sitting position.
"Ugh..." He gently touched his face, the blood had dried and cracked with the slightest movement but the bleeding was stopping. "Glad you came back." Even if she had not gotten far she still showed up. "The riders all scattered and their goods are gone. They'll be angry, but not after us right now." His head lulled and he rested an arm on his knee. "What do you say we just, hang out here and rest a while?" He doubted Eris would go for it, so he just forced a laugh and brushed it off. He really did want to stay though.
He looked Eris straight on and gave her a hard and serious look for a silent moment. "Tell me something..." Completely serious in face and tone he then points at his face, "Am I still beautiful?" He tried his best to remain stern but, he could not and he began laughing, perhaps harder than the joke warranted. "I'm sorry, I could not resist."
Picking the shield up off of the floor he slung it onto his back and placed a hand on Eris's shoulder, assuming she let him. "Things did not go well but, truly, good work out there. Glad to have had you along." With a soft pat he began the slow limp/walk back to town. "Would you like to join me for reporting back the results?"
|
|
Eris Coulson
Soldier
"Sometimes goodbye is a second chance"
Posts: 106
Profession: Mercenary
Affiliation: Ambition
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Eris Coulson
OoC Alias: Tsunderis
|
Post by Eris Coulson on Jan 25, 2017 16:48:21 GMT -6
Vincent was glad Eris had come back for him. Well...he ought to be. Really, given the absolute f**k**g crap-show this mission had turned out to be, he better be damned grateful Eris didn't take off at all. It wasn't like he knew that she was just too damned stubborn to walk away from the first sign of trouble. Eris knew when she was outmatched, but...it didn't sit right with her to simply give up without making some kind of an effort.
Still, at least Vincent was uh...okay. Not in great shape, he actually probably looked worse than she did. At least Eris wasn't bleeding...externally. She couldn't really confirm or deny the possibility of any internal bleeding that she may have begunt to suffer. Those damned electric whips had done a number on her.
...Eh, there was no sense bitching about it now. She was alive, so she at least accomplished that goal, with the bonus of helping out Vincent as well. That was something she could feel good about, ri-
“Tell me something...am I still beautiful?”
Aaaaaand good feelings were gone.
“That'd require you to look like at least a step up from horse crap in the first place.” Eris retorted with a roll of her eyes. Geez, guy was deciding to crack jokes when he was f**k**g bleeding to death? What was he, some sort of hardcore masochist?! Then he had the nerve to plant a hand on Eris' shoulder, causing her eye to twitch as she glowered at him. At least he didn't let his hand linger or wander...
“Hmph...yeah, at least we survived. I don't really like settling for the bare minimum, but it can't be helped here.” After a moment of intensive breathing to help cool that ever present fire within her, Eris began to walk alongside Vincent. The mission was definitely a failure, on almost every possible level. Still...Eris was impressed with Vincent. He'd actually taken out one of the riders, where all Eris had managed to do was murder a horse and piss off a mage.
What could she say? She really didn't get along with animals. Especially the flying kind.
Though Vincent gave Eris an offer to report the results. Uh...she REALLY figured the two of them were better off finding a healer of any kind before they went and shat out the “mission failed” report. Especially Vincent. He WAS still f**k**g bleeding after all. Clearly that didn't seem to bother him nearly as much as it should, so Eris just heaved a sigh and shook her head.
“Gonna pass on that one. I feel like death walking, and you look even worse than I feel. Beautiful my ass..." Joke or not, she wasn't going to let that one slide if she could help it. Still...Eris looked like crap too. Her tunic had been burned and singed by the f**k**g electric BDSM mage and his kinky whips, dirt and crap and grass was all stained along her armor. Some of it was in her hair too, and oh by the sweet gods of the underworld her HAIR. Half of it was still supercharged with static, but ONLY half of it. So the left side of Eris' head consisted of hair that stood out straight, while the rest of her hair was just messy and riddled with dirt.
...Forget the healer, she needed a f**k**g bath.
“Probably not going anywhere for a while between healing, taking care of my gear, and cleaning myself though.” Eris stated with another shrug. Not to mention her pride could probably use a few days to work itself back up from the abused, shriveled up state it currently rested in. “Probably just going to hit up the inn we met in and rest there for a couple of days. If you hear anything worth sharing from that report then I guess you can run it by me, if you want.”
|
|
|
Post by Vincent on Jan 25, 2017 17:28:09 GMT -6
"Ooo, looking like horse crap to begin with? Oh my, that, ah, ack, oh my, that is brutal." He flashed her a grin. Her look did not go unnoticed by him but he let it be. No point, or energy to antagonize her. Her response to a hand on her shoulder was far more prompting to pull away than anything else. He promptly moved away but slowly and cautiously as well. 'Right then, no touching' he warned himself.
"Well, to call this the bare minimum is selling us short. It was a suicide mission and we walked away. Don't sell it short." As the two walked back Vincent appeared to have completely relaxed stretching his arms before placing them behind his head. With a sigh he smiled already planning what he would do next.
"Well, I don't blame you for wanting to pass on the report but ouch, you wound me with your tongue. Perhaps more than any of the riders... well, that shield bash aside. That was rough." He laughed. "Hmm, yeah. I will report in and bring any word I get back to you. If, and I mean it's a big if, we get the second half of the pay I will be sure to bring you yours. On my honor." Another cheeky smile.
He then looked ahead and more serious. The four riders just so happened to be men that he had faced a long time ago, and he was specifically sought out for the job. He needed to keep working with the employer and get closer, he did not trust him after this, and Eris got caught up in what he could only assume was a revenge plot.
This thought on his mind he looked to her more serious than he had been in their previous conversations. "When I get back, let me treat you to a celebratory meal. If you need convincing, just say its a celebration of survival. I feel I owe you." They had magic weapons they never utilized but his blade was even nervous. Were they new to them? Testing him? Or did they just get lucky? There were too many questions and he was not sure if he should let Eris in on all of this. He sighed audibly.
[End Thread]
|
|