The Missing Persons of Ciaran (Oya/Ryuzaki/Pm for Entry)

[Ryuzaki]

"Oh, you sorry little..."

They were trying to ensure that one body got away. A sneaky trick... But Ryu couldn't avoid it. A necessary loss. What a damned shame.

"Damn you!"

The assassin followed the left-veering bandit, slowly closing the distance and then whipping his sickle out to trip the man. As he fell, Ryu lunged forward, slamming his knee into the man's back and leaving him laying on the ground face up, gasping for breath. The assassin swiftly drew a throwing knife and crouched over the man, smiling as he placed the dagger's point a centimeter from the man's eye.

"So tell me... Where are you taking this girl?"

The bandit's arm flew forward, but abruptly stopped as the man screamed in pure, unbridled terror.

Slowly, and with determined, dignified poise, Ryu withdrew the dagger from the man's eye socket, gently wiping it clean on the edge of his dark blue cloak.

"So tell me... Where are you taking this girl?"

The man gulped, and his one remaining eye flickered, looking for an escape, a savior, a weapon...

"Don't try anything else, or I'll cut you into ribbons. You'll be alive, too, so don't assume it will free you from pain.

Ever wanted to eat your own innards? I can make that happen. I also can leave you with so many holes in you that you won't know where to put your organs back in.

So tell me. WHERE are you taking her?"

"I... I don't know..."

There was another scream, and Ryu held a small, curved piece of flesh up to the man's good eye.

"This is your ear. Where are they taking her?"

"A safe house! Please, no more! I don't know much. But the safe house is a few streets north - it's the one with the green shutters. I just take them to the house and pass them off - I don't know anything more. Please! I have a family!"

Ryu smiled. This was all he needed. Now, he had to hurry.

"Thanks, buddy."

With one swift motion, Ryu slit the man's throat. Then, straightening, he set off, the girl in the blanket forgotten. He had to hurry! As the streets slipped by in a blur, Ryu focused on one thing - his plan. He'd break in, quietly steal through the safe house, find Mila, and retreat. Then they would regroup and figure out their next move. It was foolish to act without a plan.

Suddenly, there was a strange sound, and as Ryu turned the corner, he saw a man standing and the last vestiges of dark magic fading away from where a door used to be.

What an idiot! He'd probably ruined all hope of a quiet extraction.

Hurrying up, Ryu snarled at the man in frustration.

"What in hell's name do you think you're doing? Did it not occur to you that every damn guard in that safe house is probably now on high alert because you blew the damn door up?!

There is an assassin, with a lockpick, who can open doors. Someone versed in stealth and silent infiltration. But NO! We're too damn good for that, aren't we? Why don't we just blow the door down. Because clearly we can take on however many thugs are in there, right? Great thinking, idiot! Now hurry up and follow me before we lose all possible opportunity for stealth. I am Near. Chop chop, and be quiet."

What an utter idiot. Just his luck, to get stuck with an overconfident Shaman. Just great.

[Oya]

"She is light", spoke Oya aloud as he carried Mila to the carriage. There he was greeted by another man who was sitting in the driver seat. The man was ready to leave at a moment's notice, but he was surprised that there were only one person returning, and with only one person.

"Where are the others", he asked as he looked at Oya confused.

"Coming or dead", spoke Oya as he opened the door to the carriage and placed Mila on the seat like a sack of potatoes. It was then that Oya realized that the mage girl was awake. It was not hard really. Even if she kept her eyes close her eyelids still blinked regularly. It was a small titbit that most people did not notice, but it payed to notice these kind of things in Oya's line of work.

"You know I actually liked you", spoke Oya suddenly. His words caught the driver off guard as he turned back and looked at Oya.

"Me", he spoke with confusion. "We just meet like yesterday. I don't think ... wait you mean", he spoke, but Oya cut him off.

"Not you imbecile, I was talking to the maiden", he spoke as he turned back to Mila. "Also keep your head out the gutter, I am married." The young warriors words came as a surprise and confusion to the man, but instinctively he went back to his work. "If it was up to me I would not have taken you, nor I would not even be involved in this kind of work. However I have no choice, family ties and all. it is stuff that you won't really care about. You probably just want to melt my face off for punching you in the mouth. Well my advice for you is to keep dreaming", spoke Oya as he reached under Mila's cloak and took her tome. He should have done it before, but it slipped his mind. "I will keep hold of this", spoke Oya as he stood at the exit of the cave and waited for the others to show up.

Meanwhile the last runner had made his full circle and returned to the safe house. As he came back he ran into the two men who were suppose to serve as a distraction. After a quick argument about how poor they performed the trio moved to the location to access the tunnel and meet up with Oya. That plan went sour however as they returned to see the door knocked over and nobody inside of the house.

"How did they find the safe house", spoke one of the brigands.

"Maybe they caught Jimmy", spoke another.

"That buffoon must have ratted us out. If he is still alive I am going to kill him", spoke the last bandit.

"We better get to the back up location. The city is buzzing with guards and they will find us sooner or later."

"It should not be that far from here so lets head there", spoke the second bandit as he lead the way to there alternative route.

At the same time the three idiots held there conversation Oya waited at the exit of the tunnel. Footsteps echoed in the tunnel as somebody walked forward. "Took you long enough", spoke Oya as he stared into the dark. He expected to see his men or at least the ones carrying the marks.

[Samantha Khione]

With all the twists and turns the various people running around had taken, Samantha had become lost. Admittedly, she was never a good tracker so it wasn't too much of a shock, but it was frustrating. Something was clearly going on, and Mila was somehow caught up in it. It was really starting to get to her that she wasn't able to help right now. Her growing frustration caused her to want to throw a fireball at something just to work some of it off, but she knew that wasn't really an option. Instead, she just kept herself moving. As she did, she kept her ears strained trying to pick up anything outside the norm for a place like this. And it wasn't long before she heard a huge bang and figured that was most likely what she was looking for.

Taking off in the direction of the bang, Samantha's resolve grew. Assuming that she was nearing whatever was happening, she focused herself on getting into the proper fighting head space. By the time she rounded the final corner, she was ready to summon a fireball and throw it at whatever was happening. Before she had time to summon one, however, she completely lost her concentration when she realized that it was Drei that had caused the bang. He was here, too? Maybe he had been traveling with Mila or something because this was too strange to just be a coincidence. With him appeared to be some sort of swordsman who was currently yelling at Drei. Oh dear, what had he done now? Hurrying over to the pair of them, Samantha addressed the shaman. "Drei! What's going on here? Where's Mila?"

[Mila]

Mila kept her eyes closed. She overheard the conversations going on around her. Oya started speaking. Well guess my secrets out. But I'm still not opening my eyes. Oya kept talking explaining how he genuinely liked Mila. Made sense the two had battled together and traveled with one another through Ostia. And now because of his family ties or business or whatever it was she was captured. Mila could smell the wood under her nose. She was in a carriage of some sort. Oya reached over and took her tome. Perfect. She was hoping he had forgotten she had it on her.

She hoped he would be nice to the book. It was full of sentimental value. Also full of notes on monsters and people. She had carefully scribbled in notes with in the margins of monster accounts and some mathematics. Mostly prices of things needed to repair the book. The pages within the book were always being replaced or rewritten but the cover was the same. The cover of the tome was worn and faded. The cover meant something to her due to the fact that inscribed on the inside was a little note from her parents. Happy 10th birthday Mila. Love The Guild. She could see the faded text in her mind. She was still trying to calm herself down. Oya, melting your face off is at the bottom of my to do list at the moment. The mage heard Oya's footsteps shuffle away. She cracked open an eye. She couldn't see much but she did notice another tarp next to her. Along with a couple of toes. So i'm going to where the missing people go. Huh.. probably to some slaver. Wonderful. Wonderful. She closed her eyes again. Keep dreaming huh, wonder if that's a hint.

Quietly she tried to loosen her knots. Oya did a fantastic job with them, she could barely move her hands at all. He tied her legs too so she couldn't just walk out. A quick shimmy of her shoulders told her her bag had fallen off. Probably lying somewhere down in the tunnel. Awesome. There goes everything I ever had. She was able to bend her knees and pull herself down to her feet. That could be useful. It meant she could at least hop and crouch.

Her jaw was hurting like hell. But she was able to move it. He might not have broken it after all. Mila slowly recalled the pages of an old medical book she studied. She moved her head and used the bottom of the wagon to apply pressure to her chin. She was unable to use her hands to realign it fully. She would have to move her head side to side and keep pressure on her face. Tears were making their way down her cheeks. The pain, her situation, her fears, they were all starting to manifest themselves. K..keep focus Mila. Keep Focus. She tried to tell herself that. It took some time but the pain was starting to subside turning into numbness. Slowly but surely she was regaining the power of her jaw. If we live. We need to see a healer.

[Ryuzaki]

"Come on."

The assassin slipped into the house, quickly scanning it. No bandits around at the moment. Good. The shaman hadn’t totally ruined his plans.

Ryu set off, quickly entering the tunnel and padding quietly along, his hand on Gemini’s hilt. The bandits should be at the end of the tunnel, and the hostage with them. Mila and the shaman should be coming along shortly...

And then there was light, filtering in from an exit up ahead. A silhouette stood - someone who appeared to be strong, who called out in a bold voice: “Took you long enough.” It was a familiar voice - it sounded like the man from the streets. Charles the Mangy, or whatever he said.

"Hello, Charles the Mangy. My name is Near. I wanted to take you up on your challenge before, but it had to wait... Some issue of kidnapping, you know? I know that you know, because you were their distraction. And a fine one at that. Well played… But now the cards are in my favor.

How do you fight, Charles? Do you prefer to use strength? Overpower your foes? Do you use speed? Hit them before they can react? Or perhaps you are defensive. You wait for them to show an opening, and capitalize.

Unfortunately for you, Charles, no strategy is effective against an assassin. I am strategy. I am fluid. I adapt, act, react, bend, and shimmer. I will astound you with tricks, ensnare you with traps, and frustrate you with my guile. You and I will now do battle. I will show you why I am feared and revered… As they say, I am Death. Death is Near.

Prepare yourself. We shall begin now. Good luck."

Ryu drew his sword, Gemini, lunging forward with his sword, which glinted briefly as it rose in a powerful upward slash. This man would fall at his hand. Anyone in his path would fall now... For the battle-lust had consumed Ryuzaki, and the assassin was in his element. Cool, composed, and calculating. This was a perfect scenario for a battle.

[Oya]

As Oya stared into darkness it soon became obvious that these were not his boys. They were meddlers. Stupid meddlers at that. The one talking his head off could not even remember Oya's fake name. Some how he ended up turning a single word into two, though he could simply be trying to insult him. Either way it just made him look stupid in Oya's eyes. However with the appearance of these two Oya was now forced to abandon his first plan.

"Ride", shouted Oya as the man was in the middle of his speech. In that moment the carriage drive sent his horse into a gallop and began to speed away. The assassin then charged forward. He was hoping to try and use his speed against the boy wounder. A smart move. However Oya was use to fighting against speed fighters. His time in Sacae taught him well how to deal with people of the sword. When the assassin charged Oya swung his might axe. The axe of Hargus spewed a black ooze that covered the ground in front of him and summoned a wall of blacken tendrils that began to strike out in all directions. With the frontal attack blocked Oya shot to his left going around his barrier and moving deeper into the tunnel. If he was going to have to fight the man Oya would rather do it inside the tunnel. Not only did it limit the assassin's movements, but it would serve as a deadly weapon to use as well.

"The name is Charlemagne you fool", shouted Oya as he swung his magical axe again. The axe lunched a black ball of dark energy forward that moved to slam into the assassin. As a bonus Oya had placed it were if the assassin dodged the attack the ball would hit the wooden stud behind him. Removing one stud would not cause a collapse. However it would play a crucial role in Oya's final portion of his plan.

Battles are not won by the strongest or the fastest, but by the wisest. This was Oya's mentality when it came to battle. Even when he had the holy axe Xigshaw Oya knew that its power alone would not give him victory. Victory against anything was determined by how you strategist against your opponent. The assassin was quick, but Oya had more power and more variety. He could attack from range and up close putting the assassin in a disadvantage in the midrange portion of the fight.

[Mila]

Ooc- fyi. Someone please pick up Mila's bag and tome from the tunnel. At some point. Thanks.
---

It took some doing but the young mage managed to get her mouth back in working order. Quietly she thanked the spirits and then started thinking of a way out of her situation. But before she could orient herself Oya shouted for the driver to ride and the wagon took off. Mila managed to sit herself up and just barely make out the familiar flash of silver she had seen previously.

"Near!" She was unsure if he heard her through the noise. Damn it that boy likes to talk! She was getting farther and farther away from them. She needed to get out. But first she needed to free herself. The wagon passed over a bump and the mage was thrown onto her back.

She let out a soft groan. That hurt. Again she tried to free her hand. She pulled with all her might but was unable to free herself. She looked out through the flaps of wagon cloth flailing in the breeze. The tunnel they escaped from was so far away now. She could make out that they were outside. That gave some relief to the young mage. She needed to calm herself. Once, again she sat herself up and began to concentrate. She began reciting the words to her fire tome. Although she lacked the book on her at the moment she knew the words by heart. However for some reason without the book her fire spells were smaller and weaker then usual. But a tiny flame was all she needed. Slowly she channeled her magic into her bound hands. A tiny spark responded to her chanting, the same kind of spark mages would use to make candlelight. It was enough to fray the one of the knots that bound her wrists. Again she pulled with all of her might and the rope snapped. Her hands were free. Yes!

She patted herself down and pulled out a small knife she used for cutting fruit. She cut the ropes from her feet. She was freed from her bindings but still trapped in a speeding wagon. She looked around for something. The wagon rider hadn't noticed she had been freed yet. In the wagon with her were other rugs that were filled with people. She mentally cursed. As much as she wanted to save the ones in the wagon with her she needed to save herself. She did notice a peice of torn paper near her feet. With half an insignia of some kind on it. She quickly pocketed it.

What else can I use.. There was nothing else of importance in the wagon. No sticks or sharp objects she could use as a weapon. The town was further away now. She could make out that the wagon was on one of the roads with thick woods surrounding them. Quickly she grabbed the frame of the wagon and jumped out. She did her best to tuck and roll out the way but it didn't quite work. The mage had a rough and bloody landing but at least she was out of the wagon. She got up off the dirt road and made a run to the woods. Praying the driver didn't circle back around for her.

[Ryuzaki]

As this "Charlemagne" roared out his name and swung his axe, the assassin clucked in disappointment as his foe disappeared behind a wall of writhing tentacles of the dark Nether magic. Hmm... These would be short lived, and so his foe would be moving. So too should he. As Ryu sprinted right, rounding the barrier, he saw a ball of darkness rise and crash into one of the support studs holding the tunnel ceiling up.

The man was trying to cave it it, then... But Ryu was outside. He preferred fighting in shade and shadow, but here he had no choice.

Looking around at the deserted outskirts of town and the road, Ryu saw the retreating wagon, far away.

Damn. That meant the victims were long gone. He could use some support - it was about time for that shaman to show up, or the other mage, or Mila herself. In the meantime, though, Charles the Mangy was still alive and kicking - a problem.

"Charles the Mangy! Must you resort to fighting in the dark like a coward? Here I thought you were some bold and worthy warrior... But you are only a yellow, miserable whelp. If you decide to challenge me... I will be waiting!"

Ryu plunged his sword into the earth, appearing to use great force but lightening his weight at the last moment, burying the tip an inch or two in the earth and then standing, both hands on the pommel, waiting.

From under his hood, Ryu's eyes gleamed, and his mouth, set firmly in a determined line, reflected his resolve to defeat his opponent.

[Oya]

A smile crossed Oya's face as he watched the assassins move. The fool had no idea, but he was already in Oya's web. Instead of charging the assassin and engaging him in combat Oya instead retreated further into the tunnel. With a few swings of his axe he sent out more waves of dark energy destroying the support beams. "We will meet again", spoke Oya as the tunnel began to collapse. To be more accurate the portion of the tunnel in front of Oya. The warrior did not have the time nor the energy to fight both a assassin and a shaman. Instead he simply sealed the two of them off from the city and moved to return to the surface. A devilish idea came into Oya head as he rushed back toward the exit of the tunnel.

Charlemagne was still a noble and honorable lad to the guard and the people of the town. Oya was going to use that to his advantage. As Oya emerged from the tunnel he ran and found the captain of the guard. He spoke of the house and the tunnel as if he had never seen it a day in his life and placed the blame on the two hooded figures that supposedly kidnapped the young ladies. With him being the only person to give the story the guards ate it up like premium stakes. Now the two fools who gave chase after him were now marked as possible kidnappers and Oya, being Charlemagne was free to move about. Though Oya did not stay in the city long. He was going to be needed back at the manor. He wondered if those idiots took the second route out of the city and made it back with there marks. Well if they had any marks left.

With the blessing of the guards Charlemagne officially left the city to try and give chase to the vermin. Instead Oya retreated back to the manor. He needed a update on all that had happened.

[Mila]

OOC- Given the events that happened, Drei said to continue on with out him. Assume he escaped the tunnel.
--
It took a few hours but Mila managed to bring herself back into town. It was late in the evening by the time she crossed through the gates and found herself in Ciaran again. She was cold, dirty, bruised, and exhausted. She had kept herself close to the tree line so as to avoid being seen. She had to explain to the guards that she escaped from a wagon from people trying to kidnap her. When asked if she could give descriptions and information of the events she nodded. But first she made a request to check up on the baker's family. Only the baker's daughter was recovered, returned to her family, and the corpse of one kidnapper found. Mila shook her head as she recalled the rolled up carpets of people inside the wagon with her. She was escorted to the guards barracks which also doubled as a prison.

She gave a careful and detailed explanation of the events that transpired. She explained that thugs who posed as movers would go around and kidnap people. Stuff them into furniture or carpets then have them taken out of town in an underground tunnel. She even gave a name and brief description of Oya.

"You mean Charlemagne?" One young guard asked. Which prompted a few dirty looks from his superiors.

"Let me guess... Charlemagne had short orange hair, blue eyes, pale skin, shiny armor to here.." She pointed on her shoulder.

"Big ass axe. Looked like he was some sort of hero?" Her voice was flat and slightly annoyed.

"And i'm willing to bet he conveniently told you about a house with an underground tunnel, while he ran the other way right?" She looked around the room for reactions. Their faces told her everything. She was completely ignorant as to what else happened in the tunnels after the wagon ride. She had no idea what became of Ryuzaki, whom she recalled being in the tunnel. Or Drei whom she remembered running into shortly before all the craziness started. She sighed softly.

"Charlemagne is one of his aliases. And we were all played for fools." She rubbed her chin, it still hurt somewhat. She had a small frown.

"The wagon I was in was heading south. After that I don't know. Many roads lead out from the southern exit. I didn't see any familiar symbols signals or land marks. Just a bunch of woods. There were about four more people in the wagon with me. They were stuffed inside carpets. I only knew people were inside when I noticed the foot sticking out of one." She sighed and pulled a leaf off her cloak. I'm sorry I couldn't save you. She then asked if the guards had found and done an investigation of the tunnel. Which they did. Mila asked if they recovered a bag or tome from the tunnel area. And went into great detail about the tome and bag contents. To which another guard left to go into a storage room and retrieved said items. But before her items were returned the guard captain opened the tome and told her to recite the words that were within the cover. To which Mila did. Satisfied that these were indeed her things and that the mage was in the tunnel her story had to have been true. Her tome and bag were returned to her. To which she hugged and held onto for about a good minute before checking the contents. Everything was in her bag, and her tome was undamaged.

[Oya]

"You idiots", spoke Oya as he looked down at the remaining kidnappers. Oya was far from happy. Not only did they fail to bring back one of the most important targets, but they also did not guard the entrance to the cave. Now the guards have a idea of what was going on and the operation had suffered a terrible backlash. Even worse than that Oya was now questioned in the town. This meant that Oya could not go to town to pick marks and run the plans. It was nothing but a great failure. "Get out of my sight before I kill you", spoke oya as the burly men walked out the room. Ill thoughts filled there mines, but they kept there words to themselves. They knew better than to try up the Orange Pleague. Oya had made quite a name for himself over the years.

"So this is going to affect business", spoke a voice from the darkness. Oya turned and looked at the person and a slight frown crossed his face.

"Not exactly", spoke the Warrior as he stared out the window. "It simply removes me from the equation. We still have the second tunnel and the second house. We can get people out just fine, but I won't be able to go into town. Somebody else is going to have to pick the marks and somebody else is going to have to make sure they arrive. Still the luck we hare having."

"Luck.. no, incompetence." The firgure took a sip from his cup and looked at Oya's angry gaze. "Fear not son of Nya", he spoke as he rose a hand. "I am not speaking of you, but the men who you worked with. My spies gave me word of your actions. Still this Assassin and the mage that did not make it to me. They both need to be eliminated."

"Probably", spoke Oya as he tossed his axe over his shoulder. "My advice hire assassins. Remember I am here to help you, but I am not bound to follow your orders. I won't run out there and hunt down your problems like a good little dog."

"Of course, of course, the proud son of Nya would not dirty his hands with such lowly work. That is what the help is for is it not. Send Boyd and Rider. They have some experiences in this kind of work." Oya looked at the man for a moment and then walked away.

"Boyd and Rider come here", shouted Oya as he called over two men. Something in the back of Oya's mind told him this was going to end in disaster.

[Thread End]