Hunting Smugglers (Open)

[Tiz]

Tiz was shocked as the fifth arm in the struggle came down, giving him aid. As the boot came down to constrict the man's airways, Tiz didn't waste any time. He didn't enjoy taking lives, but with the severity of the situation, his choices were limited. He pulled his sword from the ground, spun it around once, and dug it deeply into the gut of the man who had finally passed out under the boot of... Wait, Tiz battled internally. Myscha?

He looked up to her, but only in time to watch her turn away from him. The caravans. Of course. He had lost ground... And the Santaruz guards were dwindling in number; they could win this fight. It was now looking like the caravan might actually make it into Laus-- if contact could be made, Tiz could contact the Marquess and diffuse the situation. At least, that's what he hoped. Desperately.

Despite his circumstances, and with a very characteristic response, Tiz laughed loudly. "Okay, Myscha, you wanna sprint? Let's sprint." He grabbed her around the waist, his arms forcefully around her. He was still relatively exhausted from his previous use of energy to augment his celerity, but he could feel himself recovering-- enough so that reaching the caravan would be a simple task. He knew he could make quick work of the distance. He started a slow run as he began to carry her in front of him, and then closed his eyes, focusing all the energy in his body into his legs. He listened, felt the earth beneath the balls of his feet. Each step grew quicker than the last. And finally, with a heavy grunt, Tiz augmented his celerity, leaping through the air, his surroundings becoming a blur as he quite literally hovered, closing the distance between himself and the caravan. When he stopped, he was directly at the side of it, in a perfect position to act.

"Alright, be ready to act fast," Tiz said in the woman's ear. Without giving her a chance to respond, he threw her up towards the top of the caravan, where he had been. If she was any good, she could grab the ledge, get some leverage, and make her way to the front, either across the top or through the inside of the caravan itself. Once he threw her, Tiz turned away, watching as another guard approached him, axe drawn.

He smiled at the man as he approaching, drawing his blade again, holding it in front of him. "Fine, let's jam." He glanced one last time back towards the caravan, saying a small prayer for its safety. He would defend it the best he could.

[Charlotte]

“Stop!” Charlotte cried out, but just a moment too late as she watched the blade plunged into the soldier’s gut. She’d seen the man turn to regain the blade, but she’d believed it was to retrieve it, not to put the guard out of his misery. She cursed, stepping back off of the now unstirring man, frustratedly pulling down the fold of black cloth that covered her face. The kill was a grave error, especially during such a crucial time as this, but not something they could focus on now. Catching up to the caravan and making into the tunnel before it was closed was their top priority.

Thankfully, Tiz did not dally. The rouge hadn’t expected the man to grab her around the middle and carry her along with him as they sprinted to reach the caravan. She could have run herself, but instead she took advantage of being able to look behind them, trying to spot the progression of the distraction at the roadblock. It seemed they’d dealt with the only straggler, at least that she could see - they were sprinting through an awfully thick brush, which made it much harder for her to pick out where everyone she’d counted had ended up.

"Alright, be ready to act fast.” As soon as the man spoke the words, Charlotte’s muscles tensed; whatever he had planned, she would be more than ready to react and keep their momentum. So when he tossed her towards one of the carts, she grabbed onto the side with cat-like grace, hanging from it with arm gripping as she looked towards the head and middle cart. The wind had picked up, and coupled with the carts' haste the rushing air whipped her hood back, her vibrant flaxen hair dancing around her face as she tried to see if there was anything wrong up ahead. Nothing with the lead looked off, but the middle cart seemed to be spewing goods, as no doubt a scuffle had broken out inside. She had to presume that was where Ryu and the scout had ended up in their tumble. What a mess this was becoming.

Finally looking back to check Tiz’s progress, she saw he’d stopped completely, facing down a guard that seemed to have appeared from nowhere. No, this hadn’t been why she stopped! Why was he facing down the man?! “Tiz, leave him!” The blonde yelled as she still hung from the cart, her gaze powerful and yet, showing what looked like concern. She turned her head to look forward again, seeing they were nearly upon the tunnel. If he stayed, he’d be left with the mercenaries to suffer the punishment for their crimes. Charlotte knew Tiz didn’t deserve that. “Run for the tunnel!” After pointing for a second in the direction the caravan barreled towards, she used what strength she could to pull herself atop the wagon, settling on her knees, gaze swiveling from the tunnel back to Tiz, back to the tunnel, back to Tiz. He needed to run!

[Ryuzaki]

"Yes, I got what I wanted. Samples, Swordmaster. Samples. You see, I'm working for a man who dislikes the competition these smugglers provide. So he wants to provide the same product for cheaper. Brilliant, actually, but I have no care for the petty squabbling. I will just collect my pay and be off.

But yes, Shade does tire me. I am not at one hundred percent. How astute. But you? You look like you've been dragged through the wringer. And I do not. Thus, it gives me an advantage... An advantage to defeat you.

Is defeating you necessary? No, not at all. But is it fun? Sure. I too wish to settle our stalemate. Sacae was when I was young, inexperienced, and foolish. I am much wiser now. Stronger, too. I am quite the force to be reckoned with. So... Let us do this once more. Let us dance and fight.

I will not kill you. I refuse to. I respect you. You might kill me, and I acknowledge that possibility, should you overpower me. But, nevertheless, let us fight!"

As the food came careening at him, the assassin did not stop speaking, only turning his body to avoid direct hits in the stomach. They didn't hurt that much, and he figured that Duma was harassing him more than trying to directly defeat him with food.

But as one potato came at his face, Ryu swung, slicing it in two and then smiling at the Swordmaster, his sword point ready and raised above and behind his head.

"Duma! I challenge you!"

And as he leaped forward, bringing Gemini forward in a two-handed slash, there was a nearly inaudible click as he twisted his right wrist. Suddenly, however, there was a very visible change, as instead of one blade coming straight down on the swordmaster, there were two, each with a razor sharp edge and a jagged, vicious edge. The twin blades, light in the assassin's hands, came down in the shape of an X as the assassin, eyes narrowed and muscles tensed, let forth his greatest trick.

[Duma]

Duma braced himself for the blade attack. He raised his sword up to block Gemini's strike only to be met with a second blade. That blade plunged down into Duma's shoulder guards. The swordsman didn't flinch, he seized the opportunity of the moment and pushed himself forward.

"I decline your challenge!" He shouted before his body collided with Ryu's. At first he headbutted the grey haired assassin then pushed forward into a classic tackle. Eventually shoving both swordsman and assassin out of the cart. Both parties tumbled into the ground below. Fortunately for them the cart they were in was the last one in the line of carts, so they would not be run over by other carts. Duma pulled himself up off the floor, his arm holding his other shoulder. The fall wasn't exactly graceful.

"Ha.. I respect you as a swordsman as well.. and I too.. wish to settle the stalemate in Sacae. But.. not here.. not in that wagon. Not while either of.. us are still working. Fa..far to many distractions." Duma pulled from his shoulder Ryuzaki's blade and tossed it to the assassins feet. The guards did their job and prevented the sword from going through his arm. But Duma could feel a cut underneath it. He was wounded. It was a minor wound but it was annoying, soon the blood seeped out through his sleeve. There was a small cut on his shoulder and a large scrape under his chin. A majority clothes were muddy. He sheathed his blade with a bit of a painful expression on his other wise serious face. There was a good chance he sprained his wrist during the rolling. Going to have to rely on the other arm.

"This... needs to be settled like it was in Sacae. No.. strings attached. Just.. a good.. old fashioned duel." He could feel his arms and shoulders were pulsating. He would have to deal with the bruises on them later. The swordsman could hear the sound of the guard approaching.

"Ugh.. Pesky guards.. I suggest you seek me out later." He started to make a run through the trees.

[Tiz]

Tiz laughed heartily, the last thing she would hear from the man as he maintained his position and raised his blade. His laugh was genuine and full, reflecting the brightness he always carried with him both in his heart and in his eyes. He brought his blade up horizontally, blocking the first blow from his opponent, then pushed forward, breaking the guard, and dragged his sword diagonally, down through the air, hitting the man's armor. It wouldn't have hurt him much, but it caused him to jump back.

He closed his eyes to focus, replaying the sound of Myscha's voice in his head. Leave him? "What," he said quietly, under his breath, "and let the guards catch your cart? I don't think so," he smiled softly, lunging forward, bouncing off the balls of his feet as he pushed his frame far forward, jabbing at the guard. The guard leaped back again, and Tiz advanced on him, effectively increasing his distance from the carts. They would get away safely-- he would make sure of it. The guard slashed simply, vertically, and Tiz caught the man's blade with his own, creating a t-shaped guard. He pushed it down towards the ground, and the sound of screeching metal filled the air again. He pushed back against the man, jumped forward again, and slashed at him. The man couldn't jump back, so he fell on his feet. Instead of killing this one, Tiz brought his foot hard against the man's helmet, knocking him out cold.

"Sorry Myscha," he said, looking back at the cart. It was gone. "You've got a job to do." His voice was more solemn than usual, and his smile disappeared. He wondered if he would ever see her again. The last time he had wondered that, he did get to see her again... and it was tonight, under strange circumstances.

Before the young swordsman had any more time to think, another guard was upon him. The Santaruz battalion had dwindled into almost nothing, but still there were more men than Tiz could handle on his own. The captain was also nowhere to be seen... Tiz wondered where she had gone.

The guard brought his lance out, spun it, and lunged forward. Tiz sidestepped, then stepped in forward quickly, bringing his sword down on the shaft of the lance, preventing it from being moved towards him any closer. He met the eyes of the guard, who didn't look angry-- he looked duty-bound. Tiz could respect it.

While in the blade lock, Tiz spoke to him. "We can call this quits right now," he said through gritted teeth, using all of his strength to keep the lance at bay. "We can let the cart go, and we can solve this diplomatically, in a court."

The man didn't speak, but pulled his lance away. He shot it forward with great speed, right at Tiz's center, and the Sacaean barely had time to step back before a second guard came around his side and brought his axe down. Tiz quickly lowered himself to the ground, avoiding the swing, but then the lance user was upon him, lance pointed down at his head. They'd gotten him.

"Well," he said, smiling. "Guess this is it." He dropped his sword off to the side, and the third guard approached, weapon drawn. Three on one? Tiz knew better than that. He flashed his green eyes back towards the tunnel... No sign of the caravans. Good, he thought. He could rest easy. The Marquess of Laus could hopefully diffuse this mess, but a mess it would still be.

The guards beckoned him to stand, and he did. Tiz raised his hands in surrender, and the guard with the lance collected his weapon while one of the other guards bound his hands together. They held his shoulders, walking on either side of him, as they walked him back towards the city gates.

[Charlotte]

Tiz’s jubilant laugh tore through the air, above the rush of the moving carts, above the assassin and the scout falling out of the carts - it was almost haunting as the cart she was riding on entered the tunnel, the world closing in around her and the outside sound being deafened. As soon as the last cart passed through the threshold, one of the other smugglers - who had jumped from the cart and ran back just a moment earlier - triggered four pre-planted mines, causing a loud explosion to echo and darken the tunnel. Her eyes planted on the exit, she’d barely had enough time to cover her ears before the explosion triggered. Charlotte tried to yell, curse, swear, but all she could hear was ringing.

Why had he run away from the tunnel? Why hadn’t he done what she’d told him? More importantly, why did she care?

The high-pitched tone still deafening her ears, Charlotte closed her eyes, hands covering her face as the carts began to slow while still moving onward. They’d made it - granted, some of the shipment had been lost on the way, but the majority would make it to its destination. Not to mention, the plans Charlotte had brought along were still safe and sound, stitched into a pocket at her bosom. Besides Tiz killing the guard - which would now be blamed on him instead of the smugglers caravan - both jobs were unarguably successful.

But as her hands dropped from her face, the ringing finally starting to die down, somehow Charlotte still felt like she’d failed. Charlotte was not one to hold loyalties, but Tiz would be arrested and likely jailed for the crimes they’d committed - something she knew the man didn’t deserve. She’d normally dream of having a scapegoat, a fall man so willing and ready to run back and be captured, but thinking of it now, a twinge of guilt was stuck in her chest.

Emerging from the other side of the tunnel, Charlotte looked forward to the head cart, the wind whipping through her hair as she tried to forget her guilt, her concern, and simply focus on the win and move on. She was a thief, a criminal after all - she didn’t have time for sympathies, no time for feeling bad about a man doing what he clearly felt was right, even if it was the entirely wrong move to secure his safety. But even as the crisp night air rushed over her, the normally freeing feeling was replaced by disappointment, even anger. Why had the man been here, tonight of all nights? Why couldn’t memory of him have stayed just that?

After a while the carts finally drew to a stop, not too far from their final destination. Charlotte jumped down from her cart, walking to the head where Kelvin sat, his eyes alight with excitement. “I knew we’d do it, Myscha, it was fantastic!”

Her face sour, Charlotte took a seat next to him in the front, shaking her head. “Let’s just drop off the shipment and be done,” she said, not mimicking her partner’s excitement. Even if she didn’t understand it, the victory felt like a hollow one, and she did not have the patience or desire to celebrate it. So she slumped down in her seat, fingers to her temples and slowly massaging them as the carts began moving again.

[exit thread]

[Ryuzaki]

The tackle, the return of the blade, and the Swordmaster's quick departure into the forest were all events taken in stride by the assassin. Granted, the stride was gangling, long, and uncoordinated, but... At the end of the day, it seemed that he had won. He had gotten the sample. He had fought his foe. Now all that remained was a quick exit - and a stylish one at that.

The Santaruz soldiers were convening on the last of the smugglers' hired mercenaries, and Ryu took the opportunity to slip out, nonchalantly moving his hands together and fusing the two parts of Gemini back together. The metal slid smoothly, clicking back into place, and Ryu sheathed the sword, opting to dispatch of the 'style' component. He didn't need any sort of issues.

So he left, fading into the trees as Duma had, making his way back to a businessman with greased hair and a filled pipe, a man with no morals but plenty of gold.

The reward was collected. The agreement was terminated. The assassin had succeeded.

And yet, the two things he'd really wanted - an end to the battle with the Swordmaster Duma and an explanation as to why his former associate had disappeared, fading away without so much as a word... He had not achieved. But that was a project for another day. He'd heard of fabulous riches to be had, protected so well that it was boasted that not even the most tricky of Rogues would be able to gain access. Hah. He'd have that treasure promptly. And so... He had things to do.

[Exit Thread]

[Duma]

It took some time and careful navigation but Duma was able to meet up with the rest of the mercenaries. The cargo was safely delivered. Duma and the guards then disappeared into the night avoiding the guards and the rest of the squads. It was a slow and painful walk to the designated safe house. He thought the mission was worth it. His shoulder and arm disagreed with him though. As he now started to feel the full extent of pain that the tumble out of the cart had caused. Think of the good. We managed to help deliver a cargo of food and medicine. The families who receive them would be grateful. The swordsman collected his pay and left. He decided to put the smuggling life behind him for now. Part of him wondered how the other's were doing. Especially Ryu, the assassin was determined to get a duel out of him some how. And some day he will. I need to train harder and be ready for him.

After a few days, reports of the nights events started to trickle in to local gossip. These varied accounts some called the operation a success others called it a failure. Duma heard that supposedly they caught a man involved with the smuggling ring. The swordsman would have to hope whom ever that fellow was wouldn't rat out the rest of the group. Then again Duma didn't really make any sort of connection to these smugglers. And for all intense and purposes Duma had signed his name as "A Scaean" to avoid any legal issues. He sighed softly as he came across his next destination, a small village near the borders. Perhaps here he could find a healer for his arm and possibly an inn for a good night's rest.
--

End Thread.