Freedom for the Lost (Lydia/ pm for entry)

[Lydia]

"You may wield the darkness in my favor, but I will carry the burden born of your doing so..."

In a whisper, almost inaudible, then Pupil responded, her voice oddly tense, as if reciting a proverb of great wisdom that had been passed down for generations.

"For those who bring out the dark must remain in the dark, lest the world see the darkness they harbor within and rise to drive out the shadows."

Her unusual soliloquy done, she listened attentively as the men detailed the plan. They would split up, freeing the others, it seemed, and then use their numbers to assault and take hostage the Warden, the ruler of this underground circle of Hell. With him captured, it seemed that they would have the leverage they needed to bargain for their freedom. After that, it appeared that each man was on his own. The world was, after all, a large place, and if they dispersed there would be no point in trying to hunt them down man by man.

"Let's raise hell!"

There was a soft clatter as the men went their separate ways, moving quietly to begin fulfilling their duties and securing their freedom from the tyranny of the Warden. Lydia, for her part, simply followed slightly behind Ephraim as he moved through the tunnels with the ease of familiarity guiding and fortifying his steps.

"Don't worry, I'll get you your ores."

What? She was surprised, briefly, so caught up was she in the idea of rebellion, of rioting, of freedom. Her mind was for the time not focused on her own exploits, her scientific journey and her hunt for glory, but on the safety and freedom of these men so long held in darkness.

"Oh! I...I appreciate that. I honestly had forgotten it, and I'm glad you reminded me, though I would be quite upset once I remembered if we were already gone. But still, I... I guess my primary focus right now is ensuring your survival and the capture of the Warden. We can grab rocks on the way out, I'm sure. I just want to get these people out. Preferably with as little conflict as possible."

"I will make him carry word of how I incited and led the uprising and keep you out of this. You don't need men after your head."

Oh. That was another good point that she hadn't thought of. Having a bounty would certainly complicate working as a scientist, and even more so disseminating her findings.

"...thank you. Even as I am helping you, you're doing even more for me. Why?"

[Deleted]

Why? Why did he do more for her? "Pfft, Hahahah!" That was such a simple answer that he could not hold back the laugh. "Why wouldn't I help a lady in need? Especially if she helped me when I was about to die?" He looked at her with a wink and a thumb pointed to the sky, "Plus as a bonus she is cute too." He was regaining much of his lost vitality and old habits were quick to resurface.

He tossed a hand behind his head and felt his hair, it was a greasy, matted, and grimy mess that had grown considerably longer. He was overdue for a trim. He hmmd to himself. "When we get out of here, first thing I am doing is finding a lake to clean up in, and then..." He thought about where to go next. He could search for that girl that got him here, no, not yet anyway. He knew who needed to see him first. "I think I'll reunite with the old crew. I think you would like them if you are interested, plus First Mate, though he does not talk much, or at all really, is a very skilled druid so he could teach you a little bit."

The two soon rounded a corner as they saw shadows moving in the distance. Torchlight was their ally here. Ephraim pulled Lydia behind a high mound of rejected earth and crouched low as a squad of soldiers passed by. They numbered four vs two, the odds were stacked against them so Ephraim waited, after they were beyond sight and the trampling of their feet had faded away he sighed in relief and visibly destressed. "And that is a small patrol."

They had been fortunate thus far. Finding each other, there only being one guard on a whole group of slaves, and even now, managing to hide away. Fate was on their side it seemed, and Ephraim was ready to learn why. "Come one," He pulled Lydia by the hand and snuck around to a doorway. "Past here is a stairway higher. We will need to pass a few more halls before we can reach the Warden's room proper but, it is a start."

Speaking of starts the two could hear a sudden outburst of noise and commotion down the tunnels. It echoed from all over reverberating further and further, louder and louder. They had made their move it would seem. The uprising had begun.

[Lydia]

"Pfft, Hahahah! Why wouldn't I help a lady in need? Especially if she helped me when I was about to die? Plus as a bonus she is cute too."

Lydia couldn't help but snort. The man was getting more and more brazen as his situation improved. Looked like she'd provided the necessary spark to re-kindle his internal fire, his desire to live and be free. That was good. This was, after all, a bold plan, and it called for fearless strikes and a level of courage bordering on insanity.

"When we get out of here, first thing I am doing is finding a lake to clean up in, and then... I think I'll reunite with the old crew. I think you would like them if you are interested, plus First Mate, though he does not talk much, or at all really, is a very skilled druid so he could teach you a little bit."

Hmm. That would be interesting. But a crew, huh? Sounded like this guy was a swashbuckling pirate. Interesting, then, that he had eventually landed himself in a Lycian mine working as a member of a chain gang. What had happened? If his crew was still out there, he must have been separated, or sacrificed himself for their safety, or something like that. Huh. That would be one brave pirate. A swashbuckling gentleman, really. Pfft.

As they turned a corner, Lydia was suddenly swept off her feet behind some rocks as four soldiers, all armed, clanked by, their torches failing to illuminate the fugitives hidden behind the slag heap. Lydia let her breath out and relaxed, inwardly yelling at herself for almost attacking them. Four men? That would have been suicide. But damn, couldn't that Ephraim be a little more considerate? Perhaps warn her somehow before he threw her behind a pile of rocks? No. She had to stop. Now she was just being sulky. He was doing the best he could to help her, and she needed to simply calm down. Relax, Lydia.

"And that is a small patrol."

Yeah. Small was a relative term, it seemed. Good thing that they had been able to avoid detection. Had they been found, it would have most likely ended quite badly. Now, it appeared that they were moving on. Going upward, rising to meet the Warden in his lair. As they turned to the stairs, the noise of the uprising began to reach them, growing louder and filling the air with sound. It had begun.

[Deleted]

As Lydia snorted his smile never faded. In fact if anything it grew larger as he snickered himself. "You laugh but I'm serious." It was good to feel alive and joke even now. Even here where all hope is replaced by crippling despair.

The sounds of combat were everywhere, how much time would they have? Could they truly revolt and escape alive? Some of them maybe? Ephraim's mind was racing at the thought of it and before he realized what he himself was doing the internal lock of the door had been undone and he was pushing it open to reveal a spiraling stone stairway. When did he find something to... He shook his head, he acted autonomously and it worked but he needed to focus. "Stay close but stay behind me Lydia." Ascending the stairway they were quickly met by two soldiers descending to aid in quelling the uprising. As the groups met and locked eyes there was a pause.

Ephraim looked at Lydia briefly and then back to the soldier; it seemed the soldier had done the same to his companion. Both sides seeming to realize what they must now do simultaneously Ephraim lunged with his blade as the soldier in front slammed his body to the wall to evade. The soldier had height on his side but the stairs were far too narrow for a spear to move effectively but that did not matter. The one in front pushed Ephraim into a wall using the shaft of his Lance and the soldier behind jabbed his Lance at the shaman believing it to be a safe distance away.

"Get off of me!" Ephraim felt strong but he was physically weak and his opponent overpowered him completely as he tried to escape or stab or... Something!

[Lydia]

Ahh, he was serious, now was he? When she had dark magic pointed at him she was too underdeveloped, but now that they were working together all of a sudden she was cute. The arrogance and the sheer cockiness of it made her chuckle inwardly and shake her head. He certainly played his cards well. But did he play his women as well as he did his words? After all, pirates were notorious for their unfaithfulness. She would be wise not to end up some wench on the side. Pftt. As if he had the energy for that, what with being a walking skeleton and all.

"Stay close but behind me, Lydia.

Close and behind him? Perfect. She'd prefer not to take point, what with all the men with sharp metal objects and a lot of anger issues. Let the guys with swords do their thing, she'd just hang in the back and throw blobs of nothingness at them to consume their very soul and essence. You know, a stylish way of fighting. It was glamorous, it was clean, and most of all it was elegant. Not at all like hacking people to bits with woodcutting implements.

Wait. How the hell had he gotten that door open? It looked like he'd used a piece of scrap wire to pick the heavy lock on the door to the rising spiral staircase. How on earth had he done that? A pirate who could pick locks and had ended up in a Lycian death camp... who was this Ephraim, anyway?

Before she could really think about it, two men with large poles appeared. The poles were tipped with metal, which made them lances. And the pointy ends were towards them. Lovely. Almost before she could think, she exchanged a glance with Ephraim, and everyone involved hesitated just a moment before the one guard tried to choke out her pal with his rod while the other tried to skewer her.

The logical response when one is about to be skewered with a sharp spike is usually to freeze in place, or perhaps scream, or maybe stumble backwards. The Pupil responded to the threat in a most interesting manner, diving to the side and latching her arms around the guard who was assaulting Ephraim, lacing her fingers in a choke around his neck and falling, off balance, to the rocky floor with the man laying on top of her, his back to her stomach, as she locked her legs around his to use him as a body shield. She began to call up power, letting the darkness flow into her arms as she mumbled, but as the man struggled, she lost her focus, and the energy dissipated.

"Hold still, you son of a bitch! Hold still!"

She jerked her fingers, trying to choke the man, but he continued to wriggle. Angrily, the Pupil forsook casting and jammed her fingers into his eyeballs, causing him to scream and writhe in agony, elbowing her in the gut as he struggled. Lydia rolled away, helpless on the floor for the moment as she struggled to get her wind. Her opponent was blinded but not killed, and she had no idea how Ephraim was doing.

[Deleted]

Ephraim was struggling to get free but the lack of air caused what little strength he had left to fade with his vision. It was going black now, was he really going to die like this? His quest for freedom had only just begun. Damn, at least it was a good run. His vision was all but gone when suddenly air rushed into his lungs and he gasped coughing back into consciousness. He caught himself and had nary a moment to understand his surroundings again. That's right! It's a fight! The second soldier would not be so lucky. Struggling to maneuver his clunky weapon in the small space Ephraim quickly slammed into him knocking him forward and down the stairs.

"Lydia!?" He saw her fighting with the other soldier on the ground. So she saved him. Before he could get to her the soldier was blinded by her clawing fingers but he got in a few body blows that left the small framed girl out of the fight.

"Ahhhhh!" The guard screamed incomprehensivly clutching at his face. She had damaged him beyond repair and the sight of it was gruesome. The soldier had dropped his weapon and staggered on the steps careful not to fall but in far too much pain to continue the fight.

"Come on Princess!" Ephraim scooped Lydia up carrying her princess style up the rest of the steps. His heart was pounding and his ears rang out. He was fearful of what may be ahead now. The two could barely contend with two new soldiers when they were handicapped, what made him think they could fight a trained one, let alone a group of trained soldiers. "Are you alright? We're almost to the top. This is where the real fun starts."

[Lydia]

"Lydia?"

As Ephraim called out to her, she tried to call back, but was unable to do anything more than weakly give a guttural growl, still trying to get air in her lungs. It was a rough half of a minute between when she first fell and when they reached the top of the stairs, as the Pupil lay like a sack of potatoes slumped in his firm grasp. Finally, her breathing stabilized, and she slithered out of Ephraim's arms, standing on her own once more and straightening her hair, a bit self-conscious for some reason.

"Are you alright? We're almost to the top. This is where the real fun starts."

"Thanks, Ephraim."

Taking a deep breath, Lydia nodded, cracking her knuckles and once more fixing her hair, her eyes taking on a dead-set, determined look as she readied herself for an inevitable battle.

"I'm ready. I'm fine. You just lead the way, and we'll move out. We can do this. Everyone is supporting us, and everyone is counting on us. Let's play our part, and secure freedom for all of you. I'm going to give it all I have, so if you do too, I'm sure we won't fail. Together, we can do it."

She gave Ephraim a smile and a quick hug, stepping in to briefly squeeze him around the ribs before backing up and checking her belongings. Tome? Check. Cloak? Ephraim still had it, so that was another check. Time to enter the main phase of a prison breakout. It was simultaneously exciting and terrifying.

[Deleted]

Lydia had recovered thankfully and was already ready to return to the fight. She looked confident and determined but her words betrayed her. As she spoke it seemed clear to Ephraim that she was psyching herself up for this. He smiled softly out of some emotion he was unsure of. Pity? Relief? Impressed?

She then did something that had really surprised him. She gave him a hug. Her bony body against his bony body grinded sharply but at the same time it felt nice. So that was what it was like to embraced by a woman. Had it really been so long? No wonder he liked it. Placing a hand on her shoulder her motioned her to be quiet. Throwing the hood over his face he moved to the wall and began to siddle upwards to the top of the steps.

He peered into the hallway carefully. He expected to see soldiers but to his surprise he saw nothing but empty tunnels. With a hand gesture he called Lydia over. "I have a bad feeling about this. Do you see that? Do you hear that?" Lydia was smart so he suspected she would understand his meaning. There were no soldiers or workers, no sounds of conflict or upheaval. Something had happened. "I think we should just head for the exit. They know we are coming and are already prepared." It was his intuition speaking and his sense for danger told him this was not a fight worth fighting as he is now. Not unless he wished to die that is.

[Lydia]

"I have a bad feeling about this. Do you see that? Do you hear that?"

"Indeed."

It was not the sight of armed guards or the sound of conflict that was worrying Ephraim, but rather the lack of either. The stillness was eerie, foreboding, and certainly ominous. It was as if they were in the center of a hurricane, the peaceful eye that was surrounded by walls of raging wind and violent rain. What had happened to all of the others? Certainly the whole uprising had not fallen apart already...

"I think we should just head for the exit. They know we are coming and are already prepared."

Lydia felt the same way, almost nodding. It would be more than foolish to try and charge into a well-laid trap, and even worse to do so after noticing the trap and without any sort of support or backup. But there was something bothering her, eating at her. She couldn't explain why, but it just felt wrong to run away, as if it was a betrayal of all she held dear and a violation of the principles she'd so long tried to hold in her heart. But she couldn't vocalize it, it was too difficult to articulate. How would she say it? How could she?

"No.

We... we can't. We have to help them. We have an obligation to them. We gave them hope, a spot of light in a field of black, oppressive darkness. We were their saviors, their motivation. We gave them strength to carry on. Who would we be if we simply used that to give us an opportunity to run? No, Ephraim, we can't betray them! They are counting on us. We have to help them. I know we can. It... It would kill them, not physically, but inside. They would wither away if we left them here in this dungeon. Please, Ephraim. We have to break them free."

[Deleted]

"Heh..." He let out a sigh, "Alright, far be it from me to let a pretty lady down. But... if we fail it will kill them for real." He shook his head and brushed his hair back from his face. "Okay, so, here is the plan, feel free to make some revisions because I do not think it is a good one." He breathed in and began.

"We go and find the mass of guards that protect the warden's room, we get past them and once I am inside with the warden I will plant my seal to give me some negotiation and personal time with him. How's it sound? Terrible right?" He laughed grimly and sat on a chunk of rock. "I am terribly sorry but, I am not a fighter and you are still really new to magic. I can't think of any way around it..." A moment of strained silence passed before he suddenly had a revelation.

"The mines! We can use the mines! All I have to do is find some and I can rig it up to really mess with them. I can waltz right past them if I hold a mine ready to blow in their faces. They won't dare to attack me! Pretty clever huh? I think it is!" He began to praise his own 'genius' but there was still time in the case Lydia had a better idea than risking an explosive demise. It surely would be a rather unpleasant experience after all.

[Xanthos]

"Have you forgotten that the guards have arrows", spoke a voice as a man stepped out from the shadows. The man was wearing nothing more than a crimson cape, a pair of leather underwear, a pair of Greek sandles, and a round shield. A zethos was in his right hand, but his arm was down showing that he did not mean to fight. The man had blonde hair, which he kept neatly untrimmed. One of the banes went down so low that it covered his left eye. His right however shinned with a mystical lavender color and his ears were pointed like daggers. His copper color skin showed that he was a native to Lycia and his well toned body spoke of his intense training as a soldier. The scars gave testiment to his many battles and his gruffy voice made them all the much better. The man's name was Xanthos and he was a mercenary fore hire. He had been placed in the prison as punishment for fulfilling a contract the wrong way. Instead of attacking a poor maiden Xanthos had not only saved her, but worked against the wishes of his patron. as a result he ended up in here. Funny how that works.

"The name is Xanthos", spoke the mercenary as he looked at the nearly dead thief. He thought they had treated him poorly since he was here. Clearly there had given him the luxury suit. To be honest thought Xanthos had just arrived a few days before this all went down. Lucky for him, he missed out on all the starving and hard labor.

"If you go in with that plan you are going to get shot by a arrow in the chest and you will blow up. What you really need is to go in hard and brutal. You rip your enemy to pieces with your speed and fighting spirit. My shield her can provide the cover and my blade can add to the killing."

[Deleted]

Hit them fast and hard huh? There was a simple idea, but that may just be able to work! Obviously fighting them head on was insane, but he was a master of difficult escapes and he knew he could devise a way out on this one. "I have an idea, but I just need a moment." He had a seal and a smoke bomb, now he only needed a mine. As he took off down the great pathways of the prison he continued until he found one of the old tunnels. The uprising could only protect him from the presence of guards for so long. Set up around the tunnel were mines readied for the purpose of demolishing the old paths. With a grin he set about disarming one, he made a mistake against that old fool that got him sent here, but this time he would use the mine properly.

It only took him a short moment and he was in possession of a moderately potent and inactive explosive. Right then, now to bargain our freedom. As he returned to the others he told them to stay hidden and make their way to the exit. His plan was risky, but if it worked they would survive the day.

Marching down the hall he closed his eyes breathing deeply. He held a smoke bomb in one hand and the seal in another. The guards that protected the warden's room seemed to be busy with a few of the uprisers as they had made it to this space. Hit them hard and fast, he repeated in his head as he began to run. "Take this!"

Throwing the smoke bomb it exploded into the crowd making it impossible to see in the already dark cave. Drawing his blade he managed to cut down a distracted guard and slipping by into the warden's room he placed the seal into the pathway. The warden saw the pirate enter and reached for his dagger in panic. "Stay back you brute!"

Ephraim rolled his neck and shoulders relieved to have made it this far and reached for his new mine. "Alright then. I have five minutes with you, a mine, and my words. You sure you want to try and fight me, if I am a dead man, then we will both be dead men."

The warden looked at the explosive in terror. "You, you wouldn't, your kind are too fearful to do so!" He called his bluff. Ephraim simply held his gaze and armed the mine.

"If either of us move too much or too sharply it will blow, I can disarm it again, but it IS the second time, they get a bit temperamental the more you do that."

"You son of a-"

"Ah, ah, ahhhh, use your good boy words. Not in front of the mine." Ephraim smiled finding himself in a very good mood now, for the first time in almost a year he was in control. Stepping closer to the warden he held the stolen blade to his chest. "Now, drop the dagger and I will tell you my demands if you want to live."

The warden's lips quivered in hate as he was forced to abide the criminal filth. Setting the weapon on his desk he shakily faced the thief. "Alright, what do you want. Freedom obviously, but what else are you after?"

Ephraim laughed, "You're smarter than I thought. I want out, and I want you to tell everyone, that it was the pirate Ephraim that did this. That Ephraim was the one to break free of your prison, who inspired all the prisoners into action, and that you will not let your men pursue. If any of these demands are not met, I will kill you."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

The warden gritted his teeth as he was forced to accept. Ephraim quickly made him turn around as he put the blade to his neck. "Now, lead on MY prisoner." As Ephraim ushered the warden out all eyes were on him and the warden.

"Stand down men" the warden whimpered.

"You too gents," Ephraim told the prisoners. "Follow me to our freedom." The prisoners exchanged looks of elated joy and the guards sickened disgust and fear, but they obliged. At the gates of the prison the warden ordered a man to open them. The light was blinding and the air that rushed in were pure and clean. Ephraim would never admit to it but he found himself in tears. The prisoners rushed out to freedom nearly trampling one another or blocking the path.

"Even if you escape today, you will be hunted until your neck is in a noose!"

"Don't you worry about that. I do not intend to be caught again." As Ephraim backed out of the prison he shoved the warden away and offered a mock salute. "It was not fun gents, but today you can all go home to tell the tale of Ephraim the magnificent!" He turned and ran out to freedom. He began to laugh in pure joy, it was time to begin anew.

"What are you fools standing there for?! Pursue them! Kill them!" The warden was shouting frantically, if he was damned for this debacle, the least he could offer was this, Ephraim, up to the gallows. But as the guards tried to leave the caves a mine exploded at the entrance. The thief had managed to place it in the case they pursued after all.

The first man out was killed instantly by the blast before the roof began to collapse barring the way. The warden began to swear and pace. Even if they went to a different entrance it was too late to catch them. Ephraim the Magnificent? Pah! He gritted his teeth. He wanted his name known for this? Don't worry, he would make sure of that!

(End Thread)