Carlisle "Hartmut"
Cavalier
Posts: 67
Profession: Lost Heir
Affiliation: Old Etruria
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Carlisle
OoC Alias: Vin
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Post by Carlisle "Hartmut" on May 6, 2018 14:39:33 GMT -6
Percival would have to apologize to Marceline later, he wasn't angry with anyone particular but rather by the circumstances and the poor timing of it all. What was supposed to be a single night in town was shaping up to be much more complicated. Marceline was quick, most thieves were and despite Percival's lead she overtook him and tackled the runner. Fortunately for the man her blade would not have to meet his flesh and once toppled he immediately surrendered. "Don't hurt me!" he cried. "I, I didn't want to do any harm! I just wanted to look out for my family! I swear!"
"Yet you would submit to a tyrant and sacrifice the lives of others for it!? I should skewer you for cowardice!" Again Percival went from 0 to 100 in rage and contempt. "You better hope we catch your friend first! Or its your head!" Percival stomped his foot against the man's stomach harshly. "Marceline, go back up Carlisle! I will watch this one."
Despite the late hour they had managed to cause enough stir that civilians were watching them from their windows and doorways. Even if they caught the runners they were outed and would need to leave for the night.
The second runner had indeed taken a right as he ran. Carlisle was close in hot pursuit internally cursing the fact he did not have his horse with him. "Halt!" He shouted at him in futility. Moments later Will had successfully cut off the runner's escape. Got him!
The runner staggered to a stop looking at both man in a panic before moving to try climbing to the roofs. "He's going to climb!" Carlisle realized as the man made his jump. He needed to move quick if they were to catch him.
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Marceline
Thief
"Orders? Don't worry about me: you name it, I'll do my best to get it done."
Posts: 26
Profession: Etrurian Knight
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Marceline
OoC Alias: Ardent
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Post by Marceline on May 6, 2018 15:21:57 GMT -6
On a knee and her blade ready to cut and slash at a moment's notice, Marceline held herself back once the downed man surrendered. She was intent on following orders to the end, but if she could do it without getting unnecessary blood on her hands, it would put her later guilty conscience at ease. The terrified look in his eyes spoke leagues more than his pleas: he was simply a coward that was looking to make a quick buck. Pitiful, but then again, the woman would be just fine with endorsing robbery and the like if it was for a just cause. Gritting her teeth, she sheathed the knife at her hip and lowered her head. "Then look out for them instead of getting yourself hurt by pulling that, 'sir'. Who knows what they would have said if you ended up with a few scratches from this?" she answered with feigned civility laced with venomous scolding before standing up to nod over at Percival. If Carlisle needed her help, then berating the man was lower priority. Pivoting around, the thief took off in another sprint towards where Carlisle and William had been heading.
"Damn, the rooftops... I'm taking the rear!" she shouted, taking to a building on her side. Climbing was a very gray area for Marcy: though her rather impressive upper arm physique was good to look at, her gear was hardly equipped for scaling even a building quickly. With her lack of combat gloves or closed toed shoes, it took a bit of small acrobatics and some moments of wall digging into her fingers to even get halfway up... Yippie. She made a mental note to at least pick up a pair of gloves at the next opportunity she could: the climb up was more of a struggle than it should have been. At last, the dagger-wielding Etrurian was able to roll herself onto a roof and grip at the floor to prevent herself from sliding off atop the slanted platform. Steadily, she returned to a crouch and scanned ahead of her to see how far the man had made it, if he even did reach the top.
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William
Myrmidon
Posts: 18
Affinity: Wind
Profile: William
OoC Alias: Ars
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Post by William on May 7, 2018 6:31:53 GMT -6
People, when cornered, had a tendency to either become geniuses or damned fools. William supposed they were fortunate this man turned out to be the latter. A wiser man would have either surrendered or bid his time until he managed to find a proper escape route instead of such a desperate move.
Regardless - the sellsword’’s gambit had worked out nicely, with he and Carlisle having cut off the runner’s path. Carlisle behind the runn and William tnow in front of him, the panicked man’s mind must have scrambled desperately for an option that allowed him to escape. With no such option available on the ground the man had thrown himself onto the wall of the nearest building and attempted to hastily scale it.
Rather than watch in shock or even state the obvious, William simply dashed at the runner and leaped. His body hit the wall but he’d extended an arm up mid-jump to catch the runner’s ankle. As soon as he felt his target in his hand he yanked his arm down as hard as he could - which forced the runner down to the ground with him. William’s feet hit the ground, while the man landed back first.
William drew his sword and held it to the man’s throat. The runner panted, his eyes fixed on the tip of William's sword, while the sellsword kept his eyes trained onto his target. Will took a moment to catch his breath before he spoke. “I still want that payment.”
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Carlisle "Hartmut"
Cavalier
Posts: 67
Profession: Lost Heir
Affiliation: Old Etruria
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Carlisle
OoC Alias: Vin
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Post by Carlisle "Hartmut" on May 9, 2018 13:39:47 GMT -6
Given the amount of time it took Marcy, someone presumably trained in climbing atop of buildings, there was simply no way for a desperate man to do the same and escape. The man found himself hitting the ground hard with a crack to his head. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" The man began to beg as William's blade pressed against his neck.
If circumstances were better Carlisle would have had a good chuckle after William demanded the payment still and well, he earned it. "You will get your money." Carlisle agreed. He kneeled beside the man. "Look me in the eyes!"
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" he continued to repeat.
"I SAID LOOK AT ME!!!" Carlisle's usual calm and gentle tone turned powerful and demanding, and yet it was not harsh. The man slowly turned his head and complied, keeping one eye on Will before giving his full attention. "Why are you sorry? We caught you and it's over right?" The man could have been apologizing to plead for his life but something bothered Carlisle, there might be more.
"They told us if a man named Carlisle came here to lock the gates and light a signal fire! I'm so sorry!" The man began to cry. "Just the other month some people slighted Sharktooth and he took it out on my father... then your name started going around the usual abuse got worse! We just want peace!"
Carlisle motioned for William to remove his blade from the man's neck. "Then I need you and the rest of this village to pretend I was never here. My intent is to remove Sharktooth from power. Don't trade your freedom for security or you'll have neither."
"I'm sorry! Its already done." The town gates began to close and in the distance Marceline could see the smoke from the signal begin to rise.
Carlisle ran a hand across his face to quiet his rage before he lashed out. "How long until his men get here?"
"Its too la-"
"HOW LONG!!!?"
"Ten minutes? Hes kept them close for this reason!"
Carlisle's balled fists shook in frustration. "If I leave lives here are forfeit. If I stay I might lose mine, but I can guarantee Sharktooth will leave me alive long enough to me himself..." He had a plan forming, and it would be a gambit. "William, I will give you three times the promised payment if you will help me here and fight for me." Then he looked to the rooftop, "I assume you came here ahead of the others? Tell Percival to meet us in the tavern!"
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Marceline
Thief
"Orders? Don't worry about me: you name it, I'll do my best to get it done."
Posts: 26
Profession: Etrurian Knight
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Marceline
OoC Alias: Ardent
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Post by Marceline on May 9, 2018 18:16:49 GMT -6
Fortunately for Marcy, the swordsman that had been responsible for cutting off the escaping man had caught the runner on his climb up the wall of the building. She smiled down at the man, nodding in appreciation for apprehending him. Surprisingly enough, she did not mind that he had stepped in to stop him anyways: what good was feeling as if he had "stolen her thunder"? By her hand or his, the mission had been accomplished, and it mattered not who ended up with the last act in her mind.
Eavesdropping into the man's confession was saddening to her heart. What had this "Sharktooth" done to these poor villagers? The thief had tackled one and helped in the capturing (somewhat) of another common man, and yet they themselves only sought to protect themselves from the abuse of another. It was a dog-eat-dog world out there, this the woman was aware of, but manipulating another to do one's bidding was troubling to her. Then again, was it so wrong to be morally ambiguous about this? Marceline herself has used her daggers for "persuasion" when it came to retrieving needed information as a mercenary. Perhaps it was simply human to use threat of force in order to achieve ambition unobtainable otherwise. A sickening thought, but not one to lament over. Word of a smoke signal caught her ear as she listened in, causing the Etrurian to promptly look forward towards one of the town gates. The gates had been closed shut and a thick black smoke trail billowed into the sky. They were trapped.
Carlisle request had reached her as she began to make her way down to the floor. The drop itself was risky and could easily injure her at an inopportune time, so jumping from ledge to window to even a hanging sign, she had descended to the floor without harm. "The tavern, got it! Right away, milord!" she confirmed, running off to alert Percival. Would calling Carlisle "milord" suffice even though she had only just met him recently? Or would Sir Percival still be her liege? Regardless, the orders were clear and intentful. Marcy had no place asking about formalities when there was probably going to be... Well, to put it into scholarly terms, "a whole lot of swinging sharp things". "Word from Carlisle, sir: meet at the tavern! There is smoke signaling that we're in town, and the gates have been closed around us!" she shouted as she approached the knight where the first man had been tackled down.
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William
Myrmidon
Posts: 18
Affinity: Wind
Profile: William
OoC Alias: Ars
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Post by William on May 15, 2018 14:21:08 GMT -6
Ooooooooh Father f**k**g Sky, what the hell had he gotten himself into?
William had stood on stand-by while Carlisle had interrogated the man. The only real reason he had stuck around was because he expected Carlisle to either kill the man or drag him off to local guard. What he hadn’t expected, however, was the vast conspiracy that proceeded to spew out of the man’s mouth. From what William gathered - he was a Sharktooth plant. Not one of his men, just a villager who’d been threatened into service.
See, that much was fine. That much William had expected. The sellsword had figured this guy had been told to go squeal to Sharktooth if he caught wind of some dapper fellow named Carlisle. What William hadn’t anticipated was that there was a trap already set - that having stopped the runners wouldn’t prevent the entire town from becoming a death trap.
Had Carlisle seriously pissed that Sharktooth guy off that much? William gulped as he watched the town gates close shut. There was no easy way out of the situation for the sellsword, outside of a decision he would rather not make. He ran a hand over his forehead and scowled. Damn...it’d all happened too fast. Within ten minute who knew how many armed killers were going to storm the town. They weren’t likely to get much backup, so William would have to rely on total strangers. Carlisle, that bearded man, and the young lady that had scaled the rooftop.
Hell he didn’t even know their damn names.
“William, I will give you three times the promised payment if you will help me here and fight for me.”
As if the sellsword’s life could be bought just like that. He turned to Carlisle and forced himself to focus. Whether he liked the situation or not - Will had to make a decision. He could try to run, and likely wind up gutted for his trouble. He could turn to aid Sharktooth, but the thought of that made his stomach churn even more than the panic that had boiled up within him. Really that only left him with one option.
“Fine. I hope you have a damned plan.”
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Carlisle "Hartmut"
Cavalier
Posts: 67
Profession: Lost Heir
Affiliation: Old Etruria
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Carlisle
OoC Alias: Vin
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Post by Carlisle "Hartmut" on May 19, 2018 21:10:24 GMT -6
"Blood and Ashes!!!" Percival cursed as Marceline came back with the grim news. Layla peered from the tavern in the distance before Percival pushed his way past her angrily. "This is on you now." he cautioned Layla.
-- "You don't live long in this world without a plan." He grinned reassuringly at William. Gods! Please Gods! give him a plan in the next few minutes! He had no reason to let the runner live, nor did he feel so inclined to kill him either so he left him as though he was never there.
Returning to the tavern Percival was waiting with his lance beside the table with his arms crossed. Layla waited shyly in a corner of the room and the patrons had cleared out of the building returning to their homes. "None will stay on our side. They have all ran away." Percival grumbled.
"It's fine." Carlisle assured himself more than the others. "We have us four and now William as well. Thank you again for this. We number five and while we don't know how many more of his men will be coming we do know that the majority of his numbers are in fact gone. There is one advantage we have, they said that Sharktooth's men will be coming to us correct?" Not waiting for a response from the others he simply looked at their faces for confirmation. "This means he won't be here and we know he wants my head already."
Percival looked at the prince skeptically uncertain of what he had in mind.
"So I will surrender myself."
"Wha-what!? You can't possibly do that milord!" Percival's voice was frantic and even panicked but Carlisle raised a hand to silence him.
Carlisle did not smile but he seemed relatively at ease saying this, "It sounds insane but listen. He wants to kill me himself so that means they have to capture me. If we give them a run for their money here we may put the citizens at risk and I will not have that. But if they take me then it gives you time to find him and for the other... mercenaries to get here."
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Marceline
Thief
"Orders? Don't worry about me: you name it, I'll do my best to get it done."
Posts: 26
Profession: Etrurian Knight
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Marceline
OoC Alias: Ardent
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Post by Marceline on May 20, 2018 17:56:46 GMT -6
After regrouping back at the tavern, Marceline's heart sank at the sight of the empty space. What was once a rather lively and quaint little gathering place had suddenly transformed into a cold planning room when the villagers left to return to their homes and brace for the incoming forces. All that remained to intercept the incoming threat were the five people left: Carlisle, Layla, Sir Percival, the strange man that she had seen take down the othe runner, and herself. It was perfectly understandable to her, at least, as to why no one else had offered their additional support. After living under the threat of a brigand for so long, any normal untrained person would refuse to involve themselves in such a dangerous operation.
She sat on the edge of a table across from the group, idly swinging her legs back and forth like a child as she listened. Part of her wanted to simply walk over and comfort Layla, the person who could be held responsible for this who was waiting in the corner. But what kind of example would that set for her new liege? Now was hardly the time for the act, though the thief did make a mental note to offer her support after the plan had been executed. The "if they all survived" part was irrelevant for the time being and that bridge would have to be crossed when they arrived to it. Marcy fixed her gaze on William, a peculiar stare of mixed fascination and curiosity, before Carlisle's announcement of his plan pulled her full focus in on him after silencing Percival.
"Erm... I-I know it's never my place to question your authority, milord, but I'm unsure about this. If we stand with you now, would it not be expected that this 'Sharktooth' would anticipate us to try and intercept the group sent to capture you? Not to mention that the lives of the civilians in this town will not improve if kept under his boot... B-But perhaps I am being too narrow-minded. If you believe this is the best course of action, I apologize for my impertinence. I will support it wholeheartedly! If it succeeds, we would be able to spare the townspeople any suffering from a potential retaliation." she finished with a small smile. Was it really right to offer her opinion about the plan? Did they have the ability to be benevolent and help the village, or would they be forced to move on and hope that they would not suffer too much under the man for too long? Whatever the answers were, the only thing that is clear is that she asks too many hypothetical questions. Perhaps it was all of the reading that the woman had done that cluttered her thoughts with possibilities and situations that were irrelevant.
In fact, the Etrurian decided that it was certainly not her place to speak out. It was none of her business in planning, and thus all she should do is dedicate herself to carrying out whatever orders she received. "...Actually, nevermind. Your plan is certainly more effective and would, in the long run, benefit both our group as well as the people. Forgive me for being so skeptical: your strategy is more practical and would benefit us the most. If you are to surrender yourself only for us to regroup, then I suppose we shall have to account for the possibility that we will be met with anticipated violence," the apologized. In reflection, Marceline had to ask herself what had gotten into her to make her propose something like that. Such a seemingly simple plan made so much more sense to her now that she realized who it was intended to protect and how it would offer a long-term solution. To avoid making herself anxious about the response, her gaze drifted back and forth between Carlisle and William with a somewhat uneasy demeanor.
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Carlisle "Hartmut"
Cavalier
Posts: 67
Profession: Lost Heir
Affiliation: Old Etruria
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Carlisle
OoC Alias: Vin
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Post by Carlisle "Hartmut" on Jul 24, 2018 3:42:56 GMT -6
"Marceline." Carlisle stated her name, letting his attention shift to her. "Do not hesitate to question me and my decisions. I want to have men and women brave enough to question my decisions and to propose a better alternative when they see something I do not, so do not apologize. I only ask instead that you be loyal enough to abide my final decisions all the same. "My strategy is not a winning one. It is hardly efficient either. Its only guarantee is that it will spare the villager of the cross fire."
"Milord," Percival's voice took on authority. "I have traveled with you until now and the men under Sharktooth's control will recognize me. If this is the course of action we will take then allow me to act as your decoy."
"What?" Carlisle exclaimed. "I will not allow it! I will not let you risk your life in place of my own. This is my decision to risk my life so only I should be placed in danger."
"Then you forget your place, Carlisle. If you will not put yourself before others than you will never see the end of the road you are traveling. You should be more selfish. I will become you for the sake of your plan. I have full faith that you will come for me and if things do not work out well... then so be it, allow me the honor of a dutiful death."
"Percival..." Carlisle's words failed him in the face of such pride and honor. He looked at the others to read the room, he expected William to be the most confused of all but there was little time to dwell and tarry. "Alright. You will go in my place, and we will come for you." Carlisle held back the wellspring of emotion he felt and smiled.
Percival unfastened his blade and set it on the table. "Right then. I leave the next part to the rest of you." Percival turned, and he walked away.
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Marceline
Thief
"Orders? Don't worry about me: you name it, I'll do my best to get it done."
Posts: 26
Profession: Etrurian Knight
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Marceline
OoC Alias: Ardent
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Post by Marceline on Aug 7, 2018 19:42:10 GMT -6
Words could not describe the mix of emotion that Marceline felt from the development of the situation. Her judgment was halted by a jumbled mess of desperation to come up with an alternative that would ensure everyone's safety, mortification over speaking against her liege's wishes (regardless of his insistence of it being constructive) and concern about what could soon be much more dangerous than anything she had experienced as a mercenary. She had only recently regrouped with Sir Percival and his companions that very day and already they would be splitting up once more. Her deep aquamarine hair hung over her shoulders as her gaze fixed on the floor beneath her, continuing to rhythmically swing her legs back and forth, up and down anxiously.
A few brief moments after the veteran knight's departure, the thief fixed her gaze on the sword upon the table, then the prince. "Please forgive me for just a few moments ago, I had always imagined you to be a bit more... 'Inflexible' with plans like that. Being involved with planning isn't really my strong suit: I'm just a bandit with some sharp persuasive tools, eh heh..." she joked lightheartedly with an awkward laugh. Considering that Sir Percival had just volunteered to be the Holy Grail decoy for their escape and rescue operation, now probably was not the time for it. "Even so, I still do stand by my comment about the people here. It was sad enough that this town basically turned into a giant trap for us: imagine what that Sharktooth scoundrel would do to other places. If it's alright with you, at one point or another, we need to find a way to take him out of the picture... Er, t-that is, if it's alright with milord! I just thought that maybe we could try to help out a little bit with their problem. Call it wishful thinking, I guess."
In fact, from what Marceline knew about this Sharktooth character, he sounded an awful lot like a certain other oppressing force that she had learned about from her brothers in arms in the mercenary guild. On a symbolic level, the small village of Darrun was her own way of imagining Etruria's own salvation. Though different on several levels and contrasting in many ways, she felt like a nationalist of a place alien to her hours before. Part of it frightened her to discover a sort of fighting spirit within her yearning to do something, but her conscience had done a damn good job reassuring her it was right if she would bring it up to Carlisle himself.
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Carlisle "Hartmut"
Cavalier
Posts: 67
Profession: Lost Heir
Affiliation: Old Etruria
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Carlisle
OoC Alias: Vin
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Post by Carlisle "Hartmut" on Aug 15, 2018 17:27:53 GMT -6
Carlisle looked to Layla first. "Stay here." He then looked to Marceline, there was a lot the two would have to talk about and discuss. He didn't know where to start so he decided to start with what was most pressing. "I need you to keep to the shadows but we are going to see what is to become of Percival. I will NOT abandon him, and I will not abandon this or any other village. I don't know what preconceived notions you have of me but this is how I will work. Our mission is only as valuable as the people there to see it at its end."
Carlisle then left the pub to tail Percival. He and Marceline had much more to talk about later. She was young when Etruria fell, too young to have taken part in his rescue in his opinion. He did not pity her life since she was better off free from the madness but he felt guilty that her life had taken such a turn so young to only know conflict. He needed to earn her loyalty for more than just his vacant titles and role. He needed to prove his worth as the future king, to her, to Percival, and ultimately to himself. Rescuing Percival would be but the first step. "We will see to this Sharktooth's demise, this I swear to you now." With that he fell silent and followed his elderly mentor.
Percival had boldly and proudly made his way to the town gate that lead into the mountains. They were open now and a dozen armed bandits strutted through before encircling the man. "I have decided to surrender myself in order to ensure the safety of the villagers."
"The villagers?" One of the bandits laughed. "They sold you out and now you want to talk about protecting them?"
"Yes. The decisions made by the oppressed in favor of their own protection and preservation does not reflect on their true desires. They are not the criminals you are." Percival spoke bravely to the bandits' annoyance. They proceeded to strike him over the head with a club toppling him.
Carlisle found his foot beginning to move but he forced himself to stop. They won't kill him yet, he had to remind himself. Percival might suffer but he had time. Carlisle cursed himself as they lifted Percival up and dragged him away. Carlisle should have been thankful their gambit had worked. If the bandits remembered it was a young man who threatened them it would have failed. He slammed a fist into a nearby wall. "Damn them!"
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Marceline
Thief
"Orders? Don't worry about me: you name it, I'll do my best to get it done."
Posts: 26
Profession: Etrurian Knight
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Marceline
OoC Alias: Ardent
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Post by Marceline on Oct 3, 2018 19:11:08 GMT -6
Carlisle's reassurance of his involvement in helping the people of Darrun brought a small smile to the corner of her mouth. The sickening truth of their plight would finally be addressed by none other than the prince himself, and Marceline had nothing to add to it but her satisfied nod of approval. The prince was already exhibiting strong qualities in her eyes: selflessness kept in check by a sense of duty and compassion for allies. "Of course. I have no intention of leaving Sir Percival behind, not now especially. Let's hurry: we might still be able to catch him to get a look at his captors so that we can identify them at a glance," she replied, turning around and heading for the door. The closest exit gate to the town was directly north of the tavern, leaving an almost straight shot to where Percival would meet the bandits.
Sticking to the shadows, the thief silently cursed herself as she followed behind her liege. Blaming the incident on the girl (Layla, as she could recall) was simple, but what had she done to prevent it from happening? The only answer that surfaced was that she could not do anything and that there was nothing for her to do. At the same time, such a simple solution to her grief was unacceptable. To silence these thoughts, Marcy dug into a hidden pocket just below her left breast and withdrew a small piece of candy to ease her mind. Popping the sweet confection into her mouth brought back a flood of memories from her childhood. Memories of her parents and their sorrows of not making ends meet to send their daughter to the magic school Etruria was known for, the stories of knights that pushed her to pursue such a bloody yet just path, and the sound of arrows against flesh from the deadly volley that killed her mentor resurfaced. The strawberry flavor of the treat, however, was enough to give her a taste of the peaceful times. Her pace quickened to find a good view of the crowd gathering near the front gates.
"Ngh... Damn it," the pickpocket muttered quietly to herself as the bandits had surrounded and trapped the knight. Her fingers slowly drifted down to her blade at her side, but her other hand was able to suppress the urge to grab her weapon and take a clean cut out of a bandit's back. Rescuing Percival was part of their plan, but getting captured herself in the process would do little. Instead, she could only observe the scene unfolding with begrudging helplessness. A sigh of relief escaped her as they knocked him out and began to drag him off.
Marceline approached the frustrated prince with her hand gripped tight around her weapon handle in anger. Her gaze was fixed on the town gates and where Percival was incapacitated. "Those swines will pay for this, especially this "Sharktooth" that dares to command them! They will rue this day..." she spat bitterly. Even the mere sight of watching Percival struck with a club made her blood boil and her conscience go haywire with thoughts of slashing away at whatever bandit dared to hurt the veteran.
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Carlisle "Hartmut"
Cavalier
Posts: 67
Profession: Lost Heir
Affiliation: Old Etruria
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Carlisle
OoC Alias: Vin
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Post by Carlisle "Hartmut" on Oct 7, 2018 22:22:59 GMT -6
From a tightly shut fist Carlisle's hand slowly shifted into an open palm that gently slid down the building's side and fell freely. It was hard for him to comprehend Marceline's words through his own frustration and focus but it seemed the two of them were on the same page. Carlisle lowered his head briefly as he resolved himself to action. He had hoped to strike at Sharktooth once all of the knights were gathered once more but alas it could not be. He and Marceline would have to do their all to wreck havoc against the enemy.
Rearing his head back he looked to the night sky. It was a clear and beautiful night he realized. It was funny how the world could be so distant from the reality at hand. Then he grinned. "No. They will not pay for their treatment of Percival. This has come about because I killed Sharktooth's brother. This was a retribution meant for me and the violence I beset against his kin. In truth I was the one to wrong him first and Percival has chosen to pay the price for me. It is not my place to judge him, it is the right of the villagers who have truly been wronged by him. I will be nothing more than the whirlwind that will sweep Sharktooth off his feet and delivered in shackles to trial."
It was not long after the bandits left the village that the gates opened and the townsmen returned to a seemingly ordinary state. Carlisle clasped a hand around his sister's brooch and made a silent vow to rescue Percival. "Marceline, from this moment forth you are forbidden from calling me lord. You will refer to me as commander and until I am to be announced alive I will no longer be Carlisle, but Hartmut." Carlisle knew the power of that name and the attention it would earn him as it was the name of the leader of the heroes.
"I will be leaving my horse here. If those bandits were to hear the clops of a horse we would be found out. We need to tail the bandits and scout their base. You are going to be instrumental in this Marceline. I can follow but for this, you will lead. The goal is not to engage, not yet anyway, but rather intelligence and discernment. If we can wait for the others we will and Percival must hold out. If not, then we will have to strike were the two of us have the best chance at escape." It was reckless. It was foolish. It was just the sort of venture that would excite the bards to spread the name of the new Hartmut through Bern. Carlisle grinned before sharply turning to face the mountainous road. "Now then, let us go, and remember: today you lead a king."
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Marceline
Thief
"Orders? Don't worry about me: you name it, I'll do my best to get it done."
Posts: 26
Profession: Etrurian Knight
Affinity: Thunder
Profile: Marceline
OoC Alias: Ardent
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Post by Marceline on Oct 21, 2018 23:41:53 GMT -6
The thief simply bit her lip in silence as Carlisle spoke of his place in the Sharktooth situation. The murder of this bandit leader's brother was an iffy topic. On one hand, she knew that her liege was right in that the act was in retribution and that neither party was innocent. On the other hand, however, they probably would have deserved it anyways if he was oppressing villagers. Marceline had learned one thing for certain from her work as a hired blade: no violence comes out of nowhere. Whether it be from a personal vendetta or a completely justified cause, if someone wanted another dead, there is always a motive and enough drive to ask for it to be done. The notion disgusted and intrigued her at the same time depending on whether or not the target of such desires was one of her own. She drew the line at dragging unwilling others into the mess to get to another.
Upon Carlisle- no, Hartmut's order, she frowned slightly. The names of the Scouring Heroes were typically reserved for the honor and renown the heroes themselves had earned. Her first instinct was to remember the situation of the mass following behind St. Elimine back in Etruria, as well as the horrible figure that led the people like dumb sheep. "...Y-Yes sir, Commander Hartmut. As you so wish," she muttered as she pushed the strawberry candy into her right cheek cavity. "Forgive me if I'm questioning your judgment here, but I'm not really the leading type. Especially not a king of all people. Are you sure that I am to lead you in this? I wouldn't say I'm much more than a blade and some bandages, really..."
The cool night breeze blew gently across her shoulders and brushed her hair off to the side. As Marceline moved her hand to pull her long, aquamarine hair out of her eyes, she was able to get a solid look down at herself. Then her gaze darted back up to Car- Hartmut (the adjustment of a name would shift in time, this she was certain of) who towered above her by more than half a foot. It must have been quite something to ask a tiny, decently experienced cutpurse to take the reins in this. Her liege was by no means mad; there had to be a good reason why he would pass over leadership, right? Though she failed to see it, Marcy sighed and shook her head.
"You know what? Disregard that. I've got a bad habit of misspeaking today, heh. If you're telling me that I'm going to be leading you here, then let's do it! Just... Promise me you'll be careful here. Stealth and espionage aren't as easy as they sound, and I'm not about to leave Darrun without Sir Percival, you, and even Layla. Consider that a promise. Let's move." With that said, the enigmatic woman suddenly turned around and started heading for the mountainous gate. Her right hand rested on her dagger that rested securely in its holster at her waist, confident reassurance that (hopefully) Hartmut didn't just say "Hey, let's go on a suicide mission, just the two of us."
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Carlisle "Hartmut"
Cavalier
Posts: 67
Profession: Lost Heir
Affiliation: Old Etruria
Affinity: Fire
Profile: Carlisle
OoC Alias: Vin
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Post by Carlisle "Hartmut" on Oct 22, 2018 9:20:25 GMT -6
Marceline worked through his orders and managed to come to what Carlisle hoped was the 'right answer.' The young woman seemed to think very little of herself. It was a shame in his mind, a blade and bandages. Both of these things were critical on the fields of battle. A blade could be used to protect against as well as end a threat outright. Bandages could be used to heal and assist in recovery. It was an overly sentimental notion he realized but it was what Carlisle felt. In time perhaps she too would come to cherish such a role.
"Stealth and espionage are difficult you say?" He knew this already, but if he could boost Marceline's confidence he would be happy to play the dullard. "Well then, I think you grasp why I have asked you to lead me here. I don't know the first thing about proper espionage." Yes, between himself and his followers Carlisle believed they could shaping up to have some potential leadership. Carlisle thought of himself primarily as a diplomat, he may be called upon to be a general one day too but for now, that was Percival's area of expertise. Layla, for all the trouble she'd caused them thus far, was a healer and the only one he suspected they would have access to for a time. Marceline, she was the true oddity. She could have been a knight, but something happened to her to make her follow the methods of a thief, and for this he was grateful. Not all battles were won by words or steel. He dared not call her his new inquisition, that was a dirty word and a role he longed to abolish, even if they had their value a reform of that organization would not be enough to quell the ill will around them now. He wanted Marceline to learn to lead, and perhaps become something new, something more entirely.
The bandits had a head start in regards to the mountainous path but as night had fallen, the thief, and the prince in dark armor had an advantage all their own. The bandits would be slower than the two due to carrying the dead weight of Percival and all his armor. In fact the road was treacherous in the best of conditions, let alone in the dark of the night. Carlisle would follow close to Marceline and heed her every word.
Carlisle was no stranger to assailing the bases of bandits but nothing could quite prepare him for what the two would eventually find. Sharktooth had taken up residence in old mountainous ruins. A great and collapsed gate marked the entrance of their territory, with guards posted outside. The ruins were built into the mountainside itself and there were no obvious signs of other entries.
(OOC: I'm not skipping the travel up the mountain, just giving an idea of what is at the end to help with guiding Marceline's lead. Feel free to complicate their trip)
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