Kadina
Administrator
If you're bored then you're boring.
Posts: 379
Played By: MOjO
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Post by Kadina on Jun 22, 2012 16:56:03 GMT -6
Pastel shades of purple and pink cascaded across the sky and stained the feathery clouds that lightly hung just above the setting sun. Dusk was creeping in bringing with it cerulean and the cacophonous sound of crickets and summer cicadas. The temperature began to cool and the air was still but suddenly more comfortable for the first time since dawn. It was time.
At 3 o'clock earlier that day, the Clock Town bells chimed as Kadina burst through the doors of the Stock Pot in. An eager grin stretched the corners of her mouth as far as they could go. Her energy was considerably high when taking account of the heat that seemed to drain all other folk and leave them lazy in the sun's blistering rays. Civilians had been fanning themselves all day, lying under the shades of their kiosks and shop canopies, but Kadina... well she was wired. Anju was nowhere to be seen which wasn't necessarily unusual because she always had something or someone to tend to, so Kadina helped herself and headed toward the kitchen.
A group of bandits, three to be exact, sat in the kitchen of the inn grunting and laughing at each other's fascinating stories. A man with long black stringy hair held a hand of cards. It was a wonder he could even see them. His hair fell like a veil across his face. A toothpick hung limply from his thin stretched lips. He was a lanky fellow. His legs were so long, his knobby knees peaked inches above the table where they were unable to fit beneath. His flat stomach was visible where not even his shirt was lengthy enough to cover his extensive torso. Though mostly quiet and reserved, he would snicker occasionally at one of the others' dirty jokes. They were a perverted lot, as most bandits were. Thankfully, Kadina thought, this one kept his mouth shut.
A larger man, rugged, gruff, and built like a machine sat across from him. His back was to the doorway, but by his booming voice, the smell of incense and tobacco, and the broad shoulders rolling with ripples of indestructible muscle, Kadina knew exactly who it was. He wore an elaborately embroidered headband tied around his forehead with a single braid falling over the top and down to his massive shoulder. The rest of his light brown hair was cut short and messy, no doubt reeking of smoke and heated oils from his scalp. A handmade cigar rolled in a distinct paper was dropping ashes left and right where it was held firmly between his stuffy fat fingers. He had taken it out of his mouth to laugh boisterously at his own joke and play his hand of cards. There under his bum, Kadina spotted more cards sticking out from beneath his right cheek. Typical cheater.
Sitting against the wall, and just barely out of sight, was a shorter almost identical version of the bigger man. His shoulders weren't quite as broad and his arms not nearly as large in diameter, but he was built strong and firm. He lit a bowl of another smokable substance, which Kadina had no doubt came from the old hag in Kakariko, then blew rings of smoke into the air letting his head fall back and rest against the wall. He coughed and chortled with laughter at Maska's jokes, then forfeited his hand and went back to puffing on his pipe. A large tattoo of a wolfo enveloped his right bicep. His hair swooped down into his eyes, and his braid was shorter but was entertwined with a blue fabric of some sort. His brown eyes were gentle as always, but the whites were red from the smoke and its effects. His smile was charming, a weapon of his aside from his tomahawk. He knew how to use it well, just like the gypsy women could use their curves and body language; all weapons that injure the shallow mind rather than flesh, and boy did that often come in handy.
Kadina could no longer stand watch. “Wey nikanos!” She exclaimed as she entered through the doorway with her hands in the air. Maska, the big one, stood from the table in surprise which soon washed over his face leaving a look of sheer joy. His eyes lit up as he embraced Kadina in a bear hug, his enormous arms squished her like jelly and his voice roared in her ear. “Nikana ho saytah!” She felt her feet leave the floor as he lifted her in the air. Her eyes did all the smiling and laughter while her mouth was closed shut against Maskas's gigantic arms. The other two greeted her with the same native hellos and friendly smiles.
Maska's grip loosened as he released her. Standing a good 9 inches above her, she nearly broke her neck to look up at him. “How are you, my friend!?” Ear muffs would have been nice... “Here! Have a seat. Join us and tell us of all your adventures.” He pulled out a chair for her and mashed the rest of his cigar into the ashtray upon the table as he took his seat.
“Adventure? Ha... It's been quieter in my life the last few months than I care to admit. I've been staying out of trouble for once.” Igasho turned to her. He was probably giving her a strange look but one could never tell with all that hair in his face. Songaa chuckled, “That's not like you,” he said form across the table as he blew a trail of smoke right in her face. “I have my reasons.” Kadina folded her arms atop the table and stared back at him unblinkingly. The smoke was nothing any bandit couldn't handle. This was typical. They all stared blankly at her waiting for an explanation. “I got in some serious trouble... and I need to lay low for now.” She leaned back in her chair and now crossed her arms against her chest. There was no way she could explain her Luca situation. Not just to them, but at all. It was still confusing to her. “Well... I guess we better enjoy the next 30 minutes with you while we can... We've got things to do.” Maska smiled devilishly and communicated to Songaa with a crazy look. “Wait...” Kadina moved to the edge of her seat now interested, “A heist?”
[to be continued]
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Eldrin/Vai
Administrator
Kaepora Gaebora
Posts: 646
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Post by Eldrin/Vai on Jun 23, 2012 13:10:49 GMT -6
The seaside bonfire burned bright on the sandy beach. It cast an orange glow, a warm aura across the heavens above. A bane of the darkness seeking to consume the humans clinging so desperately to their precious light. Well, maybe not that dramatic... Eldrin thought with a chuckle. Still though, the fire was quite breathtaking against a backdrop of the sun sinking into the sea. Spread across the sky were all manner of colors. Streaks of gold, ribbons of violet, strands of orange, and the bright blue of the day's sky fading into the velvety black of the encroaching night.
All around the blaze, revelers danced and sang, the low hum of their voices rising over the roar of the flames and the lapping of the soft tides upon the weatherbeaten shore. An old folk song, to the rhythmic beat of drums and the cry of fiddles. A panflute here and there accentuated the odd melody, and the lyrics rang above it all.
It went on with similar lyrics for several verses, but Eldrin lost interest quick. Around the bonfire was an odd assortment of outlaws (both professional and otherwise), gypsies, vagabonds, tribals, and other folks of a less than savory nature (at least by society's standards). To Eldrin, he was home. Or as much home as he could ever be. Being nomadic by nature, he had found that he never could settle in one place for too long. This was hardly a problem, as his chosen line of work was one that often required sudden migration. A thief who stayed in one place too long was often a thief with a short career, and a shorter life. Well, actually, the life would have to be longer seeing as there would have been a time before the thief embarked on that career path (if the job of a thief could be called such a thing)... But "a short career, and a shorter life" just sounded better in Eldrin's opinion.
This strange assortment of people was gathered to celebrate the crowning of the new Pirate King. A pirate captain by the name of Falisk Augor had apparently recovered the infamous Leather Crown of the Seas. A leather crown seemed a bit cheap to Eldrin, not something fit for a king to wear. What ever happened to good old fashioned gold and silver? Bone for the occasional savage monarch, more for effect than anything. But then again, considering the fact that a large majority of the people who acknowledged the king's authority were terribly destitute, it almost seemed reasonable.
The new king was due to arrive on these shores in the morning, and then the celebrations would really begin. This was just the "before party". Technically, none of this was planned. The only thing that had been planned was Falisk Augor's arrival, everything else just happened. It was the tradition of these people to celebrate the rise of a new pirate king, though none of them were considered his subjects. The pirate king had no subjects. Not even pirates bowed to him. The pirate king was a king in title only. He received no end of respect from the people gathered around the bonfire this night, but even he could not tame those free spirits. He did receive special benefits, if he chose to accept them. In any civil disagreement between two pirate captains, he was the only person with the authority to solve the matter peacefully. If he did not, and neither captain relented, the two would be obligated to kill each other in single combat. Usually, his judgment was not needed. Most quarrels between pirates of any rank ended in bloodshed anyway.
Eldrin sat amongst a small group of elders, a tribal ancient, an old fortune teller, a veteran pirate, and a retired mercenary, all of them too old or injured to dance and sing with the youths. Of course, Eldrin seemed completely out of place. He was a young man in the prime of his life, able-bodied, quite capable of partying with the others. But instead, he was sitting with the elders on a weathered tor overlooking the beach, listening to the slow, sleepy conversations that were exchanged there.
"I remember a time, back when ol' Empty Flaggon Faremis was Pirate King, when the title meant somethin'. Faremis was a true pirate, a good man. He earned the Leather Crown with a bloody cutlass and a smokin' flintlock, not by finding it in some old cave," one old pirate complained, waving a handless nub angrily. "Then there was Ferris Solas. Best pirate to take to the seas, in his own time. Never held the Leather Crown, but goddesses know he should've. O' course, by that time Derinn the Final had hidden the crown in hopes that he would be remembered as the very last Pirate King. It was his fault that we're in this predicament anyway." It was no surprise that he felt this way, as it was well known that he had once been a member of Solas's crew. He had watery grey eyes and a shiny bald head. A long scar stretch across his scalp, a wound he'd received protecting his captain during a mutiny.
"Ah, shut it, Virrum, you're just jealous 'cause your son didn't get it first," a fortune teller by the name of Nilayana snapped. Her numerous giant hoop earrings clinking together as she moved her head. Her arms were covered in bangles and bracelets, her fingers and ears in rings. Her long black hair was set up in an intricate bun and still had enough length for a fishtail braid that brushed the floor when she walked. Her clothes were long and flowing, with many woven shawls and mantles of silk. Her feet were bare, and Eldrin doubted that the case had ever been otherwise. She reminded Eldrin of a wilted flower. Faded in beauty, but still appealing in some odd, sad way. Her slightly wrinkled face was painted in swirling patterns, light blue to match her eyes. She was quite popular amongst the people of the sea, though she was quite renowned for giving terribly false fortunes. Most people just called her Nil, seeing as her full name was such a mouthful. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not too keen on a blind Pirate King. But don't complain about him not getting the crown the old fashioned way. He's a pirate for shadow's sake! There's no wrong way for a pirate to do anything."
"And how did the fellow come to lose his eyes?" asked another man, "As far as I know, most folk keep track of those things." He was a retired mercenary with a heavily scarred face and an uneven beard that reached his huge belly. His hair was long and unkempt like his beard, The man's name was Alerick Twoheart, though Eldrin was pretty sure he only had one. He was a perpetually happy man (almost like Eldrin), but still not one to be crossed.
The next man who spoke was an odd one. He appeared to be older than anyone else there, and was clearly much wiser. His black hair was intertwined with feathers and beads, and his left cheek painted with two interlocking triangles, almost like Kadina. But her tribal marks were bars, not triangles. He was probably from a different tribe or something. He was known to all gathered there, but his name was a mystery. His voice was low and deep, gravelly like the voice of the planet itself. "Unless the wind whispers lies into my ears, the coming Pirate King lost his first eye to a smuggler woman's knife, and his second to young Eldrin here," the old man said, puffing on a long black pipe carved with intricate designs and symbols.
Everyone present turned to look at Eldrin, who was laying on the floor in the center of the group, busy counting the hairs that made up his black bangs. "Eldrin, you put out the poor man's one good eye?" Nil asked, slightly appalled but equally amused.
Eldrin looked up innocently as the second mention of his name made him lose count. "Hm? Oh yeah, he didn't seem to need it all that much," the thief said casually as he sat up and hugged his knees. "Or the cutlass I took from him..."
Alerick burst into uproarious laughter, "Ah, I can't help but love this lad! Took his eye and his blade. He reminds me of myself before I got this belly here an' a couple of these scars." Then again, Eldrin had already gotten started with the scars. The one crossing his face was proof enough of that. "Tell us boy, d'you have the blade still? It'd be grand of you to give it back as a present." Alerick laughed even harder, imagining Falisk Augor's face when he realized what was happening.
"Nah, I left it on the grave of a friend," Eldrin said, killing the mood slightly. He didn't mean to, but it was the truth.
"You ain't alone boy, I don't think there's a soul here who hasn't left a good friend in the ground. Or put them there..." Virrum stated grimly, patting Eldrin on the back with his one good hand (though it felt more like a punch to Eldrin).
Nil smiled in a forlorn kind of way. "And was it during that altercation that you earned your new scar?" she asked, trying to shift the conversation to happier matters. Most of the men she knew boasted about their scars, treating a new one like a birthday present.
Eldrin sighed slightly, stretching his legs out in front of him and leaning back on his hands. "Yep, my face met a Gerudo's whip. Nasty, bloody affair... But it cleaned up alright," Eldrin said, running a hand along the scar tissue stretching horizontally across his face. "Got two more on my shoulder and a nice one on my leg from a tumble I took down Death Mountain... Won't be long 'til I'm as ugly as Alerick!" He teased, sticking his tongue out at the old mercenary.
"The battlemarks that we all bear are not blemishes upon our beauty, but symbols that we have truly lived the lives we have been given," the old man said, blowing a ring of smoke toward Eldrin. Everyone present nodded respectfully, except Eldrin. The thief became unbalanced from leaning on one arm, and collapsed onto his side. Nil and Alerick both laughed, Virrum looked disgruntled, and the old man puffed on his pipe again.
"If you'll excuse me, elders, I need to borrow Eldrin for a moment," a voice said from behind Virrum. They all turned to see a rather beautiful woman standing at the base of the rock, watching the thief on the ground with clear disdain.
"Oh, hello Fae. On guild business again?" Nil asked pleasantly, smiling at the younger girl. The other nodded curtly, clearly not looking to be friendly.
"Well then, take him! We've no right to keep the young rascal to ourselves when pretty little girls are calling for him!" Alerick cried in his booming voice, shoving Eldrin down the rock before he could plead for asylum.
Eldrin rolled down the rocky outcrop, bumping painfully on countless stones on the way down, and came to a stop at Fae's feet. He looked up at the woman with a grin. She had medium length strawberry blond hair and sea green eyes. She was tall, taller than Eldrin, but with a thin build. "Hello, my lovely lover! You must stop calling on me like this, people will begin to wonder. Surely you can tone down those uncontrollable urges you feel for me..."
Fae kicked Eldrin in the ribs with ruthless force. "Get up you imbecile. It's time to go," she barked, stalking off in an obvious temper.
Eldrin scrambled to his feet and followed the scary woman, on her heels like a lost puppy. "Already? But the party's not even over yet!" the thief whined, casting a glance toward the glow of the bonfire.
"You were hired to do a job Eldrin, and you'll be of little use to us drunk off your ass and worn out from partying all night. Plus, Augor rides the horizon already, he'll be here before dawn. We need to act now." Eldrin noticed a small brass telescope in Fae's hand. He looked toward the sea, but saw no sign of a ship.
"Who's coming with us?" he asked curiously. "You never elaborated on that little part." Teammates were a tricky matter in the operations of an outlaw. Even the most trusted allies could turn on them at the drop of a hat. And one could hardly afford somebody attempting to put a knife in their back when they were trying to pick a lock or climb up some netting.
"Because the team wasn't recruited until about an hour ago," Fae said irritably, "Umbel Leechcraft and Lissom Whitethorn, Mezzo, and a new guy. A mercenary. I don't know his name, but Selt said he's good." It almost seemed as if she was bothered by his curiosity.
Eldrin ran these names over in his head. Umbel Leechcraft, a physician skilled in emergency medicine, they'd only worked together about twice but Eldrin was rather fond of her. Lissom Whitethorn was a local small time pirate and a good friend of Leechcraft's. Mezzo was one of Fae's two lackeys (the other being Selt). And the merc... Well, he'd have to see about that one.
Before long, they came upon a small rowboat surrounded by people at the far end of the beach. Eldrin recognized Selt, Mezzo, Leechcraft, and Whitethorn instantly. And judging by the look of the man standing by himself off to the left, Eldrin assumed he knew which one was the new mercenary. To his mild surprise, he noticed the old man already seated in the boat. For those who knew him, it was quite well known that he often appeared at both the place they had left and the place that they arrived in. Despite this, none had ever seen him walk or even stand. He was always seen sitting cross-legged, smoking a long black pipe.
The first to notice their approach was a tall man with dark brown eyes and black hair shorter than Eldrin's. He was built similarly to Eldrin, long and lean. His name was Selt. And it was a name that bothered Eldrin to no end. "So you found our little renegade, did you Fae?" asked Selt, his sharp eyes assessing Eldrin at a glance. A throwing knife spun past Selt's head and embedded itself into the boat behind him with a hollow thud.
Eldrin smirked, his eyes glinting dangerously. His hand was stretched forward, directly aligned with the hilt of the knife. "Sorry, little renegade's got a twitch," he said, his voice laced with malice. Selt was by far his least favorite person on the beach at the moment, and he wasn't afraid to show it.
Selt did not seem at all bothered by Eldrin's apparent attempt at his life. "Little renegade's also got shitty aim," he said, matching Eldrin's smirk with one just as arrogant. "Maybe he should try again..."
Eldrin reached for another knife as Selt's fingers wrapped around the handle of a tomahawk strapped to his leg. "Both of you shut up. Kill each other later, we need all the help we can get right now," Fae snapped, passing between the two dismissively.
Eldrin and Selt relented, their moment ruined and their pride trampled upon. "So what are we doing?" Eldrin asked, his anger already forgotten.
"I've already explained this all to you," Fae grumbled, shooting a glare the thief's way.
Eldrin dramatically jumped to the side, dodging the glare in slow-motion. "Yeah, boringly... So I stopped listening," he admitted, speaking as if this was a completely logical course of action.
"Fine, one more time. But you better listen this time, you moron," Fae said with a sigh and began explaining the plan once again to the thief, as the others listened in just for good measure. "We're collaborating with Captain Miroc Cointooth of the Cointeeth Pirates in an attempt to bring down Falisk Augor and leave a real pirate in his place. The Terminian Thieves Guild is funding the recruitment of a team to extract the Leather Crown and displace Augor. Cointooth will claim the crown and Augor's life, and the guild will claim Augor's three ships; the Pell's Fallacy, the Tidestrider, and the Eminence. The loot found in Augor's ships will be split up amongst the team as payment. The guild has an interest in gaining a foothold in the smuggling opportunities of the Great Bay, which these three galleons will provide. Cointooth was betrayed by Augor over the crown, and would like nothing more than to see him bleed and be crowned the Pirate King himself. Not to mention, Augor has repeatedly rejected the guild's attempts to negotiate with him. We cannot tolerate a possible foe rising to be the Pirate King. You all will meet up with Cointooth on a small island just off the coast, and board his ship, the Oracle. He will then sail into Augor's path and fly a white flag in a supposed plea for help. Augor will stop to raid the ship. When he takes this bait, the Cointeeth will ambush Augor's pirates. While the battle is carrying on, your team will infiltrate Augor's flagship, the Eminence. You will find Augor, who will likely be in possession of the Leather Crown, and capture him. He's blind, so I should hope you will find little trouble in that task. With their captain taken prisoner, Augor's pirates will surrender. Then Cointooth will take charge of his crew and bring the ships back to meet with a group of Thieves Guild representatives, including myself and Selt. The ships and crown will be exchanged at that point, and the treasure distributed amongst the four of you. Mezzo is a guild member, not a hired hand like you all, and the old man has asked not to be paid. So that only leaves Leechcraft, Whitethorn, Eldrin, and the sellsword to split the loot. You will not relinquish the crown to Cointooth until this point. Then, everyone satisfied and well paid, we will go our separate ways." Fae finished as everyone started to load into the rowboat. "It should be an easy enough job... Not too complicated. Now, get going!"
[to be continued]
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Kadina
Administrator
If you're bored then you're boring.
Posts: 379
Played By: MOjO
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Post by Kadina on Jun 23, 2012 14:31:52 GMT -6
Maska replied with a low grunting chuckle and a nod of his head. Kadina could see it in his eyes that it was something worth-while. She leaned over the table to be filled in, her obvious anticipation for participation was written all over her bewildered face. Maska raked the gang's pile of poker-played rupees across the table out of the way as they all leaned in together. The last bit of smoke in Songaa's lungs seeped out of his nose and wafted through the circle created between their heads like a chimney as Maska began delivering their plan.
“I'm in,” Kadina smirked. They knew she couldn't have resisted. Damn... they knew her so well. She really resented her predictability, but knew that beside the familiarities, she could certainly throw them for a loop if she ever wanted to. That made her smile even more wildly, and her teeth began to show.
While all of this was happening, she had slipped Maska's hidden hand from beneath the seat of his pants and laid it on the table claiming it as her own. “Looky there...” A royal flush. Only Maska would be so stupid to store the best hand in the game. So obvious. With that, she scooped up their rupees and beat them to the door. “Come on boys, we haven't got all day.” She winked back at them where they sat with their jaws dropped from their loss of money. Igasho's toothpick fell out of his mouth and between the cracks of the floorboards. They all laughed lightly at their mischevious female companion and high fived one another for such a notable recruitment before following suit.
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Kadina wiped what she hoped would be the last bead of sweat from her forehead as the sun sank behind the horizon. The horses they had pirated from Romani Ranch just an hour earlier grazed on the grass from behind the bushes where she and her fellow bandits hid. Everyone, that is, except for Igasho.
Maska and Songaa were sharpening their weapons and swatting at bugs when Igasho came walking down a steep slope by the base of a cliff close to their hideout. “It's time?” Songaa asked from his lazy reclined position. Igasho nodded and pointed off in the distance never speaking a word. Then he dawned a strange mask. They all had one which they had stolen off the back of the Happy Mask Salesman on their way out of town. Each one was unique in its shape and decoration. Kadina personally admired hers and would keep it if it didn't pose such a threat to her identity after the heist. She would likely have to burn it or sell it and risk the arrest of an innocent patron... which just didn't settle well with her heart. Then again, she could think of a few detestable individuals she wouldn't mind seeing behind bars. Perhaps they would be interested in such a finely crafted artifact. Kadina thought as she let the mask hang from her neck and mounted her horse, her dagger in hand with the reigns.
It was time. They would have to hurry to beat the dark. The area they were in was too randomly cluttered by trees and other shrubbery and Milk Road was a mile and a half south of their position. Kadina took off with a kick to the sides of her steed and a commanding “hi-yah!”
This was the thrill she had been waiting months for. She longed all this time to race through the still of the coming night, wind tossing her long tresses behind her, not just in pursuit of treasure, but adventure. This was her nature. She felt like one with the stallion, feeling like although she had stolen it, this was where it wanted to be. She understood its natural desire for freedom. She understood because she was the same way. In that instant she had a moment of perfect existence and fulfillment as she tilted her head back, let go of the reigns, lifted her hands in the air, and felt the wind pass through her. The insects of the night chirped a symphonious summer soundtrack, yet she heard nothing. Not even the pounding of the horse's hooves against the dry hard earth. That, instead, was something she felt. Like a regulation of her own pounding heart. She opened her eyes to behold the first night star twinkling in the zenith. Though it was just ancient folklore, she made a wish on the star and wished to live like that forever. Just as she felt in that moment. Forever.
[to be continued]
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Eldrin/Vai
Administrator
Kaepora Gaebora
Posts: 646
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Post by Eldrin/Vai on Jun 23, 2012 15:02:33 GMT -6
Eldrin reclined the best he could in the stern of the small wooden rowboat, dangling his feet over the edge. The spiked metal soles of his buckled shoes skimmed the water as they slowly glided across the calm surface of the bay. It was an oddly calm night for the sea, the blue moon was mirrored perfectly upon the glassy surface. The clear black sky was illuminated by more stars than one could comprehend, their glow dying the sable sea in hues of red, blue, and even a dim gold in the brightest clusters. The thief reached to hold the hand of a constellation, but his grasp fell short, Avarice slicing unseen gashes in the air as his arm fell limply to his chest. The slow swishing of the oars propelling them across the water were caught in a lulling rhythm. The boat was built to seat ten, but their were only seven occupants. Six humans and one dog. Of these humans, one lounging lazily in the back, four dutifully but halfheartedly rowing, and a final sitting cross-legged at the bow. The dog merely sat at the edge of the boat watching the water slide by. The very back of the boat was filled with a small pile of luggage and supplies. Eldrin was leaning on this pile, using a knapsack as a makeshift pillow.
"I wonder... How far away are they?" Eldrin murmured his inquiry, his red eyes captivated by the tiny gems shining above him. They were the greatest treasure, the jewels of the heavens.
"Farther away than your arms will ever reach," one of the rowers replied, absentmindedly turning his oar. His eyes had also drifted upward toward the sky, perhaps to rescue him from the boredom of such a menial task. "Miss Fae says the stars are a blessing from the Night Spirit. She said he pokes holes in the sky so that all the spirits of the people who died that day can slip through to the afterlife. Selt says that's just pagan nonsense. He says that the stars are orbs of light, not holes in the sky or gateways to the afterlife. Says the goddesses came from them same stars. That they're heavenly bodies as divine as the goddesses themselves, and they should be revered as such." He was a huge man, a sinewy body laced with muscle. He was a golem of flesh and blood, and he took up most of the boat by himself. His hair was golden blond, gathered into a long braid at the back and shaved off at the top.
"And what do you think they are Mezzo?" Eldrin asked, turning his head to look at the large man curiously. He had always gotten the impression that Mezzo was smarter than he lead on. "You've gotta have an opinion of your own."
Mezzo shrugged, and looked back at Eldrin with an expression of simplistic honesty. "I think they're pretty, prettier than anything down here. Too pretty to understand. And to worry about things such as what they are, is to insult their prettiness," he answered calmly, before turning back to his task.
"Hm..." Eldrin replied, looking back at the sky. He reached out behind him and trailed an index finger through the passing water. Splitting the reflected sky with distorting ripples. "What about you, Lissom?"
Lissom Whitethorn was not a large man, but he was incredibly muscular. He had earned his muscles hauling ropes and heaving anchors. He was a true pirate, a cutthroat and a scoundrel. He had red hair, cropped close to his head and covered by a blue bandanna. His eyes were dark green beads set deep into his face. "I ain' ne'er seen no reason ta care 'bout wha's goin' on up there," Lissom said, peering up at the sky. "But there was one story I've 'eard. Me papa once tol' me an ol' folk tale 'e'd 'eard from a travelin' band of gypsies. They said tha' there was a time, long ago, when tha moon was all alone in tha sky. Tha moon was lonely, 'cause all tha people fell asleep when 'e came aroun'. Eventually,'e started gettin' jealous o' tha sun. E'erybody loved tha sun, they'd dance aroun' in 'er rays an' some people even worshiped 'er like a goddess. Tha moon decided ta punish tha people, an' took away tha tides o' tha oceans, an' 'is light durin' the nighttime. Wasn't long afore people were beggin' tha sun for 'elp. An' so tha sun, ta appease tha moon, gave birth ta one million daughters. An' these daugh'ers she gave ta tha moon to be 'is wives, so that 'e would never be lonely again. Tha moon, 'appy with 'is new family, returned tha tides an' illuminated tha nigh' sky once more. But it was not jus' with 'is own light, but tha' of 'is one million wives." Lissom finished his tale and shrugged his shoulders. "Stupid story if ya ask me,"
"I thought it was nice, Lissom," said Umbel Leechcraft. She had a soft, dreamy sort of voice. It had a way of reminding one of cool summer breeze. Her hair was long, luscious and brown, flowing down her back in wavy curtains. Her eyes were a warm chocolate brown to match her hair, rimmed by long eyelashes that made them nearly irresistible. A heart shaped face with high cheekbones and an amazing complexion probably made her one of the most beautiful women Eldrin had ever seen. Compared to her, Fae was a hag. "It's good to here you talk about something other than getting paid."
Lissom nudged her in a rough but playful way. "Well, if ya ain' so concerned with gettin' paid, I'll go ahead an' take yer cut off yer 'ands," he offered with a rather obnoxious grin.
Umbel shoved him back much harder than he had shoved her. "If you take my cut than you can forget about getting patched up next time, I'll just let you bleed out and take both of our cuts," she teased, before looking back up at the sky. "My mother always said that stars were put there by the goddesses for every baby born, and that star was meant to watch over and protect the corresponding person," she said, her eyes clouded with what was surely memories of a pleasant childhood. "Of course, that's a load of rubbish..."
"Nothing is rubbish, Miss Leechcraft," the old man at the front said, puffing on his long black pipe. "How often I have heard people dismiss their own beliefs as ridiculous. My people believe that the sky is the face of the great Guardian of Mankind, the stars as his eyes. They believe that he watches over us as we sleep, protecting us from the dangers of the world so that we can rest. And during the day he closes his countless eyes and rests for the next night's vigil."
"Do you believe in this guardian guy?" Eldrin asked the old man, peering over at him.
Smoke momentarily obscured the old man's wizened face as he exhaled. "I have never met him, nor have I seen proof that he does not exist. So I cannot say..."
Everyone fell silent for a while, the rowers focusing on their task, the old man smoked his pipe, and Eldrin drifted between the blurred lines of slumber and wakefulness. In his dreary lethargy, Eldrin found himself wondering about the fifth rower. The man had not spoken at all since they had met him. The old man had said his name was Cai, and Fae had said he was a sword for hire. But still, nothing else was known about this man. Apparently Selt and the old man knew him previously, as they both displayed some knowledge of who he was. The old man could be trusted, but Selt was not. Cai's credential were mixed, and that made him sketchy as far as Eldrin was concerned. All throughout their conversation about the stars he had not said a word, or even cast a gaze upward at the sky once. It was almost as if he was deaf. Maybe he was. But that was unlikely. A deaf mercenary was about as useful as a dead one, but cost more. Regardless, his apathy was surely suspicious. One could never be to careful in the dealings of thieves, and this was no exception.
Eldrin was torn from his thoughts and his half-sleep by a loud noise that assaulted his ears. It was the dog, baying wildly at the darkness in front of them. Eldrin's left eye twitched madly, he hated hound dogs. It was their bark, their ears, those damn droopy eyes! Eldrin grabbed the dog roughly by the ear and tipped its head to match his own. The dog stared at him with giant sad brown eyes and panted slightly. "Shut. Up." The dog responded with a slobber filled lick to Eldrin's face. The thief growled and pinned the dog's mouth closed with his index finger and thumb. "Who brought the mutt anyway?" "He's mine, Eldrin. And he was just barking because he saw the island. C'mere Sanguisuga, leave that nasty thief alone!" Umbel said, the last sentence affectionately directed at the dog.
"Dumb name for a dumb dog," Eldrin muttered, releasing the dog's snout. "How far away are we?"
"I'd reckon abou' twen'y minutes ou'. We'll be there in no time," Lissom answered, having spit his toothpick into the water some time back.
"Twenty minutes is time," Mezzo pointed out.
"Twenty minutes closer to no time then we were before," Umbel replied in Lissom's stead.
"Twenty minutes is still twenty minutes. Stop talking and row."
"'Ey, why ain' you rowin'?"
A loud and obviously fake snore came in response to Lissom's question. He was half tempted to smack Eldrin out of the boat with his oar, but thought of a better idea. He snickered and picked up his rowing, eager to get to the island.
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Kadina
Administrator
If you're bored then you're boring.
Posts: 379
Played By: MOjO
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Post by Kadina on Jun 23, 2012 16:44:46 GMT -6
The bandits had made it to Milk Road just as night had rolled in and scattered darkness in every direction. Kadina's eyes had adjusted, of course, but any scheme held in the night was a tricky one. She couldn't say she didn't enjoy the challenge, however. It fed her excitement and made the charge in her body accelerate through her veins. She pulled her mask up and eclipsed her face while Songaa and Maska trotted across the road to wait anxiously on the other side. Igasho traveled further west to take out as many Hylian soldiers with his bow before they reached the ambush.
Yes. Hylian.
According to Maska's gathered information, the King of Hyrule hired a troop of men and sent them on an excursion to retrieve an ancient tablet. It was a tablet believed to hold the recipe for immortality, but is supposedly written in an unreadable text. Some type of cuneiform. Little was actually known of the tablet, but according to certain tombs found within the Ikana Graveyard, it was said that the tablet was the writing of an ancient alchemist and royal advisor to Igos du Ikana. Some man named Marlux Sidante. Apparently, something had gone wrong. Other wise, Igos and Sidante would still be alive... That is, of course, if the immortal tablet was what they say it is. Never-the-less, why King Daphnes?
He seemed an honorable man who had graciously accepted his old age over the years, but maybe it was for lack of an heir with Zelda and the Hero of Time being absent and unable to inherit the throne. Poor man... Yet Kadina had a ransom out for her arrest and possible hanging, a blood thirsty maniac chasing her for revenge, and that feeling of perfect existence she lusted to feel for an eternity. The endless possibilities of adventure arose with immortality, and she was having a hard time putting her selfish greed aside.
A horse whinnied in the distance. Pebbles blanketing the ground begin to shift and roll as the earth shook. The group looked west as they heard and felt the rumble of hooves and the rattling of wheels on a carriage. Igasho traveled beside the mass with his bow taking out as many horsemen as he could. He was certainly a very skilled archer, but the Hylian guard was putting up quite a fight.
"Hi-yah!” Kadina started her horse off ahead of the caravan. She knew it would take her steed time to accelerate to their speed, and by then she would be perfectly aligned beside the carriage that held the immortal tablet inside.
The carriage was drawn by two brawny white mares. They were massive creatures that possessed a fierce look in their eyes in their attempt to flee the sudden danger while also obeying the harsh lashing and commanding of their driver. From the looks of it, Ishago had abated the caravan down to the one carriage and six escorting horsemen.
One of the horsemen had just made the valiant move to stand on the back of his horse and make a lunge for Ishago when they had caught up to Kadina. She rode up beside the soldier and knocked his foot out from under him just before he could leap. Another soldier prodded at Kadina with a long spear but she grabbed it by the shaft and broke it in two. Not an easy task for most women.
On the other side of the carriage, Maska rammed his monstrous fist into the side of one guard's head as he tried to block Maska with his shield. He took the punch, but didn't fall. The pain was enough for the man's adrenline to course wildly and assist him in retaliation, so Maska took a stab to the thigh, but that was nothing for someone of his muscular build. Having enough of the soldier's foolishness, Maska finally drew his stone hammer and was about to bash the man's skull in when Songaa had thrown a knife right into the Hylian's neck. He gripped at the wound and pulled back on his reigns leaving him out of the race and gasping for air unpolluted by his own blood.
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Eldrin/Vai
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Kaepora Gaebora
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Post by Eldrin/Vai on Jun 24, 2012 15:04:26 GMT -6
(Just a small installment for me too, I promise some action in the next couple! ;D Well, a little at least...)
Eldrin plopped down in the sand between Lissom and Umbel, interrupting their whispered conversation. "Hey lovebirds, having a tender moment?" he asked with a playful grin. Umbel looked less than happy at being referred to as lovebirds, Lissom on the other hand looked rather pleased.
"Hardly, just discussing the new guy." Umbel replied tactfully. Eldrin knew what she was doing. She was evading saying their own opinions about Cai to get Eldrin to say his own. It was an obvious trick, and she meant it to be. He knew Leechcraft probably had some skill at trickery, being in the business and all, but she knew that she needn't try hard with Eldrin. After considering it for a second, Eldrin decided to fall for the trap.
Eldrin cast a glance back at Cai and Mezzo, who were hiding the rowboat. "Don't trust him, myself," he said in a low voice, "Too quiet. I don't trust a man who won't talk."
Umbel nodded vigorously. "That's exactly what Lissom was just saying..."
"Barely even blinks, tha' one. It's no' natural. He's a tricky one, I know i'." Lissom growled, watching Cai suspiciously.
"I say we get him before he gets us... Take him out on the Eminence, say Augor did it." Eldrin said, his finger drawing a swirling pattern in the sand.
Umbel was visibly disturbed by this. Her already pale skin had lost what color it had. "Couldn't we just keep an eye on him? Is it really necessary to kill the poor guy?" She asked, nearly begging. Her eyes were wide with concern.
"You gonna bury me corpse when 'e puts a blade in me back?" Lissom asked. He discreetly counted the number of revolutions in the swirl pattern before running a finger carefully through it, almost like a strikethrough.
"Of course I would, but I won't need to. He's not going to kill anyone if the three of us are on our guard... I mean, what if we're wrong? What if he's actually an honest person?"
"Ain't no such thing as an honest person in this business, Miss Umbel." Eldrin's eyes studied the trajectory of the strikethrough in regards to the original and terminal points of his swirl. After a moment, he looked up and locked eyes with Lissom. Their eyes seemed to exchange some hidden understanding. "Fine, we'll keep an eye on him only. But if he lifts one finger in the wrong direction..." Eldrin ran his index finger across his neck. "End him." He pressed his hand into the center of the struckthrough swirl pattern, leaving a handprint . Then he stood and walked off toward the old man.
Lissom wiped away the sand from his and Eldrin's drawings and scooted closer to Umbel. "Damn, your good. 'E's agreed to take care of 'im tonight, before Cointooth arrives." He whispered when Eldrin was far enough away.
A dangerous smile broke Umbel's usually pleasant face suddenly. "Guess we'll have to apprehend the traitor..." And the smile was gone as fast as it had come, leaving a kind expression in its place.
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Kadina
Administrator
If you're bored then you're boring.
Posts: 379
Played By: MOjO
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Post by Kadina on Jun 24, 2012 23:51:24 GMT -6
Two down, four more to go. Each bandit had their own horsemen to “take care of”. Igasho, just infront of Kadina, had jumped onto the back of his opponent's horse and was savagely strangling the guard with the string of his bow. Maska was putting a few dents in his enemy's armor with his hammer, and Songaa was ramming his horse against his foe's.
With the mask obscuring Kadina's peripheral vision, she turned her head to look around and behind her for the soldier she was responsible for. After checking to her right and looking to her left, the horseman had come upon her quickly. Before she had time to react, he had sprung from his horse to hers and locked his arms around her thus encumbering all movement. She struggled and wriggled desperately while the horse maintained its speed. The others were too distracted to notice and far too busy to help, but this was happily understood. It was never in Kadina's favor to be the damsel in distress. However, she was becoming annoyed at the situation.
Her arms were completely immovable. They were strapped to her sides beneath the soldier's firm embrace. She tried stabbing her dagger into his leg, but couldn't get a good aim at any of his unguarded weak points. Too much armor, and not enough range of movement. Suddenly, his right arm loosened. He was making a grab for her mask! “Igasho!” She yelled out for assistance as the man pulled the disguise from her face. With her right arm now free, she brought her dagger up to plummet it with force into his knee cap, but he grabbed her wrist and twisted it for the release of her weapon. Alright... now I've had it...
Her eyes narrowed in frustration. Her facial expression contorted into a scowl as a low growl rippled from the back of her throat. In the most barbaric way possible, she bit into his hand between his thumb and index finger where his gauntlet was nothing but soft leather for flexibility. Like a wolfo into its prey, she gnawed for the taste of blood, and, to her delight, was successful. The man howled in pain and withdrew his hand quickly. At this point, Igasho was finally able to shoot at the horseman that held Kadina captive. The arrow pierced his right shoulder. He drew a breath through clenched teeth in pain and fell off the back of the horse with a grunt.
She wouldn't dare look back. Not now that her disguise was gone.
A little rattled but still focused, Kadina kicked the sides of her steed and barreled toward the left side door of the carriage. It was difficult, at first ,to keep herself steady as she brought her feet up from the stirrups to stand on the horse. Her adrenaline was pumping as every pounding gallop threatened her balance and safety upon the back of the horse, riding it like a surf. When the timing was just right, she leaped into the carriage! Little did she expect to encounter anyone.
“Please! You don't understand what your intervening with! You must stop this now before it's too late. This is not just a warning for you, but a harbinger for all of mankind!”
Kadina was weaponless. The tablet sat in the seat next to him wrapped in a shroud of cloth. He seemed genuinely concerned, a gentle spirit no doubt. The last thing Kadina wanted to do was harm him. Infact, she was still in shock to find him inside. This hadn't been planned for. Her eyes were wide in surprise and her mouth slightly hung open in confusion. Who was this?
He had obviously read the question by the look on her face. “My name is Nelfred Wiess. I'm the archeologist who discovered the tablet and lead the excavation for its recovery. Please believe me and heed this warning. No one knows more about that stone than I at this current moment. You're putting lives in danger!” He reached for her pleadingly. His wrinkled face and brilliantly blue eyes wrung with hopefulness. But Kadina, astonished, reacted instinctively to his reach and bashed his head against the wall of the carriage knocking him out. She knew it was harsh, but his sudden frantic movement had startled her. It was impulsive but necessary none-the-less. Now, the tablet was hers for the taking...
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Eldrin/Vai
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Kaepora Gaebora
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Post by Eldrin/Vai on Jun 30, 2012 10:13:53 GMT -6
(Sorry about the wait...)
Eldrin made his way through the jungle that took up most of the little island, a borrowed bow in his hand and some kind of large rabbit-like creature slung over his shoulder. Cai walked beside him carrying a plethora of hunted game. It turned out that the new guy was also an excellent hunter. Sanguisuga, Leechcraft's hunting dog lead the way. Despite being a hunting dog, he was hardly even hunting, more like finding nice places to pee on. He simply trotted along, panting heavily, and occasionally stopped to lift his leg.
The thief had been secretly assessing Cai. He was older than Eldrin, probably around twenty-five, and obviously much more mature. He wore light armor in sparse portions. Pauldrons, bracers, greaves, and some kind of weird abdomen plate... It was like a breast plate, but it covered the lower section of the torso instead of the top. Eldrin had never seen such a thing, but he thought little of it. Cai was bigger than him, not by much, but enough. He had to avoid direct conflict, or else risk getting beaten.
Cai had been watching Eldrin just as much as the thief had been watching him. Of course, he was a bit more discreet than the thief... Eldrin had been practically staring him down the entire time they'd been hunting. He had an odd feeling that the entire point of this hunting trip was just to assess his skills. He'd held back mostly, but he still couldn't pass up a couple of the easy kills that Eldrin had been completely oblivious to. But by now they had more game than the six of them (and the dog) could even eat. And yet, Eldrin still insisted on hunting more. Luckily, this all seemed to be harmless observation. After all, if Eldrin wanted to do him harm why would he wait so long?
Suddenly, an arrow struck Cai in the shoulder, snapping upon his pauldron. He spun to look at Eldrin, but the thief was gone. Another arrow whizzed past him and embedded itself into a tree with a dull thud. Cai dropped behind a fallen tree for cover. He heard another arrow hit the trunk of his tree, and Sanguisuga barking somewhere in the distance. Then silence.
"Sorry about that... Thought you were a rabbit..."
By the goddesses! Cai hoped the thief was joking. If not, he was much less competent than previously thought. But Eldrin's words were followed by more silence. A single bark came from even farther away. Sanguisuga was running back to the beach. Just then, an arrow hit the tree next to his head, and the thief charged him. Cai jumped to his feet, but did not retaliate. Instead he weaved in and out of Eldrin's blows. The thief was swinging his bow in a berserk flurry of attacks. Cai dodged yet another blow and moved swiftly passed Eldrin, hooking the thief's ankle as he did. The thief fell face first into the grass with a surprised yelp. Cai leaned over the thief curiously. Eldrin rolled over suddenly and kicked Cai in the solar plexus, forcing the air from his lungs. The next moment, Cai was laying on the ground with Eldrin's knees on his chest. The thief's dagger tickled his opponent's neck, and a wicked smile lit up his face.
"I win."
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Kadina
Administrator
If you're bored then you're boring.
Posts: 379
Played By: MOjO
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Post by Kadina on Jul 1, 2012 22:20:26 GMT -6
Kadina wore extra belts for reasons like this. After all, transporting the tablet would have been the biggest task of the entire heist without them. The tablet was a 1x2 foot, thick stone slab. She hoisted the tablet from the seat leaving it wrapped in the shroud and began strapping it to her back using her three belts when, suddenly, Songaa bolted through the other door.
This is good! Kadina thought. She had deviously been plotting to take the tablet for herself and make off into the woods in search of someone who could translate it. Now that Songaa was inside the cabin and without a horse, that would be one less person on her trail! Suddenly, his tomahawk came hurling towards her face. She ducked in time for it to miss and wedge itself into the frame of the door whence she had come. Nope! Not good! This is bad, this is bad, this is bad. Songaa threw his arms out to grab her but she hiked up her leg and kicked him in the chin. He snarled in pain as his head flung back. While ripping his mask off, he began growling at her saying something about taking the tablet for himself.
Figures. Bandits can never be trusted. The others had probably been planning the same thing all along, which meant that Kadina had to go! It wouldn't be long before one of the others joined them inside. She turned and grabbed on to the side of the door frame while prying the tomahawk off as she went. The carriage was racing wildly. Kadina had never known horses to have such endurance, not even Kitty. With her tiny slippered feet, she began scaling the side of the coach, stepping lightly along its thoroughbrace. Songaa's fist came around from inside the cab and smashed against the wall by her head. She yelped in surprise and turned to see him coming after her.
With Igasho riding along this side of the cabin, she thought of the irony in which he had used his last arrow to save her and was probably now wishing he had saved the arrow to kill her.
Two more steps and she had reached the front of the carriage. The driver, scared shitless, instantly gave up the reigns and jumped out of his seat. Kadina had no intent of dealing with him, but regardless, he never gave her a chance to. He leaped from the carriage and rolled as he hit the ground where Maska had to jump over him with his horse. Lucky man. He had come close to being trampled.
Grabbing the reigns of one of the large white mares, Kadina acted swiftly. She jumped onto its back and, using the tomahawk, cut it free from the trace of the carriage. Just as the coach was beginning to fall behind from the pull of one horse, Kadina thought she was in the clear. Her mare could easily outrun the others. With that confidence, relief washed over her and she could finally breath.
Suddenly, Gerudo thieves on horseback appeared from ahead and began advancing.
“Damnit...” Of course! Why didn't I think Ganon would be after something like this? Now the bandit had really gotten herself in deep. She rolled her eyes and turned her horse around as the Gerudos followed behind. There were at least 12 of them. Turning back would make Igasho, Maska, and Songaa targets as well and keep some of the attention off of Kadina while she gained speed and distance.
“Hi-yah!” Kadina whipped the reigns and kicked her heels to the butt of the horse. Poor creature. Sure, it had incredible endurance, but it had been running a good 3 or so miles now and had many more to go.
"Now what? Think Kadina,” She hadn't really thought this through, however that wass nothing new. She wasn't the best at planning. But where could she hide? Or escape? All she could think of was running in the opposite direction.
She looked up into the sky. The stars now lit like a still display of fireworks. They were her map. A gift to her and everyone. A gift to the moon, which was beginning to peak over the horizon she now fled from.
As she passed by the carriage, Maska flung a knife at her, but it hit the tablet and fell to the ground. Songaa had joined Igasho on the back of his steed and they were soon dashing toward her between the tablet and the hoard of Gerudos. Arrows were raining on them, piercing the ground around them. Kadina was thankful for the tablet as protection to her back, but that didn't do much for her head. She prayed that their aim would continue to suck and kicked again into the side of the mare. The moon now ascending fully and lighting her path below.
She leaned in to the mare and grasped tightly around its thick neck. Alright girl... It's time to lose 'em...
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Eldrin/Vai
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Kaepora Gaebora
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Post by Eldrin/Vai on Jul 2, 2012 0:46:00 GMT -6
Everybody looked up as Eldrin entered the camp alone. Umbel couldn't help but smile. Lissom spoke up far too quickly, eagerly even. "Where's the merc, Eldrin?"
Eldrin chuckled. So quick to try and apprehend him for the murder they had planned together. The thief had already worked out the plan. Umbel and Lissom were going to accuse him of Cai's murder, leave him tied up on the island, and collect his and the mercenary's shares of the loot. Eldrin nodded calmly back to the trees. "Carrying the food..." he said as Cai emerged from the forest, weighed down by various animals.
Lissom and Umbel stared in shock at Eldrin, Mezzo chuckled, and the old man puffed on his pipe. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Looks like our ride's here." Eldrin said, setting aside his meal and standing. The others followed suit as the Oracle deployed a rowboat to meet them.
The Oracle was a old merchant vessel that had been long ago converted into a pirate ship. It was light and sturdy, lined with cannons. It had been stripped of all ornamentation, left with only the necessities. This had been Eldrin's doing. A while back, the thief had stolen that very ship and stripped it of loot, ornamentation, and anything else that could be sold. It was all due to a minor disagreement between Eldrin and Cointooth. Cointooth wanted to live... Eldrin disagreed.
Cointooth had lived though and, after replacing the mouthful of teeth that Eldrin had knocked out of him, earned himself three more vessels. These were the Pell's Fallacy, the Eminence, and the Tidestrider. The same three ships that his quartermaster, Falisk Augor, had stolen from him during a mutiny over the Leather Crown. After this second treachery, Cointooth had found his old ship and repaired the thief's damages. Now Eldrin was set to join him on this vessel yet again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eldrin groaned as he slowly regained consciousness. The thief sat in the cabin of the Oracle, his hands shackled to the wall. They had hardly boarded the ship before Mezzo had smashed his fist into Eldrin's skull. Cointooth stood in front of him, wearing a golden grin. "Good morning dear," Eldrin said sarcastically, "D'you feel like explaining why I'm waking up to your pretty smile?"
"Ya shoulda seen i' comin'..."
"Fae?"
"Tha' pretty 'un? Yeah. She told me that they'd gimme ya if I agreed to help. Figured ya'd be all tied up. I never expected you to board the ship of yer own accord..."
"Treacherous bastards..."
"Ain't they? But don't ya worry none, they'll be just as screwed over by tha end of this..."
"Got plans for 'em, eh? Good. But, more importantly, what have you got planned for me?"
"Oh, I'm feelin' nice today..."
"So you're only gonna torture me a little before you toss me to the sharks?"
Cointooth had just opened his mouth to reply when the cabin door burst open. "Cap'n Cointooth! The Eminence is approaching!"
"Thank ya, Sao-Fa," Cointooth said, walking toward the door, "Now, if ya don't mind, watch over me friend here. If things get nasty, take 'im to safety. But be careful! He's not a prisoner to take chances with..." Cointooth dropped a key into Sao-Fa's hand and left to direct the operation outside.
Sao-Fa peered over at Eldrin as the door slammed. The thief flashed the pirate a dangerous smile. "Hello... Sao-Fa."
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Kadina
Administrator
If you're bored then you're boring.
Posts: 379
Played By: MOjO
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Post by Kadina on Jul 8, 2012 13:40:53 GMT -6
The scenery streaked past in blurs of contrast between the moonlight and the shadows it cast. The band of thieves was still coming strong behind Kadina not seeming to lose any stamina. Damn those desert stallions. She had looked back and made an account of her fellow bandits' absence. Either they realized they were in over their heads or the Gerudos had eliminated them. She hated to think something awful had happened and would ultimately blame herself were they dead. It was difficult for Kadina to be disloyal to anyone who could accept her, but this was something greater than those three nuckle heads, and her greed, could handle. Greed; it was a character flaw she certainly recognized but was unfortunately enslaved by.
She shamed herself brutally before noticing that her horse was beginning to tire. ”Oh no. Not now, girl. Hiyah!”[/color] She veered into the swamps hoping to lose the Gerudos in unknown terrain, but they followed suit. The mare hurdled countless fallen trees and tore through several hanging vines. Kadina cut through with Songaa's tomahawk, but the mighty mare required little assistance. However, she displayed fatigue and wouldn't last much longer.
Kadina dismounted and pulled the mare off path into a swampy marsh. "How the hell do I hide a massive stark white beast on a night like this?" She began pulling vines and enormous swamp leaves from the untamed wilderness around her. She piled it over the horse who was already lying down from exhaustion.
The gerudo thieves were just off path. They trampled through the swamp causing all their ruckus, and not a single one had spotted Kadina and the Hylian mare. Oddly, they were fewer in numbers. Kadina began to wonder what happened to the rest of the pack. Did they split up? Or were the bandits in on their disapearance. Suddenly Kadina was snatched off the ground by her neck.
Maska.
“Ya little rat!” He growled his 'r' and slammed her against the nearest tree, the tablet protected the worst of the blow. “Did you forget what being part of a tribe means, Kadina? This is why we leave you women at home.” Kadina's face was turning purple and she gasped for air. “You've clearly never known your place... don't see why we ever trusted you to know it in a heist.” He narrowed his eyes and drew his knife to strike, probably assuming that Kadina's eyes were widening in fear, but that wasn't the case. Songaa had appeared behind Maska and pulled his tomahawk from the ground where Kadina had left it. He raised it over his head and was bringing it down towards Maska's back when he was tackled by Igasho. Maska turned to see the two wrestling on the ground and Kadina took the opportunity to strike.
She kicked Maska in the groin then punched the side of his elbow of the arm holding her to the tree. Striking it at just the right location, it cracked and she was released. He growled in pain and retaliated with a swing from his left arm. Kadina ducked as it hit the tree, and bark rained down on her. Oversized and furious, Maska turned around towering over Kadina and fuming with rage. She yanked a vine from over head and lashed it around his ankles pulling taut. He roared and raised his fist in the air hoping to pound Kadina like a stake in the ground, but she side stepped, pulled the vine, and caused him to lose balance resulting in a face plant.
Kadina felt someone grab at her belts from behind when they tightened around her abdomen. She reached over her head behind her and grabbed their wrist then pulled them against her back and swung them over her head. It was Songaa, of course. She spit at him as he lay there writhing in pain breathless from the impact of hitting the ground. “You're lucky I don't slice your head off with your own damn tomahawk.” He grabbed for her ankle but his arm was pressed against the ground by Igasho's foot. Kadina looked up at him shocked. He nodded to her and bent over Songaa holding a funny purple mushroom to his nose. The fumes were instantly effective and Songaa was snoring within seconds.
Kadina had already brushed the camaflouge off the horse and mounted it. She looked back at Igasho and thanked him silently with sencerity in her eyes after dumping a handful of rupees on the ground. They jingled melodically as they clashed in a pile, then she took off out of the swamp. Maska yelled after her with various obscenities but was soon silenced by Igasho's purple mushroom.
Why the silent bandit had helped her, Kadina wasn't quite sure, but she knew the rupees weren't enough for the gratitude she felt. She decided to take the tablet to the scientist off the coast of Great Bay. A very intelligent man... er... goat? Whatever he was, Kadina was certain he'd know something, and whatever she found out, she decided to share with Igasho.
It was tough for Kadina to ride away from the events in the swamp. Those men were never her closest friends, but they had accepted her for her choice to be part of what they were. What Maska said had hurt her deep down but it also made her seethe with resentment. Maybe he didn't mean it. Maybe she still had a place among them in her tribe. Then again, what did it matter now. She had left the tribe to be her own person; her first disloyalty. Her greed drove her to be alone. She was selfish. How anyone from her tribe could still accept her after abandonment was shocking, but that had to be a perk of being the chief's daughter. She thought about Tagor and how no matter what she did, he always loved her. Truth was, that's what it was like to be part of a tribe. It's a family, and she had practically disowned hers.
Too often she would wonder how anyone could give up such security, love, and acceptance. That was everything a family consisted of and Kadina left it all behind, but that was the thing about fate. If you don't accept it, you run from it. You change it. But there's always a cost. She loved her tribe, but marriage wasn't for her and neither was that confined lifestyle, always sticking to the pack. She had hurt her family, but they had restricted her and it couldn't be helped.
Kadina was free from tradition, rules, and expectations now. She no longer had to live under the guilt of her mother, always disappointed in Kadina's decision to run wild and free, to make her own path and live her own life. Her tribe would always be her family and she knew she could win their love back with riches, those greedy bastards, but she didn't miss them often. She had a new family and tribe. One that still loved her regardless of her choices. One that she didn't need to buy their affection. She had friends that would always support her, defend her, and fight alongside her. She had friends she could genuinely trust and that meant everything to her. But she worried that someday her greed might hurt them. After all, if there was anyone in the world she couldn't trust, it was herself.
That fear knocked at the back of her mind as she tightened the belts and continued on into the night. She felt uneasy, and it wasn't because of her electric charge.
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Eldrin/Vai
Administrator
Kaepora Gaebora
Posts: 646
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Post by Eldrin/Vai on Aug 13, 2012 11:35:03 GMT -6
By the time the gangplank struck the deck of the Oracle, the Cointeeth Pirates were gone. The boarding party streamed across to the ship, but found no resistance at all. The deck was completely abandoned. The pirates stood around the mast staring around in confusion. They were still in this state when something dropped from the crow's nest. A black ball, a little larger than one's fist, rolled across the deck and bumped into a pirate's boot. He looked down to see a little flame disappearing into the mass of the ball, leaving a charred fuse in its wake. "BOMB!" the pirate shouted, but it was far too late. The bomb went off with a cacophonous boom that shook the ship itself. Amid the chaos of the explosion, none of the boarding party noticed that the door to the cabin, and a trapdoor to below deck, were flung open. Cointeeth Pirates poured out, attacking the boarding party with ruthless vigor. Cointooth himself dropped straight from the crow's nest, a cutlass in his right hand, another bomb in his left (fuse already lit), and a dagger between his golden teeth.
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The four remaining team members moved quickly. Nobody else even noticed them slipping across the gangway among the din of battle. All around them, cutlasses and daggers clashed, gunpowder bombs sent boards and pirates scattering into the sea. Neither ship was utilizing its canons, as neither wanted the other to sink. Augor would want to capture the Oracle, a new addition to his fleet. Cointooth wouldn't compromise the plan by killing Augor this early into the game. Though most of the crew were among the boarding party, a small amount of pirates were standing on the deck when they arrived. They had probably been getting ready to aid their crewmates, but now they turned their sights on the team.
"Cai and me will hold 'em off! Leechcraft, Whitethorn, get to Augor!" Mezzo ordered, drawing his own blade. Cai stood at his side, weaponless. Umbel and Lissom saw no good reason not to abandon these two, and immediately complied. "You any good in a fight?" Mezzo asked Cai. The mercenary did not reply, but merely shifted into a fighting stance.
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Umbel and Lissom knew that Augor would no doubt be in the captain's cabin, but they also knew that the pirate's treasure would likely be below deck. Neither truly cared for their mission, and both loved treasure. It was easy to guess which they chose. They moved swiftly and quietly through the lower decks of the ship, wary of any pirates who had stayed behind. It wasn't long before they found themselves in a chamber occupied by what could only be described as a sea of gold and rupees. Mountains of gold taller than both of them. Neither could speak, both dumbstruck beyond their own comprehension. But that was alright, because someone else expressed their feelings.
"Jackpot..." The two whirled around to see Eldrin standing in the doorway, holding one of Cointooth's bombs, an insane smirk stretched across his face, with a match sticking out of one side of his mouth. "Too bad it's all fool's gold and painted rocks."
"What the hell are you talking about, Eldrin?!" Umbel growled, her anger compromising her normally sweet facade. "And what are you doing here?! Aren't you supposed to be Cointooth's prisoner?"
Eldrin seemed to grin even more (if that was possible) at her questions. "Couldn't ya tell? The door was unlocked... Why would Augor leave his treasure laying about like that? Any ol' pirate could just stroll on in here and stuff his pockets with a small fortune. This room is likely lined in explosives and heavily booby trapped," he explained. As he spoke, the thief pulled out the match he'd been chewing on. He lit it on a small patch on the left side of his belt, designed for just such a purpose. "And as for what I'm doing? I guess you could say that I'm..." He paused, and watched the flame burn down the match for a moment, letting it graze his fingertips before he shifted it to the bomb's fuse. The fuse caught fire with an ominous hiss. Eldrin chuckled. "Winning."
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Kadina
Administrator
If you're bored then you're boring.
Posts: 379
Played By: MOjO
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Post by Kadina on Nov 4, 2013 20:34:30 GMT -6
The smell of the ocean hit Kadina in the face like a whip as she neared the cliffs of Great Bay. She took a deep breath and held it in, savoring every particle like a drug before her lips released into a smile and she gently exhaled the ocean from her lungs. It was the smell and taste of freedom, and beyond those coastal cliffs was the promise of such. The Gerudo thieves had been long lost, the tablet was secure, and the night was still young. Kadina’s mind was on one thing, and that was Cape Zora’s open mic night and happy hour 5 miles off the coast. What could possibly go wrong? The stale mare galloped as far as the ocean’s edge then reared onto its hindlegs and whinnied with all it had left as if to say it knew they had reached their destination. The beast settled back on all-fours striking the earth with a thunderous hammering of its mighty hooves. Its bones shook wearily, but the creature knew her duties did not cease until dismounted. She stood majestically as the waves licked the sand before them and the stars twinkled like fireflies on the horizon. Something caught Kadina’s eyes beyond the bay. A ship perhaps? Would they be sailing in? Would they have treasure? She raised a brow at the possibility with a grin creeping in the left-side corner of her mouth hanging crooked like a plaque on the wall. Crooked was exactly the word one might use to describe the deviant thief. Kadina reached behind her and wrenched the tablet from the belt where it was strapped to her back. She held it in the light of the moon and began to examine it. Her fingers traced the ancient text engraved upon it. She breathed her hot breath onto the embodied jewels that garnished it and shined them with her forearm. “Well, if I don’t ever figure out what the darn thing says, at least I know I can sell it for a pretty sum, eh girl?” Kadina patted the mare on the side of its thick, muscular neck when suddenly she felt someone grasp the back of her vest and violently pry her from the sadle into the sand. She heard a loud slap make contact with the mare’s hind-quarters and looked up in time to see it sprinting down the beach. Kadina's mouth and eyes were muddled with sand, but her arms firmly grasped the tablet against her chest. “You don’t have to read ancient text to know that tablet has trouble written all over it. Now don’t be be a foolish brat, and hand it over. I don’t have time for your games, Kadina… And certainly not the patience. Hiyah!” Kadina could barely make out the form of Nadeana lifting her scimitar into the air above her head. Swiftly, Kadina rolled to the right, away from the psychotic Gerudo. She jumped to her feet and readied herself in defense. An expression of shock occupied her face. Where had the crazy bitch come from? Had she not lost the Gerudos miles behind her? “Let’s settle this quickly. I don’t want to be late for happy hour.”“Ragh!” Nadeana swept her scimitar out infront of her sending a manipulated wave of sand toward Kadina. Quickly, the bandit held the tablet infront of her face as a shield. She gritted as she withstood the sensation of sandpaper grinding against the bare skin of her arms and midriff. It was immediately apparent that Nadeana really wasn’t in the mood to be fucked with and the object at stake had to be more valuable than Kadina could momentarily comprehend. Even more of a reason to hold on to it. “You know you’ll have to do better than that.” Kadina slid the tablet onto her back into its custom made strap then held her fists up in preparation for combat. Nadeana swung her blade in large circles from side to side, her wrists rotating as she let the momentum of her blade carry its circular motion. She then pointed the scimitar at Kadina, her other hand formed a mudra clearly harnessing the energy necessary to sand shift, and she bent her legs at the knees to stabilize. Kadina spat sand from her mouth and charged Nadeana. Nadeana swung her scimitar horizontally in an attempt to slice Kadina’s head off, but the bandit was too quick. She doubled over at the hips letting the blade pass over her as she hurled her shoulder into Nadeana’s rib then came back with her elbow into the Gerudo’s spine. Nadeana turned and tried to slice Kadina vertically in half, but Kadina knelt level to the ground and swung her shin into the gerudo’s ankles knocking her off balance. In a raging fit, Nadeana motioned her hand upward and over thus manipulating a blanket of sand to engulf Kadina. She coughed and wiped the sand from her lashes before darting towards Nadeana with vengeance borrowed in her eyes beneath the furrow of her brow. Kadina delivered a series of punches, jabs, and kicks before she managed to get Nadeana’s arm in a hold that led to the loss of circulation in the hand holding the scimitar. It fell to ground and the two warriors engaged in their hand-to-hand combat at last, but the playing field would never be level as long as Nadeana could sand shift. Nadeana solidly punched Kadina in the solar plexus then grabbed her by the roots of her hair and swung her into the sand. Nadeana wiped blood from her mouth as Kadina rolled in agony, her arms hugging her torso. She rested on her back and blinked up at the sky feeling overwhelmed by how big it was. Nadeana had taken advantage of Kadina’s fall to catch her breath, but it wasn’t long before she was advancing towards Kadina. The fallen bandit scurried to her feet ready to fight once more. “I have to admire your tenacity… but we’re done here.” With that, Nadeana held the palms of her hands out to her sides, palms open toward the heavens. The sand around Kadina began to jump and ripple, quaking in its place. Suddenly, the desert princess slammed her palms together over her head. The sand seemed to follow their lead, shooting up over Kadina like a dome ready to burry her alive in its fall, but there was a flash of light that nearly blinded Nadeana. The sand, transformed into glass, encapsulated Kadina in a giant dome. At the center, Kadina was kneeled with her hands placed openly against the ground. Her eyes were squinted shut. It was quiet. Had she gone deaf? Slowly, she opened one eye, then two. Suddenly, completely dumbfounded, Kadina looked above her to see that she was protected inside of a glass dome. She looked beyond its translucent walls to see Nadeana standing on the other side as surprised as she was. Kadina lifted her hands and examined her palms. The veins bulged like a blue web, pulsating from the rapid racing of her heart. Her arms began to go numb starting from her finger tips and crawling upward. What the hell?
"Now what?"(((I presume the bomb in your post goes off about this time. Eldrin may have even seen the flash of light on the shore and the giant glass dome. Hurry to shore so we can escape! )))
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