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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Aug 10, 2021 18:34:48 GMT -6
Anaius analyzed Mike's reaction to the invasion of his mind, anticipating that he might have to make a speedy exit from the carriage. Mike seemed to be taking it well, however. He did mention a feeling of exposure and unease with the sudden pilfering of his life's story. That was to be expected, but at least he didn't immediately resort to indignation and violence. Many times before when Anaius had appropriated the memories of others, they felt a sense of violation Anaius couldn't quite understand. It was only ever done in the name of curiosity and ease. Ah well, Anaius was never very good with people, and after the few incidents of being driven off with fists or weapons, he tended not to use his little gift often. Mike seemed like a good sport, though, so he took the risk. Anaius breathed an internal sigh of relief.
"I do apologize for the sudden troublesome feelings, but I assure you I meant no harm. I simply thought it would be the quickest and best way to get to know you. And yes, it is quite useful. Especially when I need directions," he said, smiling.
Just then the coachman bellowed their arrival.
"Excellent!" Anaius said, perking up in his seat. "Let us be off!"
He exited the carriage first, bounding out excitedly. The sun cast brilliant shades of purple and pink across the sky as it slowly dipped below the horizon. Above him and Mike a wooden sign proclaimed the namesake of the ranch. It was cool out and the wind carried a pleasant breeze. Smells of livestock, mostly manure, wafted on it and Anaius wrinkled his nose. It was going to take a bit to get used to.
"Well, my friend," Anaius said, noticing some ranch hands still out in the field, "Shall we bother these farmers for some information?" But before Mike could reply, Anaius set off toward the nearest man.
Anaius sauntered up to the ranch hand in long, bold steps, not bothering to look for piles of manure that might be beneath him. It was sheer luck he managed not to step in any. The farmhand was leading a few cows from the pasture back to the barn a about hundred yards away. Upon the arrival of Mike and Anaius, he let the ropes around their necks slacken and they wandered happily away to graze a bit before their inevitable internment. "Hello there!" Anaius greeted cheerfully, "I am Anaius, and this is my friend Mike, we have come to inquire the whereabouts of the ghastly werewolfos that has been menacing your poor farm."
The farm hand looked taken aback, and simply froze where he stood. He stared at the two strangers in front of him, mouth agape in a mixture of confusion and fright. He nearly dropped the ropes of the cattle in his hands. It seemed the mere mention of the beast struck fear into those who worked here. "I...have.." he spluttered, then sucked in a courageous breath and finished strong, "Have you come to help us?"
"Exactly right!" Anaius replied, beaming. "The owner of the Milk Bar has put a pretty price on its head and we have come to collect. So please, tell us anything you know of the beast."
"I'm afraid I don't know much, sorry. It only ever comes after sunset. As you can see we're in a bit of hurry to get the last of the animals into the barn before sundown. You never know when it will be back for another meal." The ranch hand looked anxiously over at the cows casually munching on the emerald grass. "We've lost so many in these past weeks, it'll be a miracle if we can keep up with demand for milk."
"Well fear no longer, good man. Mike and I have come to alleviate your suffering. Or should I say, the cattle's suffering. We will put an end to this, no doubt. But first we need more information. It was passed along to us by the owner of the Milk Bar that a little girl survived an encounter with the werewolfos. We would like to speak to her, please. She may be able to tell us some valuable information. Could you tell us where she is?"
The farm hand began to reign in the cows as he answered, "Of course, she lives in the farmhouse just over there." He pointed to a quaint little house right at the edge of the tree line near the very back of the farm. "Better hurry, though. Her mother will be putting her to bed soon, and locking up for the night. Can't stay out past sunset anymore."
"Thank you, kind sir. We shall pay her a visit immediately, then. Good day!" Anaius said, and headed for the direction of the house.
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Post by Mike/Rolaka on Aug 10, 2021 19:45:46 GMT -6
The rancid scent of the manure attacked Mike's nostrils. His heightened sense of smell could be a burden at times. Mike resisted the urge to hold his nose, and pinpointed where each clump of manure sat in the pasture. Mike circumnavigated each spot until they were through the pasture and up at the farmhouse. Another scent materialized, this one of old brick. The house was modest in the scope of the farm, and the plaster was chipping on the exterior. Mike placed his hand on the wall of the structure and felt out where the door was located.
Mike knocked, and a young woman dressed in a white shirt and purple skirt answered the door, "Did you guys need so- oh..." She was surprised to see the two very different individuals before her. "May I help you?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Hello, yes. We picked up the contract for a werewolfos in the area," Mike replied.
"Wait, I was told it was already being taken care of," the woman interrupted with a stern look on her face. "We've already had mercenaries here asking questions, and we're not interested in answering again."
She had almost closed the door when Mike caught it with his hand, "Those mercs were a bunch of frauds, they didn't catch it. And it sounds like they did something earlier that's made you upset." Mike slowly reopened the door. "I am Mike and this is Anaius. We don't just want to catch the werewolfos, we want to help. Will you let us?" Mike held out his hand palm up.
The woman stared at the strangers for a beat, her face slackened and she took Mike's hand. "Okay." She led them into the house, Mike's boots thumped loudly on the wooden floor. The woman turned to Mike and asked, "Sir, if I may ask, are you... is your vision failing?"
"I'm blind, yeah," Mike responded tersely. He let go of her hand. "And you don't have to worry about it." Mike clicked his heel on the floor and took in the sounds. "There's a fireplace to our left, cold, hasn't been used in weeks. And there is a staircase to my right."
The woman scratched her chin, "Huh... impressive." She pulled out a chair from the table, the legs screeched along the floor just like the chairs at the bar. "Then have a seat," she said, almost as if it was a dare.
Mike strode over to the creaky chair and sat himself casually. "Now, what did those mercs do that got you so riled up?" Mike implored.
The woman let out a sigh of disgust and rubbed her forehead, "My little sister is the only living person who has seen that damn beast. She's only eight, and those bastards barged in here and treated her like a criminal." The woman began to frantically pace about the room. "No tact or subtlety, they just demanded the information. Never mind the fact that she's just a kid and is severely traumatized by what she saw! When she wouldn't talk, they started throwing things. HER things! Her books, her toys, ugh! I swear to Din, if they-"
"You've made your point," Mike interrupted, holding up his hand. "Anaius and I have already met those mercs at the Milk Bar a few hours ago. We know that they're little more than thugs. But you don't have to worry about them anymore, me and Anaius are gonna take care of it. Properly."
The woman ceased her pacing and her skin faded back to its natural color. She took a deep breath, "Thank you." She took a seat and continued, "...but I don't know how you'll be able to find the werewolfos. If my sister was able to talk before, she's nearly catatonic now thanks to those brutes."
"Don't worry, miss. We won't make the same mistakes." Mike said, reassuringly. "Now, where is your sister?"
"Upstairs," she replied, pointing her thumb at the staircase.
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Aug 13, 2021 20:11:23 GMT -6
Anaius looked around the room while Mike conversed with the woman. It was a quaint little farmhouse, one he might have stayed in if he ever decided to settle down. The fireplace may have been cold, but the place emanated warmth from every nook and cranny. Faint childhood memories replayed themselves in his mind and he smiled. The farmhouse reminded him of home, because it was a home.
At this point Anaius tuned back into the conversation, and the woman was telling Mike the mercenaries had struck a catatonic fear into her younger sister. There isn't much that disrupts Anaius's cheerful spirit, but the deliberate harassing of a child is a sure way to do it. A roiling, seething anger burned like hot coals in his stomach. How dare they frighten an innocent little girl. Images of the children from his beloved orphanage washed over him. Any of those kids could have easily been her. They didn't care who they intimidated or oppressed. The smile on his face vanished, and he found himself wishing he'd beaten those mercs a little harder. Then he remembered their mission. He remembered the werewolfos and its terrible scourge on the people of Romani Ranch. He remembered the frightened little girl alone in her room, and the anger in his gut dissipated instantly, replaced by a gentle compassion. Anaius may not be good with adults and their strange, complex emotions, but he was magnificent with children. This was a job he could definitely do.
"Mike, why don't you keep this lovely lady company while I talk to the girl. I think it would be better if only one of us attempted to speak with her. Do not worry, miss. I will be ever so careful with her frail constitution." Anaius assured her. "Before I go, please tell me her name so that I may address her accordingly."
The woman eyed Anaius suspiciously for a moment, then conceded, "Her name is Romani, after the ranch. Please, be careful with her."
"Of course," he replied.
If he'd been wearing a hat, he'd have tipped it, but as he was not, he settled for a smile and a nod before heading upstairs. In the back of his mind he made a mental note to buy a hat next time he was in town. The stairs creaked beneath him as he ascended them, surely alerting the little girl of his approach. He rounded the corner at the top of the stairs and her room appeared at the end of a hallway, door ajar with the light still on. Anaius drew near to the door, gingerly placing a hand on it and saying "Do not be alarmed, Romani. I know you expected your sister, but I mean you no harm," as he slowly opened it. "My name is Anaius, and I have come to assist you." When the door was all the way open, Anaius's heart sank. Romani sat upon the floor of her bedroom in the far right corner. She hugged her knees to her chest, and sat between her dresser and the wall. It was a sight that could have made the most grizzled warrior melt into sorrow. Anaius felt another stab of anger attempt tp usurp his compassion, but he beat it back down. It would do no good to be angry while comforting this poor soul. Her eyes flashed over to him as he entered. She seemed to scoot a little closer to the wall and turned her head away.
Without a word, Anaius crossed the room and knelt before the little girl. "I am not like those evil men, Romani. I can make all of what they did to you disappear. All you have to do, is take my hand." And with a benevolent smile, Anaius opened his hand palm up before the girl's huddled knees. "I will not hurt you, I promise.
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Post by Mike/Rolaka on Aug 13, 2021 20:54:26 GMT -6
Mike heard Anaius ascend the stairs and refocused on the older sister. "What can you tell me about the frequency of these attacks?" Mike asked.
"It's more or less two weeks in-between each attack. We lose a couple cows each month thanks to that blasted beast," the woman explained, she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "We find them all torn up in the fields. It's grizzly..."
"Do you know what time of night it comes for an attack?"
"No. Thankfully it's stayed away from the farmhouses and out-buildings, 'cept the barn. I think it comes in the dead of night, midnight maybe."
"That is, except for when it showed up at dusk, and attacked that farmhand," Mike's tone grew dour. "It attacked a human, and before dark. Do you think that could happen again?"
The older sister stood up and paced once more, letting out a sigh, "That's the question on everyone's minds. We know now the beast has a taste for human flesh, and yet it's only attacked the cows since then. Either it didn't like the taste, or, whoever this werewolfos is, is trying to avoid it I think."
"Do you know if it's one of your people?" Mike asked.
"By Farore, I hope not," the woman replied anxiously. "I haven't noticed any strange behavior from anyone... but you never know."
"One last question," Mike said, standing up. "Do you think the beast will strike soon? Tonight? If so, we can stay here. Protect the ranch." Mike flicked his cloak to the side, revealing his sheathed swords.
The woman rubbed her forehead with worry, "Oh, I don't know," she paced again. "If you could stand guard tonight, I think that would put us all at ease a bit. Just be very careful, you know what that thing can do."
Mike chuckled, "I've tangled with worse."
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Aug 13, 2021 22:17:46 GMT -6
Romani didn't even glance at his outstretched hand. She inched a little closer away, in fact. Anaius frowned at this. The poor child had endured a vicious attack from the werewolfos that left a farmhand dead, presumably torn apart in front her, and then some buffoons posing as mercenaries interrogated her about the experience. How utterly traumatic that must have been for her. All this at the age of eight, no less. Aniaus couldn't imagine such horror. He dropped his hand and sighed. He needed a way in, a way to reach her.
Glancing about the room, Anaius looked for anything that might call to her. He instantly found it lying upon her bed. A plush deku scrub lay beside her pillow looking worn and well loved. That should do it. What better way to a child's heart than with her stuffed animal. Anaius crossed the room and retrieved it, taking it into his hands and feeling its soft exterior. It brought a smile to his face, and took him back to his days at the orphanage. What he would have done for something so comforting then, he didn't know.
Anaius returned to kneeling before Romani and held the stuffed deku scrub in his arms. "You know, I would have loved something like this when I was your age. So comfortable and safe." he said, gently holding it out to her. "Here, hold him, so he may provide haven from me and my insufferable intrusion. I know how hard it must be for me to be here at this moment, when you have been dealing with so much. But I assure you, Romani, that I only have your best interests at heart. I have spoken with your sister, and she has given me blessing to speak with you. May that attest to my character and intentions."
By now, Romani was actually looking at Anaius. Her watery brown eyes scanning him up and down as he held out her stuffed deku srcub. It didn't seem like any of his verbose nonsense was getting past her at all, but she was responding to the deku scrub. "Does he have a name?" Anaius asked, looking down at it.
"Dezpi," she said, ever so softly.
Anaius smiled wide. "What a fitting name! Dezpi the deku scrub. Did you name him yourself?"
She nodded.
"I think Dezpi here is feeling a bit lonely. I think he needs a hug, and not from a stranger like me. Would you like him?"
She nodded again, and this time reached for him. Anaius let her take it, careful not to touch her during the transfer.
"See, I mean you no harm, Romani. I think Dezpi can vouch for me, don't you? Now I know it must have been hard to retell your story to those nasty men who came in here last time. And I promise I am not asking you to do so again. See, I have a special gift that allows me to see the memories of those I touch. You can show me everything that happened without ever having to utter a word or think about those awful things. My friend and I, Mike, have come to take care of the werewolfos that is haunting your ranch. I promise we will vanquish it, but I need your help, Romani. I need to know what you know. Will you help me?"
This time, he did get a response.
"Will it...hurt?" she asked.
"Not at all."
She hesitated a moment more, then reached a hand out while squeezing Dezpi a little harder to herself.
"Thank you, Romani. You're very brave."
Anaius gently took her hand in his, and let the memories wash over him like a flowing river. In an instant he was seeing through the eyes of Romani moments before the encounter. She was playing near the edge of the forest at dusk, chasing fireflies. One of the farmhands was rounding up cattle nearby, keeping a close eye on her. Everything seemed so peaceful and quiet. Then, a fierce roar ripped through the serenity, and in mere seconds an enormous beast was barreling toward her. Terror froze Romani where she stood. All she could do was gaze in horror at the death sentence now closing in on her. But seconds before it reached her, the heroic ranch hand yanked her away by the collar. She fell to the ground, hard, but not before seeing the farm hand taken up in the jaws of the beast, and promptly torn limb from limb. It feasted on him for a few minutes, then bounded away with his remains dangling from its jaws. Romani lay on the ground, frozen and horrified. It all happened so fast, she barely had time to process it.
Anaius then skipped through her memories to the entry of the mercenaries and their interrogation. It seemed they weren't even interested in the werewolfos at all. They merely ransacked her room for valuables while some of the others distracted her sister. One of the men threatened her with a blade to keep her quiet while they did so.
The scoundrels! The fiends! How dare they threaten a child like that. Anger once again rose within Anaius, but he quelled it. Before he ended contact with Romani, he carefully removed both memories from her. This was something he usually never did when entering someone else's mind. It was not his place change the landscape of ones person, but this time was different. No child should have to live with something so horrible. So he took them away in hopes of restoring some level of peace to her psyche.
"Thank you, Romani. I believe I have all I need." Anaius said, releasing her hand.
She seemed hazy, clouded, at first. Her mind was resetting after the memories he'd taken. Then, suddenly, she was normal. It was as if she'd never been traumatized by such horror. And for all she knew, now, she hadn't been. Anaius smiled at her, "How are you feeling?"
"Good," she smiled back, "Where's my sister?"
"Downstairs. Why don't you go see her."
Romani got up from her spot between the dresser and the wall and pushed past Anaius. She bolted for the door, smiling the whole way.
Anaius exited behind her and made his way down the staircase. When he looked about the room, Romani was pestering her sister about going outside to hunt for fireflies. She seemed utterly taken aback by the sudden change in Romani. Search for fireflies? With there being a werewolfos on the loose? How could she possibly want to be outside at all?
Anaius then realized his mistake. In taking her memory of the werewolfos, she had forgotten there was one lurking around the farm at all. Whoops.
He cleared his throat to get the womans attention, who had just finished fending off her sister and sending her disappointedly back to bed.
"What did you do? Why is she asking me to leave the house? I mean, I'm not complaining that she is all better, whatever you did worked wonders, but she is acting as if she doesn't know of the werewolfos at all."
"Uh, well. That's because she doesn't. I uh, have this gift and I took the memory from her. A child should not be burdened with something so horrid anyway. Just lie to her and keep her in after dark until Mike and I deal with this beast. Anyway, to the important bit. I saw the werewolfos within Romani's memory. Tell me, do any of your farm hands have two golden earrings on their left ear?"
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Post by Mike/Rolaka on Aug 14, 2021 19:56:59 GMT -6
"Well," the woman started. "I think Gronne keeps a few pieces of jewelry. I know he has an earring, but I don't know what kind... D-do you think it could be him?"
"It couldn't hurt to ask him, or search his room. Where can we find him?" Mike asked.
"He helps herd the cattle back into the barn, I think he's still out there."
"I believe we already spoke to him. We'd better hurry," Mike said heading for the door with Anaius. The sun had sank below the horizon, and the purples and pinks in the sky were slowly giving way to a deep dark blue. Mike could hear the barn doors closing, and made his way over. The sounds of chains being strung up entered his ears. It seems Gronne was locking up the barn for the night. "Excuse me, Gronne?" Mike called out. "We'd like a word with you."
Gronne put down the chains and turned to face the blind swordsman. "W-what? What do you want with me?"
"It's come to our attention that the lycanthrope was wearing two gold earrings on his left ear during the attack which killed your coworker," Mike urgently explained.
"WHAT?!" Gronne doubled back, clearly startled. Was he discovered?
"We were told you keep some jewelry here. A bit odd isn't it? A farmhand with those kinds of rupees?" Mike stepped toward the stunned man.
"I-I do, but that doesn't mean I'm the werewolfos! You said he had two? I only have the one," Gronne anxiously asserted.
"Then perhaps you may present it to us? Could you show us to your quarters?"
Gronne paused for a second, murmured something so softly even Mike couldn't hear it, and relented. "Ok, right this way." Gronne led Mike and Anaius to another modest farmhouse, on the north side of the pasture. The building looked almost identical to Romani's, save for greatly chipped plaster and water stains on the side. Once indoors, Mike could hear the soft commotion of nightly rituals from the other farmhands. This house had multiple bunks inside it, all spaced out against the far wall. Gronne guided the two to his bunk and pulled the drawer on his nightstand. He unearthed a small jewelry box from the clutter, and presented it to Mike and Anaius. Gronne parted the lid, "See? Only one."
Mike reached out slowly and touched the velvety interior of the case. His fingers probed the contents, and found Gronne was telling the truth. Only one earring, not two. "Hmmm, thank you for your cooperation, Gronne," Mike said, slackening his tone. Gronne closed the case and finagled it back into his drawer.
"Well Anaius, do you think tha-" Mike was then interrupted by a distant, hair-raising scream outside. Every farmhand stared out the dark window in frightened silence. Mike turned around and quickly brandished both Gilded blades from beneath his cloak. "Everyone, stay indoors and keep away from the windows. Anaius, let's move!" Mike bolted out the door, rushing headlong towards the origin of the scream.
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Aug 17, 2021 19:55:45 GMT -6
Anaius scanned the features of Gronne during his meek defense. He didn't see any evidential signs that pointed toward guilt, but his nervous disposition told Anaius he was hiding something. Perhaps he stole the earring? That was most likely it, Anaius thought. Mike made an excellent point, how could a farmhand afford such luxurious items on his meager salary? They weren't here to bust a jewelry thief, though, and honestly Anaius didn't much care if they were stolen or not. No, they were here for the werewolfos, which was a much more exhilarating and rewarding adventure. Just then, a piercing scream ripped through the night.
"Everyone, stay indoors and keep away from the windows. Aniaus, let's move!"
Anaius grinned and the familiar tingle of excitement fluttered in his chest. "And we're off!" he shouted, bolting after Mike.
The source of the scream led them both back in the direction of Romani's house, and his excitement died away. Fear replaced it as they drew nearer, for it was plain to see that there had been forced entry into the house. The door hung from a single hinge like a useless flap of cloth; claw marks dug into the wood and the handle had been violently ripped away. It lay not far off in the grass.
Again, the scream tore through the farm, but this time Anaius and Mike pinpointed its origin immediately. Off in the distance, near the tree line to the forest, the werewolfos had Romani's sister under one arm. It was bounding in great leaps into the heart of the forest, and Anaius wasted no time in sprinting in that direction. "Fly, Mike! The werewolfos has Romani's sister!" And fly he did. Although Mike could not see, he ran quite a bit faster than Anaius, and in the proper direction while being aware of his surroundings. Anaius, however, wasn't so lucky. He stepped in something wet and squishy and smelly. He nearly slipped and fell but somehow managed to keep his feet under him, flailing wildly like some high powered windmill. When he finally stumbled his way back to a regular pace, he was yards behind Mike, who nearly reached the forest. "I'm right behind you!" He shouted. "Keep moving!"
Anaius sprinted as fast he could after Mike, knowing full well he'd be late to the party once it began. Mike seemed more than capable though, so he didn't worry. The screams of the woman were still audible within the forest, and he knew Mike would be hot on the trail of it. The forest was dense and dark and unfamiliar. His heightened hearing was a much better tracker in this godessforsaken darkness, so Anaius always made sure to have Mike in his line of sight.
About ten minutes in, Anaius (now thoroughly exhausted from the nonstop sprinting) heard a thunderous cacophony of sound coming from Mike's direction. It sounded like...bells? How strange. Then he saw Mike drop his weapons and cover his ears, and the sudden realization of what was happening hit Anaius like a stampeding horse.
This was an ambush.
Something hard and deliberate smashed into the back of Anaius's head, and he fell forward. Now dazed with head pounding, Anaius attempted to turn on his attacker, but was far too slow.
"You and you're blind friend are gonna get what's coming to ya, now." Someone sneered.
The stars dancing in his vision made it hard to see, and another blow landed squarely on his right cheekbone. Anaius sprawled onto the ground, pain once again filling his head. Another forceful blow struck him in the back and this time he deduced it to be a foot. The attacks kept coming, one after another the ambushers beat Anaius while he was down. He took several hits about the arms and stomach, and even more to the back and head. It was a wonder he was still conscious at all. Rarely in his life had he ever been beaten so hard for so long.
"There. That oughtta loosen him up for the finale. Come on lads, get him off the ground." a voice said from behind him.
Anaius swore he recognized it, but couldn't quite place it at the moment. Two sets of beefy arms hoisted him off the ground from under his armpits. Anaius ached from everywhere and all the fight he could have mustered against his assailants was beaten out of him. He only hoped they hadn't gotten Mike as easily as they had him. For several long minutes, they dragged Anaius through the forest until finally they passed into a clearing. Mike was nowhere to be seen. He smirked, hopefully he'd gotten away quick enough and their little bell trick failed. Time will tell, however.
Before him, with his foot resting upon a log, stood the leader of the mercenary gang Mike and Anaius has so dutifully dispatched at the Milk Bar. Beside him, was a ten foot tall werewolfos holding an unconscious woman. The leader threw out his arms in a welcoming gesture and smiled, "So glad you could join us! The lads and I were just about to begin a little ritual. Where is the blind bastard?"
"We uh, we lost him sir," a merc said coming in from behind Anaius. "Slipped away in the darkness of the forest."
"You damn fools," replied the Mercenary leader, "Oh well, I'll find him myself later. For now, bring this one in close. I want him to see this."
The two mercs holding Anaius dragged him over to where the leader and werewolfos were. The moon above was full and shone brilliantly into the clearing. So much so that it cast shadows behind all the mercenaries. The leader stepped forward and punched Anaius in the gut. A wave of pain and nausea washed over him and it was all he could do not to vomit all over the ground.
"That was for smashing that mug over my head." He hit Anaius again, this time across the face. "And that was for my pleasure. Now, to the main event! Borr, come over here. It's time to become a member of the pack."
Anaius hung like a ragdoll from the arms of those holding him. It was hard to concentrate through all the pain. He did manage to lift his head and look at the Merc leader as he began to walk away, and right there on his left ear were two golden earrings. Horror and shock gripped Anaius like a vice. If he was the werewolfos in Romani's memory then...oh no. There wasn't just one werewolfos, there were two, and by the looks of this gathering under the full moon, they were about to make another.
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Post by Mike/Rolaka on Aug 17, 2021 22:17:49 GMT -6
Mike was speeding after the werewolfos and the captured woman, her screams provided an excellent beacon through the underbrush. The beast was fast but Mike was faster, and steadily gained on them. Even sharp turns and thick trees did naught to impede the blind bullet. Just when Mike was about to catch up and sink a blade into its hide, his world fell apart. Ringing, loud ringing, assaulted his ear drums. The unceasing cacophony was too much for Mike's sensitive ears to handle. He stopped dead in his tracks and sheathed his swords quickly so that he could shield his ears from all the noise.
This was all a trap, but whose? Mike thought. While his ears remained deafened, his nose proffered a reply. It was the musk of the mercenaries he and Anaius encountered at the Milk Bar. These bastards... they didn't flake on the contract... they ARE the contract! Without any other options, Mike swiftly reached into his pouch and pulled out a Deku Nut and smashed it at his feet. The bright flash from the nut briefly stunned the ambushers, and Mike hurriedly escaped into the featureless forest. Damn them. Hang on, Anaius. I'm coming back for you and Romani's sister.
Mike hid under a low branch which was thick with leaves. He knew he could not rest long, two lives were at stake. However, he could only barely save himself without his hearing. Mike took deep yet stifled breaths, remaining hidden amongst the foliage. As the ringing in his ears finally diminished to a manageable volume, Mike slowly emerged from his hiding place and tuned into the forest ambience. Crickets, the scurrying of rodents, the flap of a night owl... but nothing of human - or lycanthrope- origin. Mike knew he must head back to the spot where the trap was sprung. Using his sense of direction, and his own heavy footprints, he returned to the scene carefully; Mike's boots could snap a thick branch in one casual step.
Mike located the path where he and Anaius were entrapped. He dropped to his hands and knees, feeling for disturbances in the soil. It did not take long, two sets of footprints with two long lines digging into the dirt. Mike presumed Anaius was beaten and dragged by these bandits. With haste, Mike followed the pathway, occasionally checking the earth to remain on the trail. After minutes of tracking, the sounds of gruff voices entered his range, he was close! As the soundwaves from his boots traveled through the open, Mike deduced he had come upon some kind of clearing. He dropped low and sneaked behind a tree on the very edge of the expanse.
"We lost him sir," said one of the voices. "Slipped away in the darkness of the forest."
Mike stood up from behind the tree, This is them alright, he thought. Good, they haven't heard me.
"Borr, come over here. It's time to become a member of the pack," the leader said after roughing up Anaius. "Lay her down!" The werewolfos splayed Romani's sister out on a tree stump and gave a loud snort. Borr, the last man standing at the bar, approached the stump as if it were a sinful altar. "The time is almost right boys, look up! The full moon is nearly at it's highest point," the leader explained, his anticipation was nearly palpable.
The moonlight centered perfectly around the stump, and the woman stirred. "Yes! It's time to make the transformation..." the leader hunched over and his body shook and muscles bulged. His mouth grew outward into a snout, his fingers elongated into canine claws, and his stature swelled. His clothes ripped and tore from his body, all except for his insignia-bedecked tunic. His monstrous form rose, lifted his head to the sky, and unleashed a beastly howl to the moon, half-human and half-Wolfos. "...of a lifetime," his voice uttered, deeper and snarly.
Two werewolfos?... Well, if their biology is more Wolfos than I think... Mike thought, pulling out another Deku Nut.
Borr pulled out the same knife he brandished at the bar and hoisted it over his head, ready to drive the blade into the woman; this was a sacrifice. An innocent life, for the power of a wolf. Romani's sister had fully woken up to the ghastly faces of the lycanthropes and the man who prepared to join them. She let out the most blood-curdling scream, a ReDead would have paused at the sheer horror...
"NOW!" Mike sprang from the tree and pitched the Deku Nut toward the wretched scene. It hit the top of the stump, and the flash blinded all who were present. The werewolfos, both of them, had froze where they stood, petrified by such brilliant light.
When Borr's vision returned, he was greeted by the blindfolded figure from earlier that evening. Mike stood above the woman with both swords ready. "What?! You? How did-" Borr's vocals were cut short by the Gilded Blade sinking into his abdomen. Borr dropped his arms and his knife slipped from his grasp.
"Let's have that dance," Mike said as he pulled the blade from Borr's torso and delivered a weighted kick to his face. Borr fell, lifeless, and his dream of supernatural power died with him. Mike stepped down from the stump and charged towards the remaining human lackeys. The bandits dropped Anaius and charged in with their weapons (a flail and a warhammer) drawn.
The flail-wielder swung viciously at Mike, but the swordsman could hear the chain links jangling on his opponent's weapon. Mike held up a sword and the flail coiled around it. With great strength, Mike pulled the armament from their grasp and flicked it away. The unarmed brigand was helpless as Mike ran him through with both swords and shoved his worthless body aside. But in all this excitement, the hammer-wielder caught Mike in the act and delivered a nasty blow to Mike's gut. Mike was tossed away by the impact and his swords fell backward from his hands. "Alright you slippery bastard! Now I get to crush you," the man taunted.
Mike picked himself back up slowly, his breathing was labored as he tried to refill his lungs with air. As the hammer readied for a crushing blow, Mike took in one big breath. Behind me... he thought. Just before the hammer's fall, Mike backspringed away and his hands met the ground where a blade had went down. As the hammer hit the earth, Mike thrust his Gilded Sword into the chest of his attacker.
The man's face was of confusion and intense pain. He dropped his warhammer and clutched at the wound. "H-h-how?" He asked, coughing out blood.
Mike leaned in and sniffed the air, "I could smell the blood from your friends... and vanilla extract," Mike replied with a chuckle. "Go to the Goddesses, as they may yet forgive you." Mike released the blade from the bandits innards, and the man fell like the rest. "But as for your colleagues," Mike spoke to the ether, glancing back at the still-petrified werewolvos. He ran back towards the woman on the stump and Anaius, "Are you alright? Are you wounded?"
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Aug 18, 2021 19:05:18 GMT -6
Anaius smirked as Mike announced himself from the underbrush...then promptly received a deku flash to the face. He heard the snap of it against the tree trunk in front of him before his vision saturated to a brilliant white. The mercenaries cried out in shock before and immediately dropped him onto the ground, but Anaius was too weak and too blind to stand, so he lay there a moment and recuperated. Ingenious! Anaious thought as he lay, I'll need to get some of those.
In the meantime, Mike swiftly and expertly dispatched the human mercenaries. He even managed a couple one liners, which made Anaius chuckle. When it was over, and his vision returned to normal, he gradually raised himself off the ground. First to a sitting position, which cost him several annoying aches and pains, and then to his feet, which cost even more. He knew they were on borrowed time, however, as the werewolfos would be returning to normal in seconds, so he fought through what pain he could. Gritting his teeth, he took in the scene around him. The woman lay statuesque upon the stump, staring at Mike with shocked green eyes. Both werewolfos still remained frozen, and there lay several dead bodies now bleeding red onto the emerald green grass.
Alright, Anaius thought, we need a plan. And as if he were gifted the knowledge from Nayru herself, one blossomed into his mind like a glorious spring flower. He smirked and turned to Mike, "Magnificent work, friend!" he praised, "But we are running critically short on time." The werewolfos were beginning to stir, their limbs and facial expressions twitched dangerously. "I have a plan, hand me one of those swords please, and take my hand."
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Post by Mike/Rolaka on Aug 18, 2021 19:29:55 GMT -6
Mike sniffed out where his other sword had fallen, the distinctive scent of cinnamon revealed its location and Mike recovered the blade. Mike traveled back to where Anaius and the woman were situated. As he heard Anaius' request, Mike could also hear the lycanthropes' twitching and growling. In the absence of another plan, Mike chose to trust Anaius. "Alright, but make it quick. I can't be groggy with these beasts ready to strike."
Mike held out his hand and Anaius took it, the haze in his mind returned once more. The memories this time were of the extensive swordsmanship training Mike had endured in his time in the Guard. As well as a few key battles where the flash of his blade had turned the tide. The haziness faded almost as soon as it arrived, and Mike was more awake than ever. Crafty, he copied my skills with a sword, Mike thought.
Mike produced his cinnamon-scented sword and handed it to Anaius, "I see what you mean, Anaius. Now let's see how you handle it in practice. Here they come!" And with that, the werewolvos were free from their petrification.
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Aug 18, 2021 19:50:22 GMT -6
Anaius smiled wide and released Mikes hand. The blade now in his hand felt as familiar as his limbs, and he twirled it as he turned to face the werewolvos. He gripped the blade with both hands and turned to face the now snarling and spitting werewolvos. "Miss," Anaius said curtly, "please retreat to a safe distance while we deal with these wretched beasts."
A sudden fury overtook the woman and she leaped from the stump. "Absolutely not!" she shouted, "I have some skill with blades," and she produced twin daggers from somewhere beneath her skirt. Presumably some thigh straps, Anaius thought. She twirled them effortlessly and when they stopped she held them in reverse grip. "I want to fight!"
Anaius looked flabbergasted, "Amazing!" he exclaimed. If the woman wanted to fight, he was not going to stop her. She seemed determined, focused, and there was a mad glint of revenge in her eyes. "So be it! We shall dispatch these foes together!"
The werewolvos were now circling the three of them, and Anaius never felt more like prey in his entire life. He signaled to his companions and Mike, himself, and the woman all moved back to back. He took several deep breaths to steady his mind and ready his newly acquired skills. A wide confident grin spread across his face, this was going to be a fight for the ages.
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Post by Mike/Rolaka on Aug 18, 2021 21:09:49 GMT -6
Mike was initially surprised by the woman's will to fight, though thinking back to her attitude in the farmhouse, it seemed only natural for her to join the battle. They were surrounded, the grass rustled in a circle they were stuck in the middle of. Mike needed a plan, and quick! "You two take one, I'll take the other!" Mike called out. And once again, as if on cue, Mike heard one werewolfos lunge straight at him.
Mike charged right back at the beast, showing no fear. The werewolfos pounced, but met only the steel of Mike's Gilded Sword. The beast's body was large, lumbering, the air moved intensely with the swing of its arms. Mike read the air itself as it veered and swerved with each motion. Every swipe of the beast's claws was met with a metallic rebuttal from Mike's sword. Clanging and banging, claw versus sword, the ferocity of the attacks unrelenting. Mike was kept on the backfoot, waiting desperately for an opening.
The werewolfos swung wide from the side, a big mistake. Mike swung his sword to block the strike and the beast recoiled from the impact. With it's belly open, Mike went in on the attack and cut a large gash across its stomach. The creature doubled back, but was no less determined to kill this human interloper. Another swipe, another sword to block it, but the beast's human side showed its colors and grabbed the blade instead of striking it. Mike was strong, but this supernatural strength was better. It wrenched Mike's sword from his hands and tossed it away. Defenseless, Mike was knocked away by a backhand from the monster.
Mike was able to gather himself, the wound he inflicted debilitated the werewolfos' movement. Ok, I handed Cinnamon to Anaius. Vanilla, search for vanilla, Mike thought. His head turned in every direction, once again trying to pinpoint the telltale scent. Too late, the beast was upon him once again. Mike sidestepped its pounce and took off running. If I heard it correctly then...
As Mike dashed along the plain, the faint aroma of vanilla extract emerged from the landscape. Mike zeroed in on his sword, but the quaking of the beast's paws on the grass grew louder and louder. If Mike didn't reach his blade in time, he was doomed...
Mike dove for his sword, and rolled as the hilt met his palm. The lycanthrope rose up for a downward swipe, but Mike immediately turned around and cut low. The Gilded Sword slashed deep into its leg, all the way to bone. He must have cut a hamstring, as the werewolfos' leg buckled and it stumbled to the ground. Mike rushed to onto its back and plunged his blade into its skull. As the steel pierced its brain, the werewolfos flailed madly, trying desperately to pry Mike from its back. But it was no use, the damage was done. Its faculties ceased and its body fell.
The werewolfos was slain.
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Aug 18, 2021 22:48:07 GMT -6
The werewolvos leaped in unison. One straight for Mike, the other at Anaius and the woman. He noticed that in the ear of the werewolfos rushing him there were two distinct golden earrings. Both of them rolled away with precision, and the werewolfos swiped nothing but air. As Anaius rebounded to his feet, he took two mighty steps forward and leaped at the beast, sword raised overhead. It dodged his downward slash without much effort, and knocked Anaius away with a glancing blow. For several moments he rolled along the ground as the momentum of the strike carried him. It hurt tremendously and left him dazed. When he'd stopped, he shook his head to rid himself of the floating stars in his vision, then promptly returned to his feet. In the time it took him, however, the beast was once again upon him, and if it hadn't been for the heroic intervention of the woman, Anaius might be missing his head right now. In she leapt, daggers brandished at the forefront, and parried the claws of the beast away from him. Back in it came, swiping low at the woman's knees. She stepped back in time to dodge, but this put her on uneven footing and her balance faltered. The lycanthrope pressed its advantage, and with one claw knocked the dagger from her right hand. With the other it gripped her around the throat. It hoisted her off the ground and made to toss her away like some useless piece of trash, but she plunged the dagger in her left hand into its forearm. A wounded howl resounded from the creature, but still it held her. Anaius saw his opportunity to strike and took it. He sprinted in and swept the gilded blade low. The beast sidestepped his swipe easily, and with one enormous paw kicked him clear across the open field. He rolled end over end, the sword dropping from his hand while he rolled. It seemed that while his skills were as refined as Mikes, it was only in his mind that they worked so well. When it came to translating such skill to his body, it was not as cooperative. The blade was heavy, and he was far slower and clumsier than the reflexes such distilled swordsmanship required. "Blast this accursed animal," he said to himself, "I just need an opening."
Right then, the woman came careening next to him, tossed viciously away by the beast. She too, was now unarmed. The two of them could hear the werewolfos chuckling at their failure. It was a deep, rumbling laughter that sent chills down his spine. The beast approached them while bringing its forearm to its muzzle. With one deliberate motion it yanked the dagger from its arm using its jaws. Anaius gritted his teeth. What were they going to do now? How could they possibly win unarmed against this monster? And then it came to him. He turned toward the woman, "While I distract it, you retrieve your daggers. I'm going to try and subdue it."
She looked incredulous at this announcement. "How could you possibly...you have no weapons! It will tear you apart!"
"Not if I'm lucky. When I give the signal, finish it." he replied with a smirk. "Now go." She eyed him warily, not ready to leave him.
"You have to trust me, now hurry!"
The werewolfos was closing in now. In another few paces it would be within attacking distance. She sprinted away from Anaius and the beast, cutting a wide arc around them to avoid any far reaching swipes.
Anaius stood up and faced what could very well be his doom. If his plan didn't work, he'd be dead in the next few moments. The lycanthrope ignored the escaping woman and instead focused solely on him, which was exactly how he wanted it.
"Come, fiend! And face your destruction!" He shouted, and dashed forward. If there was one skill he never had to copy from another mind, it was his agility. Large, hulking claws lashed out at him in inhumanly quick swipes, but Anaius ducked and dodged under each one. He jumped up at it as he closed in, kicking off from its thigh to reach its head. But as he came up, it came down, and the jaws of the beast latched firmly onto his left shoulder. Anaius cried out. He felt no pain, however, only a strange numbness. The beast drove him onto his back, digging its jagged teeth deeper into his flesh.
And then Anaius enacted his plan. With both hands he shoved his thumbs into the eyes of the beast, and wrapped his fingers around its skull. It tried to howl and let go of him, but Anaius already had it exactly where he wanted it. With his extraordinary gift, he siphoned every cherished memory, every hard begotten skill, every iota of personality from the man beneath the beast. The werewolfos froze, completely subjugated by Anaius's assault on its mind. "Now!" he yelled, and the woman didn't disappoint. She leapt onto the beast's back, now with both daggers back in her hands, and plunged them into the base of its neck on either side of its head. The werewolfos couldn't even react to its demise. No howl or jerk of the body accompanied the woman's submerged daggers. It simply exhaled foul smelling breath in Anaius's face, released his shoulder from its jaws, and slumped, lifeless, over top of him.
The werewolfos was slain.
"Help!" Anaius wheezed. "It's crushing me."
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Post by Mike/Rolaka on Aug 18, 2021 23:32:45 GMT -6
Mike yanked his blade out from the werewolfos' skull, a dark moldering substance adorned the golden steel. Even their blood isn't natural, Mike thought, disgusted. He attuned to the soundscape around him and heard Anaius cry out "NOW!" What followed was the noise of a beast dying helplessly, Anaius and the woman did it. The contract was complete, or at least was about to be. Mike dropped down to the earth and clutched a tuft of fur atop the werewolfos' head. Mike placed the sword at the top of its neck and started hacking away. Corrupted blood splashed about as Mike cut the creature's head from its body. It was slightly larger than that of the regular Wolfos head these same fiends tried to present to the bartender. What irony it was that Mike would return with one of these bandit's heads.
Mike strode over to where the other beast fell, Anaius was trapped under the hulking mass. "You, grab that side, I'll get this side," Mike ordered the woman. With a heave, they freed Anaius from the weight of the beast. Mike picked up Anaius by the arm and stood him upright. "Is everyone alright?" He asked, then held up the head as a trophy. "We did it! And the proof is right here." Mike then addressed the woman, "The farm is safe. Thank you for your help, you were very brave."
"After what these assholes did, they got what was comin'," she said, as she sheathed her daggers. "Hard to believe they were the culprits the whole time."
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Aug 19, 2021 0:14:10 GMT -6
Now back onto his feet, Anaius checked his bite wound. Blood oozed from the punctures of its teeth, and a dull throbbing was setting in. He rolled his shoulder a couple times, but felt alright.
"What an adventure!" he proclaimed, turning back to Mike and the woman. "Would you happen to possess any bandages for this ghastly wound of mine? I do believe it should be wrapped before we set off back to the bar. Don't want to be bleeding over the upholstery in the carriage." Anaius laughed.
The woman nodded, "Yes, I keep some for the ranch hands in the barn."
"Excellent!"
Anaius noticed the werewolfos head in Mike's hand and said "Perhaps we should take the other as well. The barkeep should know there were in fact two werewolfos."
He stepped over to where Mike's other blade had fallen and picked it up. When he returned with it, he squared himself up on the side of the werewolfos's body. In three precise chops the head severed from its body. Anaius gripped it by the fur and hoisted it up.
"Now, lets head back to wrap this up," he gestured at his wound, "then we'll be off to collect our bounty."
His companions nodded in ascent, clearly exhausted from the day's events. He could see in their faces they were glad it was over.
"I say, madam," Anaius said as they made their way out of the forest. "You have slain a beast with us yet we have not the curtesy to inquire your name."
The woman smiled and said, "My name is Cremia, after one of my ancestors."
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Back at the Milk Bar, Anaius and Mike strode in with both werewolfos heads in a sack Cremia was kind enough to give them back on the farm. Anaius's shoulder was freshly cleaned and bandaged, also courtesy of Cremia, and the two of them looked exuberantly at the barkeep. There were a few regulars scattered around the bar, but it was otherwise deserted.
"We have returned triumphant!" Anaius exclaimed, "Have a look." And Mike dropped the bag of heads onto the bar top.
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