Plotlogs
Warlord Of The Wilds Sr Simon 240314
In the wild lands of Navorost, amidst tension and rumors of a new warlord's rise, Katlyn and Meridith set out to protect a village rumored to be the target of a raid. Despite their distinct backgrounds—Meridith, a warrior in tarnished armor with a blend of ancient weaponry, and Katlyn, clad in modern armor and weapons—they question each other’s presence but soon align their purposes against the warlord's threat. Alongside their peculiar guide, Bren, with his relaxed demeanor and shepherds crook, they venture towards the village, navigating the wilderness and its surprises, from peaceful sightings to sudden attacks by giant, puppy-sized flying beetles.
As their journey progresses, they encounter a sabotaged bridge across a rapid river, which forces them to rely on their wits and each other to cross. Despite the danger, including a near disaster with Meridith almost being swept away and Katlyn's close call with the river's depths, they manage together to reach the other side, battered but undeterred.
Upon reaching the village, the grim reality of the warlord’s actions unfolds before them: the village lies in ruins, smoke billows from fires, and survivors are caged, awaiting an uncertain fate. Despite Bren's weariness and hesitation, Meridith's determination and Katlyn's newfound resolve spur them into action. They launch a surprise attack on the occupying force, a battle ensues, fraught with chaos and the harsh realities of combat. With their combined efforts, they manage to defeat the raiders, albeit the victory is marred by the heavy toll exacted on the village and its inhabitants.
In the aftermath, as the remaining villagers are freed and the fires extinguished, the weight of their actions and the sacrifices made settle on the protagonists. The villagers express their gratitude, sharing what little they have left and mourning those they've lost, as plans are made to return to Navorost. Katlyn and Meridith, through blood and battle, find a grim but steadfast partnership, their resolve hardened by the witnessing of Yurgen’s destruction first-hand. Their journey concludes not with triumph, but with the somber acknowledgment of the cost of war and the dire need to oppose the warlord's tyranny, setting the stage for future endeavors against his reign.
The story closes on a poignant reminder of the enduring spirit of those willing to stand against oppression, and the unbreakable bonds forged in the crucibles of conflict.
(Warlord of the Wilds(SRSimon):SRSimon)
[Wed Mar 13 2024]
In In the wild lands of Navorost
Just beyond the outskirts of the settlement, the Navorost wild lands unfold in a vast expanse of untamed beauty. Despite its slightly smaller size compared to Westrend, Navorost boasts a diverse landscape, ranging from temperate forests to tropical coastal regions. The climate is characterized by its variability, with lush vegetation thriving along fertile riverbanks that snake deep into the heart of the continent.
The Kingdom of Nar holds sway over much of Navorost, establishing settlements and exerting influence over the land. However, scattered amidst the wilderness are the nomadic tribes of the People, each with their own customs and traditions, living in harmony with the natural rhythms of the land.
But beneath the tranquility of the wild lands lies an undercurrent of tension. Rumors abound of the rise of a new warlord, who intends to bring the vast majority of the continent under his sway and yoke.
It is dusk, about 39F(3C) degrees,
It takes some time to arrive at the border of the village, after wandering through the crossroads of the town and then out into the near endless forest that surrounds it. Eventually, however, Katlyn and Meridith manage to do just that. The lands of Navorost expand out before them, rolling and roiling into the distance. It seems so peaceful, really, from here. But the pair are more than aware that there's something burning beneath the surface, as it were.
They're afforded some small time to greet one another, exchanging any pleasantries that might catch their fancy as they await their guide.
Meridith gazes at Katlyn and tips her head politely. "Meridith, may I ask what brings you out here?" she asks. She's dressed in an ancient set of tarnished armor. Breastplate, bracers, an thin tasses on her hips. Sheathed, a rapier lingers upon her hip, with a bow over her shoulder.
Lacking a horse and any other mode of transportation, Katlyn trudges along the road to meet up with Meridith. She surveys the area, suspicious and military green, before shifting her gaze back to Meridith, "Katlyn. A mission." She is in modern clothing that bulks out with the underlying kevlar armor and modern weapons. "I thought you might Bren, and I was misled." She squints toward the village. "There's rumor of a warlord about to raid an innocent village."
Meridith nods. "I stabbed him once, I feel like I ought to finish the job," she murmurs. "A pleasure Katlyn, does that make us allies?" she asks hopeful.
Meridith may not be Bren, but Bren certainly is Bren. That's a sentence, alright.
As Meridith and Katlyn introduce themselves to one another, and hopefully find that their goals and reasons for being here are in alignment, another figure begins to emerge from the forestry about them. There's a certain relaxed sort of nature about the man, as if he's just slightly detached from reality. He's a lanky thing, all long limbs, and curved spine. His clothes hang from him like he were a coat rack. His adams apple is large, and pronounced, and there's a little tuff of orangish facial hair on his chin. "Hail, hail." The man calls over towards Meridith and Katlyn, using a shepherds crook to balance himself with every second step. His dull brown gaze peers out from beneath a curtain of untamed ginger locks.
Meridith gazes upon the man and raises her brow. "Well, that Bren must be Bren then," she insists.
"It does," Katlyn agrees with a quiet murmur as her eyes meet those of the shepherd. "Bren?" She questions warily while settling her hands into the pockets of her jacket. The ginger haired fellow is studied briefly before she scans beyond him into the forest, seeking signs of others to follow or ambush them. "I'm Kat." She is ready to follow the wildling man, as long as her surveyance of the area proves no others lie in wait.
"This Bren is Bren." Bren responds to Meridith, and Katlyn both, nodding slowly. He leans against his crook somewhat, glancing over the pair for several seconds, "I am supposing that you're coming with me to try and help out Wildspring Village? It's a bit of a walk, I'm sorry to say. We can't really risk pathing any closer, so we're going to have to go overland." A hand raises and he scratches at his cheek, blinking slowly.
Meridith gestures for him to lead. "By all means, let's not linger. Scarcely hoping to arrive with the battle already lost," she exhales softly, concerned.
Katlyn gives a quiet nod of her head to Bren and awaits his lead. Her nostrils flare slightly as the scents of the Wild lands reaches her and she moves a hand, guardedly, to the holster beneath her jacket. "We aren't going to run into any dinosaurs, are we?" It's an honest question and the young woman doesn't seem thrilled by the prospect.
Meridith gazes at the woman. "We may, have you not fought them?" she asks with a casual kind of curiousness. "I can handle them, mind if I ask how you fight so I can better work with you?" she asks, brows raised and curious
"There is always a chance." SRSimon responds back to Katlyn with a little smile, seeming more amused at this prospect than worried. He is a fairly lackadasical fellow, really. "But yes, let us start making tracks." With that said, he reaches down into his robes, and skirt, producing a strange looking sort of compass and giving it a shake. After a few moments he turns and starts to wander into the forest. There's a meandering sort of lope to his movements, like he's tugged alone by chance more so than design.
Meridith smiles and nods towards the man, though she clearly has her concerns, following anyone into this land was a daunting prospect. She makes a move on alongside.
"Pistol and blade, but uh," Katlyn hesitates a moment before spitting forth, "I haven't been in any real fighting situations." She appears somber as she moves with the others. Footsteps trace behind Bren with an ease of shadowing his tracks in silence. At least she is fairly stealthy in her movements and she avoids touching any plants, as she is unable to determine the deadly ones from the friendly ones. Her voice is a murmur, barely a buzz in the forest, "What do you know about the warlord?" The question could be taken by either of them.
Meridith blinks. "Wait, what, why are you here? You don't really know how to fight!?" she asks with incredulity. She looks to Bren with concern.
On the other hand, it's clear that Bren has never tried to be sneaky in his life. His crook often gets caught on thick vines. His robes and skirt are clutched at by brambles, and thorns. The man in a menace, yet despite this, he manages to cruise through the wilderness with little delay. The snags, and trips and catches don't slow him, always falling away as he shifts forward. "Every bit helps." The man notes back to Meridith and Katlyn with a far too easy smile, considering their situation.
There's a flurry of motion ahead of them, as a swarm of large, puppy-sized flying beetles fly across their path, their chitin glinting in the midday sun as they buzz past.
Meridith grows uneasy, but she keeps her wits about her, focused, and tries not to let it show. She strides through the path, a step or two behind Bren, letting them lead and also to keep her eye on them. She gazes at the beetles with curiousity. "They trouble?" she asks.
"I've undergone extensive training," Katlyn hisses out in annoyance, as if questioning her abilities is preposterous. "I've just... never fought a warlord," she concedes while watching the lack of grace from the ginger-haired wild man. The puppy-sized beetles warrant a halt in Katlyn's stride and her gaze locks on them while she rapidly questions, "friend or foe? friend or foe?" As they become closer, her voice breaks into a loud squeak, "FRIEND OR FOE?!" Her hand clutches at the hilt of her knife, preparing to skewer the beetles. But as they buzz past the trio, Katlyn's eyes take in the glinting beauty of them and she appears to relax the further the swarm bumbles away from them.
Meridith gives Katlyn a polite nod of her head. "Well, training is nice, but battles where it really comes out," she insists. "I apologize for underestimating you," she says graciously. Her panic draws out a half amused giggle.
Bren slowly turns back to face Meridith and Katlyn, shaking his head with the same lazy, unfocused sort of smile. "The beetles? Nawh, they're usually friendly. Unless, of course, there's been some sort of territorial dispute between them and the giant ba-" The man doesn't finish the sentence.
A giant bat swoops down upon the swarm of beetles, scattering them this way and that, several of their number flashing toward the group. They crash into Bren's back, knocking him forward and onto his knees, while others surge toward Meridith and Katlyn, trying to burrow into their clothing, into their -bodies- to hide from the hungry bat!
Meridith's reflexes kick in, her blade raises and then flashes, attempting to slash and skewer them as they approach. "Blegh! Giant beetles! This isn't what I had in mind when I signed up for this!" she insists in a faintly panicked way
Katlyn lacks the amusement of her traveling companion during her panicked moment. She pays attention to Bren, noting that the giant beetles are friendly. Until she is bowled over by several of them trying to burrow -INTO- her body?! She frantically flails her arms at the beetles, trying to shove them off of herself while they repeatedly hit against the kevlar of her gear. She continues to take them as harmless, unless of course she is bitten, and she eyes the bat while her clothes are picked at by the beetles. Then she grabs one of the puppy-sized bugs and launches it toward the bat's head, hoping to feed it and appease the hunger of the massive beast. Meanwhile, she kicks her legs about in a half-assed attempt to guard herself from further beetle burrowing.
The first beetle that surges toward Meridith makes the job easy for her, it practically runs into and upon her blade, guts splattering against her armour as the steel pierces through it's thick chitin. The weight of the critter, and it's blocky form makes it all the more difficult for her to keep swinging her weapon about, however, and in short order a few of the beetles are clutching upon her, tearing at her armour to try and find a gap to crawl inside of.
On the other side of the party, the beetles are doing their best to burrow beneath Katlyn's clothing as well, their large pinchers and gross bug-hands grasping at her to try and make holes where there once weren't any. Choosing to grab a beetle is a decision, that's for certain, but the insect is easy siezed by her, and thrown at the bat.
The bat, for it's part, screeches out, causing ears to ring, and buzz from the sheer volume. It clicks, and hisses, echolocating it's way about to try and seize the beetles. It's efforts are fruitless, at least until one is tossed it's way. It darts in, seizing the beetle and half-crushing it between cruel talons, and then with a gust-worthy flap of it's wings, it's skittering away to find somewhere dark to feast.
Meridith flicks the beetle off the tip of her blade with a burst of telekinsis grabbing and skewer others as they land upon her and attempt to bite. She's aggressive and a little frantic with the effort. "Get OFF me!"
Bren, meanwhile, skitters about on the ground, waving his crook in a circle to try and keep the beetles away from him. It actually seems to be working, weirdly enough. The fellow has luck on his side.
Large pincers and gross bug-hands! Katlyn meets one face to face and lets out a startled shriek as the beetle goes for her face. They are scarier than she realized, and she brings her blade out, for the first time, to shove it into the belly of the beast.
The heebie jeebie beetle community continue their assault upon Meridith and Katlyn yet, despite the threat of the bat being neutralized. At least, there aren't any others coming now, only the few left buzzing and clacking at them. Meridith skewers another bug, and another yet, their guts and blood running up the blade in her hand and oozing across her body. It stinks.
There's a wash of these aforementioned guts across Katlyn's features, and into her mouth as she carves through the soft underbelly of the beetle going for her face. It writhes about, splashing her with orangeish blood as it dies atop of her, and the others start to wiggle free and away.
Bren finally finds his feet again, stepping forward and using his crook to beat on the remaining beetles. It's clear they've managed to survive this, but there's still a few lingering moments of danger.
Meridith exhales annoyed and throws them off of her she pivots to her bow and fires at any yet lingering with careful shots. She exhales sharply. "A river," she says to Bren with some annoyance, when they're clear of the threat.
Katlyn blinks through the mask of giant beetle guts and fights back the rising bile in her throat. She spits and sputters a slop of orange good from her mouth before focusing on the other beetles in a panic. The sight of them flying away is a relief.
Her blade is wiped clean in the dirt and the side of her pants clad thigh before she rises up from the forest floor while spitting guts out. "Poisonous?" She asks of Bren while panting softly, taking a moment to catch her breath before wiping her hands over her face in an attempt to clean up the guts. "We don't have time to wash," she comments aside to Meridith. "This cost us time."
Meridith says "When we find one!"
It's a hard thing to fire a bow in close quarter, and against a darting enemy, but Meridith manages to strike a few times, at least. The beetles are well and truly routed now, as the scent of their compatriots blood serves as the most immediately threat with the bat gone. They push away, taking scraps of clothing and hair with them as they flitter back out and into the forests once more.
The question of a river has Bren just staring in confusion for several seconds, until Katlyn proves some important context and he shakes his head. "Well, there's a river ahead, but if you slip into it, you'll be lost forever." He states, as cheerfully detatched as ever. He's managed to get through the fight with nary a hair out of place, while poor Meridith and Katlyn are covered in bug cuts, and likely scratches and abrasions.
"Well, let's keep moving!"
Meridith scoffs, and does her best to wipe it off. The injuries are unconcerning, she bounces back quick, but...the guts are gross! She humms and follows after.
Seeing as Bren shows no concern for the deadliness of the beatle guts, Katlyn sloughs more guts to the ground with quick scoop and flick motions of her hands. The cheerfulness of the shepherd keeps her on guard and she narrows her eyes slightly while moving back in line to shadow his steps. Occasionally, she spits an acrid taste from her mouth, leaving a splotch of orange tinged spit to decorate the forest floor.
I mean, they're probably not poisonous, right? ..Right?
The fact that a mild sweat has broken out is likely due to the heat of the tropics, and nothing else.
Bren turns about, and begins to lead them through the forests once more, barely avoiding stepping on several of the dead beetles as he wanders ahead without looking where his feet land. Soon enough, they've fallen into a steady rhythm. The man walks, checks his compass, and then adjusts his trajectory, but there's always a sort of languid motion at this. They aren't hard, fierce corrections, more like meandering curves.
As the trio begins to walk, there's a sound in the distance. Hard to parse, at first, though those with more acute hearing may catch on sooner rather than later.
Meridith has no such gift. She is keeping her eyes peeled and keeping, somewhat protectively, near Katlyn. Perhaps condescendingly? Though she seems simply worried for the recent strange
Katlyn flicks her fingers rapidly as the bug guts begin to congeal and dry into crusty layers in the tropical heat. She swipes at her sweaty brow and swats at a stray gnat-like bug. Unaware of any sound in the distance, she keeps up her stride with the group and continues to pick at the remaining beatle goo that clings to her skin.
Bren hums to himself as he leads through the thickening brush, and into a sort of cleared out space, and that sound, no longer muffled by the forestry, becomes all the more apparent. It's water. Fast moving water.
Of course, it helps that they can see the source of it too.
A river rages before them, loud and frothy. Dark swift shapes can be seen darting through the depths. "Ah, the river." Bren exhales with a little nod, "We're getting close. Very close." He marches over towards the bridge that crosses it. Or rather, the remains of it. It's been burned, sabotaged. There's the first hint of a frown upon his features.
Meridith waits at the start of the bridge for him to cross, not wishing to test the structural integrity
"What's in the river?" Katlyn questions loudly upon noticing the darting shapes and her voice barely carries above the rushing of the waters. Then she notices the remains of the burnt bridge and the brief curiosity on her face is dashed away by an angry scowl. "They're ahead of us, they've burnt out any hope of help arriving." She scans up and down the river for any break in flow or narrowing of river into stream. Then her gaze shifts to seek out any fallen logs or other means to cross the churning waters.
The bridge is burned out, and broken, but it's bones yet remain. They're cindered, and weak, but they're still there. Bren barely even bats an eye before he starts to cross over the remains, though the wisdom of this decision is quickly put into question as the planks shatter and break into ash beneath his feet. "Water!" The Shepherd calls back to Katlyn with a little smile, pausing then as he lingers upon this new self-imposed isolation of sorts, more or less trapped partway across the bridge, and left standing upon a support beam that crashes straight into the water.
Katlyn may notice that there's a good deal of debris caught by the bones of the bridge, making a semi-solid path of trapped logs, and lumber and driftwood. It's definitely not safe though.
Meridith nods to Katlyn with a bit of worry upon her face. She lets out a soft exhale and then moves to cross, light and nimble. Her eyes track each step, but she tries not to linger overlong.
"Sooo, we're just supposed to cross this and hope for the best?" Katlyn seems skeptical of the deadly collection of logs and broken bridge bits. "This is crazy. And there's more than water in that river, Bren!" She snarks out toward the all too smiley ginger. She moves behind someone each step is careful to test the semi-solid path. "You're gonna have to jump, Bren!" Craning her head out, she tries to see ahead of where Bren is trapped and where he could possibly leap ahead to the other side.
"Sooo, we're just supposed to cross this and hope for the best?" Katlyn seems skeptical of the deadly collection of logs and broken bridge bits. "This is crazy. And there's more than water in that river, Bren!" She snarks out toward the all too smiley ginger. She moves behind Meridith each step is careful to test the semi-solid path. "You're gonna have to jump, Bren!" Craning her head out, she tries to see ahead of where Bren is trapped and where he could possibly leap ahead to the other side.
Meridith says "If you just I can...push you across."
Meridith says "Then you can extend something to the other side to let us cross?"
Step, step, crack. Fall.
The bridge gives way beneath Meridith, just as it had with Bren - though she's far less fortunate than the man. There's nothing for her to land upon, and her feet splash into the water. Thankfully, she manages to grab at part of the burned structure to prevent herself simply being swept away and into the water. Though the sheer force of the water is tugging at her!
"Just hold on." Bren calls over toward Meridith, reaching over with his crook to sling it about her waist, trying to help her pull up.
Katlyn is left standing just in front of the broken gap, as more and more of the remains start to groan and collapse in turn, like a stack of dominos.
Meridith lets out a shout and a cry as she falls into the surging waters, instinct and she throws a hand out, snapping a stray piece in her grasp. She pivots and twists, fighting the tide and trying to reach a hand to snag the crook. "Let go if your base starts to shift!" She bellows out.
Katlyn lets out a startled gasp as Meridith is plunged into the river. She searches for a something to secure the way across. "You got her, Bren?" The young woman is scowling at the burnt bridge and rushing river, "Is there no better way to cross?" She peers over the edge of where she stands, uncertainty causing her to linger back as the other two are caught in a deadly situation. "I could... maybe move a log?" She judges the distance between where she stands, the gap, and possibly leaping to the other side of it. A hasty decision is made and the teenager steps back lightly to create a space for a short run of momentum to aid in her leap to the otherside. She didn't come here to wimp out in a dangerous situation, but this poor choice may cost her...
It's a struggle, that's for certain, Bren's grip starts to falter somewhat as he does his best to assist Meridith while the burned support beneath him creaks, and cracks. There's a surge of a shadow in the water beneath her, and a fishy head with too many eyes, and far too many teeth pops up beside her, darting about beneath vanishing under the water again. That's not good.
Time slows down for Katlyn as she leaps through the air, the last supportive plank she'd launched from crumbling and breaking. She lands heavy on the otherside, and it collapses- dropping her right down!
Onto a log caught between the supports! Phew! She's so close to Meridith too, she may be able to help drag her up!
There's a shriek as Katlyn causes the bit of pathway to collapse and she hits the log below with a hard grunt that sucks her breath away. She clings to that log and the supports like a tiny koala baby on its mother. Shakily drawing in a breath, she flings out a hand for Meridith to grasp onto while calling out urgently, "Hurry!" The sight of the many eyed, many toothed fish lends a tremble to her voice. She certainly doesn't want to end up in the water with it too!
Meridith groans, considering just letting go to spare the man from being dragged with her, she flinches and twists, pulling with all her might toward Katlyn and tries to seize her hand.
There's a little surge of sorts as Meridith reaches out with her telekinetically enhanced body, grasping onto Katlyn's hand. The fish darts up, and bites viciously where he legs were only moments earlier, getting a mouthful of nothing as her allies manage to drag her to safety. Well, relative safety. The added weight to the log causes the supports it's bucked against to fail, and start collapsing.
But the other side of the river is so close now! Bren tugs his crook back, and runs across the backs of someone and Meridith, then leaping onto the dry land aside!
There's a little surge of sorts as Meridith reaches out with her telekinetically enhanced body, grasping onto Katlyn's hand. The fish darts up, and bites viciously where he legs were only moments earlier, getting a mouthful of nothing as her allies manage to drag her to safety. Well, relative safety. The added weight to the log causes the supports it's bucked against to fail, and start collapsing.
But the other side of the river is so close now! Bren tugs his crook back, and runs across the backs of Katlyn and Meridith, then leaping onto the dry land aside!
Meridith nods to Katlyn. "Three...two....GO!" she bellows, and springs with all her might to make it to the other side of the river.
"Motherf-!" Katlyn squawks out as that dirty ginger runs across the backs of the two women. She is quick to her feet, scowling across at Bren, before following Meridith's lead and leaping on 'GO!'" She hits the bank of the river with another breath seizing thud and flails her wet hands out to any grass or tree roots that bear more strength than the burnt to crisp bridge."
"Motherf-!" Katlyn squawks out as that dirty ginger runs across the backs of the two women. She is quick to her feet, scowling across at Bren, before following Meridith's lead and leaping on 'GO!' She hits the bank of the river with another breath seizing thud and flails her wet hands out to any grass or tree roots that bear more strength than the burnt to crisp bridge.
It's like something out of a movie. The two women scramble up, and flee over the log, and crumbling remains of the bridge, even as they collapse beneath them. They leap, and it's washed away, before they crash down onto the dirt and grass on the other side. Katlyn doesn't quite make it. She starts to slide down the bank, and back toward the river, leaving behind tuffs of grass as she scrambles.
Then Bren's crook is wrapped about her waist, and the Shepherd tugs with all his might, assisting her in pulling back up and onto the shore.
Meridith reaches out two, extending her telekinetic will to pull them both to shore, eyes locked for dark shadows in the fast moving current.
Katlyn's eyes are wide with terror as she claws frantically at the bank. The river gulps at her feet and legs, soaking her even as she flails. Imagining herself being chomped on by the mutant fish, she releases a whined squeal with turns into a startled "URK!" when that shepherd's crook rescues her and drags her to shore. She gasps for air, despite never having her head underwater, and she lays on the shore taking in calming breaths. Her hands lay crumpled at her sides, still clutching onto bits of grass and mud.
Bren too collapses onto the ground to catch his breath, raising a hand and wiping sweat from his brow. "Phew." The man pants out, drawing his crook back to his side and peering between Katlyn and Meridith, "I suppose that's the easy part of the trip done. We should be close now.. to the.." The man pauses, turning to glance over the forest behind them, and sniffs at that air.
Meridith says "Just...five minutes..."
"Easy part, yeah," Katlyn agrees when the thought of facing the warlord floods her mind. She draws in ragged breaths with eyes closed before switching to nose breathing, filling herself with oxygen and ??. She is on her feet once more, sand and mud join the orange blood of beatles in covering her. There's a sinking feeling in her stomach as she looks to the forest.
Bren doesn't explain the sniffing, or anything, really. The man pushes up to his feet, and starts off toward a trail leading through the forest. It's rare to see him move with purpose like this, and his steps threaten to turn into a light jog.
Meridith climbs up, and groans, moving to help Katlyn, but she's already up. She moves to follow after Bren swiftly.
"Dammit," at this point, Katlyn wants to return to Haven and curl up in bed. But that would bring shame to those who trained her and lets out a groan while chasing after Bren.
Without a supernatural sense of smell it takes longer for Meridith and Katlyn to quite come upon the reason for Bren's sudden change in attitude, though, as they crest the small hill at the apex of the path and look down at the valley below, it becomes evident.
There lies the village. Pillaged. Sacked. Raided. Smoke rises from several fires, and there's even a pit of bodies burning near the limits of it. The large force of the raiding party can barely be seen, the Warlord having abandoned the village now that he was through with it, and disappearing into the distance.
Though it's hard to make out from here, however, a small occupying force remains, with the surviving residents locked into cages.
Meridith closes her eyes and whispers something. Then opens her eyes and lets her fury guide her. "We cut them down, we free them, and we pursue that bastard," she murmurs.
As they crest the hill, Katlyn immediately crouches in the bushes. She scowls at the sight of the raided village. "There's not much we could have done. Just the three of us," she decides with a solemn tone as she stares at the pit of bodies before shifting her gaze to the occupying force, attempting to count heads. When she hears Meridith, she lifts a brow at the armored woman, "You think we stand a chance against his forces? Nevermind what is left down there guarding the cages."
Bren just sort of stands there, shaking like a leaf. After a few moments he joins Katlyn in crouching down by the bushes, shaking his head. "It's too late." He says softly. Though, that doesn't mean it's too late for those awaiting sale to slavery.
Meridith glowers at Katlyn. "If you didn't come to fight a small contigent left behind, why come at all?" She says in an urgent and angry tone
There's a squad of men lingering down in the space, though fortunately, they don't appear to be heavily armored nor particularly well disciplined. They're the sort of riff-raff that must've joined up with Yurgen and his forces in order to get a share of the riches, rather than being career soldiers. They are led by a man who seems to know what he's doing though. He's wearing a sword rather than wielding daggers, and spears himself.
Meridith says "We can open up at range. Find cover and strike. I'm comfortable fending them off as we make our approach."
"I'm not saying don't fight, but we can't go chasing a warlord and his army," Katlyn keeps her gaze on those below and shakes her head. "Sounds like a plan, need to get a bit closer." She draws her silenced pistol and slinks down amongst the brush, keeping low and hopefully out of sight as she gets within range.
Meridith gazes at Bren with some concern. "Are you capable of handling this?" she asks worriedly.
Bren, the shepherd-cum-guide shakes his head slowly. He doesn't join the others in approaching, the man isn't a warrior. He lingers here though, watching from the relative safety of the bushes as Katlyn starts to approach. He glances aside to Meridith at her question, "I'm just here to.." The sentence dips off. They know why he's here.
Katlyn silently lifts her gun, aiming through the sight before taking first shot at the head of the man appearing in charge.
Meridith blinks as Katlyn takes her shot. She lingers low and quiet, pulling her bow and aiming warily.
SPLAT
The leader of this trope of raider's head explodes outwards like an overly ripe melon, right as he was in the middle of a conversation about how they'd divide up their treasures, and each take a turn at the women they've captured. The men surrounding him pause, in shock, and alarm. Some of the prisoners scream out. The world stops.
Then it starts up again. Really, really quickly. They charge outwards, drawing knives and spears, and storm out in search of whomever killed the man. "We're under attack!"
Meridith is the first to be found! The squad descends upon her en masse, stabbing and grabbing at the warrioress.
Meridith can gear up for this?
Meridith is set!
As the raiders descend upon them, Katlyn draws her knife and rushes at one, slashing and stabbing in a panicked state. Hardly able to keep calm as adrenaline floods her system in the fight for life.
The squad surrounds Meridith and Katlyn, and despite their greater numbers, they're not winning this fight thus far. They lack armour, and cohesion, not to mention training. But their blades are still sharp, and catch at armour and flesh alike.
Meridith does not appear to be all that pressed by their attacks. She deflect the incoming blows and dances about them, deliver a powerful slash.
"Hold fast! Katlyn! You've got them! You're ready for this she cries!" The little goddess, Meridith's words carry the weight of a warriors blessing, filling Katlyn with might and vigor.
Katlyn's blade seeks the vital organs of the raider she fights. As the two women bring the squad to a collapse, she exhales loudly and lets out a relieved laugh. "Yeah, I got this. Thanks to you, Meridith!"
It's a messy thing, this fight. It's far from the romantic battles oft depicted in Earth media. Many of the raider die slow, painful deaths. Choking on their own blood, or wheezing with collapsing lungs as bullets and blades pierce through their unarmoured forms. The last few of the lot turn tail and run, fleeing off into the night as blood soaks into the dirt of the village and yet more corpses are left in the wake of the heroes.
Smoke stings the eyes as Katlyn and Meridith are afforded a moment to catch their breath now, while the captured villagers sing their praises, and beg for their assistance in escaping the cages.
They may not have been able to prevent the sacking, but there's a very small silver lining here, in that they've managed to save some lives, at least.
Katlyn launches a spit toward her fallen foe and moves to search for keys on the assassinated commander.
The keys are sought, found and claimed. They hang from a throng upon the dead man's waist. They're easy to find, and thankfully don't appear to have been damaged in the fall. Especially considering the crude iron they're shaped of.
Meridith doesn't seem that disturbed by it. In truth, she looks pleased, happy to see them die. She spits on the dirt alongside Katlyn and nods to her. She looks to the villagers with pity, regret. Not sad for the murder she had to do, but for her failure to rescue the others.
Katlyn captures the keys and scrambles over to the cages to unlock them. She then motions for Bren to join them by waving both hands in the air toward the direction of the hill they descended from. The young woman has now added blood to her stains of adventure and after the cages are emptied, she drops the set of keys to the dirt.
The shepherd eventually joins the others down in the wreckage of the village, and while praise is lathered upon Meridith and Katlyn, the attention of the survivors soon turns to trying to put out the lingering fires. The rest of the afternoon is used up by this task, and soon evening falls upon the land. What riches, and food that yet remain in hidden places are offered to, and shared with their would-be heroes, as the survivors plan to travel back toward Navorost, and away from their ruined homes. There are many weeping children, and women, and a few of the elderly survivors go about burying the dead.
You might not have been able to stop Yurgen this time, but you've now seen first hand what is left in his wake, though his motivations remain a mystery for the time being.
OOC: Thanks for playing! Let me know if there's any awards that you want!
As their journey progresses, they encounter a sabotaged bridge across a rapid river, which forces them to rely on their wits and each other to cross. Despite the danger, including a near disaster with Meridith almost being swept away and Katlyn's close call with the river's depths, they manage together to reach the other side, battered but undeterred.
Upon reaching the village, the grim reality of the warlord’s actions unfolds before them: the village lies in ruins, smoke billows from fires, and survivors are caged, awaiting an uncertain fate. Despite Bren's weariness and hesitation, Meridith's determination and Katlyn's newfound resolve spur them into action. They launch a surprise attack on the occupying force, a battle ensues, fraught with chaos and the harsh realities of combat. With their combined efforts, they manage to defeat the raiders, albeit the victory is marred by the heavy toll exacted on the village and its inhabitants.
In the aftermath, as the remaining villagers are freed and the fires extinguished, the weight of their actions and the sacrifices made settle on the protagonists. The villagers express their gratitude, sharing what little they have left and mourning those they've lost, as plans are made to return to Navorost. Katlyn and Meridith, through blood and battle, find a grim but steadfast partnership, their resolve hardened by the witnessing of Yurgen’s destruction first-hand. Their journey concludes not with triumph, but with the somber acknowledgment of the cost of war and the dire need to oppose the warlord's tyranny, setting the stage for future endeavors against his reign.
The story closes on a poignant reminder of the enduring spirit of those willing to stand against oppression, and the unbreakable bonds forged in the crucibles of conflict.
(Warlord of the Wilds(SRSimon):SRSimon)
[Wed Mar 13 2024]
In In the wild lands of Navorost
Just beyond the outskirts of the settlement, the Navorost wild lands unfold in a vast expanse of untamed beauty. Despite its slightly smaller size compared to Westrend, Navorost boasts a diverse landscape, ranging from temperate forests to tropical coastal regions. The climate is characterized by its variability, with lush vegetation thriving along fertile riverbanks that snake deep into the heart of the continent.
The Kingdom of Nar holds sway over much of Navorost, establishing settlements and exerting influence over the land. However, scattered amidst the wilderness are the nomadic tribes of the People, each with their own customs and traditions, living in harmony with the natural rhythms of the land.
But beneath the tranquility of the wild lands lies an undercurrent of tension. Rumors abound of the rise of a new warlord, who intends to bring the vast majority of the continent under his sway and yoke.
It is dusk, about 39F(3C) degrees,
It takes some time to arrive at the border of the village, after wandering through the crossroads of the town and then out into the near endless forest that surrounds it. Eventually, however, Katlyn and Meridith manage to do just that. The lands of Navorost expand out before them, rolling and roiling into the distance. It seems so peaceful, really, from here. But the pair are more than aware that there's something burning beneath the surface, as it were.
They're afforded some small time to greet one another, exchanging any pleasantries that might catch their fancy as they await their guide.
Meridith gazes at Katlyn and tips her head politely. "Meridith, may I ask what brings you out here?" she asks. She's dressed in an ancient set of tarnished armor. Breastplate, bracers, an thin tasses on her hips. Sheathed, a rapier lingers upon her hip, with a bow over her shoulder.
Lacking a horse and any other mode of transportation, Katlyn trudges along the road to meet up with Meridith. She surveys the area, suspicious and military green, before shifting her gaze back to Meridith, "Katlyn. A mission." She is in modern clothing that bulks out with the underlying kevlar armor and modern weapons. "I thought you might Bren, and I was misled." She squints toward the village. "There's rumor of a warlord about to raid an innocent village."
Meridith nods. "I stabbed him once, I feel like I ought to finish the job," she murmurs. "A pleasure Katlyn, does that make us allies?" she asks hopeful.
Meridith may not be Bren, but Bren certainly is Bren. That's a sentence, alright.
As Meridith and Katlyn introduce themselves to one another, and hopefully find that their goals and reasons for being here are in alignment, another figure begins to emerge from the forestry about them. There's a certain relaxed sort of nature about the man, as if he's just slightly detached from reality. He's a lanky thing, all long limbs, and curved spine. His clothes hang from him like he were a coat rack. His adams apple is large, and pronounced, and there's a little tuff of orangish facial hair on his chin. "Hail, hail." The man calls over towards Meridith and Katlyn, using a shepherds crook to balance himself with every second step. His dull brown gaze peers out from beneath a curtain of untamed ginger locks.
Meridith gazes upon the man and raises her brow. "Well, that Bren must be Bren then," she insists.
"It does," Katlyn agrees with a quiet murmur as her eyes meet those of the shepherd. "Bren?" She questions warily while settling her hands into the pockets of her jacket. The ginger haired fellow is studied briefly before she scans beyond him into the forest, seeking signs of others to follow or ambush them. "I'm Kat." She is ready to follow the wildling man, as long as her surveyance of the area proves no others lie in wait.
"This Bren is Bren." Bren responds to Meridith, and Katlyn both, nodding slowly. He leans against his crook somewhat, glancing over the pair for several seconds, "I am supposing that you're coming with me to try and help out Wildspring Village? It's a bit of a walk, I'm sorry to say. We can't really risk pathing any closer, so we're going to have to go overland." A hand raises and he scratches at his cheek, blinking slowly.
Meridith gestures for him to lead. "By all means, let's not linger. Scarcely hoping to arrive with the battle already lost," she exhales softly, concerned.
Katlyn gives a quiet nod of her head to Bren and awaits his lead. Her nostrils flare slightly as the scents of the Wild lands reaches her and she moves a hand, guardedly, to the holster beneath her jacket. "We aren't going to run into any dinosaurs, are we?" It's an honest question and the young woman doesn't seem thrilled by the prospect.
Meridith gazes at the woman. "We may, have you not fought them?" she asks with a casual kind of curiousness. "I can handle them, mind if I ask how you fight so I can better work with you?" she asks, brows raised and curious
"There is always a chance." SRSimon responds back to Katlyn with a little smile, seeming more amused at this prospect than worried. He is a fairly lackadasical fellow, really. "But yes, let us start making tracks." With that said, he reaches down into his robes, and skirt, producing a strange looking sort of compass and giving it a shake. After a few moments he turns and starts to wander into the forest. There's a meandering sort of lope to his movements, like he's tugged alone by chance more so than design.
Meridith smiles and nods towards the man, though she clearly has her concerns, following anyone into this land was a daunting prospect. She makes a move on alongside.
"Pistol and blade, but uh," Katlyn hesitates a moment before spitting forth, "I haven't been in any real fighting situations." She appears somber as she moves with the others. Footsteps trace behind Bren with an ease of shadowing his tracks in silence. At least she is fairly stealthy in her movements and she avoids touching any plants, as she is unable to determine the deadly ones from the friendly ones. Her voice is a murmur, barely a buzz in the forest, "What do you know about the warlord?" The question could be taken by either of them.
Meridith blinks. "Wait, what, why are you here? You don't really know how to fight!?" she asks with incredulity. She looks to Bren with concern.
On the other hand, it's clear that Bren has never tried to be sneaky in his life. His crook often gets caught on thick vines. His robes and skirt are clutched at by brambles, and thorns. The man in a menace, yet despite this, he manages to cruise through the wilderness with little delay. The snags, and trips and catches don't slow him, always falling away as he shifts forward. "Every bit helps." The man notes back to Meridith and Katlyn with a far too easy smile, considering their situation.
There's a flurry of motion ahead of them, as a swarm of large, puppy-sized flying beetles fly across their path, their chitin glinting in the midday sun as they buzz past.
Meridith grows uneasy, but she keeps her wits about her, focused, and tries not to let it show. She strides through the path, a step or two behind Bren, letting them lead and also to keep her eye on them. She gazes at the beetles with curiousity. "They trouble?" she asks.
"I've undergone extensive training," Katlyn hisses out in annoyance, as if questioning her abilities is preposterous. "I've just... never fought a warlord," she concedes while watching the lack of grace from the ginger-haired wild man. The puppy-sized beetles warrant a halt in Katlyn's stride and her gaze locks on them while she rapidly questions, "friend or foe? friend or foe?" As they become closer, her voice breaks into a loud squeak, "FRIEND OR FOE?!" Her hand clutches at the hilt of her knife, preparing to skewer the beetles. But as they buzz past the trio, Katlyn's eyes take in the glinting beauty of them and she appears to relax the further the swarm bumbles away from them.
Meridith gives Katlyn a polite nod of her head. "Well, training is nice, but battles where it really comes out," she insists. "I apologize for underestimating you," she says graciously. Her panic draws out a half amused giggle.
Bren slowly turns back to face Meridith and Katlyn, shaking his head with the same lazy, unfocused sort of smile. "The beetles? Nawh, they're usually friendly. Unless, of course, there's been some sort of territorial dispute between them and the giant ba-" The man doesn't finish the sentence.
A giant bat swoops down upon the swarm of beetles, scattering them this way and that, several of their number flashing toward the group. They crash into Bren's back, knocking him forward and onto his knees, while others surge toward Meridith and Katlyn, trying to burrow into their clothing, into their -bodies- to hide from the hungry bat!
Meridith's reflexes kick in, her blade raises and then flashes, attempting to slash and skewer them as they approach. "Blegh! Giant beetles! This isn't what I had in mind when I signed up for this!" she insists in a faintly panicked way
Katlyn lacks the amusement of her traveling companion during her panicked moment. She pays attention to Bren, noting that the giant beetles are friendly. Until she is bowled over by several of them trying to burrow -INTO- her body?! She frantically flails her arms at the beetles, trying to shove them off of herself while they repeatedly hit against the kevlar of her gear. She continues to take them as harmless, unless of course she is bitten, and she eyes the bat while her clothes are picked at by the beetles. Then she grabs one of the puppy-sized bugs and launches it toward the bat's head, hoping to feed it and appease the hunger of the massive beast. Meanwhile, she kicks her legs about in a half-assed attempt to guard herself from further beetle burrowing.
The first beetle that surges toward Meridith makes the job easy for her, it practically runs into and upon her blade, guts splattering against her armour as the steel pierces through it's thick chitin. The weight of the critter, and it's blocky form makes it all the more difficult for her to keep swinging her weapon about, however, and in short order a few of the beetles are clutching upon her, tearing at her armour to try and find a gap to crawl inside of.
On the other side of the party, the beetles are doing their best to burrow beneath Katlyn's clothing as well, their large pinchers and gross bug-hands grasping at her to try and make holes where there once weren't any. Choosing to grab a beetle is a decision, that's for certain, but the insect is easy siezed by her, and thrown at the bat.
The bat, for it's part, screeches out, causing ears to ring, and buzz from the sheer volume. It clicks, and hisses, echolocating it's way about to try and seize the beetles. It's efforts are fruitless, at least until one is tossed it's way. It darts in, seizing the beetle and half-crushing it between cruel talons, and then with a gust-worthy flap of it's wings, it's skittering away to find somewhere dark to feast.
Meridith flicks the beetle off the tip of her blade with a burst of telekinsis grabbing and skewer others as they land upon her and attempt to bite. She's aggressive and a little frantic with the effort. "Get OFF me!"
Bren, meanwhile, skitters about on the ground, waving his crook in a circle to try and keep the beetles away from him. It actually seems to be working, weirdly enough. The fellow has luck on his side.
Large pincers and gross bug-hands! Katlyn meets one face to face and lets out a startled shriek as the beetle goes for her face. They are scarier than she realized, and she brings her blade out, for the first time, to shove it into the belly of the beast.
The heebie jeebie beetle community continue their assault upon Meridith and Katlyn yet, despite the threat of the bat being neutralized. At least, there aren't any others coming now, only the few left buzzing and clacking at them. Meridith skewers another bug, and another yet, their guts and blood running up the blade in her hand and oozing across her body. It stinks.
There's a wash of these aforementioned guts across Katlyn's features, and into her mouth as she carves through the soft underbelly of the beetle going for her face. It writhes about, splashing her with orangeish blood as it dies atop of her, and the others start to wiggle free and away.
Bren finally finds his feet again, stepping forward and using his crook to beat on the remaining beetles. It's clear they've managed to survive this, but there's still a few lingering moments of danger.
Meridith exhales annoyed and throws them off of her she pivots to her bow and fires at any yet lingering with careful shots. She exhales sharply. "A river," she says to Bren with some annoyance, when they're clear of the threat.
Katlyn blinks through the mask of giant beetle guts and fights back the rising bile in her throat. She spits and sputters a slop of orange good from her mouth before focusing on the other beetles in a panic. The sight of them flying away is a relief.
Her blade is wiped clean in the dirt and the side of her pants clad thigh before she rises up from the forest floor while spitting guts out. "Poisonous?" She asks of Bren while panting softly, taking a moment to catch her breath before wiping her hands over her face in an attempt to clean up the guts. "We don't have time to wash," she comments aside to Meridith. "This cost us time."
Meridith says "When we find one!"
It's a hard thing to fire a bow in close quarter, and against a darting enemy, but Meridith manages to strike a few times, at least. The beetles are well and truly routed now, as the scent of their compatriots blood serves as the most immediately threat with the bat gone. They push away, taking scraps of clothing and hair with them as they flitter back out and into the forests once more.
The question of a river has Bren just staring in confusion for several seconds, until Katlyn proves some important context and he shakes his head. "Well, there's a river ahead, but if you slip into it, you'll be lost forever." He states, as cheerfully detatched as ever. He's managed to get through the fight with nary a hair out of place, while poor Meridith and Katlyn are covered in bug cuts, and likely scratches and abrasions.
"Well, let's keep moving!"
Meridith scoffs, and does her best to wipe it off. The injuries are unconcerning, she bounces back quick, but...the guts are gross! She humms and follows after.
Seeing as Bren shows no concern for the deadliness of the beatle guts, Katlyn sloughs more guts to the ground with quick scoop and flick motions of her hands. The cheerfulness of the shepherd keeps her on guard and she narrows her eyes slightly while moving back in line to shadow his steps. Occasionally, she spits an acrid taste from her mouth, leaving a splotch of orange tinged spit to decorate the forest floor.
I mean, they're probably not poisonous, right? ..Right?
The fact that a mild sweat has broken out is likely due to the heat of the tropics, and nothing else.
Bren turns about, and begins to lead them through the forests once more, barely avoiding stepping on several of the dead beetles as he wanders ahead without looking where his feet land. Soon enough, they've fallen into a steady rhythm. The man walks, checks his compass, and then adjusts his trajectory, but there's always a sort of languid motion at this. They aren't hard, fierce corrections, more like meandering curves.
As the trio begins to walk, there's a sound in the distance. Hard to parse, at first, though those with more acute hearing may catch on sooner rather than later.
Meridith has no such gift. She is keeping her eyes peeled and keeping, somewhat protectively, near Katlyn. Perhaps condescendingly? Though she seems simply worried for the recent strange
Katlyn flicks her fingers rapidly as the bug guts begin to congeal and dry into crusty layers in the tropical heat. She swipes at her sweaty brow and swats at a stray gnat-like bug. Unaware of any sound in the distance, she keeps up her stride with the group and continues to pick at the remaining beatle goo that clings to her skin.
Bren hums to himself as he leads through the thickening brush, and into a sort of cleared out space, and that sound, no longer muffled by the forestry, becomes all the more apparent. It's water. Fast moving water.
Of course, it helps that they can see the source of it too.
A river rages before them, loud and frothy. Dark swift shapes can be seen darting through the depths. "Ah, the river." Bren exhales with a little nod, "We're getting close. Very close." He marches over towards the bridge that crosses it. Or rather, the remains of it. It's been burned, sabotaged. There's the first hint of a frown upon his features.
Meridith waits at the start of the bridge for him to cross, not wishing to test the structural integrity
"What's in the river?" Katlyn questions loudly upon noticing the darting shapes and her voice barely carries above the rushing of the waters. Then she notices the remains of the burnt bridge and the brief curiosity on her face is dashed away by an angry scowl. "They're ahead of us, they've burnt out any hope of help arriving." She scans up and down the river for any break in flow or narrowing of river into stream. Then her gaze shifts to seek out any fallen logs or other means to cross the churning waters.
The bridge is burned out, and broken, but it's bones yet remain. They're cindered, and weak, but they're still there. Bren barely even bats an eye before he starts to cross over the remains, though the wisdom of this decision is quickly put into question as the planks shatter and break into ash beneath his feet. "Water!" The Shepherd calls back to Katlyn with a little smile, pausing then as he lingers upon this new self-imposed isolation of sorts, more or less trapped partway across the bridge, and left standing upon a support beam that crashes straight into the water.
Katlyn may notice that there's a good deal of debris caught by the bones of the bridge, making a semi-solid path of trapped logs, and lumber and driftwood. It's definitely not safe though.
Meridith nods to Katlyn with a bit of worry upon her face. She lets out a soft exhale and then moves to cross, light and nimble. Her eyes track each step, but she tries not to linger overlong.
"Sooo, we're just supposed to cross this and hope for the best?" Katlyn seems skeptical of the deadly collection of logs and broken bridge bits. "This is crazy. And there's more than water in that river, Bren!" She snarks out toward the all too smiley ginger. She moves behind someone each step is careful to test the semi-solid path. "You're gonna have to jump, Bren!" Craning her head out, she tries to see ahead of where Bren is trapped and where he could possibly leap ahead to the other side.
"Sooo, we're just supposed to cross this and hope for the best?" Katlyn seems skeptical of the deadly collection of logs and broken bridge bits. "This is crazy. And there's more than water in that river, Bren!" She snarks out toward the all too smiley ginger. She moves behind Meridith each step is careful to test the semi-solid path. "You're gonna have to jump, Bren!" Craning her head out, she tries to see ahead of where Bren is trapped and where he could possibly leap ahead to the other side.
Meridith says "If you just I can...push you across."
Meridith says "Then you can extend something to the other side to let us cross?"
Step, step, crack. Fall.
The bridge gives way beneath Meridith, just as it had with Bren - though she's far less fortunate than the man. There's nothing for her to land upon, and her feet splash into the water. Thankfully, she manages to grab at part of the burned structure to prevent herself simply being swept away and into the water. Though the sheer force of the water is tugging at her!
"Just hold on." Bren calls over toward Meridith, reaching over with his crook to sling it about her waist, trying to help her pull up.
Katlyn is left standing just in front of the broken gap, as more and more of the remains start to groan and collapse in turn, like a stack of dominos.
Meridith lets out a shout and a cry as she falls into the surging waters, instinct and she throws a hand out, snapping a stray piece in her grasp. She pivots and twists, fighting the tide and trying to reach a hand to snag the crook. "Let go if your base starts to shift!" She bellows out.
Katlyn lets out a startled gasp as Meridith is plunged into the river. She searches for a something to secure the way across. "You got her, Bren?" The young woman is scowling at the burnt bridge and rushing river, "Is there no better way to cross?" She peers over the edge of where she stands, uncertainty causing her to linger back as the other two are caught in a deadly situation. "I could... maybe move a log?" She judges the distance between where she stands, the gap, and possibly leaping to the other side of it. A hasty decision is made and the teenager steps back lightly to create a space for a short run of momentum to aid in her leap to the otherside. She didn't come here to wimp out in a dangerous situation, but this poor choice may cost her...
It's a struggle, that's for certain, Bren's grip starts to falter somewhat as he does his best to assist Meridith while the burned support beneath him creaks, and cracks. There's a surge of a shadow in the water beneath her, and a fishy head with too many eyes, and far too many teeth pops up beside her, darting about beneath vanishing under the water again. That's not good.
Time slows down for Katlyn as she leaps through the air, the last supportive plank she'd launched from crumbling and breaking. She lands heavy on the otherside, and it collapses- dropping her right down!
Onto a log caught between the supports! Phew! She's so close to Meridith too, she may be able to help drag her up!
There's a shriek as Katlyn causes the bit of pathway to collapse and she hits the log below with a hard grunt that sucks her breath away. She clings to that log and the supports like a tiny koala baby on its mother. Shakily drawing in a breath, she flings out a hand for Meridith to grasp onto while calling out urgently, "Hurry!" The sight of the many eyed, many toothed fish lends a tremble to her voice. She certainly doesn't want to end up in the water with it too!
Meridith groans, considering just letting go to spare the man from being dragged with her, she flinches and twists, pulling with all her might toward Katlyn and tries to seize her hand.
There's a little surge of sorts as Meridith reaches out with her telekinetically enhanced body, grasping onto Katlyn's hand. The fish darts up, and bites viciously where he legs were only moments earlier, getting a mouthful of nothing as her allies manage to drag her to safety. Well, relative safety. The added weight to the log causes the supports it's bucked against to fail, and start collapsing.
But the other side of the river is so close now! Bren tugs his crook back, and runs across the backs of someone and Meridith, then leaping onto the dry land aside!
There's a little surge of sorts as Meridith reaches out with her telekinetically enhanced body, grasping onto Katlyn's hand. The fish darts up, and bites viciously where he legs were only moments earlier, getting a mouthful of nothing as her allies manage to drag her to safety. Well, relative safety. The added weight to the log causes the supports it's bucked against to fail, and start collapsing.
But the other side of the river is so close now! Bren tugs his crook back, and runs across the backs of Katlyn and Meridith, then leaping onto the dry land aside!
Meridith nods to Katlyn. "Three...two....GO!" she bellows, and springs with all her might to make it to the other side of the river.
"Motherf-!" Katlyn squawks out as that dirty ginger runs across the backs of the two women. She is quick to her feet, scowling across at Bren, before following Meridith's lead and leaping on 'GO!'" She hits the bank of the river with another breath seizing thud and flails her wet hands out to any grass or tree roots that bear more strength than the burnt to crisp bridge."
"Motherf-!" Katlyn squawks out as that dirty ginger runs across the backs of the two women. She is quick to her feet, scowling across at Bren, before following Meridith's lead and leaping on 'GO!' She hits the bank of the river with another breath seizing thud and flails her wet hands out to any grass or tree roots that bear more strength than the burnt to crisp bridge.
It's like something out of a movie. The two women scramble up, and flee over the log, and crumbling remains of the bridge, even as they collapse beneath them. They leap, and it's washed away, before they crash down onto the dirt and grass on the other side. Katlyn doesn't quite make it. She starts to slide down the bank, and back toward the river, leaving behind tuffs of grass as she scrambles.
Then Bren's crook is wrapped about her waist, and the Shepherd tugs with all his might, assisting her in pulling back up and onto the shore.
Meridith reaches out two, extending her telekinetic will to pull them both to shore, eyes locked for dark shadows in the fast moving current.
Katlyn's eyes are wide with terror as she claws frantically at the bank. The river gulps at her feet and legs, soaking her even as she flails. Imagining herself being chomped on by the mutant fish, she releases a whined squeal with turns into a startled "URK!" when that shepherd's crook rescues her and drags her to shore. She gasps for air, despite never having her head underwater, and she lays on the shore taking in calming breaths. Her hands lay crumpled at her sides, still clutching onto bits of grass and mud.
Bren too collapses onto the ground to catch his breath, raising a hand and wiping sweat from his brow. "Phew." The man pants out, drawing his crook back to his side and peering between Katlyn and Meridith, "I suppose that's the easy part of the trip done. We should be close now.. to the.." The man pauses, turning to glance over the forest behind them, and sniffs at that air.
Meridith says "Just...five minutes..."
"Easy part, yeah," Katlyn agrees when the thought of facing the warlord floods her mind. She draws in ragged breaths with eyes closed before switching to nose breathing, filling herself with oxygen and ??. She is on her feet once more, sand and mud join the orange blood of beatles in covering her. There's a sinking feeling in her stomach as she looks to the forest.
Bren doesn't explain the sniffing, or anything, really. The man pushes up to his feet, and starts off toward a trail leading through the forest. It's rare to see him move with purpose like this, and his steps threaten to turn into a light jog.
Meridith climbs up, and groans, moving to help Katlyn, but she's already up. She moves to follow after Bren swiftly.
"Dammit," at this point, Katlyn wants to return to Haven and curl up in bed. But that would bring shame to those who trained her and lets out a groan while chasing after Bren.
Without a supernatural sense of smell it takes longer for Meridith and Katlyn to quite come upon the reason for Bren's sudden change in attitude, though, as they crest the small hill at the apex of the path and look down at the valley below, it becomes evident.
There lies the village. Pillaged. Sacked. Raided. Smoke rises from several fires, and there's even a pit of bodies burning near the limits of it. The large force of the raiding party can barely be seen, the Warlord having abandoned the village now that he was through with it, and disappearing into the distance.
Though it's hard to make out from here, however, a small occupying force remains, with the surviving residents locked into cages.
Meridith closes her eyes and whispers something. Then opens her eyes and lets her fury guide her. "We cut them down, we free them, and we pursue that bastard," she murmurs.
As they crest the hill, Katlyn immediately crouches in the bushes. She scowls at the sight of the raided village. "There's not much we could have done. Just the three of us," she decides with a solemn tone as she stares at the pit of bodies before shifting her gaze to the occupying force, attempting to count heads. When she hears Meridith, she lifts a brow at the armored woman, "You think we stand a chance against his forces? Nevermind what is left down there guarding the cages."
Bren just sort of stands there, shaking like a leaf. After a few moments he joins Katlyn in crouching down by the bushes, shaking his head. "It's too late." He says softly. Though, that doesn't mean it's too late for those awaiting sale to slavery.
Meridith glowers at Katlyn. "If you didn't come to fight a small contigent left behind, why come at all?" She says in an urgent and angry tone
There's a squad of men lingering down in the space, though fortunately, they don't appear to be heavily armored nor particularly well disciplined. They're the sort of riff-raff that must've joined up with Yurgen and his forces in order to get a share of the riches, rather than being career soldiers. They are led by a man who seems to know what he's doing though. He's wearing a sword rather than wielding daggers, and spears himself.
Meridith says "We can open up at range. Find cover and strike. I'm comfortable fending them off as we make our approach."
"I'm not saying don't fight, but we can't go chasing a warlord and his army," Katlyn keeps her gaze on those below and shakes her head. "Sounds like a plan, need to get a bit closer." She draws her silenced pistol and slinks down amongst the brush, keeping low and hopefully out of sight as she gets within range.
Meridith gazes at Bren with some concern. "Are you capable of handling this?" she asks worriedly.
Bren, the shepherd-cum-guide shakes his head slowly. He doesn't join the others in approaching, the man isn't a warrior. He lingers here though, watching from the relative safety of the bushes as Katlyn starts to approach. He glances aside to Meridith at her question, "I'm just here to.." The sentence dips off. They know why he's here.
Katlyn silently lifts her gun, aiming through the sight before taking first shot at the head of the man appearing in charge.
Meridith blinks as Katlyn takes her shot. She lingers low and quiet, pulling her bow and aiming warily.
SPLAT
The leader of this trope of raider's head explodes outwards like an overly ripe melon, right as he was in the middle of a conversation about how they'd divide up their treasures, and each take a turn at the women they've captured. The men surrounding him pause, in shock, and alarm. Some of the prisoners scream out. The world stops.
Then it starts up again. Really, really quickly. They charge outwards, drawing knives and spears, and storm out in search of whomever killed the man. "We're under attack!"
Meridith is the first to be found! The squad descends upon her en masse, stabbing and grabbing at the warrioress.
Meridith can gear up for this?
Meridith is set!
As the raiders descend upon them, Katlyn draws her knife and rushes at one, slashing and stabbing in a panicked state. Hardly able to keep calm as adrenaline floods her system in the fight for life.
The squad surrounds Meridith and Katlyn, and despite their greater numbers, they're not winning this fight thus far. They lack armour, and cohesion, not to mention training. But their blades are still sharp, and catch at armour and flesh alike.
Meridith does not appear to be all that pressed by their attacks. She deflect the incoming blows and dances about them, deliver a powerful slash.
"Hold fast! Katlyn! You've got them! You're ready for this she cries!" The little goddess, Meridith's words carry the weight of a warriors blessing, filling Katlyn with might and vigor.
Katlyn's blade seeks the vital organs of the raider she fights. As the two women bring the squad to a collapse, she exhales loudly and lets out a relieved laugh. "Yeah, I got this. Thanks to you, Meridith!"
It's a messy thing, this fight. It's far from the romantic battles oft depicted in Earth media. Many of the raider die slow, painful deaths. Choking on their own blood, or wheezing with collapsing lungs as bullets and blades pierce through their unarmoured forms. The last few of the lot turn tail and run, fleeing off into the night as blood soaks into the dirt of the village and yet more corpses are left in the wake of the heroes.
Smoke stings the eyes as Katlyn and Meridith are afforded a moment to catch their breath now, while the captured villagers sing their praises, and beg for their assistance in escaping the cages.
They may not have been able to prevent the sacking, but there's a very small silver lining here, in that they've managed to save some lives, at least.
Katlyn launches a spit toward her fallen foe and moves to search for keys on the assassinated commander.
The keys are sought, found and claimed. They hang from a throng upon the dead man's waist. They're easy to find, and thankfully don't appear to have been damaged in the fall. Especially considering the crude iron they're shaped of.
Meridith doesn't seem that disturbed by it. In truth, she looks pleased, happy to see them die. She spits on the dirt alongside Katlyn and nods to her. She looks to the villagers with pity, regret. Not sad for the murder she had to do, but for her failure to rescue the others.
Katlyn captures the keys and scrambles over to the cages to unlock them. She then motions for Bren to join them by waving both hands in the air toward the direction of the hill they descended from. The young woman has now added blood to her stains of adventure and after the cages are emptied, she drops the set of keys to the dirt.
The shepherd eventually joins the others down in the wreckage of the village, and while praise is lathered upon Meridith and Katlyn, the attention of the survivors soon turns to trying to put out the lingering fires. The rest of the afternoon is used up by this task, and soon evening falls upon the land. What riches, and food that yet remain in hidden places are offered to, and shared with their would-be heroes, as the survivors plan to travel back toward Navorost, and away from their ruined homes. There are many weeping children, and women, and a few of the elderly survivors go about burying the dead.
You might not have been able to stop Yurgen this time, but you've now seen first hand what is left in his wake, though his motivations remain a mystery for the time being.
OOC: Thanks for playing! Let me know if there's any awards that you want!