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Post by Javal Zarrias on Mar 13, 2023 23:02:16 GMT -5
It was an excellent day for the fellblood Javal Zarrias, it was a nice ashy and sunny Ash Lands day besides the sand/ash storm picking up. He and his friends were making their way through the rough desert to make it to Darkveil city to meet up with a client that reached out to them via owl about a job they would like to talk about in person. Everything was relatively alright he was chatting it up with his friends getting sand and sulfur flying in his mouth, he was walking with his vice-president Nadia Sadrine, his cowardly scarecrow friend Bootsamon Pensworth, and his dark and brooding nightmare steed Asleipmir. Javal continued to talk and sing walking with his eyes closed as a joke until he felt something in front of him, he saw his friends stop walking as well. They were all surrounded by armed desert bandits, their leader a man with a red mask said, “Hey hey, we love meeting passing travelers, but it seems you’re new here around here you need to pay a “traveler’s toll”, now give us all of your money and stuff or we’ll get it from your dead bodies ourselves”. Javal unsheathed his katana “Shield” and got into a fighting stance, Nadia grabbed her metal longbow and went into a fighting stance, Bootsamon was cowering in fear and in the fetal position begging for his life, Asleipmir was standing around trying to shield Bootsamon. Javal said, “Damn you, you wicked fiends it appears you are looking for a fight, well you’ve got one right here”. Javal saw someone approaching behind all of them clearly not like the dessert bandits Javal hoped that they were good people.
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Mar 14, 2023 0:27:38 GMT -5
Now, this was quite a sight.
Normally, Del expected brigands in the Ash Lands to have a little more presence when attacking people; it was a mark of the sort of society fostered here that ensured a certain type of person flourished; the hard-line, no-nonsense killer sort. This group seemed to be... rather theatrical, by comparison to what she knew, but there was still much of the Ash Lands she had not yet explored. Perhaps these bandits thought they had found an easy mark in the group they were currently in the process of accosting? At the very least, the group in question seemed well armed, particularly the fellblood with the o-dachi. That was what it looked like from here, at any rate-- her keen blacksmith's eyes lock on to the edge, even through the haze of the whipping sand and ash, with a gleam of interest.
It was a danger she herself was prepared for as she went about gathering shards of obsidian and what wildflowers she could find to bring back for the children of Shade's Valley as she made her return from Zeinav proper. She carefully puts the picked flowers she had managed to pick so far into her satchel for safe-keeping-- and to free up her hands.
Padding forward, she notices the fellblood of the group catching her eye. She dips her head slightly as she pads behind the brigands, close enough to hear the group speak, and unheard by the brigands.[1]
Her dark hair is hidden beneath a thin cloth to keep the sand and soot out of her curls, but her amber eyes are visible as she gets close. She made no move to disguise herself as one of the bandits or one of this other group either way, and it was no secret that she could be either friend or enemy if the wind so blew one way or another. While she was reticent to be involved-- she was so very tired from her journey-- she could at least try to even the odds.
She ensures she's still standing a few feet back from them, about ten or so from the back of the group. As the bandit leader growls "If that's how you want it--- GET 'EM!" then, and only then, is when she moves.
Standing exactly where she is and getting no closer, energy channels around her limbs. [2] She slides her foot forward a couple of inches, and then sweeps her leg out before her, knocking the back six brigands off their feet and tumbling to the ground.
"In this weather? You should all be inside," She chides the bandits, a note of disapproval in her voice. "Name's Del. Are you from the neighbourhood?" She calls out to the other group while the other half of the bandits start to pick themselves up off the ground, and on the whole start to regroup to split their attacks onto two fronts.
[1] Pass Without Trace - Shadow Dancer Prestige [2] Art of the Soul - Monk Prestige (2 posts left)
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Mar 14, 2023 0:43:39 GMT -5
Javal was amazed by this new figure he saw approach earlier, she knocked down six of the 12 bandits Javal saw. The leader of them barked, "Hey get back up, you six deal with that lady and get revenge, the rest of us will deal with our new prey". Javal barked "Bootsamon and Aslepimir you guys get some distance from here, me and Nadia can handle our 6 enemies. Worry about staying safe. He place his katana into a slashing stance and said, "Javal Style: Single Slash" and slashed downwards into an enemies chest. The enemy grabbed Javal by the wrist and threw him into the ground where two other bandits smashed their clubs into his back. Nadia was dealing with her own share of 2 minions slamming her bow into them. The bandit leader looked at Javal and Nadias fight with his hands crossed. Javal back kicked the enemies off of him and stood his ground holding his katana in an attacking position in his right hand while he held a gargoyle rook in the other. He threw it into the sand and his stone-faced gargoyle friend, Gustave. He roared to life and sprang into action. He yells to the stranger “Hello Del my name is Javal Zarrias, I’m from Thorock. We're just some passing by travelers, would you like to be my friend?".
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Mar 16, 2023 1:18:36 GMT -5
As her opponents rush her, Del's fist snaps out in a jab, knocking one of the six flying back with a punch that was thrown about ten feet away.[1] Following this, to the left, is a harsh downward stomp, in what would have been directly onto the bones of her opponets foot if they had been much closer; this time, it sends the person sprawling forward with a yelp, as if their foot had suddenly been pinned by an unseen force for a moment. They hit the ground face down, the last four surging forward to try and bring her down.
When they near, Del calmly starts to stride forward, to generate a little momentum as the first sword comes down in a cleave. Gently deflecting the fist of the bandit, she snags it, and turns her body, continuing his momentum forward and directly into his cohort. With a shove-kick to the small of his back, they both go sprawling, heads knocking together with a sickening clunk.
The last pair are a little harder to ward off. The one with a crossbow fires at her, the bolt whizzing through the air. Del's hand flashes up, catching it [2] in midair. With a pivot on the ball of her foot, Del flings it back at them, striking the bandit dead in the chest. Using the movement from this pivot, Del lowers herself down into another leg sweep, a blow to her head from the bandit's sword passing harmlessly overhead.
Odd that now this sort of fighting wasn't even second nature to her; it was first nature. As natural as breathing.
As his legs are taken out, Del completes the movement by rising to her feet, lifting up the leg she had swept with, and stomping down hard on the bandit's chest, ensuring that when he hit the ground, he did so harder and faster than he could have with mere gravity alone. Leaving a road full of broken and aching bodies in her wake, Del continues her stride forward, to where the other six are fighting.
She did so hate to intrude-- and she could see this Javal had a gargoyle of some kind with him? That was astonishing by itself. She laughs softly at the greeting, calling back. Well met, Javal Zarrias of Thorock. I think I would!"[/b] She reaches out and puts a hand on the shoulder of the bandit leader who was watching the scene, preventing him from moving anywhere outside of Del's own reach.[3] He struggles alarmed, but Del's grip is like iron, an anchor of unrelenting force. He can't even twist around to try and bury his dagger in her stomach, her grip is so sure.
"Just keeping this one from taking off." Del calls out to Javal as he and his friend fight off the bandits. They said they would fight the other half, but could they use help. "Need a hand in there?"
[1] Art of the Soul - 1/3 posts remain [2] Bare Fists Enchantment: Deflective Rune [3] Iron Grip - Brawler Prestige
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Mar 17, 2023 12:12:14 GMT -5
Gustave roared to life grabbing two enemies by their had and smashed them into the ground. Gustave pummeled them into unconsciousness. During Gustave's distraction Nadia managed to hit her opponent square in the temple with her bow knocking them out. Javal slashes at both of his opponents not to damage them just to give him some space. He then throws his katana into one of their legs he screams out in pain Javal gets close and pulls out his katana and says "Javal Style: Single Slash" slashing into the other bandit. "Hey bandit leader looks like we beat your guys up, we won, now who sent you to ambush us". The bandit leader still held by Del barks back "I ain't telling you a thing fellblood, employer confidentiality and all that".
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Mar 19, 2023 0:33:33 GMT -5
She watches the gargoyle, Javal and his cohort handily take out the rest of the enemies that were harrying them. Keeping her grip tight on the man's shoulder. Once, he reaches up to try and slash at the hand fixed there, but she presses into his shoulder, digging into the soft pressure point between his shoulder and neck. The pain seizes up that side of his body and he stops his movement, growling under his breath.
By the time Javal and his group have finished decimating the group, and approaching the leader still held fixed into place by her grip, he is practically shaking with pain. Her brows lift as he declines the offer to confess; admirable. But, she gives Javal and his friend with the bow a confused look. "Were you expecting to be ambushed?" That seemed very different than a simple set of bandits-- their shouting earlier had just indicated they had wanted a 'traveller's toll' or their money and valuables would have been collected from their dead bodies. If this was a targeted attack, it was definitely not clear before. How would they know the difference, unless they were expecting this?
She holds fast to the bandit leader, kicking the back of his leg to force him to kneel on the ground. "If you were already paid in full, I can assure you that you have a very clear choice before you. You can either start talking, or, you won't be able to enjoy the money your 'client' already paid you. Either you're a patsy, or you're being punished for something by whoever hired you and you're considered expendable. Either way; speak your message. Or I can introduce you to what a separated shoulder feels like." The grip on the man's shoulder tightens in a very clear promise to make good on those words.
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Mar 21, 2023 15:41:23 GMT -5
As Del begins to interrogate the bandit leader, he immediately breaks his tough guy facade as Del places some more pressure, “Yes Yes, my band of thieves and I were informed by our employer that the fell blood and his band would be passing by here. He told us to rob you and kill you. Our employer said that you and your party were about to take a job from his business rival that could hurt his business. I’m telling you because I'm not going to risk my life for a job. Let me and my goons go, we'll never show our faces to you again, I can promise you that”. He says with urgency in his voice.
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Mar 22, 2023 17:56:26 GMT -5
Del arches a brow a little amused at how easily he gave in, and backs off some of the pressure of her hand-- only slightly. Enough to make him relax a bit, but not enough to let him go. Not by far.
She lifts her gaze to Javal and his companion, looking at their reaction to what the man said. She had her own opinions on how to deal with these circumstances, but this was not a hit that had been placed on her. This was for Javal and his friends to decide how best to proceed.
"So, it sounds as though your plans and whereabouts are well documented," Del notes, glancing down at the trapped bandit leader idly before looking back to the group. Her eyes rest on Javal. "This decision is yours to make. I am not the one who was targeted," for once, "--and therefore you get to decide how to proceed."
In her view, though, they had a couple of options before them. They could take this man to the 'potential employer' who had been the rival of the bandit leader's employer, evidently. Or, they could kill him outright. Or, smply let him go, as requested. There were a lot of potential choices. She wondered which they would go with.
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Mar 23, 2023 15:02:10 GMT -5
Javal decided the best course of action was to take the bandit leader along with him to his boss so they could proceed with him. “Del would you like to join us on this adventure, you seem like a delightful person and friend” after waiting for their response they continued their journey across the desert until nightfall hit. Once nightfall hit Javal wave his hands around and created a sandcastle house with three rooms. One room for Javal, Nadia, and Bootsamon, one room for Del, and one room for Asleipmir the nightmare steed and the captured bandit leader. Javal trusted Asleipmir to keep the bandit leader in check.
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Mar 24, 2023 21:31:46 GMT -5
Del looks behind her at the path, one she had been heading down as she made her way back to Darkveil-- home, now, she supposed. She returned her gaze to Javal, her eyes thoughtful. "Delightful? Well, I suppose that's in the eye of the beholder," She chuckles softly, though she looks at the bandit leader with a firm, flat look as they start their trek. "I can walk with you for a while at least. Get to know you all. " She tips her head towards him, curious. If they were walking the opposite way, she would be of little help in his goal.
As night quickly descends though, and a place is offered to her to stay, Del hesitates. The group have been incredibly hospitable, but she is still unsure. She looks to Javal before they all turn in for the night, brows pressed. "Are you heading to Darkveil by any chance, or somewhere else? I'm headed home after a trip to Zeinav City. And who are you planning on working for that someone would send a mercenary band after you?" And was there a guarantee they wouldn't have sent someone else, as well?
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Mar 25, 2023 2:15:30 GMT -5
Nadia and Bootsamon were in the group's room preparing to go to bed as Javal and Del were talking outside of her room.
“Yeah, our contractor told us to meet him in the Darkveil City. He told us to first rendezvous with his assistant at a local tavern that had a horseshoe on side of it. Yeah, I’ll at least check out what’s going on, if he’s a bad guy I’ll take him down. Something about all this tells me this goes much deeper than we think, call it a gut feeling. If you wouldn’t mind would you accompany us, another set of hands, if something goes wrong, would be surely appreciated” Javal chuckled quietly
Soon enough night had occurred everybody in the sand house was mostly quiet save for Asleipmirs horsly snoring, it would be a shame if anything were to happen on such a quiet night.
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Mar 26, 2023 14:31:46 GMT -5
Del nods faintly, giving Javal a small smile. She understood a thing or two about gut feelings. "Of course. I don't mind escorting you at all, especially not while people are on the hunt for you. It's not that far a journey from here." Of course, that meant getting there.
Settling in for the night proves difficult. It's strange to have a walls around her while on the road; Shade's Valley was a comfort, a home, the only bed she'd had in decades that actually felt safe enough to sleep in. The hut that's made of sand here isn't the same as that, but there's people here, bodies that are on the lookout. That should feel safe.
Strange that it doesn't.
Thoughts turn like molasses slow cogs in her mind as she tries and fails to fall asleep immediately. Eventually, she sits up in the provided bed to run a hand through her hair, feeling anxious and not sure why. Perhaps it was because this group was being hunted that was triggering these latent feelings of cageyness and fear, but she felt she needed to be on alert. She sighs and closes her eyes, listening to the wind outside, the sounds of the mountains as they gave way to the desert, and the distant snoring of nearby creatures.
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Mar 26, 2023 23:11:51 GMT -5
Javal was sleeping pretty well all things considered since Nadia always took the bed, and him and Bootsamon were rooming on the sandy house floor. He was fast asleep snoring in fact until he felt it, a horse neigh and the sound of running. He jumped to action which wasn't all that much of task since he slept in the same clothes as always, he even had katana the katana at the ready since he slept with it cradled in his hands. He quickly swung the door open and sprinted to the room where he left Asleipmir and the captured bandit leader. He saw a giant hole in the side of the wall with Asleipmir and the bandit leader no where to be seen. Javal sprinted out into the night desert and what he saw surprised him. Asleipmir was standing outside guarding the house from what it seemed where night raiders. Javal noticed they all had the same clothing as the captured bandit leader. "Hey, what are you guys doing out here"
The bandit leader cackled "These guys are here to help me escape your capture and get the original job done"
There looked to be around 40 dudes, Javal could take on at least 10 he was sure of that but 40 seemed like a big if. But he heard something faint in the distance, whatever that was he hoped it wasn't reinforcements for the enemy. It was already looking kind of tough already. He wasn't sure he could protect everyone if anymore came.
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Post by Delaela Fenastra-Asiliari on Apr 1, 2023 13:34:13 GMT -5
Del leans out from behind a corner to observe, counting in her mind in silence[1] at the bandit group that surrounds them. She grimaces faintly. That was a large number, even for her and her tactics. It would be one thing if she was by herself, but another entirely considering everyone they had here.
Interesting that they were able to track the group, too. Something does not feel right to Del. She hopes that this isn't any group that was looking for her as well.
For now, she banishes the thought. She closes her eyes, feeling the fabric of darkness around her. Well. It would at least give them time to decide what to do.
The shadows at the edge of the field of battle suddenly coverge, warping and slithering along the ground until everything is enveloped in a unique and terribly dense darkness that writhes and winks and whispers around the enemy[2]. Javal stands at the outside of this sudden wall of shadow, his opponents yelling in alarm as their own shadows seem to rebel against them. It would buy time to decide what to do at least. Fight, or flee?
[1] Pass Without Trace [2] Mass Shadow Control
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Post by Javal Zarrias on Apr 1, 2023 23:17:20 GMT -5
Javal is surprised and suddenly sees a giant pool of shadows in front of him the opposing enemies. His opponents shout in surprise at the darkness enveloping them, it appears that his new ally had bought him some time to either run away or fight. For Javal there was only one viable option and that was to fight he unsheaths “Katana” the katana and jumps into the enemy’s position. He appears in the middle of the enemy’s position and starts slashing at his enemies.
The sounds of Javal yelling his attack names can be heard quite easily, “Javal Style: Single Slash” and “Javal Style: Sword Strike”.
Nadia his trusty retainer had jumped into the fray after him delivering hard blows with her bow. His other two friends Bootsamon and Asleipmir were sitting down on the desert sand next to the hole in the sandcastle house watching the fight go in.
Soon the sounds of more people approaching are heard and Javal looks across to see who has arrived. To his relief, it appeared that the new party was dressed in green and black clothing and began to try to fight against the enemy. They weren’t a large group numbering about 15 people but they were helping Javal and his friends and for that he was grateful.
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