DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Hall of Fame - Latest Top 10 completed games HWD: The Heartwood HWD: Introduction

Daxia
in the alley with Bekkah, Kadri and Lia; Cesare and a very unhappy girl in the window; Darian on the roof

"I see. You drop, I catch."

Bekkah

She needed to help the girl down quickly so she could go and help Darian. She climbed up onto the barrels and then onto the crate, leaning her body against the wall for support.

"Cesare, hand her to me. Slowly now and I will help her down."

"When he does child, grab hold of me and when we get down, Lady Attera will ease your pains."

Darian

She gave the bow a little push and let it fall then listened.

Daxia
in the alley with Bekkah, Kadri and Lia; Cesare and a very unhappy girl in the window; Darian on the roof

As the bow slid off the roof, Daxia scooped it out of the air, moving the larger surface area of her shield towards it... tapping it... tilting it... and slapping her free hand over it, holding it in place. Laying it gently on the ground tight against the building, she then slipped the shield off her arm and leaned that against the building, as well.

"Ok, Darian. Now you, ok?"

Darian

"No yet," she gasps. "Other weapons."

The Hunter sheds the quivers and other bow and drops them one by one to the waiting Daxia. Once those are over, she readies herself and lays face down on the roof. She offers up a prayer to Khannish for his strength for she knows the pain will become much worse very soon.

Slowly she edges her toes over, then her legs and fresh pains shoot out from her wound as she bends at the waist. She cannot help the whimper that escapes from her. Then she pushes with her arms a little more....

Darian has to trust that her companions will catch her or cushion her fall in some way. She cannot reach above her head with her right hand, and so is left hanging by only the left until she can hold on no more.....

Daxia
in the alley with Bekkah, Kadri and Lia; Cesare and a very unhappy girl in the window; Darian on the roof

As Darian dropped each item, Daxia caught it as best she could and placed it beside the Hunter's longbow and her own shield. Only one arrow fell out of Darian's quiver, but three fell out of hers... and she spent precious seconds gathering them.

Finally, her back to the wall, she stood under the eaves, under Darian. The Hunter was going to come down fast, and this was not going to be pleasant for either of them; her intent was to move quickly, stepping forward and grasping Darian's right leg as she dropped, and pivoting to the right so that the other woman's body fell across her shoulders... and dropping down to one knee -- or both knees, or even hands and knees -- to break Darian's fall and keep the arrow from being jammed deeper in her back by impact with the ground.

She took several short, quick breaths and said, "Ok, Darian... now!"

Darian

Her fingers could hold no more and she released them and fell....

[ooc Waiting to hear if the girl quietens because if not might try something else.]

[ooc I am lost again with who is doing what. I thought Kadri and Lia were helping with the girl - lots going on in one area and feeling a bit run over as conversations/actions all happening in the same place. Can we please SLOW/STOP until things are straightened?]

[OOC: We are all waiting for GM response at this point.]

The Heartwood
Nearing Sunset, the Town of Cragside
Restday The Last Day of the Month of Raven, 2623

Kadri, Camelia, Cesare, bekkah, Darian, Daxia and Longtooth

It was not Cesare's reasonable words nor Bekkah's soft voice that calmed the girl; it was the name of Mercy's Lady that caught her gagged breath and stopped most of her movements. Then, then it became an uncoordinated rustle of trying to regain her balance and composure. Beneath the window someone must be upon the dieties good terms; the stack of barrels and crates stayed sure and steady. This greatly aided the progress of Cesare and his prisoner; it was not long before the two were upon the alley street.

The girl, if set down, almost tumbled; whatever had her asleep upon Cesare's rescue still efecting her. She had been bound and gagged, however the oddity is that she had been bound in Cesare's cloak and the sharp sighted would notice the gag was also his.

About halfway down the alley are Darian and Daxia. Weapons and bow are caught and retrieved; and after a moments stretch and preparation, so is the Hunter. Everything takes a modicum of time; thus both girl and Darian are safely in the alley at about the same time ... the same time that Longtooth round the corner, padding fast, upon the heels of Camelia and Kadri. He passed on by, only stopping with the two archers, while Camelia paused at the alley's edge.

The sun touched the far horizon. Dusk had arrived, the alley now very very dark, the small trading town cast now in shades of grey.

For a moment, perhaps a heartbeat, for now, the only sound in the shadows was the harsh breathing of this very small alley gang.

Daxia
in the alley with the Gang minus Mikal and Celi

"Bekkah!" She had Darian safely off the roof, now lying face down on the ground; the urgent call to her sister was not loud, but it was full of concern. Daxia kept a hand on the Hunter's shoulder as she knelt on one knee beside the woman, to let her know she was safe... nothing more. "No moving, Darian, ok?" From her crouch, she was very nearly eye-to-eye with the big ruff. "Longtooth not worry, Darian not worry. Bekkah fix."

She looked around at the rest of the group. "Must get back to Inn, fast," she said as she fixed her eyes on her sister. "Bekkeh, say what I do about arrow. Cesare, explain for girl that Bekkah her guardian now, please. Lia, Kadri... watch please, until Darian can move."

Daxia would wait with the Hunters, assisting Bekkah with the arrow if necessary, unless Lia or Kadri sounded an alarm and she needed to fight.

Darian

She had no desire to move, except to reach for Longtooth's scruff with her good side. The feel of his fur under her fingers was a comfort. "I no see other. Where shot come from. Take care."

ooc: Lia's actions as seen in Woof's post above may change

Cesare

He is more than glad to reach solid ground and there are enough of his companions around that he can attend to the girl. Very gently he starts to remove her bindings, including the gag but he talks to her softly the whole time.

"The Lady of Attera will look after you. She has offered you her protection. But we are not safe yet. There are still dangerous men around so you must stay quiet. Understand? You have been given lowvine. It will have made you groggy. I can carry you or lend support if you need it but we need to move.. and move quickly so take what help you need."

Bekkah

After helping the girl to the ground, she examined her quickly and as if she had been doing this all her life, immediately recognized what was in the girl's system.

"My Lady Attera, guide my hands to aid this young girl." she said touching her hands to the girls bruises. Almost immediately her prayer is answered by a warmth and a soft glow. The girl feels a warmth flow into her body and almost instantly all pain is gone.

"I can not remove the drug from her system, but she will be clear of it's effects by tomorrow eve."

She was just standing from her work when Dazi called to her. She raised her skirts and ran to Darian.

"The amount of blood is not great Darian. You will not need a major miracle. Just lay still. She laid her hands near the wound.

"Okay, Dazi pull arrow straight out, do not twist it."

As Dazi did what she was asked, she once again called on Attera's aid and once again she was answered by the glow and warmth. Anyone watching saw Darian's wound close before their eyes and Darian felt all pain disappear from her body.

She leaned away from Darian so she could stand. Bekkah remained on one knee, taking a breath, not getting up quickly. It might not be obvious to anyone watching the scene unless they were watching her closely, but Bekkah was exhausted. She put a hand on the ground and slowly made her way back to her feet.

Daxia
in the alley with the Gang minus Mikal and Celi

After pulling the arrow out, Daxia watched Bekkah, clearly impressed by her sister's skill. She rose more quickly than Bekkah, and helped her stand, wrapping an arm around her waist and giving her support. "You need rest, dear sister," she said softly in Bekkah's ear. Then she turned and reached her other arm out to Darian, to help her up as well. "Come, Darian. We must go. Can you move quickly?"

<Lia>

She stayed at the mouth of the alley her attention focused...elsewhere. If she heard what was being said or going on with those she came with, Lia gave no sign of it.

Darian

The arrow hurt more coming out than it had going in. Sweat broke out on her forehead. Her fingers tightened in Longtooth's fur, and she squeezed her eyes shut and bit down on the cry the wanted to escape. Then there was the glowing warmth, like the feel of the Pack's fire on a cold, winter night. After that the pain was completely gone.

She looked up in surprise. Of course she had heard about such things, but to experience it was quite different.

"Aye, I can."

She accepted Daxia's help up to her feet and gathered the bows and quivers. "We go, watch roofs."

Daxia
in the alley with the Gang minus Mikal and Celi

Daxia nodded. "Ok... you, Longtooth watch above," she said before turning to Kadri. "Kadri know town best. Need fast, safe route back to Inn, yes? You, Lia... you lead, watch ahead. Cesare..." She turned to the Rhoni. "...you follow, help Elissa and Bekkah, yes? Daxia follow all, guard rear." She gave her sister a quick hug and settled her cloak around Bekkah's shoulders before turning her over to the care of the Rhoni. Retrieving her shield and slipping it over her arm, she said, "Go, go people. Stay close."

She slid her sword out of the scabbard, and prepared to follow the group back to the Inn.

Kadri:

She nods quietly.


"Take Fishmonger to Cammelia lane, turn in on Sourwood. Should keep us mostly away from main roads and out of attention. Ready?"

When there are nods, she starts to lead.

The Heartwood
Nearing Sunset, the Town of Cragside
Restday The Last Day of the Month of Raven, 2623

Kadri, Camelia, Cesare, Bekkah, Darian, Daxia and Longtooth

The lady's touch is true and sure. Hurts were knitted, and for both Darian and Elise. Bruises vanished, as well as black eyes, the
pain of a quarrel banished as flesh and muscle knit themselves back together.

The girl's step was slow; at least now she, like Bekkah, looked as if they needed a good night's sleep; rather desperately.

The sky was a deep deep purple when they left the alley beneath Kadria's guidance; taking the back ways through the town. Most homes were dark; only the well to do windows showing the first hints if oil and candle light.

It was Lia who caught the glimpses of motion down the streets. As they moved down the back alleys upon the main street several armed and armored men rushed towards north; towards the warehouse district. Probably town guard, happily they seemed focused on their way and with a block between the small group did not attract attention.

It was dark when they slipped through the Hart and Horse's back door; to find the tavern bustling with dinner.

Not just the Hart; there was an extreme amount of bustling and action at the other two taverns. A troop of horsemen were clustered about the Bar and Fire; their mood grim as they set there beasts to the stables and then vanished inside. At the Punched Penny there was a small crowd, broken into distinct and argumentative groups with lots of ins and outs of personages through the tavern's door.

The only members missing Mikal and Celi; on the other side of the Town's closed gates.

Cesare

They seem to have stirred up a hornet's nest. Wouldn't be the first time he's been in this situation but his usual practice would be to either fade and lie low or to move on. Trouble is best avoided in his view. However he is concerned that they don't lose what they have just risked to win.. and for their missing companions. He turns to Daxia, speaking quietly.

"Think we might need somewhere safer that the inn unless we involve the captain and I think you wanted to avoid that."

Cesare has an arm around the girl to help support and guide her.

"And I wonder if I would be best going to see if Mikal and Celi are alright."

Daxia
with the Gang, minus Mikal and Celi, plus the Girl at the Inn

She slid her sword back into the scabbard just before entering the Inn.

"True, not want involve Verchovai. But you think there safer place right now?" Daxia asked Cesare with a sigh. "I think not. Bekkah and girl need rest, not moving around." She shook her head. "Verchovai not know anything what we do, except borrow cart for Mikal. We not speak of this at all; Verchovai and Horde not involved then. They know nothing. We keep that way." She wrapped an arm around Bekkah, who looked ready to drop from the exhaustion.

"You get out gate, get over wall without anyone seeing?" She shook her head again. "Told Mikal to stay outside town if thought it safer. If Mikal, Celi not back mid-morning, then we go find. Now, I think they safe."

She nodded her head towards the nearest fireplace. "We get Bekkah and Elisse settled, get food and drink, yes? You sit with while I put armor away, ok?" She gave him a very tired smile.

Together, they got their charges seated near the fire, and on her way back out to the stables to store her armor with the rest of her gear, she caught young Nessa. Pointing out Cesare, Bekkah and Elise, she asked the youngster to bring each of them a bowl of stew and a mug of cider, adding that she would settle up with her Da before the end of the night.

Out in the stables, she saw that the stableboy had fed both Talia and Fern, so she just stood with Fern... one arm over the horse's neck, other hand gently rubbing her nose, and her forehead pressed tight against Fern's neck.