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

"Avoiding unneccesary risks is the first thing for anyone. And yor idea? Good for shell game. Always make them believe they know more than they do."

Daxia
with the Gang at the Inn

Daxia regarded Mikal for a long time, seeing -- but not really seeing him. She didn't move from her relaxed position, and her face only lost its neutral expression once or twice when her brows furrowed slightly. Finally, she shrugged. "Both paths look same from long view... both paths have risks looking close." She sighed, and refocused on him. "Ok. Your way. Armor under tunic, hide weapons. Abandon wagon if must, but anything happen to it, you fix." She looked at Celi. "Still make sure horses return safe, yes?"

She glanced around at the group, towards the stairs where Darian and Longtooth would descend, finally to Kadri, who had returned while she was considering Mikal's plan. "Kadri, Lia leave first... have longest way to go." Turning to Cesare, she said, "You, Darian, Longtooth go next. Me, Bekkah next. Mikal, Celi in wagon last."

After a handful of heartbeats, she pushed her chair back and stood. "I change, too. Bring back bow, arrows for Darian." With that, she walked off towards the stables.

When she returned, just after Darian and Longtooth, she wore her breeches and shorter riding tunic and surcoat. Layered between the tunic and surcoat was her ring hauberk. On her arms and legs, she wore her lamellar vambraces and greaves. Her hair was tied back with a leather thong; from her belt hung both dagger and sword, tiny bone pieces at the ends of the silk strip clacking softly, occasionally, as she walked. She carried her round shield in one hand, bow and quiver of arrows in the other. These last she handed to Darian. "Good hunting," she said quietly.

Mikal

He waits and listens. When Daxia finally shrugs in agreement he relaxes. As she leaves, he stands and removes his spare shirt from his pack and pulls it on over his armour. It's a tight fit, and anyone looking at him carefully would be able to tell he's got something on under it. He pulls his cloak on over both, and that helps a bit more with the concealment.

When Daxia returns, after she hands the bow and arrows to Darian, he approaches her and nods.

"Thanks for listening."

He doesn't know if she knows it or not, but should she have refused to agree to the change, he was obligated by the Contract to do as she wanted, whether he wanted to or not. The fact she was willing to listen, as she too had promised, was important to him.

"Oh. One other thing. Should we be ..., delayed in returning, you promise to take care of Talia, yes?"

He then grabs a blanket to wrap up his sword, helmet, main gauche, and crossbow to hide in the wagon and turns and heads for the stables to get the team and wagon with Celi and start their end of the plan.

Darian

She accepted the bow, quiver and well wishes from Dazi in the same manner it was given. This bow was smaller and lighter than her own and she slung it on under her cloak, settling the quiver at her hip then turned to Cesare. "We go now."

Longtooth padded beside her to the door, and she opened it for him then followed him out pulling her cloak tight about her and her hood low over her face.

Daxia
with the departing Gang at the Inn

Daxia nodded to Mikal. "I say I listen. Both plan have problem, both plan have advantage. They balance, yes? So, this time, Daxia let Mikal be comfortable." She grinned at him. "Maybe not next time, ok?" she said with a chuckle. Then she gripped his arm for a brief moment. "Yah, you little late, I take care Talia. No worry," she said seriously. She watched him and Celi head out towards the stables... and Cesare, Darian and Longtooth head out, as well. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment, whispering to herself, "Dayala, shine Your light on us and this venture. Please watch over us, even though we are not all Your children." Another deep breath, and she opened her eyes as she reached for her cloak. "Ready, Bekkah?" She arranged her cloaked to hide the weapons and armor, though even the heaviness of the Kierkegaard cloak would not fully conceal the outline of the small shield. At least it was not obvious, or visible. Two fullhand of heartbeats after Cesare, Darian and Longtooth left, she and Bekkah stepped out the door.

<Lia>

She looked to Kadri awaiting her.

Bekkah

When she saw Dazi return, she looked a bit surprised. She was now truly having a hard time remembering the little girl, she had left behind many years ago.

Dazi wasn't the only one who learned to remain quiet and watch. She noticed Mikal with Dazi and the reaction of the others. She nodded with approval to herself.

When they were ready she stood, having nothing else to gather.

"Still have unicorn with you?" she said to her baby sister as they started to go.

And Kadri looks over, nods - and begins.

Daxia
with Bekkah on the streets of Cragside

Daxia chuckled. "Papa's little carved horse head? Yah, always keep. Kisa think Dazi have spirit of white unicorn, too." She paused, an odd smile on her face. "If so, hope unpredictable nature help today."

The Heartwood
Late Afternoon, the Town of Cragside
Restday The Last Day of the Month of Raven, 2623

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

It is late afternoon before the plans are set, the last discussions set and tasks assigned. That there was no interruption was not unusual; while intent they were no different than any other collection of companions sharing an afternoon's drink and food.

If anything, the horde's second cast an occassional glance their way; the Horde's captain was conspicuously absent.

When they broke, it was in separate directions.

Kadri and Lia began their walk up the main street; towards the civil court and the gardens behind, so that they could approach Samara's warehouse from the direction of her house. This late the streets were thinning; both with it being Restday and near the closing of the day; goodwives had dinners to prepare and whatever shops were open today would be closing their doors when She touched the far horizon. The townsfolk's pace was already increasing as they raced to complete their tasks before twilight.

The shadows She cast across the town were already starting to be long, and where the rows of buildings ran against Her gaze they already jumped from one row to the next, from one one rooftop to the following.

Mikal and Celi found a single wagon and its team already hitched; one of the young stable lads petting one of the sturdy carter's nose as he waited. The wagon held two heavy crates, with a heavy black canvas tarpaulin folded in the back and a coil of rope for tying it down lain next to it.

The reins rested comfortably on the buckboard's hard wooden seat. A short stiff whip also awaited, not the long type - the type specifically made for tagging commands to a team of horses.

The horses didn't seem to mind the upcoming dusk; in fact they didn't seem to mind at all, easily snapped forward by a flick of the whip. It seemed the Horde preferred their draft horses of the cold blooded variety.

For Darian, it took longer than expected for the Hunter to return, her preparations taking a touch longer than one might expect. But when she returned it was with a more comfortable stride. Longtooth too was bright and alert, the elder canine's pace not making a sound.

Darian and Cesare took their leave, followed by Daxia and her elder sister.

Their path took them through the shadowed streets; the western side dark, the roofs of the eastern buildings capped with the soft warm tones of a setting sun. Away from the main street the pedestrian traffic was even less; townsfolks talking before their houses, others haunting the street corners, many choosing the western side of the street for their trade.

They would come and go, as required for their own, private, businesses.

Of course, once the safety and stability of the Hart and Horse was left behind any chance of coordinating four distinct groups of people in a town was left upon the wooden tables, next to the plate of bread and cheese.

The Heartwood
Late Afternoon, the Town of Cragside
Restday The Last Day of the Month of Raven, 2623

Kadri and Camelia

"Hey lassies, sure you don't be wanting company, two ladies all alone upon the streets? It's most certainly going to be a cool night and we wouldn't want two such loves getting all cold ..."

Two women walking alone upon the street, neither townsfolks nor properly escorted by a gentleman were bound to garner some attention. The rake's wolf-whistle caught them as the two turned the corner down warehouse row. The Sun was still above the town wall, but Her light shown right down the street; comfortable for camelia, less so for Kadri.

"Your loss, ladies ..."

Was his reply as he was left behind.

A look over one's shoulder, about halfway to the warehouse saw him gone, vanished, perhaps upon his own business, perhaps to find two more compliant and possibly more affordable companionship.

The Heartwood
Late Afternoon, the Town of Cragside
Restday The Last Day of the Month of Raven, 2623

Mikal and Celi

Whether or not the cart's horses could make more than a comfortable pace was something that would most certainly be an interesting test. Their clip-clop across the cobbles was a slow and even pace which only softened when they left the paved streets for those of hard packed dirt.

A cart, upon Restday, did attract a modicum of attention; beggars raised their bowls because anyone who could afford such a fine team should be able to spare a handful of pennies. A whispered curse and a retreat to more gullible and soft hearted folks would follow if no tithes were forthcoming.

Sometimes even if there were too.

Turning right down the last alley the two passes a trio of men at a street corner. A haggling was in process, one that heated up as the two rode past and then ebbing as they entered the darkly shadowed passage.

The Heartwood
Late Afternoon, the Town of Cragside
Restday The Last Day of the Month of Raven, 2623

Darian, Cesare, Longtooth, Bekkah and Daxia

Coming down from the eastern side of the town, along the town wall, might not have been the best of ideas.

Passing around the buildings, when one walked the street proper Her light most definitely looked down upon them, upon Cesare and Darian, upon Bekkah and Daxia who followed, causing a harsh glare as they walked into the approaching sunset. What folks did work the warehouse row this late were cast in shadow or silhouette. Some of those shadows retreated before they were reached, some looked up from their labors as they were passed, a momentary pause before returning to their work.

Thus it was almost a relief to reach the narrow alley between the two warehouses. Though Longtooth's hackles were already bristling, the snarkhound's head low to the ground, ears back, as they rounded the one warehouse immediately to the east of their destination.

It took a while for one's eyes to get used to the shadows, in the tight space; so close were the buildings it was almost, but not quite, as dark as night. A crates and two barrels kept them company, not enough to reach the roof but certainly enough to help.

The most interesting thing being that the clerestory window, the one deepest into the alley, closest to the town wall, was missing.

It was a scramble, because the barrels were empty and thus less stable, to boost both Darian and a Cesare upwards. The last bit, even with Daxia and Bekkah attempting a last moment's aid in frantic steadying, coming to a ruin as the crate broke in a snappling of wood and splinters, sending the barrels carooming down into the alley.

On the bright side it left Cesare unexpectedly propped in the window and Darian on the roof; where they were supposed to be in the first place.

While in the shade by the roof's gable the footing on the clay tile shingles far from sure and the Hunter felt, suddenly, uncomfortably exposed.

Like he was being stalked.

Perhaps a reason for this was why Cesare hadn't tumbled through the open window.

Because, on the inside of the warehouse, the window had been set very carefully on the ground below and someone had set a ladder rising up against the wall.

Outside, the sound of steady hoofbeats clip-clopped down warehouse row.

The Heartwood
Late Afternoon, the Town of Cragside
Restday The Last Day of the Month of Raven, 2623

Kadri, Camelia, Mikal and Celi

It did not take long, once the warehouse was reached, for Kadri and Lia to not just see their other companions enter the alley beyond but to hear the approach of Celi and Mikal.

Of course the opening of the warehouse garnered attention; a man walking down the street in the wagon's wake, another warehouse watcher - whose job was probably similar to Kadri's day to day tasks - simply noting another bit of activity upon the late afternoon street.

The big door was pulled open and then shut behind cart and horses.

Inside, there was barely enough room to turn the cart around, tricky and awkward maneuvering for the big horses; indeed it seemed Celi's words were true, she took naturally to the big beasts and they almost seemed to be able to understand her words of urging.

Then all it took was a few more moments for Mikal to check the crates, draw the tarpaulin over the crates and tie it down.

Outside, however, it was a different situation.

The warehouse worker stood, and dusting off his long tunic skirts, started to approach Kadri and Lia.

From the other side of the street it seemed that the pedestrian who was simply promenading had gained a companion. Their destination also the warehouse.

One of them drew a vey nasty looking dagger.

The setting sun's light dashed orange across the blade.

The Heartwood
Late Afternoon, the Town of Cragside
Restday The Last Day of the Month of Raven, 2623

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

Longtooth was not in the alley.

The snarkhound's head rose, as he heard Darian's footing slip on the tiled shingles above. The snarkhound loped; out into the street, almost running into Kadri and Lia as he then turned and then continued past, growling low as his gaze slipped up to the rooftops.

The hunting beast caused both warehouse worker and the other two brigands to pause, but only until they realized the hunting canine was not interested in them.

"Didn't we tell you what would happen is you didn't get another line of work, Kadri-lass?"

There was a hint of metal wrapping the warehouse worker's closed fist.

"Oh you can have her once we are done ..."

Cold steel against two women.

Three against two; not good odds at all.

And all that changed when the warehouse door unexpectedly was pushed open. It swung easily on its well kept hinges, a sudden barrier between the two women and the warehouse worker.

"Forget them!"

Was the sudden barked order from the first of the sworders, as Mikal swung himself up onto the buckboard's seat.

And they were not alone.

From the side alley, as if waiting, others sprinted into the street.

For Mikal and Celi, the best place to be was elsewhere; with a snap of the whip the big horses leapt forward.

It seemed they could move at a decent pace if necessary; and at a fast pace they tore down warehouse road. Most followed, the bossy brigand didn't and neither did the warehouse worker.

Perhaps his issue with kadri was personal.

As for Darian, atop the roof, what was happening on the street was beyond her vision, blocked by the length and slope of the roof. She could definitely hear the commotion; first the approach of horse and wagon, then the threats, then the sudden change as the aforementioned wagon made its sudden, unexpected bid for freedom.

Though there was the faintest clattering, at the wagon's escape, close; unseen, on the other side of the roof, unseen beyond the roof's peak.

On the street, Mikal and Celi turned the wagon south, out of warehouse row and out of sight.

Above the street, on the rooftop, Darian was not alone.

Darian

Her curses at slipping were colorful but unheard, said only in her head as she rebalanced herself. As she listened and spied about, she relegated common sounds to background noise. She had donned her leather hood before the climb and secured it tightly. The eyeholes were cut wide and well as to not interfere with vision.

Her senses told her there was another here as did her Hound's rising growl. Her arrow hand, the left, drew arrow from quiver as she reset her footing. She drew bead on the apex of the roof waiting for sign of the roof's other resident. Everything narrowed to the unseen target and his movement, minute adjustments made in her aim as the sounds of his movement gave her more information on his location. She would shoot when she saw the tip of his nose, minimizing the chance of hitting the hard brow bone and striking soft tissue instead.

ooc comment: After some frantic private postings clarifying exactly what everyone wanted their characters to specifically accomplish; the turn as posted stands as is.

If it does not perfectly match The Plan, that is just what happens

<Lia>

Keeping the dagger flat against her arm, and hopefully out of sight until needed, Lia stepped froward shielding Kadri from their gaze and spinning her cloak against the other arm to wrap it securely and to distract enough for a fast strike.

Daxia
with Kadri, Lia and two Bad Guys in the street with a sword

Peeking around the corner, Daxia swore quietly... words Bekkeh had never heard from her little sister's mouth before. She quickly removed her cloak and handed it to Bekkah. "Stay against wall. Anybody but group come near, scream."

She stepped out into the street and strode towards Kadri and Lia, and the two men, silently slipping her sword out of the scabbard. She could barely hear the sound of the two bone trinkets clacking together on the ends of the silk scarf as she drew the sword. Approaching the man threatening Kadri with the dagger, she said as she closed to striking distance, "Hoi! Big brave man threatening tiny woman. Mama very proud of you."

Daxia kept her shield between herself and the dagger; her intention is to strike at his soft abdominal area when he turns, then slice downward and outward... the desired effect is to, essentially, disembowel the scum.

Cesare

Sitting astride the window, his head is inside, though one leg is visible.

[OOC Asked Mike some questions. Need a few answers before I post again. ]

Ooc; likewise

As their attention was, hopefully, attracted by the approach of Daxia, Kadri turned and closed, and locked the door. . . and wrapped her cloak around her arm, sliding her hand down to her dagger.
.

Cesare

His eyes quickly take in the scene. He immediately realises that the occupant he had expected is likely to be on the roof - where else would have have gone via this convenient ladder? That means Darian probably needs help. But then getting the girl out of here is their first priority and that might make any other problems diminish.

So taking a quick decision, he plans to climb down the ladder, free the girl, get her up the ladder, lower her to those in the alley and then help Darian.

He leans back out of the window, seeing only Bekkah, but too late to be wondering why she is on her own. Keeping his voice down, not wanting it to carry to the roof, he whispers down.

"Rebuild the barrels."

With that instruction, he tucks his head back inside and transfers to the ladder, climbing down as rapidly as seems safe, the heads for the post securing the girl.


[OOC Those diagrams really help - thanks Wolf! ]

Bekkah

She had heard the sounds as well and began to follow Dazi. When words she'd never expected to hear from her little sister came spewing from her, she almost began to admonish the girl before she was handed a cloak and Dazi was gone. She was about to follow her around the corner, when she heard a sound from above. She looked up to see Cesare.

She looked from the window to the ground and she understood. She quickly put on Dazi's cloak to free her arms then moved to attempt to stack the barrels. Bekkah was not the strongest of women so it would take her a bit of time and she was never going to get more than one barrel on top of another. Anything higher than that, was quite out of her ability. Still she tried as quickly as she could to get one up.

ooc: please see my clarification as to the positions; and also note it should NOT change anyone's posting! they are all still very good!