QUEST: Voyage for a Gem, chapter 2 [Samheen 4th]

Moderator: Mods

BardicPup

Post by BardicPup »

OOC: Sorry for the delay.

IC: Guen found her enemies were greater in number then she. Though she fell one with a thrust between two ribs, her blade locked fast, and was pulled from her grasp as he fell. Just as it appeared to be the end, with two swords coming directly at her head, one high, the other level, two friendly swords appeared as if from nowhere, stopping the onslaught and showering Guen with sparks. It seemed some had heard her and Raven's call to the door, and had answered when they were most needed.

Rylas's enemy cried out as the capped end of the weapon struck, but managed to block the blade before his arm was neatly severed. Rylas found his final attack deflected low, but it did not stick into the deck, as the pirate had hoped, and the hooked end found his hamstring, making his right leg useless. Even as he swung his sword at Rylas, he fell backwards, and caught nothing but air with his weapon. While he could not walk, he was far from dead, and if Rylas moved unwarily, he might wind up a few inches shorter, and with two less feet.

Daenus appeared to be getting more enjoyment from this then even the most hardened of Raven's crew. One that was nearby turned in disgust as Daenus impaled the wounded man and kicked his still warm corpse from his blade with gusto. He did however notice the two friends of the recently deceased charge at Daenus, and moved to protect the blood crazed monster that was his ally.

The young hothead looked at the blade in his belly questioningly as he fell forward into Raven and slid down to the deck, feable hands grasping for support and finding none. The veteran nodded his respect to Raven before continueing to circle, leaving the first move to Raven.

Tayknot's blade flew true, burying deep in the pirate's belly. In rage, the pirate grasped the weapon and pulled it out, flinging it carelessly back. The weapon missed by at least a foot. The pirate charged, ignoring the pain in his stomach. Tayknot's well scouted slide worked wonders on the heavily bloody deck, and the pirate fell. Unfortunatly, his forward movement made him fall on Tayknot, and a grapling match ensued.
Guest

Post by Guest »

Rylas had heard Raven clearly enough, and though he was loathe to leave unfinished business, he reasoned that two disabled pirates would be easy enough pickings once the matter of the source was dealt with.

As he was fond of his legs, he backed away a step or three and gave a quick, curt bow to his opponent. Holding his pole arm ready, he turned to survey a path toward the door and the next set of foes that would have to be hewn from it, as well as the relative location of his mates...
Guenhwyfar
Retired staff
Posts: 928
Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2002 1:18 am
Location: Citadel

Post by Guenhwyfar »

Guenhwyfar's breath caught in her throat as she was pulled off balance and saw the blades sweeping towards her, but a reckless smile appeared on her face as the two friendly blades deflected what surely would have been a fatal blow. She looked up for a second to give a look of gratitude to her rescuers, then focused again on the fight.

She left the cutlass where it lay, embedded between her enemy's ribs. It was just as well, she reasoned -- she was far better with bare-handed martial arts, or with only a dagger.

With one swift motion, from her lying position on the deck, she rested her weight on her hands and swung her long legs out in a scything motion, trying to knock the feet of nearby foes out from under them.

If successful, she pulled one of her daggers out from her wrist sheaths and went for the most vulnerable target -- the belly with a quick disembowling slice, the throat, whatever lay unguarded.

As soon as her activities on the deck had ended, whether successful in her attempts to knock someone over and kill him or unsuccessful, she vaulted to her feet and stood in a guard position, waiting for the next attacker.
tanoshimi

Post by tanoshimi »

Tayknot was now all covered in blood, fortunately not yet his own. He was now furiously determined to keep it that way. Normally rather hesitant to do any severe damage with a weapon, the halfling's survival instinct took over and he felt that he was going to surface in this honorless duel.

The fat man's fall knocked most wind out of him, but he grasped his weapon tightly and in flickers began thrashing to get out from under the oppressive mass, assuming he had no chance in a wrestle. At the same time he slashed repetitively with his dagger at what should've been closest to his reach - the pirate's legs. He aimed for the thighs.

A flash of fresh thought came to the halfling and he realized that perhaps someone had his or her hands free to assist him. "Guen!!.. ungh, ya bastard.. Anyone!!", he yelled, while trying to neutralize his foe.
Raven Darkheart
Captain
Posts: 161
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2002 1:29 pm
Location: Pirate's Duchy

Post by Raven Darkheart »

Knowing a potential stalemate when he saw one, Raven did not even wait for the vetran to make a move. Instead he kicked the bloodied body of the young one in the old hands direction hoping to get him off his feet for but a few wicks.

The deck was getting slippery by the burn and the dark captain urgently wanted to rush to the door. His aim was to brush past the seasoned sailor with a parry or two, and jumping on a nearby cluster of crates. Not only would that give him the advantage of height, he would also be able to move away towards the door.
BardicPup

Post by BardicPup »

Rylas noted that most of the enemies had gathered around the trap door. Indeed, all but the dead and dying, and one aged sea hound fighting toe to toe with Raven were there. Most of Raven's crew were on the port side of the door. Only two of Raven's crew were flanking on the aft side, where Rylas was. The door was deffended on that side by three men, with a woman that had just exited the hold coming to join them.

Guen caught a large man's legs, while a average sized woman defty jumped over her attack. Guen slit his throat without a second thought, or so it seemed to the woman that stood before her, also wielding a dagger. The look in her eyes showed that the two had once been close. Her dagger snaked out, searching for Guen's belly even as she stood.

It was indeed the fat man's legs that were closest to Tayknot, and, as he stabbed repeatedly, the large man screamed in pain and rolled away from the probing blade. He grasped for his weapon, a large blade inches away on the deck, and swung to where he remembered his tormentor to be moments before.

The old sea dog defty sidestepped the gristly missle and batted it away with the flat of his sword. Such tactics were well known to this one. Raven managed to stagger the older man with a few well placed blows, but he recovered as Raven leaped onto the crate. His swing was too slow by half, however, and he caught naught but boot leather. Raven would need new footwear when this was over, but there was pleanty to chose from on the pile of dead bodies.
Raven Darkheart
Captain
Posts: 161
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2002 1:29 pm
Location: Pirate's Duchy

Post by Raven Darkheart »

Raven cursed under his breath. It had been expensive pair of boots that he had been rather fond of. That of course was not the worst of it. The captain had gotten used to getting away with murder and then some over a considerable long time. Clearly today he was up to a bit more of challenge now. He swung his rapier to meet the blows. Standing from up high made his main gauch useless for now, but as the oppertunity arose he used his ruined boot to kick the old vetran in the face.
Guest

Post by Guest »

Rylas rushed to join the two crewmates, eyeing both them and their adversaries for their condition.

It passed through his mind that he wondered what was happening with the other ship. It'd be just splendid for them to defeat this crew only to turn and find the masts of the Lady Rose slipping beneath the waves.

But at that second, that was neither here nor there. Slipping up to the closest enemy, Rylas drove the capped end of his lochaber at a downward angle at his opponent's sternum, then snapped the blade forward.
Guenhwyfar
Retired staff
Posts: 928
Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2002 1:18 am
Location: Citadel

Post by Guenhwyfar »

Guenhwyfar heard Tayknot cry out, and although she could not take her eyes off her dagger-wielding foe long enough to see what the problem was, it was clear that she didn't have the time to participate in the bereaved woman's revenge saga.

As the woman charged towards her, rather than trying to parry her blow, Guen sidestepped the woman's approach slightly and grabbed for the wrist of her outstretched hand, hoping to use the attacker's own momentum to pull the woman forward and off-balance, figuring that her plan was even more likely to be successful given that the woman was likely so overwrought that she would be not focusing as well as she ought. Emotions, Guen thought dimly as she focused on the fight, Only good for getting you in trouble...

Guen stuck out a foot to help the other woman fall, and, assuming the other woman did actually lose her balance at least slightly, Guen pivoted back around to face the other woman's back, trying to keep one hand impairing her foe's dagger hand while Guen reached out with her dagger to deliver a quick killing blow to the other woman.

Her foe hopefully dispatched, or at least incapacitated, Guen tried to struggle through the melee to reach Tayknot.
Med

Post by Med »

OOC: Sorry for my own delays.

Daenus smiled as the two rushed towards him.. Waiting for the last instant to drop low and slice upwards through the first's ham string and sontinuing with a swivel to a back handed stab to the other's mid section. Or so he planned..

Thoughts rang in his head that this was pure... Where he was meant to be with his lips curled back. He could die at his best if need be, but it would be done with every last bit of rage he held in.

The Method....was lost.
tanoshimi

Post by tanoshimi »

OOC: you guys are beginning to show symptoms of hyperpostitis (!?) :? ..if that was a delay, then my name is Papadzidzi :D . And thanks BardicPup, you is doin' a mighty nice job!

IC:
"Shite!!", Tayknot cursed loudly as the man rolled away, "ya flea-bitten bastard!". The blows, severe in his judgement, seemed only to invigorate and anger his opponent.

It seemed to the halfling that careful tactic would get him nowhere in this situation. Therefore, he began another desperate attempt, lunging for his foe before he got any further, and stabbing decisively, aiming for his heart; in the appropriate place, accordingly to whether he was on his stomach or his back.
BardicPup

Post by BardicPup »

OOC: Why thanks Tano.

IC: Raven's blade rang from the barage of blows, and sparks flew when the blades slid across eachother once or twice. None the less, the advantage seemed more and more to be in favour of Raven, as the older sea dog slowed his onslaught. The advantage was shortlived, however. When Darkheart attemped revenge for the loss of his boots by using his boots, the sly devil had it scouted, and countered by sidestepping, then going under Raven and tossing him bodily from the crate. "Get down here! "The aged sea dog taunted with a grin.

Rylas's opponents were untouched, as of yet. One of his allies had taken the tip of a blade across the eye, and it was bleeding considerably, but, once it was stitched and the blood was washed from it, his eyesight would return.

Rylas, through some unseen luck, appeared to have made a very skilled move. Even as the butt end of his weapon struck an enemy in the shin, he caught the blade of anothers on the staff of his weapon. One either side of him enemies and allies traded blows, and the sound rose as more enemies filtered through the door.

Guen's movements placed her in a hug with the woman, a possition the woman had definatly not planned on. With her armed hand held acroos her tightly, the woman had little choice but to join her lover in the afterlife.

Daenus's cold calculating worked well, as the blade of the first attacker sliced air occupied moments earlier by Daenus's head. The sting of steel bit at his leg, and he staggered from the loss of mobility in one of them.

Daenus's reluctent ally was fighting toe to toe with the second attacker. At the moment Daenus struck, their blades were locked, leaving the pirate open to any attack. Daenus's strick made the pirate lose his balence and stagger back, easy pickings for the crewman. A thrust to the heart, and the pirate slumped to the deck. Raven's crewman pondered that it was likely much more merciful then anything Daenus would have done to him.

The pirate's strike hit the deck, and his blade bit deeply. However, Tayknot's dagger gave new meaning to the word, as his attack bit deep and pierced the man's heart, killing him instantly. He sagged to the deck without even pulling his weapon free.
BardicPup

Post by BardicPup »

The frigate was commanded by a fool, or someone who cared little for the allied trireme, for it had sailed a wide circle around the bow of the Lady Rose and was moving as though to fire on her. However, any shot fired at the Rose would have an almost equal chance of hitting the trireme. Lucky for both enemy and ally, the frigate never had the chance to fire. The few gunners left on the Rose lit the cannons, and three cannon balls sailed through the air. One shattered the hull of the frigate near one of her guns, striking a power keg placed nearby, showing that, while water and fire do not mix, a death both firey and watery are quite possible.
Med

The Darkness

Post by Med »

Daenus shot a glare at the other man who he should have thanked for the help.. Rage! He wanted to bark "Stand Back!" but all he could do was a feral growl as he spun away glancing for the next target.

But he could not forget the one he had fallen with the strike to the leg. A sadistic smile formed on his lips as he grasped his cutlass with two hands and shoved it downwards towards the man's neck...

His eyes glanced up from what might have been a rather gruesome gurgling sight... and like the hunter sought out whoever would dare come near. Flipping his sword underhanded in a circlular motion.. he gave a growl of challenge roared in his throat as he locked eyes with any willing to aproach.
BardicPup

Post by BardicPup »

One of the fighters by the door looked over at Daenus just before he struck the killer blow. A tear welled in his eye as he screamed the name of his fallen brethern. He bodily threw two of Raven's crew from his path and rushed at Daenus, scooping a second sword from the deck without even slowing. Rage flashed in his eyes, and he cared not if he died. He sought for only one thing, blood.

The crewman that had aided Daenus turned away, sickened by the sight, and wanting no part in the ensueing fight. It was fair anyways. Let the bloodlusted deal with the bloodlusted, and the saner deal with the matter at hand. He headed towards the door.
Med

Post by Med »

Two swords.. He's enraged.. Sloppy. The first strike will come from the right and the next will be easy to block.

Daenus waited with patience. The sadistic smile still upon his face, taunting the other man to carelessness...

As soon as he closed quarters Daenus attempted to pivot aside and slice at the man's right bicep.. The pain maybe making him drop one blade. With the height of the blow it would be a quick recovery to deflect the left handed sword.

As he attempted such he called out to Rylas....

"Barricade that door!!!!! Set fire to the ship!!! Let them burn alive screaming for mercy!!!!"
Guest

Post by Guest »

Rylas heard Daenus, though he didn't see as he was any closer to the door. But, For the time being, he had the results of his last attack to deal with.

In his mind, he had two pirates to deal with, and one's sword was preoccupied. Seeking to strike before the dog had time to ready his sword again, Rylas leveled his lochaber and smiled devilishly before thrusting it mightily at the head of the pirate.

Regardless of his success or failure, his next idea was to back up a step or two to achieve the best distance. Careful to avoid hitting a crewmate, he'd grip the haft in both hands, grit his teeth, and propel the blade through the air in front of him in a couple giant swings, intent on trying to clear a way for someone, if not himself, to at least get closer to the door...
Last edited by Guest on Fri Feb 28, 2003 9:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
tanoshimi

Post by tanoshimi »

Tayknot was breathing heavily, dagger still clenched tightly. His opponent was finally deceased. Like a nasty reflux from his stomache, A short wave of guilt came upon the halfling - but he forcefully urged it away.

He looked around for the knife he had thrown earlier, it must have been somewhere nearby. If not, he took whatever smaller blade he could find .. around or on the fallen pirate.

Crouched low, for a few flickers he observed the ongoing battle, searching for a way to maneuver to the trap door. The thief hoped that his size would help him speed by, unbothered or even unnoticed by some. He wished this for the benefit of the whole crew. As afterthought, it came to him that some might take his action as an attempt to be some kind of hero. This disgusted Tayknot, for that was not his intention. But I'll have that to worry about, if I can bleedin' get there, he pondered.
These thoughts flashed through his mind in the flickers it took him to wipe his blade and find the other.

He began shuffling quickly towards the door, long way around if it meant avoiding closer contact with any other fat-bellied cut-throats. Bent down as low as possible, dagger in front of him, held blade down, the thief snaked his way towards the opening.
If and when he got there he planned to slam it shut and lock it, or somehow bolt it with one of his blades, if the door had a loophole.
Raven Darkheart
Captain
Posts: 161
Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2002 1:29 pm
Location: Pirate's Duchy

Post by Raven Darkheart »

Raven tumbled down the crate, and instinctively rolled away, before jumping up in the same movement. He cursed under his breath. He'd been attempting to get closer to the door but the goal seemed unreachable for now.

He exchanged a few non-consequential blows with the vetran, backing up into the thick of the fighting into the direction of Daenus' rage. Just before he bumped into anyone, he jumped aside with a grin, pulling the person behind him with him.. propelling the person forward. It was only a distraction but if it served him correctly he would move his back towards Daenus as he retreated. If under the circumstances that was wise remained to be seen.
Guenhwyfar
Retired staff
Posts: 928
Joined: Sun Oct 06, 2002 1:18 am
Location: Citadel

Post by Guenhwyfar »

Guen loosened her deathly embrace, and had already turned away before the woman's body had slid fully to the ground. The hilt of her blade was slippery with blood, and her hair was uncoiling itself from its braid. With a distracted gesture, she brushed the curls away from her face, leaving a streak of blood on her cheek that she did not notice as she waded through the crowd, fending off attacks as necessary.

She was trying to make her way to the door, where Tayknot had already ensconced himself. The halfling seemed to have barricading the door under control, so she resolved to dispatch as many of the attackers as she could, and stood by the door, feet apart in a fighting stance, eyes wide and cold.
BardicPup

Post by BardicPup »

Daenus's movement avoided contact with the twin blades flashing at him, but his slash seemed to go unnoticed, so far gone in madness was his opponent. Again the twin blades searched for him, with a wild backhanded swing and a crazed followup with the left blade.

The pirate's head snapped to the side, offering Rylas his check, and nothing more, as Rylas's lochaber thrust towards him. His retaliation was swift, but Rylas managed to backpedal far enough that he caught nothing but air. Those around him were locked in heavy battle, but the tide was clearly shifting in favour of the Lady Rose and company.

Tayknot's knife had lodged itself in the deck half a dozen paces away. It was a simple matter to pull it out, as it had not buried itself too deep. As Tayknot observed the scene, he noted that everyone save Daenus and his crazed enemy, and Raven, and his skilled opponent, were at the door. Dispite the steady influx of enemies, the number of pirates near the door was rapidly deminishing.

Guen soon found that a dagger was both an excelent choice, and a poor choice, for such fighting. It offered little protection, but its movement was unrestricted in the confined space, and she could often slash or prick the extended arms of her enemies, or probe their bodies with firey pain as they locked in engagemnt with others.
Med

Post by Med »

Delicous he thought as he saw Tayknot at task upon the door. His nostrils could almost smell smoke. A rush of power surged through his body in enthusiasm as he thought of the enraged man before him and the bodies soon to be writhing in charred masses below. These were the things that brought Daenus comfort in the middle of the night.

Sloppy.

The backhanded thrust was attempted to be deflected with a simple spin of his cutlass to a downward postion.. At the same time he knew the next was to follow and his blade needed to be free to work in the most gruesome way possible....

Daenus dropped low to his knees to try to avoid the second swing that would surely be aimed somewhere near his waist or chest area, as the man was crazed. Pain needed to be inflicted to a serious degree.. Keeping his blade underhanded he would attempt a slash across the man's groin while he was in a low position.

In the recesses of his mind he fealt someone (Captain Darkheart) close near him, but had no time to react yet. Though with rampant thought he knew at least he wasn't dead yet if that was an enemy.
BardicPup

Post by BardicPup »

Daenus blocked the wild swing easily, but the impact shoke his arm. He managed to duck the second swing, aimed to behead him. He had no time to retaliate, however, as Raven pulled the crazed man by the arm, tossing him towards the veteran fighter. He slashed at who was in front of him, not knowing it was an ally. The old sea dog ducked low, and thrust his sword deep in the man's belly without much concern. He eyed his two enemies casually, even though this would likely be the last of many fights.
tanoshimi

Post by tanoshimi »

Tayknot scooted around the fighting, trying to stay out of harms way, crouched low. He attempted to get to the door and block the hatch with the knife he picked up. The halfling assumed that maybe that would stop the outpour of additional foes, and they could deal with those stuck below deck later.
Guest

Post by Guest »

Rylas saw that some members of his crew had reached the door in the deck, and if they could just hold out a little longer, the day would be won. In the back of his mind he wondered if there would be time enough for any looting before the trireme was sank...

Bending his knees and getting low to the ground, he gripped his lochaber in his favorite way, holding it flat with his right arm so that it was almost an extension of it, and bringing it behind him for optimal attack momentum and arc. He felt a full offensive was sloppy, and that he was best suited with his particular weapon to an "offensive" defense. And as far as how to get on the defense, the best ways were the old ways...

"Come for me, you rat bastard!" he snarled at his previous target through gritted teeth. "I'll laugh for the rest of my seafaring days at how confused your mother must have been to find you coming out instead of going in like everything else."

He tightened his muscles in anticipation, save for those in his right arm, for as Tedrin used to tell him, tight muscle was slow muscle...
Post Reply

Return to “On the Water Archive”