The Minds Eye sleeps in the Aether: [Open] Sam 28 GT

[Draydis Quinn D`Anorre]

For a brief moment, Draydis considered dispatching the humans that had set the ambush for him and his friends. That feeling however subsided as the tactical mind of the guardsman took over. Though it would be fun to lead the men into an ambush of his own within the woods, Draydis knew that knowing information about their enemy was far more important.

With care to mask his sound and movement from the men that remained, the adhiel warrior followed the soldier to wherever he was heading. An arrow was at the ready, and Draydis kept his eyes and ears sharp for additional traps along the way. The information would do him no good if he did not survive to get it back to the others. He simply decided to follow, find out where the man was going, attempt to listen, and then hopefully take him prisoner as he attempted to return to the others. At that thought, Draydis smiled.

The men would set their second ambush...but Dray would be waiting behind them...

[Talanwei Fortisse]

"You go back to the East Tower and report what has transpired. I trust you will be swift," said the voice of the lead hunter. He was a short, bearded human with eyes nearly black. The man he was sending was named Alistair and had the shorter hunter by a near head in height. He was a thin bird like young man whose main skills laid in scouting. Though this was certainly true, the young man had nothing next to the Adhiel that was trailing him. No matter how swiftly he moved, Alistair did not evade Dray for long if at all. The back hunter’s of the hunter’s mind tickled with a feeling of unease. Due to the fact they had just attacked a group of warriors that would likely have killed them if they were attacking honorably; he chalked it up to stress.

Alistair took care to not leave a trail, so he thought. The journey through the trees was swift and the man made his way through openings in the brush that only someone well acquainted with the forest could spot with the naked eye. He moved as a shadow and with much urgency. Soon Alistair and his follower reached the tower and he paused by the edge of the trees. The pace had winded him slightly and he wanted to compose himself before he approached the gate. There was a heavily armed guard that stood at the top of a flight of steps that led to the large doors into the East tower. Two more guards passed intermittently in a cris-crossing pattern in front of the steps. There was a moderately sized open area between the tree line and the gate; if there was a time to snatch the young hunter it was then. Yet, then again, he would likely come this same way after making his report. It was up to Draydis if this man would make his report or not.

[Talanwei Fortisse]

The goblin had fallen down and was scooting backward as the Achadiel started walking toward it. Little did it know it was moving back right into Asht’s range of attack...

ooc: You gonna kill him Ash? Or should I just end him?

[Ashtallion Urdil]

The mage moved with a deadly grace, a startling realisation dawning on him as to how proficient at killing he had become. And the goblin was to be no different than any other victim. The Pelegrim danced in his grasp, the crackling golden light jumping over the blade in eager anticipation. With a swift precise stab, Ashtallion stuck the golblin through the back of the neck, the sword protruding from the other side. The sorcery within the blade filling the creatures eyes for a moment, finishing the death quickly.

Removing the blade quickly, he glanced in disgust at the foul blood that marred the beautiful Pelegrim. " Vile, loathesome creatures.. ", he kept the Pelegrim out, channeling only a trickle of magic into to keep the energies dancing. He did not want to waste uncessary magical energy on these beasts when he would have to save his power for the dark-mage.

Asht looked to Talanwei, making sure the Paladin was ok. His gaze travelling to the other members of their party....execpt he couldn;t find Dray.

" Talanwei! Did you see where Draydis disappeared to? "

[Draydis Quinn D`Anorre]

For a flicker, Dray thought of his decision. If Alistair were allowed to make his report, then those inside would know of the size of the force coming against them. They would also hopefully know that the ambush was successful...then again, the report might be that the ambush had failed and reinforcements were needed.

However, if Alistair did not make his report, would suspicions arise causing reinforcements to be dispatched regardless.

Draydis decided to spare the young hunter for now. With a ready arrow set in his bow, Draydis found a hiding spot from which he could continue his watch for Alistair and await his return. Once the report had been made, Dray would kill the young human, and then attack the new ambush from behind.

It then hit him. He had a plan for that ambush party. A smile crept over the shadows covering his ever-darkening demeanor. This would be fun...

[Talanwei Fortisse]

Alistair emerged from the forest and made his way, hands high as he approached the large iron bound doors. There were two fully armed guards in plate mail before the door and the one on the left hailed him.

"Hile, you were not followed I trust?" said a gruff voice from beneath the heavy helmet in a rough brogue. Alistair immediately shook his head for he did not believe he was followed. He had felt a queer feeling since he left the camp however but he attributed it to nervousness and the general oddness of the island since Vascillius had erected his stronghold. Alistair bowed slightly and gave a signal of greeting.

"No, I was alone in the forest. I come with my report," Alistair waited until the man grunted before continuing, "There are four interlopers, two male Adhiel, another...likely Achadiel, a large human male, and a small woman, likely human as well but I could not see her face. There are two verified archers, the woman and an adhiel with tattoos covering him, two swordsmen, the Achadiel and the large human male, and one sorcerer, the last adhiel. We pushed them into a goblin ambush but this will likely not stop the group, my commander is planning an ambush of the party to slow them down. If you could spare an extra bow or sword it would be helpful."

The armored guard guffawed at this point which was muffled by his helmet. It was an oafish laugh that made Alistair cringe inwardly and clench his teeth in frustration.

"Let them come! They are four and we are many! They’ll be dead soon enough. We can spare no men right now, do as you will hunter and try not to get killed," said the man with a dismissive gesture. Alistair’s lips pursed and his fist clenched around the dagger that he had unsheathed cutting through underbrush. The hunter was not sure if such a lackadaisical approach would be enough. The sorcerer was powerful, the Aether seemed to run through him and the rest of his companions did not seem to be children either. They had seen battle and would likely kill many of Vascillius’ minions before they themselves died.

"Very well, hopefully we meet again," when you are out of that armor so I can ram this dagger in your arrogant throat his thought almost immediately followed his words. Alistair turned feeling wholly unsatisfied with his report going decidedly not in the fashion he imagined. Off he jogged into the woods, too much was on his mind to sufficiently address the instinct that was warning him against inattention. Once inside the cover of trees, the hunter was free for Dray to do with as he wished.

***~~*~~***

Ashtallion had the grace of a falcon as he descended on the unknowing beast. An expert stab of his blade perforated the throat of the goblin. Asht sent his sorcery through the blade and the golden power finished the beast as he removed his blade, the Pelegrim, from its temporary lodging. Talanwei admired the craftsmanship of the sword greatly even in the moment following the attack. Asht looked about the group and asked Talanwei if he had seen where Draydis had gone. The Achadiel tried to mark the last time he saw the Emerald Guard Commander and he could not recall. Draydis’ departure was lost to his mind in the haze of killing.

"He said something of hunting..." a grim smile passed the lips of the paladin, "I think he may have slipped off to do just that. You know him better than I would he rejoin us later?"

[hr]ooc: Sorry guys for the delay. I was kinda waiting on Gav and Niamh [/hr]

[Draydis Quinn D`Anorre]

Dray watched the exchange between the two soldiers and smiled. It was clear that those that watched the gate were not concerned with Draydis and his allies...hopefully a feeling held by the mage as well. If they were underestimated, it would be easier for them to enter the compound.

As the hunter moved back towards the woods, Draydis decided it was now time to kill him. A plan was in his mind, and Dray needed the hunter's armor and clothing. A single arrow was readied in his bow. He wanted to use his bow to cut the man down, but needed to be certain that his death was silent.

With this in mind, Draydis moved to position himself where the man would run by him. From hiding, Dray would launch his strike...a sword blow across the man's throat. He would have to conceal his presence and time his attack perfectly...

[Talanwei Fortisse]

Alistair ran, he had to get back to his fellow men. While they were still alive at least. The hunter had to let those of his group know that there was no help coming. It would likely be prudent to stay off an attack and let barely fatigued guardsmen get the fury of the group of warriors. The sorcerer could most probably fry the men in their armor. This brought Alistair a smile and he started to run a bit faster. Hopefully he could get there soon enough to have his commander call off the ambush. As the guardsman said, "Let them come!"

It was then that Alistair started to pass the area where Dray lay in wait. It was the Adhiels decision on what would happen with the man’s life.

[Draydis Quinn D`Anorre]

Dray had thought about letting the man live, as the exchange at the tower with the other soldier had seemed odd. But...the man running towards Draydis had attacked him and his friends...and thus he was an enemy.

As the man passed by him, he would lash out with his short swords, one aimed for the man's throat and the other would be thrust deep into the man's mid-section. It would hopefully be a silent and quick death.

Draydis waited silently in the cover of the woods for just the perfect time. He narrowed his eyes and closed his mouth and controlled his breathing; all hopefully helping to keep his presence masked.

[Talanwei Fortisse]

Alistair had too many things running through his mind. The interlopers, the insanely foolish guardsmen, and making sure his fellows didn’t throw themselves into a deadly situation. The skill of the men and woman was far beyond their martial abilities. The magus alone could likely wipe out their small regiment single handedly and the hunter was of the estimation that the swords on the others were not for decoration.

All of these things spelled doom for Alistair. Draydis had remained completely hidden to the hunter, whose instincts were normally so sharp the skilled Captain was completely unnoticed. When Dray let his blades loose however, the man was not caught completely unaware. To a fine edge the man’s reflexes were honed and his long dagger was free of its sheath and protecting his throat. Though Alistair was fast, his blade did not come up quickly enough to take all of the brunt of the swing. The blade sliced through a portion of his throat to one side, his left, and the second blade sunk deep into the man’s midsection. His eyes were drawn in shock as he put the free hand to his throat making the blood spill through his fingers. Alistair looked down and saw the blade in his stomach. What had started as hot and fierce pain started to melt away as he sagged to his knees and keeled backwards sliding off of the Adhiel’s blade.

Welled tears stood out on the dying man’s eyes as he looked up at Draydis. It couldn’t be ending like this, not in some unknown forest where no one would mourn his death. Alistair was swallowing involuntarily and his breathing was swiftly becoming ragged. He closed his eyes tightly and the tears ran down his cheeks. Once again he looked upon Draydis.

"Good elf. Soon I will die but I must tell you. I must...*ghk*...you have to kill Vascillius. Rid Tazlure of the abomination, you and your friends. I don’t...*ngk*...I have no ill will toward you and I beg your forgiveness for attacking your group. The sorcerer...*ilk* he is powerful, he destroyed my village and countless others. *ulk* *ngk*...there is a passage that leads underground into the bowels of the eastern tower and...*nk* you must find it and it will save you from fighting through hordes to enter through the main gate...by the Mother...please...tell my..." said Alistair through choked gurgling. His final words died before realization and he fell silent. Alistair's eyes dulled as his soul passed into the darkness.

[Draydis Quinn D`Anorre]

OOC: you trying to make me feel bad for killing him?

IC:

Dray looked down into the man's eyes as he died. Despite him helping Draydis and his allies now, the man had been an enemy. Perhaps the touch of death upon him had caused the sudden utterance of words to help defeat the mage. Perhaps the man was truly not an ally of the mage. No matter what he was, he was now dead...and Draydis had some critical information for his friends.

The plan had been to kill this man, take his uniform, and ambush the ambush before the others were hurt. So the adhiel remained true to the plan.

The uniform was covered in blood, but it would help him to get close to the ambush point. Once the clothing was pulled over his own, he searched through the dead man's pockets. The last words spoken by the dead man indicated there might be a message to deliver to somebody...or perhaps something...

[Talanwei Fortisse]

ooc: Who me?! Not at all!

[hr]Draydis would likely want to make some kind of alteration to the uniform of the slain hunter for about the neck the deep crimson of the man’s lifeblood had stained a fair portion of it. He could possibly fashion a scarf of some other material but this was up to the Captain. When the Emerald Guardsman delved into the pockets, he found a scrap of cloth with a rough outline of the island. A marking confirmed that the entrance by the inlet was the one to which they would make the easiest entry. There was scrawled the figures of a few men around this entrance and assorted other things that the Adhiel would not be able to decipher.

***~~*~~***

Captain Ulides was looking at his group of men. There were two archers that he trusted as spot on marksmen. Another, handy with a knife more so than any present stood on his own grinding his blade on a worn whetstone. The last two men were well trained with hatchet and long sword. The captain himself considered himself an axe wielder in the truest sense of the word. His weapon was large but he wielded it as if it were an extension of his person. They waited for Alistair to return. It was getting on in Tradetide and there was no reason for his tardiness. Worry began to gnaw away at the Captain’s thoughts.

"He got lost Cap’m! Less get on w’ takin it to those bastards!" said the younger archer. His face did not bear much in way of beard and he still had a youthful appearance. Ulides turned a scowl to the man as he rubbed his beard.

"Eh’ shut that forsaken gob of yours! We wait and when I say, we move out. So sit’cher good-for-nothing hide down and twiddle your thumbs or summat!" growled Ulides. He had an ill feeling that something was going to go wrong. Little did he know that trouble came in the form of a small Adhiel.[/hr]

[Draydis Quinn D`Anorre]

Dray put the map into his pack so he could show his companions once the ambush was broken. He knew that the blood on the uniform would clearly indicate there was a problem...but with some good acting, and plenty of the man's blood smeared on his face and hands, Dray could possibly stagger towards the men and convince them that he was their comrade. Much to their surprise, and hopefully too late, they would find out they were wrong.

It was then that Dray remembered his effort to enter King's Court despite the city being under seige. By himself, he had taken down at least a half-dozen enemy soldiers. It had been a cat and mouse game rather than anything direct and it worked well.

With that in mind, Dray changed his plan. He removed the enemy uniform but retained the map. His own clothing was colored in a way that allowed him to better blend with the plants in the area. His plan was to approach the ambush from as far a distance as he could be accurate with his bow, and take out the enemy archers. After each shot, he would quickly move to a new location from where another shot would be taken. He hoped the continuous moving and attacking would prevent the enemy from knowing his exact location, and eventually all of them could be eliminated.

With a plan in mind, Dray attempted to find the point of ambush...