private The Fall of Andalasia ~Book 1~

[Shadow Dancer 111]

@@Flying Ace, @ "Yes I can do that Dresden, give me some time and we will have the wood, after that I can go on a quick hunting trip, for food if needed." With that I made my way into the forest in search of firewood, and the like. I later came back with the wood necessary for a decent fire.

Edited July 8, 2014 by Shadow Dancer

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"I'll do the hunting...thank you..." Tulla whistled to Tugg. He was merely annoyed by the water; having not suffered much damage besides a wet coat. She was too tired to go hunting with him and leaned back against a stone as Robert played. "Tugg...fetch us something tasty...no rats!" she pat him on his head.

 

He gurgled in response; heaving his head into the air and sniffing the winds. They were safe; the water had carried them far. He sauntered away through the trees; sniffing as he went. Tulla watched weakly as her friend cried but she had no strength to move "Whisper...Whisper...it's alright..."

[Torrent505 370]

The princess's magic did it's work and internally his body slowly began to heal as the cells knit themselves back together as the healing continued to gain speed. He made a gurgling gagging sound as the fluids in his lungs cleared away and he started to breath, raggedly at first but it quickly steadied and smoothed. After a couple of moments of good breathing his eyes shot open and he let out squawk like cry of surprise and fear, jerking up to look about wide eyed to figure out where he was after his memory of what had happened was so terrifying.

 

His eyes settled on Whisper face and the slit pupils focused sharply, he gave a little happy cry nuzzling his head against her cheek and then his long but thick tongue went at her face cleaning the tears away, though is left slobber. He pulled back to look at her the corners of his mouth twitching awkwardly up to mimic a human smile.

 

Then his ear twitched and he realized they were not alone, he sprung to his feet over her, his scales raised making him look menacingly more spiky and his wings flared out to wrap protectively over her and shield her from danger, he let out a low rumbling growl. Only to see the other friendly faces from around the campfire before, he stopped growling and let his scales flatten again but still stood uncertainly and protectively over the princess trying to decide what was going on and what had happened.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, Now back with the wood I got going on making the fire I gathered all the smaller sticks and put them against a bigger log with the kindling below the sticks. I decided to try something with my magic that I have been thinking about for a while. I put my hand near the sticks and said, "Ignis." to my satisfaction it did as I intended and lit the fire. I was drained more then I would be with Illusion magic, something I used quite a bit more in comparison but it did indeed cut my Magick energy use in about half when I allocated the spell itself to a word that I learned in an old tome with a old language in it, while thinking of my intent, the verbal spell also was easier to cast as I could put more concentration on my intent. 

 

 

(Ignis= Latin for fire) ( I will use latin when he uses what I will call verbal casting) 

[Sekel 693]

Helena watched the massive Chimera wander off into the forest for some food. Pulling back her left sleeve with her teeth - she didn't quite trust herself with moving her right arm yet - she had a look at her crossbow in the moonlight. It seemed that a notch had been gouged out of the bottom of the stock.  She frowned at that. 'hat's going to lose some integrity but I'm not able to fix it. I'm not at home.' Helena thought sullenly. Her head jerked upright when she heard a dragon squawk out of fear. She tried to scramble away from the sound but then remembered her legs when they were shot through with pain. "Damn. Forgot about that." Helena hissed between her teeth as she gingerly held the painful area.

[Flying Ace 142]

The princess's magic did it's work and internally his body slowly began to heal as the cells knit themselves back together as the healing continued to gain speed. He made a gurgling gagging sound as the fluids in his lungs cleared away and he started to breath, raggedly at first but it quickly steadied and smoothed. After a couple of moments of good breathing his eyes shot open and he let out squawk like cry of surprise and fear, jerking up to look about wide eyed to figure out where he was after his memory of what had happened was so terrifying.

 

His eyes settled on Whisper face and the slit pupils focused sharply, he gave a little happy cry nuzzling his head against her cheek and then his long but thick tongue went at her face cleaning the tears away, though is left slobber. He pulled back to look at her the corners of his mouth twitching awkwardly up to mimic a human smile.

 

Then his ear twitched and he realized they were not alone, he sprung to his feet over her, his scales raised making him look menacingly more spiky and his wings flared out to wrap protectively over her and shield her from danger, he let out a low rumbling growl. Only to see the other friendly faces from around the campfire before, he stopped growling and let his scales flatten again but still stood uncertainly and protectively over the princess trying to decide what was going on and what had happened.

 

@@RunsWithSquirlz, Now back with the wood I got going on making the fire I gathered all the smaller sticks and put them against a bigger log with the kindling below the sticks. I decided to try something with my magic that I have been thinking about for a while. I put my hand near the sticks and said, "Ignis." to my satisfaction it did as I intended and lit the fire. I was drained more then I would be with Illusion magic, something I used quite a bit more in comparison but it did indeed cut my Magick energy use in about half when I allocated the spell itself to a word that I learned in an old tome with a old language in it, while thinking of my intent, the verbal spell also was easier to cast as I could put more concentration on my intent. 

 

 

(Ignis= Latin for fire) ( I will use latin when he uses what I will call verbal casting) 

Dresden gave a chuckle when Finn awoke, "Ah nice to see you made out okay little guy." When Indicus made a fire that just made Dresden brighten more, "fire! Thank you Indicus I appreciate." Dresden Whisper and Tulla, "So who wants to sit next to the nice and warm fire?"

[Shadow Dancer 111]

@@Flying Ace,  "No problem Dresden, it was more of a personal experiment of using a word as the focal point of the spell instead of thinking the spell and intent you just have to think of the intent and say the word that you mentally associate with the spell, for me it cut the magick usage in half." I was in a mix between slightly tired from the spell usage and excited that my experiment was a success.  

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

As the second weapon was torn free of his failing grip, Adrass staggered back once more from the outright viciousness of the attack - steel colliding with bone. He grunted and clutched at the point of contact.

 

Nothing worked - it wasn't possible! This was more like trying to fight the march of time itself, and as all did, he was failing. Out of desperation, he grabbed for the silver knives at his side...

 

Only to find them missing.

 

If his impending death hasn't triggered a panic, this did. The knives were from the hall of relics: there were worth more than his own, futile life! Head snapping around, he spied one mere inches from the sheer drop that the children had preferred to suffer than fight the mercenary: there was no sign of the other. Slumping heavily down, the hunter grasped the knife ad pushed himself upright.

 

Expect he didn't: as he stood up, the ground moved down.

 

The rock beneath him appeared to have had enough of the foolish humans playing at soldier atop it - before he could react, it began to crumble beneath the exhausted man. He glanced down at the abyss below, and back at the maiden.

 

"I'll see you in the void."

 

That was all that there was time to say: the rock gave way and the Witch Hunter fell.

 

---------------

 

It took longer than he had expected to hit the water at the bottom of the fall, giving Adrass time to reflect on his poor life choices... such as accepting a quest to escort as Mage into a foreign land. It had obviously been a doomed expedition from the start: it had been the Illians who had created the order - many generations ago - and if there was one place where a Mage wasn't safe, it was there.

 

Of course, it had been stupid for him to travel alongside any mage. He knew the law of his kind, and had broken it willingly. Hopefully, this would be redemption enough.

 

And where was that other knife? Had it fallen before him? At the very least he had recovered one of them.

 

---------------

 

The impact with the water knocked what little air he had remaining out of his lungs - cold flooded his body and immediately soaked him to the none. Strangely, he wasn't dead. Considering his options at this stage - a dishonoured traitor to the cause, friendless and hunted by a nemesis as deathless as karma itself... it was tempting to just curl up and die. He probably would have done, had he not hated the world as much as he did. Surely it it wanted him dead so badly, there was greater spite in sticking around?

 

The hooded coat was taken off with some difficulty - it's mail no longer weighing him down in the chilling torrent of water. The bandanna went next, leaving him free to breath when his head was above water. His swords were gone, leaving him more free than he had been in a long while as he struggled against the current until he could go on for no longer.

 

---------------

 

When the hunter washed up, it was quiet. The darkness suggested that he hasn't been out for too long... unless he had slept through the night in the tangle of weeks that had caught him. On the shore was the twinkle of a silver knife reflecting a short blade covered with a dying blue fire. They were so close... yet he was so tired.

 

Without the coat, the hunter lay in what might well be ten year old clothing - what had once been an assortment of cotton, supple and rugged leather now worn and frayed with age... not to mention recently soaked through.

 

His body was beaten by recent events, with a number of fresh cuts adding to the scars littering his body. He wasn't certain if his jaw was broken or merely dislocated - he didn't hurt so much any more, just felt numb. A trickle of blood ran down from under the dirty, straw like hair - irritatingly close to his eye. He hasn't the strength to move though, so merely ignored it as best as he could as he lay and simply tried to stay awake.

[Torrent505 370]

An old man sat upon a wooden box near the rivers edge where Adrass had washed up. He was tall and incredibly skinny, wearing a black tailored suit with a golden pendant as bolo tie, a large top hat sat on his wispy gray and white hair. His face was cragged with wrinkles, his nose was large and long like a beak, his ears were large with a few puffs of hair coming from inside them, he wore round thick coke bottle glasses. Behind him leaning against a tree was a strange wooden frame with wheels on either end (a bicycle) and closer inspection revealed the wooden box was a very simple board coffin.

 

He lifted a bony hand with knobby knuckles and it trembled shakily, he pointed a finger at Adrass and slowly dragged it towards where his silver knife sat. As the finger moved along the path so did Adrass but it didn't feel at if he moved, rather he seemed to remain still as the earth flowed around him. Earth magic was in the air but it seemed subdued, quiet and hard to sense.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Tulla had fallen asleep braced against her boulder. While she slept; she kept her fingers latched to her belt, an inch away from her knife.

 

Whisper cooed affectionately to Finn "See? There you are." She bent down to wash her face from the slobber and chose to stay at the waters edge. The princess dipped her feet in the pool sullenly; suddenly wishing she had stayed in her carriage. She'd be dead and no one else would be hurt, these poor people wouldn't be hunted. While she pondered; she loosened her braid and ran her thin fingers through the thick red mass. She was proud of her hair; it was something she had full control over.

 

"I wonder where is Adrass...if...if they even made it..."

----

 

Tugg crept through the forest; annoyed that there was only small game in these parts. He was a vicious hunter indeed but his lions paws could not squeeze into a hole or den if he tried. He raised his head, catching another scent. Human. He changed his stance; dropping low to the ground as he snuck around, approaching the smell from behind. One of them was barely recognizable but he recalled it from the camp. The other was new but fading and strange tints of fumes he had not smelled before.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass
 
Adrass groaned through equal parts shame, pain and frustration as he began to stir – body trembling and shuddering as muscles sparked back into consciousness. He shuddered, suddenly pushing himself sideways as a stomach full of riverwater was expelled violently onto the ground. Eyelids squeezed closed and opened again several times as his vision wavered, refusing to return fully through the concussion or blood loss... he couldn’t have said which.
 
A glint of moonlight flashed against silver in the corner of his eye, his eyes focusing for a brief moment. Where was he? Of course, downstream somewhere… but wasn’t he distinctly further away from the precious relic when he had last opened his eyes? How long ago had that been even? Was he alive?
 
A shooting pain through his side quite promptly reminded him that yes, he was indeed alive, as he reach out unsuccessfully to grab at the knife – fumbling and succeeding only in cutting the tips of his fingers slightly against its tip.
 
Groaning once more – this time at least mostly in frustration – he felt his face collide with ground. What else was there? No blackpowder, no bullets… the soaked guns wouldn’t be functional until he could clean and dry them again. His sword – his own personal heirloom and weapon of choice – was missing as well… he needed to rest, not to fight and he knew as much, but if anything were to attack him now… well, it would be a twisted kind of irony to become food for some wild animal after everything he had gone through.
 
He tried again with his left hand – it’s three fingers stretching out this time until they clasped around something solid and thankfully, not sharp. The fading blue flame that lingered around the shortsword was drawn close as the hunter gasped for breath, doing as little as possible to try and recuperate enough energy to stand on his feet once more. It was a double edged sword, trying to deny a witch. The resistance was a blessing no doubt, but when faced with the raw, overwhelming power of the one that had pursued them? It would have been an exhausting trial to simply block out the effects of her power without drawing a weapon at all.
 
And on that note... what was it that he could feel? It was... different, somehow. The elder hunters could readily distinguish one mage from another - supposedly. Was this some early form of that effect? Or had he simply taken a few too many blows to the head? Regardless, it was weak - surely too far away to cause any real concern.

[Flying Ace 142]

Tulla had fallen asleep braced against her boulder. While she slept; she kept her fingers latched to her belt, an inch away from her knife.

 

Whisper cooed affectionately to Finn "See? There you are." She bent down to wash her face from the slobber and chose to stay at the waters edge. The princess dipped her feet in the pool sullenly; suddenly wishing she had stayed in her carriage. She'd be dead and no one else would be hurt, these poor people wouldn't be hunted. While she pondered; she loosened her braid and ran her thin fingers through the thick red mass. She was proud of her hair; it was something she had full control over.

 

"I wonder where is Adrass...if...if they even made it..."

----

 

Tugg crept through the forest; annoyed that there was only small game in these parts. He was a vicious hunter indeed but his lions paws could not squeeze into a hole or den if he tried. He raised his head, catching another scent. Human. He changed his stance; dropping low to the ground as he snuck around, approaching the smell from behind. One of them was barely recognizable but he recalled it from the camp. The other was new but fading and strange tints of fumes he had not smelled before.

"I'm sure hes fine," Dresden said as he sat next to the fire, "Someone as stubborn as Adrass is sure to still be alive; we'll see if we can locate him and hopefully in the morning we can see if the Iron Maiden is gone so we can salvage our camp." Dresden said carefully as to not make his shoulders worse he reach done to the bottom of his boots to unstrap two daggers. "Always have a back up." 

[Sanctified Absence 126]

The towering maiden, the sight and smell of death, the crushing darkness that threatened to overwhelm anything that stood in its path. Zaddion awoke from his nightmare in a near state of shock, sitting there motionlessly as he tried to get his thoughts together. Where exactly was he? What happened to the others? Such questions were answered after a long moment of concentration.

 

Attempting to get himself to his feet for some purpose unknown even to himself, the Mage's efforts were only met with the ground crashing against his forehead. "What... Happened?" His breath was gone, his skin was pale and for once in his life he felt helpless. Silence... Oh there was nothing right now that compared to the damning silence in response to his question.

 

Clenching his fists and slowly rising, the Mage was barely coping with the image of the iron-clad woman, the image of all the death that he had suddenly seen before nearly facing it himself twice. "What happened!?" He had no energy left for keeping a hold of himself, the condition leaving him slightly desperate in everything he was doing.

 

Ignore this post, I'll replace it with a non-important Dream sequence when I can think of one. 

Edited July 10, 2014 by Sanctified Absence

[Shadow Dancer 111]

After the fire was started I walked away and climbed a nearby tree feeling at home in the darkness of the night. I thought to the hunter that stayed behind and figured it was possible for him to have lived, but no matter he lived, or he died it just meant we would be down one less person. Or still have the same numbers. 

[Sekel 693]

Helena had passed out from the pain in her legs so she ended up lying down on her back near the water. She doesn't know what's happening and frankly, she wished that she was back home. If she hadn't accepted this, then none of this would have hapened to her.

[Torrent505 370]

The old man stared at Adrass with some interest, picking up on his subtle movements and cues with eyes far keener than his thick glasses lens would suggest. He reached out both his hands towards the river with his fingers splayed and bent towards the ground then gave a raking motion back to himself; several piles of mud crawled out of the river. He didn't know if the objects the mud piles were something belonging to the stranger, or old farm equipment and garbage but he figured it might be worth the effort to get a story out of him. He was very curious about what exactly was happening up on the cliff top.

 

He stood up on his long slender legs and walked over to inspect the man, as he moved he kept his hands folded behind his back. He stopped several paces away but still leaned over the stranger and inspect him more carefully.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Tugg lumbered over since he didn't see any immediate danger. Maybe this new human had food. He was to hungry to care and he approached cautiously sniffing the old gentlemen in the back of the head. His beak knocked the mans top-hat off, he followed it, sticking his face inside to inspect it further.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

Eventually, as several of his companions were either asleep or passed out, Robert stopped playing. He began to reflect all of the days events thus far, and thought about how he could put them into song. The fair maiden and fearsome beast who saved him not once but twice, the princess and her dragon making a crazy suicidal escape, and the brave last stand made by the witch hunter. There was a lot to work with, and there may well be more before they were done with this journey.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

The world spun, but didn't fade away again this time as Adrass moved once more - pressing down with his knuckles against the ground until he managed to to rise to his knees. Bringing an arm across his brow to wipe away the trickle of blood he picked up the knife by his side, waited a moment before closing his eyes and heaving himself to his feet once more. Was that music that he could hear?

 

Vertigo struck and it took a moment to regain his balance, but he didn't fall.

 

@@Torrent505,

@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

As the world swam into focus again though, it seemed for a moment that he might have been correct about hitting his head. And old man sat before him: which was unusual, if perfectly believable. An unusual machine of scientific design rested next to him: again, believable.

 

No, the part he struggled with was the Chimera wearing the top hat.

 

Hallucination or not - they were the only things around, and he wasn't likely to get anywhere without at least some kind of directions. He had desired to more desperate measures than talking to himself in times past after all.

 

The first time he made to speak, the only thing that came out was another retching mouthful of river water, which he dutifully aim away from the probably-imaginary figures.

 

"Ugh - hate water..." It wasn't a particularly good greeting by anyone's standards. "Where the void am I? And, uh... can I help you with somethin' old timer?"

 

He snorted - the sharp pain in his side instantly making him regret doing so. At least the music had stopped: his head must have been trying to make at least some sense out of the situation.

 

"Sorry, sorry... not fair to even talk to phantoms like that."

Edited July 9, 2014 by Cinderscribe

[Scribblegroove 565]

Flinch

 

 

All hope was lost. The dagger the Iron maiden had thrown had hit him in his left arm, delving deep into his flesh and muscle. His final companion had plunged down the cliff. He was all on his own now. This giant metal juggernaut would kill him with one blow. He was wounded prey. Pinned down by a predator so much more powerful than he was. There was no chance that he could take that... Thing out with his marginal arsenal of weapons and tricks. He was a doctor for heavens sake, not a warrior!

 

But there was a way to escape... The cliff. Jump down it like everyone else and hope for the best. But running off like a coward was not exactly his style. "I'd rather go out guns blazing..."

 

And that was exactly what he was going to do.

 

He stepped back to the edge of the cliff, keeping his eyes on the enemy, making sure he wouldn't be charged and impaled by the giant weapons she was holding.

 

"Well then... I suppose we've come to the end of the line. You're a sick fuck you know? I don't know how but you done did it. You murdered everyone. Your own men, and us. You don't deserve to live anymore because you spread death like a disease."

 

Humorously, he was monologueing, but not very seriously. He was actually chuckling all the time. He liked a little bit of a melodramatic end to his existence. He took the environment to hart. Perhaps the last image he would ever see. The peaceful forest in the background, the raging waters beneath him and the iron statue in front of him. The night had covered the land in a mysterious glow. Blue and white dominated the spectrum of colors as the moon and the stars shone down on the land.

 

It was a beautiful view to die to.

 

"I present you..." Inserting a dramatic pause to his cackling last words. "The finger of death!" With the speed and efficiency that could've equalled a pistolera he pulled out the alchemically charged firearm with his right, unharnmed arm and aimed it at the Iron Maiden's chest, arm extended. 

 

He pulled the trigger.

 

A bright flash of white, a thundering explosion and searing heat followed, tearing away at Flinch's protetive suit. The knockback was so tremendous that he was immediately launched off the cliff. The bullet was fired. It had reached amazing speed. It was flying straight at the maiden. If she wouldn't die now, he could at least say he tried.

 

Flinch's cackling laughter tore through the slowly decreasing rumbling noise that the explosion had brought forth. It was loud and shrill, and abruptly ended with a splash. The cold water consumed his burnt and bruised body, giving him a slight sense of tranquility instead of shock. It was so very tempting to just stop now. To end this madness and to slip away into the cold unforgiving abyss of death.

 

"I survived the plague, so I'm going to survive this!" Were the thoughts that penetrated the fog which kept his mind in serenity. Quickly his thoughts cleared. He had to take action. Adrenalin surged through his veins as he started to move. The raging water threw him around, but he managed to tear off his mask and coat. Briefly he surfaced, giving him the oppertunity to inhale the sweet oxygen. Then he was pulled below the surface again.

 

He couldn't go long without oxygen, and his heavy leather clothing didn't exactly make it easier to stay at the surface. He hoped that it would all be over soon. That he could get out of this alive and go on with his life. Why did he have to help these random travelers? Why didn't he just leave them to their fate? It's not like he could've made a difference anyway.

 

Then he felt the current come to rest. He quickly started moving again, since he could feel that he was strong enough to fight the current now... or the current was weak enough for him to fight it. He swum to the surface and inhaled loudly, taking in the fresh air like it was godly nectar. He then swum to the side of the river with some difficulty, fighting against the powerful stream of water, but he eventually managed to crawl on the shore. He lay there for a moment, the adrenalin slowly starting to loose effect. He breathed slowly, and laughed softly. He had manged to save his backpack. At least he could still save himself from his wounds now.

 

The burns started to hurt now, and he felt a few pieces of shrapnel from the firearm stuk in his hand. His muslces were hurting, and he couldn't hear properly, only percieving a high pitched noise that slowly started to lose volume. That was not good, but it would have to wait. Now he was just glad he was alive.

Edited July 9, 2014 by Scribblegroove

[Torrent505 370]

@Scribblegroove @RunsWithSquirlz

 

The old man gave a "hmmmm," and turned walking back towards the coffin, he ran his hand down the chimera's side but didn't bother to try and take back his hat, better to let it play than to rip the hat trying to take it or to end up making the large beast angry.

 

He opened up the coffin and on the inside of the lid where all types of tools and simple medical equipment tucked into red velvet; however inside the actual coffin proper was a different story, it was full of dirt with a large white canvas bag half buried in it and something inside the bag struggled weakly. The old man ignored it and withdrew the medical bag before letting the lid slam back shut.

 

He started walking back to Adrass clutching the bag to his chest. As he was heading back Flinch washed up on the river side but the old man ignored the doctor and spoke to the hunter, his voice was deep but seemed to have a creaking squeak to it at times, "Why yes, you can help me... but one type of hunter to another how about I offer you a trade? I let you use my medical supplies and you tell me what is happening up there-" he motioned toward the cliff top then pointed at Flinch, "-that is so important that you and your friends felt the need to take the a short step into Illia over a cliff?" The man stopped next to Tugg and calmly scratched under his chin with one hand while trying to finally reclaim his hat with the other.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Whisper had scooched over some, sitting next to the unconscious Zaddion. Curiosity had gotten the better of her and she gently took his arm into her lap. She studied the crystalline pattern along his veins; and the blood that seeped from them. Why would someone do this to themselves? In the pursuit of magic? He had been enveloped in it since the moment they left, no doubt beforehand as well.

 

The princess caught the glint of steel cascading over the waterfall. A sword perhaps? 

---

 

Tugg kept the hat from him; growing rather fond of it. He cocked his head as a small sound escaped from the coffin. Food maybe? He couldn't tell and sat calmly growling while grasping the hat in a paw.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

Adrass paused for a moment - reaching out to touch the bag with his three-fingered hand. That pretty much confirmed that the old coot actually existed: something that would have set alarm bells ringing, had he been in better health. As he was, it was just enough to have his mind struggle through the process of developing a few questions.

 

"What do you mean, another type of hunter?" He asked blankly. "And how do you know who I am?"

 

Of course, had the old man been a figment if his imagination, it would make sense: but Adrass has established that he in fact wasn't a phantom, but a physical being...

 

Regards, if the old man knew that, there weren't really any other secrets left to keep.

 

"I was escorting a caravan across the border into Illia when we were attacked." The memory wasn't completely clear - head never used the silver fire before and hasn't anticipated the effects it might have had on his mind, but he could recall the key moments well enough. "mercenaries under the flag of Illia, of all people. we fought but... they had taken the guard completely by surprise. Not only by surprise but totally unarmed!"

 

He shivered as some of the feeling returned to his body - greatly regretting the loss of his coat as he stood in what was hardly fit to be called more than rags at this stage - frayed and sewn together, patched countless times... and all of this back when he still cared: that must have been over a year ago at least.

 

"A few of us had escaped to the trees when she came - a Witch like I've never felt before. Most of them jumped right away rather than face her..." He left out the part about the princess: not so much out of spite or mistrust, but shame. "I tried to stop her but... nothing. Nothing seemed to hurt her - it was like the strength of a hundred men were trapped within that suit, every one screaming their arcane screech at me. Nothing hurt her..."

 

He looked down at the silver knife in his hand - the runes of warding still primed and unused.

 

"I got too close to the edge, and I fell. My charge is dead. The Witch is alive. I failed."

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Now Tugg wasn't a genius nor stupid like most dumb animals but he did think a bit slow. At the mention of Andrass' failed mission, he growled deeply.

 

In his throat he made a gutteral sound; standing at attention as he did so.

 

Whisper carefully placed his arm back down and waded into the water. She extended an arm gracefully to let Finn glide to the shore. Then after a deep breath; she dove.

 

In the murkiness she could see the glinting of a sword. It stuck out alone amongst the rocks and plants. It affected her; reminding her of what was lost. Grabbing the hilt she heaved upwards, pulling out from it's watery grave and swam upwards.

[Flying Ace 142]

@@RunsWithSquirlz

Dresden was looking in the fire for most of the time when he decided to stand up to stretch the legs, Tulla was asleep and so was Helena, and Robert seemed to deep in thought to disturbed so Dresden decided to practice his magic after a run-in with the Iron Maiden one needs to be prepared. He cracked the muscles in his next and walked towards the water, he laughed when he saw Finn getting back on the shore. "Hey there little guy enjoying your swim? The water's calmer then it was up there I-whaaaa?" Dresden stopped mid-sentence when his eyes gave him a strange sight; Whisper swimming to the surface with a sword in her hand, "Wha-who-how-was that sword there the whole time?" Dresden cocked his head slightly in a confusing matter.