private The Fall of Andalasia ~Book 1~

[Torrent505 370]

@@RunsWithSquirlz @@Alex Kennedy @@Flying Ace @ @@Shadow Dancer

 

Lance pounded up the steps coming suddenly to the bard and one of the girls who was supposed to be restrained, this group must have had more allies that the inn had expected strange of them to travel in two groups like that but must have been smart since it had saved them. He didn't slow as he pushed off the wall jumping into the air to flip over them, still he couldn't resist some extra flare in the maneuver and had his face pass uncomfortably close to Robert's while he was upside down, with a little suggestive wink as well. Before landing at the top of the stairs and continuing toward the inns front door.

 

********

 

Clarke was leading the others and they weren't far behind the flow dancer, he saw Robert and Tulla, his mind was too focused on other things to even consider how Lance had pass them when they were blocking the stairs. He bellowed out to them, "Robert, Tulla! Thanks for waiting but we need to go now! This place is enchanted to blow. Where's Miss Whisp? Is Whisper safe already?!"

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

If he'd had more time to react, Robert might well have punched Lance's face in as he sailed through the air past him. Unfortunately, he was too caught off guard to do anything more than stare as Lance ran off. If he was being honest, Robert kind of liked that guy's style. Perhaps, under dramatically different circumstances, they might even have been friends. That said, he was still the asshole who'd been hurting his companions, and that wasn't okay. But it was too late now at any rate. Robert sighed and gave it no more thought before rushing towards the exit, hoping the others would follow shortly behind.

[Sekel 694]

@@RunsWithSquirlz

Helena turned away from the window and looked at Whisper. "Whisper. I need you to trust me on this okay? What I want you to do is jump out this window after me when I say. Don't worry, I will catch you. Okay?" Helena asked Whisper. She had judged how far the ground was from the window and figured it would be safe enough to jump out of. If Whisper did as she said, then Helena would catch her. Without waiting for an answer, Helena jumped out of the window and landed in a crouch on the ground. Standing up, she called out to Whisper. "Okay! Your turn!"

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Tula counted as the men ran past her to safety, before she turned to leave, she was surprised by the haggard Adrass making his way out too. SHe ran to his side and pulled his arm across her shoulders, adjusting his weight to lean with her and she pulled him forward.

 

"I'm surprised to see you here old man, didn't think you liked these kind of Inns" Tulla grunted and shuffled quickly with Adrass across the floor and throwing themselves out the front door moments before its collapse.

 

The princess ran towards the window and jumped out. Only a second after, the windows blew from the Inn and fire engulfed it in billows of flame and smoke. The roof caved in, letting out a column of thick black smoke into the night sky.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I looked back to the burning Inn and then to the group. When Tula grabbed the hunter I let her take him and walked forward the two handed blade still in my left hand. Exhausted from the torture and the fight with the Flow Dancer I sat down on the ground with the sword next to me, feeling the heat from the fire on my chest I looked to notice I was without my shirt and upper armor, the realization also forced me to remember that my weapons were also gone. 

 

I just sighed, to tired to think about getting new weapons and armor from another guild location of which I would have to find myself. What got to me the most was that I lost the blade my mother made for me, but like everything else I buried the memories and emotions deep, returning myself to a calm but tired state.

[Sekel 694]

@@RunsWithSquirlz

Helena eyed the window carefully and watched Whisper jump. Ignoring the inferno that used the inn, Helena judged Whisper's descent. Standing in the right place, Helena caught Whisper but got her breath out of her by Whisper's momentum and she fell to the ground on her back withWhisper on top of her. "See? Told you I'd catch you." Helena told the princess.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

@@RunsWithSquirlz,

 

"Hated it." Snarled the Hunter between broken breaths. "Didn't even... kill anything."

 

He barely even realised that he was made a joke - as pathetic as it was - without forcing himself. One moment he was straining to speak, the next he was straining to catch his breath as he lay face-first on the ground outside - a sticky, warm feeling spread across his stomach as the makeshift bandages were disturbed, though the rest of him was cold.

 

He was exceptionally thirsty, now that he thought about it. Dizzy too, though that was to be expected.

 

"Fu... agh!" Came the next gurgled word as he rolled to take his weight off the wounds as best as he could, before feeling the need to finish his previous sentiment.

 

"Leave you for two minutes... and this happens?" He snorted, doing his best impression of a pained smirk. "Couldn't leave you here.... with just these Witches! Who'd.... keep them in line?"

Edited October 28, 2014 by Cinderscribe

[Flying Ace 142]

@,@@Shadow Dancer, @@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Alex Kennedy, @@Torrent505,

Dresden was trying to catch his breath as the inn started to burn to the ground, as the excitement from everything happening died down Dresden stood up and watch the building collapse. "Hey where are Whisper and Helena?" Dresden looked to notice that the two females were gone; he started getting worried.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

@@Flying Ace

 

I looked at Dresden and replied curtly,"Their fine if they were still in there we would have heard their screams by now." I stopped there the fight still catching up to me slowly but catching up to me one the less, I really did not want to depend on the princess every time I got hurt but besides the missing eye I was actually relitivly unharmed.

Edited October 28, 2014 by Shadow Dancer

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Tulla laid on her back, heaving with exhaustion as she gave Adrass a dry chuckle.

 

"You look like shit." she squinted through the haze and looked at the state of dis-repair of her group-mate.

 

Whisper yelped as Helena caught her and quickly stood "Thanks!!!! Where are the others?!"

[Sekel 694]

@@RunsWithSquirlz

Helena stood up and dusted herself off. "No problem. I thin the others made it outside otherwise we would have heard their screams. And since they were in the basement ... they would have come out the front. This way." Helena said an coughed from the smoke billowing out from the inn. Holding Whisper's hand, Helena lead her around the inn to where she thought the others were.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

They were joined together once more, Whisper let go of Helens hand and ran to Clarke. Before anything, she scooped Finn out of his arms and cooed to him "Baby dragon...you're okay...I'm here..."

 

"Right." Tulla said from the ground "Everyone's here, minus a few bits, I vote we settle down and figure out what we're gonna do. Plus, an inventory check..."

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@RunsWithSquirlz,@@Dji,

 

Robert looked the girls over, glad to see they were safe. "It's good to see you guys made it out too. As for inventory... I'm pretty sure everything I had just got blown up. Including my pants, sadly. I could care less about most of it, but without my lute I can only use my magic by singing, and even then only at a fraction of it's normal strength." He sighed sadly. "'Twas a fine instrument, too. I guess have this knife, though. Dancer threw it at me. If somebody wants to clean the blood off of it, maybe it could be useful."

[Torrent505 370]

@@RunsWithSquirlz @@Dji @@Alex Kennedy @@Sanctified Absence @@Flying Ace @ @@Shadow Dancer

 

Finn was still out cold when Whisper took him from Clarke, "The little beastie really saved us in there. Knocked his head a bit though, you might want to help him heal up..." Was it just him or did his voice sound a little hoarse and forced? He was too caught up in the moment to care though, "I'm really glad your okay Miss Whisp, I was really worried..." He trailed off remembering his dream and feeling guilty, he pulled Whisper in for a quick awkward hug well she was holding the dragon, it made his chest hurt. He felt a bit woozy and tired, but everyone probably did. "I'm going to go make some java for everyone. I think Adrass and Indicus need some of your help think you can do it before I'm back with coffee?" He gave her shoulder a squeeze before heading for the barn.

 

Clarke had finally reached his cart in the barn when the adrenaline and endorphins wore off enough that he realized something was really wrong. His vision was blurring and the weakness he was feeling wasn't just tiredness. His chest wouldn't stop aching, in fact it now felt like it was on fire, each breath an agonizing struggle. He looked down focusing on his chest, at the little stream of blood moving down it... 'That's right the maid I headbutted, she stabbed me in the chest.' He realized he had a coppery taste in his mouth, and the taste had been in the back of his throat for awhile now, that had been the cause of his hoarseness and funny sound to his voice. The wound hadn't seemed like much; in the moment and out of necessity he'd been able to forget about it even, but that serrated blade must have bit deep enough to hit a lung. Serrated blades were meant to cause as much bleeding as possible and it had apparently done its job.

 

He swayed drunkenly trying to use his cart as support, clumsy numb hands knocked tools loose and cabinets open. Clarke gave a gurgling cough and suddenly his mouth was full of warm blood. 'This isn't right, I got in one little fight. She got just one jab. I barely helped them, I didn't fight the deadly assassin but I'm the one dying?!' His eyes went wide at the realization, he was dying. Coughing up blood like this, the punctured lung was already flooded the other one would be soon. He pushed of the cart stumbling towards the stable doorway, he needed to get back to the others. 'Combination of blood loss and oxygen deprivation, I'm going to suffocate. Drown in my own blood. How long have I already been using just one lung or at least a failing respiratory system?!' He was starting to panic now, but the adrenaline wasn't enough to drive him now, his vision was fading at the edges. He tripped collapsing just exiting the stables doors.

 

'Whisper could help me! She's healing the others she could help!' He tried to cry out but it came out as a weak gurgle and spitting more blood onto the ground. What had that Maid said? 'At least one of you has the sense to die like he's supposed to.' Guess she was right, he had been the weakest link anyways... And planning to betray them, they would be better off without him... 'No! Coppershine, I have to at least warn Whisper about Coppershine. She deserves that much, I need to save her from...' He was weakly griping and ungriping the nights cool wet grass trying to hold his head up to look for the group, but he saw a small white glowing girl at the forests edge... She was waving at him, she was beautiful, with twisting falling petals of brilliance all around her. 'The forest is haunted, I'm dying so I can see it...' He swore he could hear her giggling, it was light and playful. She gestured to him to come to her, wiggling a finger to follow. 'So I join them? In the forest? Maybe I can help guide them then if I'm there? Protect them? Would I get a chance to warn Whisper? Ask forgiveness?' He couldn't support himself anymore collapsing on to the refreshingly chilling grass, her voice a clear bell that only he could hear, "Come play with me in the woods..." He did.

Edited October 28, 2014 by Torrent505

[Flying Ace 142]

@@Alex Kennedy, @@Dji, @@Shadow Dancer, @,

 

Dresden examined the knife that Robert was holding in his hands, "yeah I could clean it; if you want I could even teach you what I know about using a dagger." Dresden said taking the knife and; holding it in the palm of his hand enveloping it in water until the blood was washed away. "There we go spic and span, now we need to worry about that Dancer I've never seen any thing like that I can't even call that magic!"

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Flying Ace,

 

Robert nodded. "Nah, I'm good. I just bashed a door open and ran out of an exploding building while my shoulder spewed blood, so I think I'm gonna go pass out for a while. You guys have fun, though." With that, he sat on the ground and soon fell into a state of near-unconsciousness. 

[Sekel 694]

@@Flying Ace, @@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Torrent505, @@Shadow Dancer, @

"Dancer? What dancer? I was too busy saving Whisper to notice any dancer." Helena asked him as she took stock of her inventory. Feeling the bolts in her hand as she reached her back to check how many there were, she was quite surprised to find not a bolt, but a handle with strings. Looking over at the bard, she decided to keep it in her quiver, seeming that he had passed out. 'No idea what it's doing there.' Helena thought to herself. Looking around the group, she found that they were down a member. Walking around the group, she took a quick glance at the stables and found a body there. Walking over, she jumped slightly and gave a shriek as Helena figured ot who the body was.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

(Hes in the field iant he?)

A large shadow lumbered towards the dying body of Clarke, Tugg sauntered up to him, sniffing his body. He had been getting his wits about him, trying to figure out what was happening.

 

Whisper knelt next to Adrass and had been about to examine the bloody patches of clothes when a chill shook her body. Her open palms shook as it overtook her thin frame. What a dreadful feeling, deep in her heart, as if a piece was fading away. The princess could feel the joined pain of her friends, the magick in her veins urging her to help.

 

Death. It was death. Clarke...

 

Scanning around, everyone was accounted for and alive, except for the tinkerer. Whisper leapt up and ran barefoot around and past the burning Inn and through the smoke. She charged through the field, following the tug in her stomach, luckily she caught sight of Tugg.

 

"Claaaarkeeeee!" She tumbled next to him on the grass "No you don't! You will not die here! No one will die again around me!"

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

"Looked like that already. Just... feel like it as well now." He let out a breath, fully aware that he should be helping, but lacking any energy or motivation to do so. The pain didn't subside, but now that he was able to slump down, he could at least avoid worsening anything. He could actually do something about the wounds, rather than the hasty patch-job that he had settled for before...

 

And one of the girls screamed.

 

He snatched for his sword, but it wasn't on his back. The assassin had it still. He made to lunge in her direction but only succeeded in twisting awkwardly on the ground. One way or the other, he was useless.

 

"Sh... wait, Clarke?"

 

In all honesty, he hadn't been paying attention to anything other than the Dancer when he had entered the room. Had the Engineer been injured? Adrass hadn't noticed... surely he would have noticed, wouldn't have gone off alone if he needed help?

 

"They must have been... attacked!" He grumbled in an anxious tone. "Go on! I'll be... right there."

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I heard the princess shout, and what the Hunter said so I quickly grabbed the two handed blade and made my way to her voice ignoring the pain ready to help. When I arrived I saw Clark bleeding from his chest, I could not help him so I stayed back until needed.

[Flying Ace 142]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Torrent505, @@Dji, @@Shadow Dancer,

 

Dresden was quick to follow after Indicus at the sound of Whisper's scream to the stables where Whisper and Helena were crouched over, "Clarke!" Dresden ran over to see a sword wound on his chest. "Clarke! Dammit that maid we were fighting must have wounded him somehow!"

[Torrent505 370]

@@RunsWithSquirlz @@Dji @@Flying Ace @@Shadow Dancer

 

(I'm going to guess that Whisper's healing Clarke right?)

 

The wound on the outside of Clarke's chest slowly closed; he sputtered and coughed blood out on to the ground. He breathing was labored but slowly back smoother and even between the occasional fit of coughs. After a few moments he seemed to be perfectly fine, but still didn't wake up.

 

A voice called down from above Whisper, "Well now The Madame really didn't have any idea how valuable of a catch you really were did she?" Lance was sitting in the stables attic window, he dropped gracefully to the ground ignoring the others as he sauntered towards Whisper. "An honest to gods life Mage. You really saved him, I could see his life energy leaking out but you just stitched up the wounds and stuff a whole bunch of it back in him. It's not going to help the runt though,". He gestured at Clarke's seemingly sleeping body, "the forest took him. He's as good as dead, today's full of firsts for me, never seen the forest reach out and take someone like that before neither." He stopped in to stand over Clarke and the crouching life mage, "so Princess, you're the talk of both countries right now, what brings you to our dark little neck of the woods? Perhaps we can help each other?"

Edited October 29, 2014 by Torrent505

[Shadow Dancer 111]

I watched the Flow Dancer carefully the sword in my hand felt lighter with the adrinline pulsing through my veins but I held my response wanting to see what would happen as I was in poor condition to fight him. I silently wished I had my gear, it would have made the fight easier for me back in the building.

[Sekel 694]

@@Torrent505

Helena gulped as she watched Whisper heal him. Stading back slightly, she continued to watch until she saw a man approach them. Thinking quickly, she held he arm out an immediately loaded an ordinary bolt. "Stay back. I won't hesitate to put this bolt in you if you so much as lay a finger on her." Helena told the man forcefully. The look in her eues told them that was beinfdeadly serious about what she said and plus, she didn't like the way he spoke to Whisper.

@@RunsWithSquirlz

Edited October 29, 2014 by Dji

[Torrent505 370]

@@RunsWithSquirlz @@Dji @@Alex Kennedy @@Sanctified Absence @@Flying Ace @ @@Shadow Dancer

 

Lance gave the girl aiming the crossbow at him a skeptical look. "Are you serious? Relax honey, first if I wanted to hurt anyone I wouldn't have come over talking. I would have quietly started picking you off one by one." He turned to stare her down his one good hand resting on a heavy beautiful rapier he had retrieved from the barn. "Besides can someone even hurt a life Mage?"

 

He looked back at Whisper, "I've heard legends they heal instantly and can live for centuries. Is it true Princess? If I stab you a few times would it matter? Say are you really a pure virgin or does that heal too? Oh, never mind Princess I'm sure that was far too crude of me to ask." He looked back at Helena, "I am here to offer my help, I've been in that forest more than anyone. It helps to have a guide that can see energy that no one else can see and I need a group of at least three other people to dare to travel through that forest. I won't even ask for payment, I need your help to get through the woods as much as you need mine."