Hidden 6 yrs ago 6 yrs ago Post by Muttonhawk
Raw
GM
Avatar of Muttonhawk

Muttonhawk Let Slip the Corgis of War

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

"I will need you and Yerig to help me take the bodies through quickly," Sabine said. "I have to hold the portal open. It takes much energy. Relying on the staff too much would be unwise. Do not talk to anyone who approaches us. I will tell them what to do."

To save time, and as a small mercy, Sabine left some clothes on the captives. It was a trivial matter to make the bleeding ones stable. She only wanted any tools they could use to escape away from them. They were soon ready to transport them all to the Daggerfall clan.

Sabine opened a portal to their clanhome. To say they were surprised to see them was an understatement. Guards hailing Sabine were just as numerous as guards half-raising their weapons at the sight of Do'Rhajul and Yerig. Fortunately, none knew them up close well enough to confirm who they were. Sabine kept interactions terse, declaring her unconscious captives as Do'Rhajul's team, to imprison them as securely as possible, and then she opened a portal back to their camp without answering any more questions.

The guards stood around after they left feeling as though they had just encountered ghosts. They had little clues as to the situation. The frantic search for Sabine meant that the encounter would be reported directly to Meesei, given time.

The next phase, as Sabine directed, was to consult a map of the Iliac bay to locate the dragon's residence. Sabine knew a spot to teleport outside of the city of Daggerfall itself but she had no point of reference for the island. They resolved to pack up camp, sell the now captive team's belongings where they were unused, and try to find a boat with a pilot insane enough to grant them passage.

Daggerfall was a long day. Sabine drew many stares with her oversized cloak, strange staff, and blood-streaked visage. She walked stiffly and regarded no one but those that might help them. Unfortunately, Sabine's determination met with little success, even with the money they had. The three of them stopped to come up with ideas and the best they had was to buy a small, one-sail yacht for the short trip. They made camp outside the city and launched on the water at first light.

The meagre boat turned out to be more suitable than they originally anticipated, not only for its speed, but also its low profile. Their approach was less noticeable than being ferried on a cargo ship or a galley.

They found a landing spot on the island by late afternoon. With Do'Rhajul dragging the yacht up the beach away from the tide, Sabine looked up the steep, grassy crests that obscured the rest of the land before them with just the same wide-eyed expression as she had earlier that day.

"We only have to find the axe," Sabine said. "We should search for its previous wielder. But, if the dragon finds us, how do we kill it?"
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
Raw
coGM
Avatar of EliteCommander

EliteCommander The Commander of Elites

Member Seen 2 hrs ago

Although it had not been that long, Do'rhajul and Yerig had been around Sabine enough to at least not be uncomfortable around her. Yerig was the more sociable of the two, as Do'rhajul seemed to start brooding any time he was allowed to be alone with his own thoughts. Although, it would be easy to see that Yerig looked concerned about Do'rhajul's frequent foul moods, so it might not have been normal for him.

The group had chosen one of the few sandy beaches they saw to make landfall. Given that Sabine could teleport, there would not likely be much need for the boat again, but Do'rhajul decided to find some foliage in which to hide it just so that they would have the option. They would just have to make sure to remember where they left it.

Yerig raised his brow at Sabine. "You, uh, didn't already have a plan for that? With how eager you were to get here, without any reinforcements, I figured you would have already had that figured out." He said, surprised. Though, that expression quickly became a chuckle. "I'd like to point out that I didn't swear myself to follow your insane plans. I will, but not because I have to."

Do'rhajul approached the question more seriously. "Between the Staff, my shield, and Yerig's voice, we have far more power than this dragon will expect. They are arrogant and prideful creatures by nature, so it will underestimate us. We must use that to our advantage. Your power will be the most likely to kill it, Sabine. Its scales are exceptionally strong, and a being its size will easily overpower any of us physically. But, it still bleeds just like anything else. Destruction magic, well-placed piercing strikes against weak points. If we hurt it enough, it shall die."

"I would suggest targeting the wings first." Yerig added. "Its flight gives it an advantage, but on the ground, we can outmaneuver it. Also, dragons tend to be attuned to an element, ice or fire, and are resistant to it. If you notice it using fire or frost breath, use a different one against it. As for me, I have had many years of practice and meditation, but I still do not think my Thu'um will be a match for a true Dovah. You will be the one who gives us an advantage."

Do'rhajul nodded in agreement. "Hopefully, we don't have to fight it. I suggest we continue along the coastline and see if we can find any hint of where this Redguard made landfall. We might be able to follow the tracks from there."
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Muttonhawk
Raw
GM
Avatar of Muttonhawk

Muttonhawk Let Slip the Corgis of War

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

There was only an affirmative hum from Sabine before she resumed her walking. They did not have the daylight left to tarry much longer.

The trio had not spoken much to each other since after Sabine took over. Sabine's tense demeanour and Do'Rhajul's emotions meant that Yerig was the only one maintaining casual talk amongst them. However, now that they were peering around and up for any sign of a dragon, they were completely quiet as they set out from the beach.

They did not travel far before Sabine, of all people, paced herself to walk alongside Do'Rhajul. She held her eyes forward. "When you ambushed us, I used a powerful spell on you," Sabine said. "The blizzard spell. It looked painful. I am sorry."
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
Raw
coGM
Avatar of EliteCommander

EliteCommander The Commander of Elites

Member Seen 2 hrs ago

Do'rhajul kept his eyes moving between the skies and the forest off to their left. Though, a dragon would have difficulty maneuvering among trees, so an attack from above was by far the most likely danger. They were searching the coast to the north of the spot they had landed for signs of their quarry. The island was not too terribly large, but it would still take time for them to get around the entire island. However, it was also quite unlikely that the Redguard would have made landfall on the far side of the island, so they could concentrate their search on the part of the island that faced the mainland.

Do'rhajul did not face Sabine as he answered. "Your spells were powerful and effective. Even I could not defend against it. The only criticism I can levy against your actions is that you did not follow through on the opportunity you created. Your mercy is a laudable trait, but it can be a weakness. At that time, I would have killed you if given the chance. You should have denied that option to me." He did not seem to be becoming any more forgiving towards himself, based on his attitude.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Muttonhawk
Raw
GM
Avatar of Muttonhawk

Muttonhawk Let Slip the Corgis of War

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

"It was not mercy for you," Sabine responded neutrally. "Not then. If I had killed you, Arinette would have killed Meesei."

Sabine took a second to look down from her wary watch for a dragon. She bit the inside of her cheek. Only sincerity was behind her next question, despite the possible sarcastic interpretation. "Rhajul, when was the last time you accepted sympathy?"
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
Raw
coGM
Avatar of EliteCommander

EliteCommander The Commander of Elites

Member Seen 2 hrs ago

Do'rhajul did not require much time to think of an answer. "When I accepted your mercy and agreed to help you. If I really had a mind to, I could have slit my own throat as repentance for my many sins. Just...I understand what you are doing. I understand why you are doing it, and you are much more noble than I."

There was a long breath, and a more lengthy pause from Do'rhajul. He gave off a soft, deep sound, almost as if he was growling at his own thoughts. "You resisted the temptation of revenge, even though you deserved to take it. Arinette, the others, they would have deserved everything you could have done to them. The world would not have been worse off for their loss. You avoided revenge, but I am driven by it. I have nothing more in my life, except for what others have done to me, and what I have done to myself by falling for their tricks. Lycans first took away most of my life, then Clavicus Vile tricked me into giving up what was left. I do not know who those lycans were, if they were affiliated with a clan, or just a pack of ferals. But, Vile is something I can identify, something we can hurt. With me serving you as my master, I can help make Vile pay for the pain he has caused. To me, to you, to anyone else. To make a god bend his knee to the will and tenacity of mortals, that, I suppose, would be an even greater justice than my own death."
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Muttonhawk
Raw
GM
Avatar of Muttonhawk

Muttonhawk Let Slip the Corgis of War

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

Sabine was at first hesitant. "I think..." She curled her lips and gathered her thoughts. "I agree that defeating Vile is better than ending your life. Do not mistake what I say as disagreeing. I just...I think you are making other things impossible for yourself because of your pain." She hazarded a sideways glance up to his eyes. "I do not know what will happen in Vile's realm. I do not know if any or all of us get back to Tamriel alive. But should we find ourselves back here with our tasks fulfilled, I know someone...or something...a number of people, you could say, that I would like you to talk to. I cannot know what they will say. I just believe they can offer you peace. I fear revenge may leave you empty. I would prefer, as your...master, that you find peace."
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
Raw
coGM
Avatar of EliteCommander

EliteCommander The Commander of Elites

Member Seen 2 hrs ago

"Survive an assault on Oblivion? I think that's quite an assumption." Do'rhajul replied. "Even a success would inevitably come with high casualties, and I would certainly be protecting your life, master. I do not think it is necessary to focus on existential questions until we have faced and overcame the dangers ahead of us. Perhaps peace will be mine, one day, but it is difficult for me to settle for peace when there is still a war to fight. Afterwards, well, I would not be opposed to having this conversation again."

The group was more focused on watching out for the dragon as long as they were walking along the rockier portions of the coast, but as they came to calmer waters, they were more attentive towards the shore. Just like themselves, the man they were tracking was likely to have chosen a beach on which to land. The first beach they came across did not seem to have been disturbed, but on the second, Do'rhajul's keen eyes spotted some sand that had been dragged up into the grass from the beach. Following it farther up near the forest, they were able to find exactly what they had been hoping for. There were two rowboats resting near the trees, next to the cold remnants of a campfire. They had almost certainly been left behind by the Redguard and the other bounty hunters with him. Most likely, Do'rhajul reasoned, was that they had hired a larger ship to take them to the island, then took rowboats to make landfall. The tracks and other evidence left around the camp did match up with the timeframe at which the Redguard would have arrived. Besides which, it was not as if many others would willingly visit this island in particular. There were tracks that seemed to indicate that they had moved farther inland, though it was getting somewhat close to nightfall.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Muttonhawk
Raw
GM
Avatar of Muttonhawk

Muttonhawk Let Slip the Corgis of War

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

Sabine left Do'rhajul alone when he answered. They needed to focus on the task at hand.

The signs of those they were searching for was encouraging. It at least suggested that they were not attacked and sunk out at sea. The three of them got all the information they could out of the camp site before the sun cast long shadows from their feet.

Sabine peered to judge the setting sun. "They are likely at least day ahead of us. This island is not large, so they would not have gotten far. Pursuing them would leave us without sleep and we could as well meet them in the daylight tomorrow. If we stay here for a night, they may come back for their boats. If they succeeded or retreated, that is. We can follow their trail if they do not come back. We can start at first light."

Before relaxing, Sabine paused. "Unless...what are your impressions?"
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
Raw
coGM
Avatar of EliteCommander

EliteCommander The Commander of Elites

Member Seen 2 hrs ago

Do'rhajul took the time to clearly and thoroughly observe their surroundings before responding. "Hmm, this camp could be more than a day old, maybe two. Still, what you said is true. Rushing after them could be a mistake, especially if the dragon has already gotten to them. We need to be well rested if we encounter it."

"I think that sounds like a plan." Yerig added. "I could use a break after all this sailing and walking anyways. These old bones don't have the stamina they used to."

Do'rhajul was the one who was carrying most of their heavier supplies, given that he was the most physically capable among them. The tents they had taken from their old camp were small, but there was one for each of them. Without needing to be asked, he started to set up their camp, while Yerig looked for something on which he could sit and rest. He rolled over a rock into the center of camp, then gathered up some kindling from around the camp to put onto the campfire.

With a groan, Yerig leaned down close to the campfire and spoke the slightest whisper of a word: Yol. The word formed a small flame to ignite the kindling, after which Yerig leaned back and let out a long sigh.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Muttonhawk
Raw
GM
Avatar of Muttonhawk

Muttonhawk Let Slip the Corgis of War

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

While the others set up camp, Sabine wandered the outskirts to set up spells to warn them of intruders. The process took some time. By the time she was done, Do'rhajul and Yerig were already heating dinner. Sabine sat down in her usual pose with her knees drawn up to her chest. She remained holding the staff tightly to her body, almost as if afraid to let it go.

She stared into the fire. A silent frown across her face told of nothing she wanted to say, if anything at all.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
Raw
coGM
Avatar of EliteCommander

EliteCommander The Commander of Elites

Member Seen 2 hrs ago

The camp was quite silent for the entire time that Do'rhajul was cooking up their dinner, which consisted of some dried fish and vegetables. It was not the most flavorful of meals, but hey hardly had the time to hunt for anything fresh.

Yerig was the only one who actually appeared to be bothered by the uncomfortable silence, and the downtrodden attitudes of his companions. Both Do'rhajul and Sabine looked like their minds were off somewhere else, and nowhere pleasant. It was a mood that rubbed off on him for a while as they ate, but he was not one to let the silence last forever. He was not entirely sure of what to say, but anything seemed to be better than nothing at the moment.

Yerig inched himself somewhat closer to Sabine. "So, um, Sabine, I was wondering something. We never really talked about it in much detail, but why did you want to do it this way? To go after the axe on our own, I mean, without help from your friends."

Meanwhile, Do'rhajul was the first to finish his dinner, and without a word or explanation, he stood up and walked off towards the beach, out of sight.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Muttonhawk
Raw
GM
Avatar of Muttonhawk

Muttonhawk Let Slip the Corgis of War

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

Sabine threw Do'rhajul a quick look when he stood up but she let him go. She took a few seconds to finish her mouthful and lower her food to her lap.

"I thought...maybe, if we find the axe, it would prove that I am not being..." The word took a moment longer than she thought to find. "Coerced." It was not the whole truth. "You and Rhajul will be held under strong suspicion at best. The axe should reduce that." She rubbed an itch behind her ear. "That is all."

It was not all. Sabine's visible discomfort admitted a more personal layer that she had not shared.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
Raw
coGM
Avatar of EliteCommander

EliteCommander The Commander of Elites

Member Seen 2 hrs ago

Yerig nodded along with Sabine. "Yeah, I understand. I imagine they might warm up to me a bit easier, but even the optimist in me doesn't think that they could ever trust Rhajul. Not after everything that happened between you all. I think 'tolerate' is probably the best we could possibly hope for when it comes to him."

While he was sure that what Sabine had said was part of the truth, Yerig was perceptive enough to see the signs in her expression that she had something else on her mind. He doubted that he had the full story. "I know I gave you a hard time, but I trust that you're at least confident we can do this. I doubt you would want to send yourself to certain death for no reason. But, uh, you sure there's nothing more? Don't worry about me judging you or anything, whatever it is. You've already proven yourself a brave, powerful, and merciful woman to me. I just want to help at this point."
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Muttonhawk
Raw
GM
Avatar of Muttonhawk

Muttonhawk Let Slip the Corgis of War

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

Sabine closed her eyes in silent frustration. Being called merciful, powerful, enlightened, brave, and all else was grating on her. It was not just because she knew Yerig and Do'rhajul feared her, but also the entire reason they were here without support.

"Please, stop using those words," Sabine said, lifting an open hand from her cloak. She allowed her eyes to open with a worry in her brow. "I am not...I..." Her shoulders fell as she let out a breath. "It was my fault I was caught and..." She trailed off rather than repeat what followed. "I do not know what is going to happen when I return home. I do not know how my pack will react. I am ashamed that I was caught. I am ashamed that I could have ruined our plan. But they will not say anything like that. Not if I tell them what happened." Sabine's voice quivered as she continued. "But they might think I cannot fight or should not fight."

Sabine's reasoning was not based completely on reality, whether Yerig knew or could deduce such a contrary state. However, this time she was not consciously lying or omitting. Her hands were now clutching her staff tightly and her breathing had the same shiver as her voice.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
Raw
coGM
Avatar of EliteCommander

EliteCommander The Commander of Elites

Member Seen 2 hrs ago

Yerig listened on attentively through Sabine's explanation, allowing her to get everything off of her chest that she felt she needed to say. The situation was making more and more sense to him. Sabine had not been acting exceptionally confident, but he could not be sure how much of her behavior was a direct result of the torture she had been through, or if there was something even deeper to it.

"You know, I don't see how you could think that about yourself, after everything you did. You were able to do what your whole team, or uh, pack, couldn't do together. Sure, you had me and Rhajul to help, but it's not like we did anything. Maybe you'd just say it was the staff, but even before that, back when we ambushed you the first time, you nearly killed Rhajul all by yourself. So I'd still say my description of you is fair. If you weren't as merciful as you are, I'd be outright terrified of you." Yerig said encouragingly. "You, of all people, shouldn't be beating yourself up over what happened. Your friend could have slit my throat in my sleep. She was right there at my tent. But after hearing what your plan really was, I just see that you took huge risk to try and do something good. I know I'd be dead if you hadn't, one way or another. I don't think anyone could blame you that it didn't go exactly to plan."
Hidden 6 yrs ago 6 yrs ago Post by Muttonhawk
Raw
GM
Avatar of Muttonhawk

Muttonhawk Let Slip the Corgis of War

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

Sabine shook her head. "I do not think you understand. I am not the first in my pack to get captured. Fendros and Ahnasha were taken once. By someone very cruel. They did not talk about what happened but I eavesdropped once. It made me feel sick. But they took many years to recover. They had nightmares, during the night and the day."

The wood of the staff creaked as Sabine wrung it. "It has not happened to me yet. It might not. I do not know why. I have not been sleeping much, maybe that it why. My pack would not want me risking myself either way."
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
Raw
coGM
Avatar of EliteCommander

EliteCommander The Commander of Elites

Member Seen 2 hrs ago

Yerig hummed and gave a light, understanding nod. "That kind of pain, it's a story I've heard and seen many times. It's why I'm out here wandering Tamriel instead of sitting on a mountain shouting at the sky. I wanted to try to keep people from having to live through it. People's minds, they deal with pain differently. Sometimes people press through their trauma and move on with their lives, sometimes it haunts them. I know what you went through was horrible, but your mind might not dwell on it. It might not be the same for you as it was for your friends. You've got to have hope that you'll be able to get through it."

The Nord groaned briefly as he stood to his feet, then walked around the fire to sit back down beside Sabine, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Look, if it does end up haunting you and you end up suffering because of what happened, don't be afraid to go to your friends. Lean on them for support, because I promise it can help. But, if you can get past it; if your nightmares aren't haunted by it, then you don't have to re-live the experience talking to anyone about it. I'm sure your friends will understand. You have to do what is best for you; don't worry about anyone else. You can make your own judgments on it, but only as long as you know that you're being honest with yourself. More than anything else, don't try to suffer through it on your own if it turns out that you do need help."
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Muttonhawk
Raw
GM
Avatar of Muttonhawk

Muttonhawk Let Slip the Corgis of War

Member Seen 5 hrs ago

Sabine at least looked as though she was regarding Yerig's thoughts. Some part of her resisted or drowned out certain reasonings in her mind. It was dulling, in a way. She breathed in and looked across to Yerig.

"We will get the axe first," she said. "I can carry on. I have suffered worse before and survived."

Nevermind the fact that her previous recovery was assisted by a ritual with the Hist.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
Raw
coGM
Avatar of EliteCommander

EliteCommander The Commander of Elites

Member Seen 2 hrs ago

Yerig gave Sabine a single pat on the back. "Okay, but remember what I said. Don't let yourself suffer alone."

The Nord moved a few feet away, though he still remained close to Sabine. He took a moment to glance towards the beach, but Do'rhajul was still nowhere within sight, and Yerig was not precisely sure where he had gone. With the current state of his two companions, Yerig had a hard time determining if every little action had some kind of terrible cause to it, or if it was nothing to be concerned about.

Once more, there was an extended, awkward silence between them. The fact that he did not know if Sabine was normally sociable or not did not help Yerig. At least with Do'rhajul, he knew for sure that he was acting unusually. "So...if we have to kill a dragon, what do you think your clan will think about that. I mean, you're hunters, right? I can't think of more impressive prey than that. Not to mention that, if we're successful, you'll also be coming back with that axe you've been looking for. They would have to admire those kinds of accomplishments."
↑ Top
© 2007-2024
BBCode Cheatsheet