At everyone else changing back, as well as Meesei's warm hug, Sabine began to change back into a Breton in Meesei's arms. While the changes were grotesque as always, it was a quick process. After changing, Sabine put her own arms around Meesei and held on tightly. In her mind, there was still a panic present, one that made her think that she was going to be torn into by a lycan again. However, now that they were out of sight of the coven and away from the smell of fear that the children held, Sabine began to regain her wits. It was still a horrific experience to relive. Tears started to streak down her face as she held onto Meesei. She didn't have to worry about things with Meesei around.
Fendros decided to look down and lick Ahnasha on the ear in response to her demand. He let out a quick amused breath from his nose and began to shift back to Dunmer form. Looking over to the situation with Sabine as well, her state drew pity Fendros, but he couldn't really imagine what she was going through. After all, there was a lot more trauma in that coven in Sabine's mind than Fendros had likely ever experienced. Similar thoughts came from Janius as he shifted back.
After several moments, Sabine's breathing became more regulated and her shivering subsided. Slowly, she pulled away from Meesei and stood up silently. Sabine looked over to Ariel, who stood up with her. "The gas." Sabine said simply.
"Destroyed," Ariel said, nodding and holding the fingers of one hand in the other, "Laboratory, notes, everything."
"Lilia?" Sabine continued.
Ariel looked over to Ahnasha with a sullen face, before returning her eyes to her sister. "She's the hostage Vile has. Another witch, Dagmar, do you remember her? She had rediscovered the gas recipe. She lives, I think, but I took the knowledge from her mind and left the notes to burn in the tower." Ariel glanced to Meesei occasionally as she talked, explaining it to everyone as well as Sabine, "If Dagmar is to be believed, and I think she is, she was the only one who had unlocked the secrets to making the gas. Sharing those secrets would have been extremely difficult, if impossible. The recipe is very complicated."
There was a chill up Ariel's spine as she went back to Dagmar's face when she had explained the situation her. "Ahnasha is correct. The coven was being coerced into this task." Ariel took in a long, but shallow breath through her mouth and she glanced to the side, as if she was holding back tears herself. "I think I grossly misjudged the coven. In hindsight this was the more likely situation." She brought up a hand to wipe her eyes with her thumb and her forefinger and she kept the hand covering her mouth and nose. There was another shallow breath, "Oh, I hope they'll be okay." Ariel blinked a couple of times and her eyes started to go red. She stayed mostly composed, though.
All of a sudden, Sabine stepped up and hugged Ariel around the chest, causing her to lift her arms slightly in surprise. Sabine had her eyes closed and her ear pressed against Ariel's chest when Ariel looked down at her head. Ariel returned the hug, putting her arms around Sabine in return. "Thank you, sister," Sabine mumbled, understanding her sacrifice.
Ariel's response was to half-cough and half-exhale, bursting into tears with her mouth open. She brought her hand up and held Sabine's head, breathing in with a struggling sound and exhaling as quickly. Her face went completely red and she brought her head down to lean against the top of Sabine's head. Her back jolted in small movements while she sobbed. It wasn't just the understanding and comfort that Sabine tried to provide, she had referred to her as her sister in a very sincere manner. In a way it was proper forgiveness. While Sabine and Ariel embraced, Janius put his hand on Ariel's shoulder. "Thank you, Ariel," he said with a look of condolence, before removing his hand and stepping back. Feeling that it was appropriate to do so, Fendros nodded and spoke as well, "Thank you, Ariel."
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Let Slip the Corgis of War
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Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
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Fendros and Janius weren't so enthused about Meesei destroying the door, as it let in destruction of all elements to anything that was in direct line of sight to the door. Fortunately, the pack was obscured to the witches outside and her plan of withdrawal was enacted quickly. Fendros was the first to dive through the hole in the wall, then Sabine made her way through, trying to just concentrate on running instead of anything else. Lorag tried to get through, but went at it from the wrong angle and was wedged in for a moment before Janius frantically shouldered him through and escaped himself. After Janius hit the ground and ran, he looked back to see Meesei's wolf form barge its way out, dodging a number of spells that were thrown out of the hole after her. Now they just had to make it to the meeting place.
By the time they had made it to the meeting spot, they found Ahnasha standing alert and Ariel sitting on a rock with her elbow in one hand and the bridge of her nose in the other. She had her head down and her eyes open, thinking. Sabine was the first to arrive, she came running in so fast that her sudden appearance made Ariel jump. She was quickly followed by the rest of the pack. Though some were smoking from being hit with fire, they appeared unharmed. Sabine was the only one that Ariel recognised. The rest were much larger than her. If anything, the first time seeing the entire pack in their wolf forms was imposing. Ariel rationalised the fear that she felt in their presence, reminding herself that they probably weren't out of control. At least, that was if she was to believe what Meesei had explained about werewolves on the way to and from their scouting mission.
As soon as Fendros laid her eyes on Ahnasha, he went up to her, placed his hand on her shoulder, and touched his nose to hers. There was an awkward instant as he remembered that he couldn't really kiss her in this form, so he followed up by embracing her, relieved to see her safe. It wasn't until now that the adrenaline was fading and his arm began to feel sore from the ice spell that had hit it. At least it didn't appear to be permanent damage. As he pulled away from the embrace, Fendros observed Ahnasha's less-than-triumphant expression. "Are you okay?" Fendros asked.
Despite finding it fascinating to find out that werewolves could talk in their beast forms, Ariel was more concerned about Sabine. From the moment that she had stopped in the meeting spot, she fell onto all fours and had her head down and her eyes closed. She was breathing slowly and didn't seem to respond to them. Concerned as to her state, Ariel got up from her seat and knelt down near Sabine, trying to look her in the eye but finding her completely withdrawn. Upon inspecting her this closely, Ariel saw that any part of her body that wasn't directly anchored to the ground was shivering.
"Sabine..." Ariel said, trying to get her attention. There was no response from her, but Ariel didn't feel brave enough to touch her. Ariel looked up to Lorag, whom she mistook for Meesei due to the difference in size in their wolf forms and asked, "Is she okay? What happened?"
By the time they had made it to the meeting spot, they found Ahnasha standing alert and Ariel sitting on a rock with her elbow in one hand and the bridge of her nose in the other. She had her head down and her eyes open, thinking. Sabine was the first to arrive, she came running in so fast that her sudden appearance made Ariel jump. She was quickly followed by the rest of the pack. Though some were smoking from being hit with fire, they appeared unharmed. Sabine was the only one that Ariel recognised. The rest were much larger than her. If anything, the first time seeing the entire pack in their wolf forms was imposing. Ariel rationalised the fear that she felt in their presence, reminding herself that they probably weren't out of control. At least, that was if she was to believe what Meesei had explained about werewolves on the way to and from their scouting mission.
As soon as Fendros laid her eyes on Ahnasha, he went up to her, placed his hand on her shoulder, and touched his nose to hers. There was an awkward instant as he remembered that he couldn't really kiss her in this form, so he followed up by embracing her, relieved to see her safe. It wasn't until now that the adrenaline was fading and his arm began to feel sore from the ice spell that had hit it. At least it didn't appear to be permanent damage. As he pulled away from the embrace, Fendros observed Ahnasha's less-than-triumphant expression. "Are you okay?" Fendros asked.
Despite finding it fascinating to find out that werewolves could talk in their beast forms, Ariel was more concerned about Sabine. From the moment that she had stopped in the meeting spot, she fell onto all fours and had her head down and her eyes closed. She was breathing slowly and didn't seem to respond to them. Concerned as to her state, Ariel got up from her seat and knelt down near Sabine, trying to look her in the eye but finding her completely withdrawn. Upon inspecting her this closely, Ariel saw that any part of her body that wasn't directly anchored to the ground was shivering.
"Sabine..." Ariel said, trying to get her attention. There was no response from her, but Ariel didn't feel brave enough to touch her. Ariel looked up to Lorag, whom she mistook for Meesei due to the difference in size in their wolf forms and asked, "Is she okay? What happened?"
With a slight look of surprise at Ahnasha taking the risk of cutting the fuse, Ariel didn't need to be told twice to run. Damn getting spotted at this point, she had neither the time nor the magicka to make herself invisible again. A sickly snapping sound from behind her caused Ariel to look over her shoulder just in time for a sharp gasp. Ahnasha, in her werewolf form, scooped up Ariel by the waist and carried her along at a dizzying running pace, causing Ariel to let out a surprised shriek as her feet desperately tried to keep up. It became steadier when she was propped up against Ahnasha's shoulder with a better grip, but she certainly did not expect to be carried away from this plan. Another shout of thrill and fear escaped Ariel as Ahnasha stepped over and jumped from the fortress walls and onto the ground below. The landing knocked the wind out of Ariel's lungs, but she was more than happy just to be alive.
After regaining her breath, Ariel shouted over the air rushing by them as they moved. Her voice was a mix between terrified and annoyed. It was so quick with her terror and bumpy with Ahnasha's gait that it was hard to make out the words, "Ah-na-sha! I-woul-dhave-lik-ed-to-kno-wyou-hads-ome-thi-nglike-this-plan-ned-be-fore-ha-!"
The end of Ariel's sentence was completely drowned out by the series of thunderous booms, bangs, and crackles as the tower was demolished. Following the flasks going, there was also a bright light that allowed Ariel to see the entire landscape for but a moment as if it was day, almost blinding her with her night-eye potion still in effect. Though she was facing away from what she assumed was a plume of chemical fire, she could still feel its intense heat from this distance. The light faded just as quickly and Ariel could only feel the air whizzing by and Ahnasha's pawsteps running across the ground while her eyes readjusted.
Sabine's breathing was shallow and her heart was racing. She stared at Lorag as he kept the witches in place. She wished it was a bad dream, it felt like a bad dream. She wanted to scream, but she was frozen in place. Now she was going to get mauled again. There was no rhyme or reason, she was just going to be singled out from all the other children. She had completely forgotten that she was in her wolf form now. Indeed, her beast spirit seemed so empathetic to her panic attack that it was cowering with her. She was a little girl again. Defenseless and vulnerable.
A streak of hope came down the stairs in the form of a familiar face. Sabine's eyes shot to Meesei and between her presence and her authoritative hold command, almost immediately Sabine began to be informed of reality again. Meesei talked with the witches, who seemed skeptical. They kept their spells up, but they seemed to slowly relax a little as Lorag and Meesei stayed back.
Then Meesei came up to Sabine where she was up against the wall. With her touch on her cheek, Sabine felt as if she could start to move again. With a shaky hand, Sabine slowly and gently put her fingers around Meesei's arm. Sabine could see that her own arm was its fur-covered beast-form, and as she slowly stood up on quivering knees, she stood slightly taller than Meesei. Though she still had her ears flat, Sabine was lead upstairs. As she glanced to the witches one last time, they stared back at her. The Nord witch had an expression of recognition on her face, though she didn't act upon it. Just before the Nord was out of sight, she mouthed to herself 'Sabine?' as if trying to confirm that it was who she thought it was.
Once they were upstairs, Sabine couldn't quite know what to think. She was still shaken and her heart was still pounding. Her beast spirit seemed to calm itself faster, which helped her energy. She would just follow directions for now, that would be easiest.
Just as well. While they were trying to shake Sabine out of her flashback, Fendros and Janius had held the door to the last, but now an entire chunk had been snapped inward, letting in a gout of magical fire. The explosion had bought a little time, but one more telekinetic smash and the door was going to snap in half.
After regaining her breath, Ariel shouted over the air rushing by them as they moved. Her voice was a mix between terrified and annoyed. It was so quick with her terror and bumpy with Ahnasha's gait that it was hard to make out the words, "Ah-na-sha! I-woul-dhave-lik-ed-to-kno-wyou-hads-ome-thi-nglike-this-plan-ned-be-fore-ha-!"
The end of Ariel's sentence was completely drowned out by the series of thunderous booms, bangs, and crackles as the tower was demolished. Following the flasks going, there was also a bright light that allowed Ariel to see the entire landscape for but a moment as if it was day, almost blinding her with her night-eye potion still in effect. Though she was facing away from what she assumed was a plume of chemical fire, she could still feel its intense heat from this distance. The light faded just as quickly and Ariel could only feel the air whizzing by and Ahnasha's pawsteps running across the ground while her eyes readjusted.
Sabine's breathing was shallow and her heart was racing. She stared at Lorag as he kept the witches in place. She wished it was a bad dream, it felt like a bad dream. She wanted to scream, but she was frozen in place. Now she was going to get mauled again. There was no rhyme or reason, she was just going to be singled out from all the other children. She had completely forgotten that she was in her wolf form now. Indeed, her beast spirit seemed so empathetic to her panic attack that it was cowering with her. She was a little girl again. Defenseless and vulnerable.
A streak of hope came down the stairs in the form of a familiar face. Sabine's eyes shot to Meesei and between her presence and her authoritative hold command, almost immediately Sabine began to be informed of reality again. Meesei talked with the witches, who seemed skeptical. They kept their spells up, but they seemed to slowly relax a little as Lorag and Meesei stayed back.
Then Meesei came up to Sabine where she was up against the wall. With her touch on her cheek, Sabine felt as if she could start to move again. With a shaky hand, Sabine slowly and gently put her fingers around Meesei's arm. Sabine could see that her own arm was its fur-covered beast-form, and as she slowly stood up on quivering knees, she stood slightly taller than Meesei. Though she still had her ears flat, Sabine was lead upstairs. As she glanced to the witches one last time, they stared back at her. The Nord witch had an expression of recognition on her face, though she didn't act upon it. Just before the Nord was out of sight, she mouthed to herself 'Sabine?' as if trying to confirm that it was who she thought it was.
Once they were upstairs, Sabine couldn't quite know what to think. She was still shaken and her heart was still pounding. Her beast spirit seemed to calm itself faster, which helped her energy. She would just follow directions for now, that would be easiest.
Just as well. While they were trying to shake Sabine out of her flashback, Fendros and Janius had held the door to the last, but now an entire chunk had been snapped inward, letting in a gout of magical fire. The explosion had bought a little time, but one more telekinetic smash and the door was going to snap in half.
Cool beans. You'll have to excuse my slowed activity over the last few days and the next few weeks. Exams are coming up and all of the final assignments are due, you know the deal.
G'night!
G'night!
This was insane. This entire day had been insane. First being kidnapped, then being almost killed by an unexplained crystal, now they were escaping from a prison. None of it was making sense to Sara, but she didn't have the time to work anything out. She had to fight.
Tyme rushed to one side as they engaged the guards that halted their advance. Sara broke into a sprint, holding the sword in both hands with the blade pointed behind her. As some of the guards opened fire, she dodged to one side and avoided the bullets with a deft somersault. The ping-ping-ping of the bullets on the floor behind her didn't faze her as she sprung out of the roll and held her sword over her head. Once in the right spot, Sara brought the sword to one side and cut into a guard's waist, sliding to a stop past the guard with her sword forward. The guard fell clutching his wound.
Her next movement was to raise her sword and jerk its blade into positions to deflect more incoming fire from the next guard. The guard kept firing, requiring Sara to duck and feint a swing to make the man flinch. Swiftly, Sara used the opening to lunge and thrust her sword at the guard's torso. Unfortunately, the guard was quick enough to parry Sara's thrust and counterstrike her on the side of the face with the butt of his rifle. Sara staggered back momentarily and held her sword up to deflect as the guard took aim again, but the only things that came from his weapon were empty clicks. Sara dropped into a fighting stance again, using one hand to wipe the blood from her cut lip. She raised her sword to strike, but the guard was felled by a bullet from one of the blue uniforms.
Looking around, Sara spotted Tyme trying to reach his sword, which had impaled a guard to the wall for some reason. The fool must have thrown it. He'd taken a hit though. Sara started to run to get between Tyme and the aiming gunner that sought to end him, but it didn't look like she would get there in time to deflect any bullets. It was down to the other gunners in the group.
Tyme rushed to one side as they engaged the guards that halted their advance. Sara broke into a sprint, holding the sword in both hands with the blade pointed behind her. As some of the guards opened fire, she dodged to one side and avoided the bullets with a deft somersault. The ping-ping-ping of the bullets on the floor behind her didn't faze her as she sprung out of the roll and held her sword over her head. Once in the right spot, Sara brought the sword to one side and cut into a guard's waist, sliding to a stop past the guard with her sword forward. The guard fell clutching his wound.
Her next movement was to raise her sword and jerk its blade into positions to deflect more incoming fire from the next guard. The guard kept firing, requiring Sara to duck and feint a swing to make the man flinch. Swiftly, Sara used the opening to lunge and thrust her sword at the guard's torso. Unfortunately, the guard was quick enough to parry Sara's thrust and counterstrike her on the side of the face with the butt of his rifle. Sara staggered back momentarily and held her sword up to deflect as the guard took aim again, but the only things that came from his weapon were empty clicks. Sara dropped into a fighting stance again, using one hand to wipe the blood from her cut lip. She raised her sword to strike, but the guard was felled by a bullet from one of the blue uniforms.
Looking around, Sara spotted Tyme trying to reach his sword, which had impaled a guard to the wall for some reason. The fool must have thrown it. He'd taken a hit though. Sara started to run to get between Tyme and the aiming gunner that sought to end him, but it didn't look like she would get there in time to deflect any bullets. It was down to the other gunners in the group.
As Dagmar was lowered to the ground, Ariel quickly removed her shoulderbag and handed it to Ahnasha. "The rest of the fire salts are in the middle, set them up and I'll deal with this," Ariel said, dropping to her knees next to the paralyzed Dark Elf.
Dagmar had a pained look on her face, and it looked like she could hardly breathe. To prolong the paralysis while she worked, Ariel put her finger to the back of Dagmar's neck and delivered a steady, green magical paralysis effect onto her spine. Then, Ariel placed her other hand onto Dagmar's forehead and closed her eyes. A subtle but sure purple illusion magic stretched out from Ariel's fingers and entered Dagmar's head like ghostly hooked talons. Ariel's eyelids flitted open and closed as she peered through Dagmar's mind's eye for knowledge of the suppression gas. Wherever she found traces of the gas and how to make it, Ariel cut the ties that kept the memory together and carefully wove falsehoods in their place. The process took a long and tense half-minute. Thankfully, Dagmar was in no position to defend herself.
Once Ariel was done, the magical claws receded and she hooked her hands under Dagmar's frozen armpits to begin to carry her outside, motioning for Ahnasha to help. "I'm sorry Dagmar. I don't know what Lilia did, but this gas has caused too much suffering already." Ariel said, sounding regretful, but still confident through her breathlessness while she carried Dagmar out, "You must let its existence go like I had intended, before the coven gets completely destroyed in this war. Lilia knew the risks, don't let her folly cost the lives of all of our sisters." Once Dagmar was outside, Ariel took her key to the laboratory, then after Ahnasha was back inside the tower, she looked down at her again. "The paralysis will only last a few more moments. Get away from this tower before it falls."
Ariel shut the door behind her as she stepped back into the tower, then put the key into the lock and twisted it until a telltale click was heard. She turned around to Ahnasha, and retrieved her shoulder bag and dagger again, before pulling out a magicka potion. "We'll have to escape on the wall from the door upstairs." She uncorked the potion and swallowed a mouthful before stopping for a moment to continue talking, "I'll set up some fire runes, you make sure that the way is clear." Ariel wasted no time in quaffing the rest of her potion and began to place fire runes in certain areas to make sure that the all of the equipment and the notes would be burned and destroyed.
Once ready, Ariel climbed the stairs two at a time to reach Ahnasha. All they needed to do now was light the fuses again.
As they all rushed into the the hagravens' nest tower and slammed the door shut behind them. The sense of vulnerability from all of the projectiles slamming against Meesei's ward was suddenly quietened. They had no time for calm yet. They didn't need to worry about the door to the wall they came from as it only lead to a dead end at the ruined tower, but the door on the ground floor and to the other wall needed to be held. Janius and Fendros took the wall door, holding it against enemy spells while it would last. Lorag and Sabine ventured downstairs and found that the door was not only closed, but it was locked. There was another smell on the ground floor, however. Through the dark, there was straw, water, and the unmistakable smell of fresh fear on fresh meat. Sabine turned around and growled, but half of her mind was triggered to a panicked state for no reason she could fathom. She was starting to shiver while she postured at the silent presence. Why couldn't she move?
Knowing that they were noticed, the two witches that had thrown the gas flasks appeared in the light of their own charging spells on the ground floor. The two witches; a young Breton and a middle-aged Nord, stood wide eyed and filled with fear, but were in a stance to cast spells onto the two lycans at a moment's notice. They were hesitating though, mostly because they weren't sure what was wrong with Sabine to make her stand in place. The light from the witches spells revealed a squirming movement from behind them, and it was then that Sabine realised why she found the smell of fear so familiar. There were at least five girls hiding behind barrels in the far reaches of the room. They couldn't have been older than Sabine had been when she was infected with lycanthropy. Their little eyes gleamed as they peeked over the barrels. A quiet sobbing could be heard from one of them. The trauma came rushing back in earnest then, Sabine began to hyperventilate and growl louder, snapping and barking at the air in front of her. Her tail slid between her legs and her shoulders hunched inward. Suddenly mistaking Lorag for the creature that had wounded her as a child, she backed into a corner and slid down the wall until she was completely curled up, covering herself with one clawed hand.
Upstairs, forces kept slamming against the door, causing it to begin to crack. Janius and Fendros held the door shut, but the witches were throwing brute telekinetic force at the door to batter it open. After a few moments, the battering paused. Then there was a whooshing sound and a bright orange light from every gap the door had. Fendros and Janius instantly detected a strong heat warming the door until its metal features became too hot to touch. The battering resumed as well, but the door was close to crumbling now, and was failing faster with the fire.
A similar battering began on the downstairs door, though Sabine couldn't cope enough to do anything but stay still and fearful.
Dagmar had a pained look on her face, and it looked like she could hardly breathe. To prolong the paralysis while she worked, Ariel put her finger to the back of Dagmar's neck and delivered a steady, green magical paralysis effect onto her spine. Then, Ariel placed her other hand onto Dagmar's forehead and closed her eyes. A subtle but sure purple illusion magic stretched out from Ariel's fingers and entered Dagmar's head like ghostly hooked talons. Ariel's eyelids flitted open and closed as she peered through Dagmar's mind's eye for knowledge of the suppression gas. Wherever she found traces of the gas and how to make it, Ariel cut the ties that kept the memory together and carefully wove falsehoods in their place. The process took a long and tense half-minute. Thankfully, Dagmar was in no position to defend herself.
Once Ariel was done, the magical claws receded and she hooked her hands under Dagmar's frozen armpits to begin to carry her outside, motioning for Ahnasha to help. "I'm sorry Dagmar. I don't know what Lilia did, but this gas has caused too much suffering already." Ariel said, sounding regretful, but still confident through her breathlessness while she carried Dagmar out, "You must let its existence go like I had intended, before the coven gets completely destroyed in this war. Lilia knew the risks, don't let her folly cost the lives of all of our sisters." Once Dagmar was outside, Ariel took her key to the laboratory, then after Ahnasha was back inside the tower, she looked down at her again. "The paralysis will only last a few more moments. Get away from this tower before it falls."
Ariel shut the door behind her as she stepped back into the tower, then put the key into the lock and twisted it until a telltale click was heard. She turned around to Ahnasha, and retrieved her shoulder bag and dagger again, before pulling out a magicka potion. "We'll have to escape on the wall from the door upstairs." She uncorked the potion and swallowed a mouthful before stopping for a moment to continue talking, "I'll set up some fire runes, you make sure that the way is clear." Ariel wasted no time in quaffing the rest of her potion and began to place fire runes in certain areas to make sure that the all of the equipment and the notes would be burned and destroyed.
Once ready, Ariel climbed the stairs two at a time to reach Ahnasha. All they needed to do now was light the fuses again.
As they all rushed into the the hagravens' nest tower and slammed the door shut behind them. The sense of vulnerability from all of the projectiles slamming against Meesei's ward was suddenly quietened. They had no time for calm yet. They didn't need to worry about the door to the wall they came from as it only lead to a dead end at the ruined tower, but the door on the ground floor and to the other wall needed to be held. Janius and Fendros took the wall door, holding it against enemy spells while it would last. Lorag and Sabine ventured downstairs and found that the door was not only closed, but it was locked. There was another smell on the ground floor, however. Through the dark, there was straw, water, and the unmistakable smell of fresh fear on fresh meat. Sabine turned around and growled, but half of her mind was triggered to a panicked state for no reason she could fathom. She was starting to shiver while she postured at the silent presence. Why couldn't she move?
Knowing that they were noticed, the two witches that had thrown the gas flasks appeared in the light of their own charging spells on the ground floor. The two witches; a young Breton and a middle-aged Nord, stood wide eyed and filled with fear, but were in a stance to cast spells onto the two lycans at a moment's notice. They were hesitating though, mostly because they weren't sure what was wrong with Sabine to make her stand in place. The light from the witches spells revealed a squirming movement from behind them, and it was then that Sabine realised why she found the smell of fear so familiar. There were at least five girls hiding behind barrels in the far reaches of the room. They couldn't have been older than Sabine had been when she was infected with lycanthropy. Their little eyes gleamed as they peeked over the barrels. A quiet sobbing could be heard from one of them. The trauma came rushing back in earnest then, Sabine began to hyperventilate and growl louder, snapping and barking at the air in front of her. Her tail slid between her legs and her shoulders hunched inward. Suddenly mistaking Lorag for the creature that had wounded her as a child, she backed into a corner and slid down the wall until she was completely curled up, covering herself with one clawed hand.
Upstairs, forces kept slamming against the door, causing it to begin to crack. Janius and Fendros held the door shut, but the witches were throwing brute telekinetic force at the door to batter it open. After a few moments, the battering paused. Then there was a whooshing sound and a bright orange light from every gap the door had. Fendros and Janius instantly detected a strong heat warming the door until its metal features became too hot to touch. The battering resumed as well, but the door was close to crumbling now, and was failing faster with the fire.
A similar battering began on the downstairs door, though Sabine couldn't cope enough to do anything but stay still and fearful.
Making a post is probably not the best way to take a break from writing a project plan, but meh.
As soon as the pack was up on the battlements, the tides turned drastically in their favour. Without the reach, strength, or agility to deal with them on the narrow wall, each skeleton they faced were knocked aside like twigs. The wall wasn't wide enough for more than Lorag and Janius to stand side by side and fight in their forms, but it was more than enough to deal with their opposition.
Sabine and Fendros stayed between Meesei, and Lorag and Janius. Fendros was still regenerating the damage to his arm, but in this form it was working at a far greater pace. Sabine, on the other hand, kept glancing about and held her head low with her ears flat. Upon seeing the witches wounded and burbling blood as they desperately tried to heal themselves, her movements became sluggish and she had to be pulled forward by the arm by Fendros.
As they approached the tower with the hagraven nest, two of witches appeared on its roof and tossed a couple of large glass flasks down at the pack. The first broke on Lorag's back and the second shattered on the ground next to Fendros. As they shattered, the pack was momentarily enveloped by the purple transforming gas. At first, their beast spirits started to thrash and protest in their mind again, but instead of receding, the beast spirits stayed. Seeing Lorag and Janius' unaffected wolf forms walk out of the gas without batting an eyelid was a demoralising moment for the witches on the roof, who swiftly retreated.
Ahnasha's approach was detected by Ariel. She checked one last time at the shape inside the tower. "Probably. She's probably in the tower. Here," Ariel took out her dagger from her sleeve and a paralysis poison from her bag, then handed them to Ahnasha. "There's no one else in there as far as I could tell. I'll try and distract her." With that, Ariel opened the door and walked in, a ward charged in one hand and a lightning spell in the other. As she rounded the corner and crept into the laboratory, a Dunmer witch was frantically rummaging through the piles of scrolls on the tables of the room. She hadn't detected Ariel yet, but something was wrong. This wasn't Lilia.
"Dagmar?" Ariel said, surprised.
Dagmar's shoulders hunched in shock and she snapped around from her search, turning to face Ariel. "Ariel!? What are you doing here? Of all the times- can't you see we're under attack? You were cast out! Go!" Dagmar waved her hand to shoo Ariel away, "Go, before the elders find you!"
Ariel kept her spells charged and stood her ground. "Where's Lilia?"
If it wasn't impatient already, Dagmar's face contorted into a mix of impatience and grief. "Lilia's..." Dagmar let out a quick breath and looked away for a moment, "Lilia was taken, her soul... Clavicus Vile has her. A hostage for this stupid war!"
"Dagmar, we don't have much time. Are you the only one who knows how to make the gas?" Ariel said quickly.
Dagmar looked up at Ariel, "The suppression gas? Yes, that's what I was tasked to do to get Lilia back. I had to go off Lilia's old notes here, but I'm the only one who knows how. Why do you ask?"
Trying not to elude to the situation any further, Ariel nodded affirmatively. Hopefully Ahnasha would know to strike despite the different target.
Sabine and Fendros stayed between Meesei, and Lorag and Janius. Fendros was still regenerating the damage to his arm, but in this form it was working at a far greater pace. Sabine, on the other hand, kept glancing about and held her head low with her ears flat. Upon seeing the witches wounded and burbling blood as they desperately tried to heal themselves, her movements became sluggish and she had to be pulled forward by the arm by Fendros.
As they approached the tower with the hagraven nest, two of witches appeared on its roof and tossed a couple of large glass flasks down at the pack. The first broke on Lorag's back and the second shattered on the ground next to Fendros. As they shattered, the pack was momentarily enveloped by the purple transforming gas. At first, their beast spirits started to thrash and protest in their mind again, but instead of receding, the beast spirits stayed. Seeing Lorag and Janius' unaffected wolf forms walk out of the gas without batting an eyelid was a demoralising moment for the witches on the roof, who swiftly retreated.
Ahnasha's approach was detected by Ariel. She checked one last time at the shape inside the tower. "Probably. She's probably in the tower. Here," Ariel took out her dagger from her sleeve and a paralysis poison from her bag, then handed them to Ahnasha. "There's no one else in there as far as I could tell. I'll try and distract her." With that, Ariel opened the door and walked in, a ward charged in one hand and a lightning spell in the other. As she rounded the corner and crept into the laboratory, a Dunmer witch was frantically rummaging through the piles of scrolls on the tables of the room. She hadn't detected Ariel yet, but something was wrong. This wasn't Lilia.
"Dagmar?" Ariel said, surprised.
Dagmar's shoulders hunched in shock and she snapped around from her search, turning to face Ariel. "Ariel!? What are you doing here? Of all the times- can't you see we're under attack? You were cast out! Go!" Dagmar waved her hand to shoo Ariel away, "Go, before the elders find you!"
Ariel kept her spells charged and stood her ground. "Where's Lilia?"
If it wasn't impatient already, Dagmar's face contorted into a mix of impatience and grief. "Lilia's..." Dagmar let out a quick breath and looked away for a moment, "Lilia was taken, her soul... Clavicus Vile has her. A hostage for this stupid war!"
"Dagmar, we don't have much time. Are you the only one who knows how to make the gas?" Ariel said quickly.
Dagmar looked up at Ariel, "The suppression gas? Yes, that's what I was tasked to do to get Lilia back. I had to go off Lilia's old notes here, but I'm the only one who knows how. Why do you ask?"
Trying not to elude to the situation any further, Ariel nodded affirmatively. Hopefully Ahnasha would know to strike despite the different target.
Apart from Janius occasionally throwing spells at the witches, most of which either missed or were blocked by wards, the pack stayed pinned once they were in cover. With Meesei attracting attention though, they were able to weave their way closer to the walls by running between cover. So far, Sabine still seemed collected enough despite the light and noise causing everyone's adrenaline to pump.
The skeletons weren't causing too many problems for the pack, but at one point Fendros was confronted by a couple of them while he was trying to run for the next tree. He made quick work of them with two well aimed swings of his mace, but it was a distraction for just long enough for an ice spell to pass over his side. He yelped with the stinging pain of the cold and stumbled. Seeing him struggle, Janius ran out of his cover and caught Fendros, helping him to get behind something before more witches could take advantage. Once they were behind cover, Janius inspected Fendros for injury. everything from the top of his left shoulder to the end of his arm, down to his left hip was covered in a steaming frost. Fendros' left arm felt completely numb. Janius set Fendros to lean against the tree trunk they were behind and tapped him on the side of the face, "Come on Fendros, you still up?"
Fendros was breathing quickly and gritting his teeth with his eyes scrunched closed. "It hurts!" he shouted through his teeth.
Janius grinned, "Good, a little frostbite never killed anyone!"
"What!?" Fendros opened his eyes and looked at Janius disbelievingly at his flawed logic.
"Shut up and take a potion, your regeneration will do the rest." Janius reassured him, before peeking around the cover, "I think we'll be climbing the walls soon."
Not wanting to debate about the fatality rate of cold weather, Fendros took a vial of healing potion with his good arm and downed it, waiting for his sense of feeling to come back to his left side.
"Ready?" Ariel asked Ahnasha after setting the fire salt flasks in place. "We'll have about thirty to forty seconds before they explode once we light them, we'll head out the way we came in with invisibility and head to the next tower on the right, past the door and into cover. On three..." Ariel charged a tiny fire spell between her thumb and her forefinger and held it ready to place on the tip of the first fuse. Before she was ready Ariel had found a torch to light should Ahnasha not be able to use the correct magic. "One... two... three!" Ariel held the spell forward until the fuse began to slowly burn, the flame creeping up the cord. Without wasting a moment, she rushed over to the other fuse and did the same, before charging an invisibility spell and running for the door.
She opened the door and kept it open for Ahnasha, hoping that the light emanating from it would not attract the attention of the witches on one of the far walls. Their next objective was the production laboratory, but right now they just needed to cover distance. Without any more encounters, Ariel ran past the door that lead into the laboratory tower and slid to a halt against the tower wall where the tower was between her and the storeroom. She covered her ears and waited.
Tense moments passed, Ariel glanced in the direction of the storeroom tower, hoping that the fuses had not gone out. In the middle of her worry, she was interrupted and jumped almost out of her skin. The first explosion carried a concussive sound that was accompanied by the breaking of glass and masonry. It was followed by another, then two more. The explosions lit up the entire fortress and the rumble of falling rocks followed it away. When Ariel peeked around to see the tower properly, it was a dusty cloud that settled into a wreck of rolling rocks, wood and glass.
Anything within several kilometres would have heard the explosion, the witches were no exception. Ariel could see their horror from this distance. The witch that appeared to be leading the defense shouted some orders and pointed to the now ruined storeroom tower. Four other witches ran to the nearest tower to climb down and investigate that direction. Ariel and Ahnasha had to deal with the other tower and find Lilia before they were found.
Dismissing her invisibility and scanning to detect any life in the laboratory tower found that there was a solitary figure scrambling around for something. That had to be Lilia. First, though, Ariel had to find Ahnasha. She scanned around for her with a detect life spell, hopefully she had followed her instructions.
The skeletons weren't causing too many problems for the pack, but at one point Fendros was confronted by a couple of them while he was trying to run for the next tree. He made quick work of them with two well aimed swings of his mace, but it was a distraction for just long enough for an ice spell to pass over his side. He yelped with the stinging pain of the cold and stumbled. Seeing him struggle, Janius ran out of his cover and caught Fendros, helping him to get behind something before more witches could take advantage. Once they were behind cover, Janius inspected Fendros for injury. everything from the top of his left shoulder to the end of his arm, down to his left hip was covered in a steaming frost. Fendros' left arm felt completely numb. Janius set Fendros to lean against the tree trunk they were behind and tapped him on the side of the face, "Come on Fendros, you still up?"
Fendros was breathing quickly and gritting his teeth with his eyes scrunched closed. "It hurts!" he shouted through his teeth.
Janius grinned, "Good, a little frostbite never killed anyone!"
"What!?" Fendros opened his eyes and looked at Janius disbelievingly at his flawed logic.
"Shut up and take a potion, your regeneration will do the rest." Janius reassured him, before peeking around the cover, "I think we'll be climbing the walls soon."
Not wanting to debate about the fatality rate of cold weather, Fendros took a vial of healing potion with his good arm and downed it, waiting for his sense of feeling to come back to his left side.
"Ready?" Ariel asked Ahnasha after setting the fire salt flasks in place. "We'll have about thirty to forty seconds before they explode once we light them, we'll head out the way we came in with invisibility and head to the next tower on the right, past the door and into cover. On three..." Ariel charged a tiny fire spell between her thumb and her forefinger and held it ready to place on the tip of the first fuse. Before she was ready Ariel had found a torch to light should Ahnasha not be able to use the correct magic. "One... two... three!" Ariel held the spell forward until the fuse began to slowly burn, the flame creeping up the cord. Without wasting a moment, she rushed over to the other fuse and did the same, before charging an invisibility spell and running for the door.
She opened the door and kept it open for Ahnasha, hoping that the light emanating from it would not attract the attention of the witches on one of the far walls. Their next objective was the production laboratory, but right now they just needed to cover distance. Without any more encounters, Ariel ran past the door that lead into the laboratory tower and slid to a halt against the tower wall where the tower was between her and the storeroom. She covered her ears and waited.
Tense moments passed, Ariel glanced in the direction of the storeroom tower, hoping that the fuses had not gone out. In the middle of her worry, she was interrupted and jumped almost out of her skin. The first explosion carried a concussive sound that was accompanied by the breaking of glass and masonry. It was followed by another, then two more. The explosions lit up the entire fortress and the rumble of falling rocks followed it away. When Ariel peeked around to see the tower properly, it was a dusty cloud that settled into a wreck of rolling rocks, wood and glass.
Anything within several kilometres would have heard the explosion, the witches were no exception. Ariel could see their horror from this distance. The witch that appeared to be leading the defense shouted some orders and pointed to the now ruined storeroom tower. Four other witches ran to the nearest tower to climb down and investigate that direction. Ariel and Ahnasha had to deal with the other tower and find Lilia before they were found.
Dismissing her invisibility and scanning to detect any life in the laboratory tower found that there was a solitary figure scrambling around for something. That had to be Lilia. First, though, Ariel had to find Ahnasha. She scanned around for her with a detect life spell, hopefully she had followed her instructions.
The only response Sara got to her question of who these blue-unformed militia were was a sword pushed into her hand. Not Ideal. Her sword technique was rudimentary at best, but at least she could help.
The one who appeared to be the leader, the redhead, urged them all onward. Between being talking down Tyme about his ring, the redhead also mentioned something about Abyssians. Whoever, or whatever they were was a complete mystery to Sara, but if they had anything to do with their kidnapping and the massacre in the crystal room, she wanted to know.
"Hey, excuse me." Sara raised her hand to get the redhead leader's attention, "Who the hell are Abyssians? And where are we?"
The one who appeared to be the leader, the redhead, urged them all onward. Between being talking down Tyme about his ring, the redhead also mentioned something about Abyssians. Whoever, or whatever they were was a complete mystery to Sara, but if they had anything to do with their kidnapping and the massacre in the crystal room, she wanted to know.
"Hey, excuse me." Sara raised her hand to get the redhead leader's attention, "Who the hell are Abyssians? And where are we?"
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