Dust motes danced on the slight breeze that managed to squeeze through the crack in the wall of the old boat house. Discarded timbers from the construction of various sea vessels littered the work area and pots lay covered in dust with their content of pitch long since hardened with time.
The only sign of disturbance to the monument of long forgotten labors was the prone figure of a female lying tied out on the ground with her legs splayed apart. A rough board was lashed between her limbs just above the ankles. The low moans coming from her gagged mouth were the only current indication that she was still alive.
A small bit of rotten timber fell from the roof as a sea bird flew from its nest on the roof. The splinter landed on her chest bringing her forcibly back into conscientious. She struggled to raise her head to get a better look of her surroundings and fought against the restraints pinning her to the ground. Several stakes were driven deep into the earth near her hands and feet to which they were tied.
Angry muffled shouted were silenced as Rhode stepped out from the shadowed corner of the boat house. The woman watched with fear, curiosity and anger as he made his way silently to kneel down behind her. Pulling a roll of cloth from under his cloak he laid the bundle down on the ground and after removing the ties holding it shut began to unroll the package exposing its contents.
Dried blood and rust coated the surgical instruments contained in the roll of fabric. Rhode picked up a long spoon shaped object and held it up so that the slim beam of light glinted of the few spots not stained with gore and grime.
“Yous knows wot dis bes used fer?” He questioned his captive leaning over her and moving the instrument back and forth in front of her face.
Like a charmed snake the woman followed the movement of the object with quickly realized terror spreading across her face. She squirmed trying to free herself from her bonds.
Rhode smiled down at the woman and slowly placed the instrument back onto the fabric.
“Dat be used to get arrows from a fellers wound. They stick dat thin down along da shaft and work da spoon part rounds da head so theys can pulls it free sos dat it don’t bes ripp’n da flesh on da way out.”
Rhode slowly rolled the instruments back up in the fabric and stood up stuffing the bundle back into his pack.
“Da problem with tools like’n dis is theys work best wit a slow ‘and ans wells Is just don’t feel like’n be’n slow today.”
He walked back towards the shadowed corner from where he had come from and reached down to pick something off the ground.
Rhode turned around, a broad malevolent smile crossing his face as he cradled a large wooden maul in his arms. Several slow strides brought him back next to the bound woman. The head of the maul thumped loudly in the dirt as Rhode let it slip from his hands.
He reached into his shirt and pulled out a tightly rolled parchment.
“Is gots a message wots yous gonna give to Zoey. Is made sure to writes it down ‘cause Is knows yous sure aints gonna remember to give ‘er the right message. “Rhode picked his teeth before continuing. “Of course just look’n at yous might bes message enough buts Is wanna be sure.”
Rhode bent over the woman; his face only inches from hers as he slid the rolled parchment into her cleavage. “Nows it be time for yous to start crawl’n back to Zoey.”
He quickly lifted the maul back up and took a large step backwards placing him at her splayed out feet.
“Is ain’t gonna lie, babe, dis gonna ‘urt.”
Rhode swung the maul against the side of the woman’s ankle. The bones snapped under the blow bending up against the timber tied between her legs. A muffled shriek of agony filled the small boat house. Rhode stepped over and repeated the act on the woman’s other ankle resulting in another muffled shriek and the woman strained against the stakes holding her in place as tears gushed out of her eyes.
Pulling his dagger from his belt; Rhode cut the woman free of her bonds.
“Now gets crawl’n” He taunted before disappearing into the darkness.
A Message for the Fox
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Mon-da-oth
- Forum Troll
- Posts: 2013
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:21 am
- Main Player Character: Rhode Wraigh
- Other PCs: Reginald Schudotter
- Location: Edgewood, MD
The woman waited on her knees, sobbing at the entry of a well-appointed, but otherwise-anonymous manse in Trades and Commons District.
Zoey just smiled and laughed as she listened to the tale.
When the woman was finished, Zoey turned to her companion, a second woman hovering just behind her, easily her twin. "The Knave just burns with desire for it, doesn't he, sister?"
The sister smiled, "We shall deny him his prize of course."
"This gives me great satisfaction, yes."
Zoey cast a bag of gold at the broken woman's knees, gesturing for her to leave. "Take this to the Temple of Teshalia. Speak to Scuro, he'll see to your injuries."
Shadowy figures emerged from either side of the doorway, hooking the woman under her elbows and lifting her.
"Tell him the Foxes send their blessings.. And tell him to prepare for war. We will send for him when it is time."
Zoey just smiled and laughed as she listened to the tale.
When the woman was finished, Zoey turned to her companion, a second woman hovering just behind her, easily her twin. "The Knave just burns with desire for it, doesn't he, sister?"
The sister smiled, "We shall deny him his prize of course."
"This gives me great satisfaction, yes."
Zoey cast a bag of gold at the broken woman's knees, gesturing for her to leave. "Take this to the Temple of Teshalia. Speak to Scuro, he'll see to your injuries."
Shadowy figures emerged from either side of the doorway, hooking the woman under her elbows and lifting her.
"Tell him the Foxes send their blessings.. And tell him to prepare for war. We will send for him when it is time."
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Mon-da-oth
- Forum Troll
- Posts: 2013
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:21 am
- Main Player Character: Rhode Wraigh
- Other PCs: Reginald Schudotter
- Location: Edgewood, MD
As the woman was being carried away a soft thud was heard as her head snapped back. Her arms went limp moments later causing the two thieves escorting her to lose their grip and drop her roughly to the ground.
Blood oozed from a ragged hole where her eye use to be and the point and shaft of a crossbow bolt protruded from the back of her head.
The Kalem thieves sprinted for the safety of the darkened alleys and started in pursuit of the flickering shadow they saw running along the rooftops.
Blood oozed from a ragged hole where her eye use to be and the point and shaft of a crossbow bolt protruded from the back of her head.
The Kalem thieves sprinted for the safety of the darkened alleys and started in pursuit of the flickering shadow they saw running along the rooftops.
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Balamor Lansmor
- Dasarian Scout
- Posts: 485
- Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:21 am
-
Balamor Lansmor
- Dasarian Scout
- Posts: 485
- Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:21 am
the second theif moves to the spot he last saw the ling, only to find hes standing on a copper plait. that is the last thing he ever sees.
Mergo steps out of the alleyway and looks at Zoey,*smiles*, then pulls a wand and mutters a word. the fireball misses Zoey, but when she looks up the ling is long gone, but then she sees her four compatrates,one unik,
two burned beyond recognition,and one hobbled and dead with an arrow.
Yes this will mean WAR!
Mergo steps out of the alleyway and looks at Zoey,*smiles*, then pulls a wand and mutters a word. the fireball misses Zoey, but when she looks up the ling is long gone, but then she sees her four compatrates,one unik,
two burned beyond recognition,and one hobbled and dead with an arrow.
Yes this will mean WAR!
Zoey frowned and murmured to herself, "So passes Drema Germanicus-Verkethed. "
She snapped her fingers and a hulking man in a guardsman's uniform trotted forward from the shadowed interior of the home. "Ivar, inform Stalkinghorse of the demise of his agent. And make sure Darius gets a complete report of this incident."
Something is out of place, her senses screamed. Just then, she caught the lurking shadow of the 'ling out the corner of her eye. Long time she'd evaded capture or assassination at the hands of a graveyard's worth of come-lately challengers, and her autonomic nervous system was already firing before the wand was raised.
She threw her body into the empty air upon her left, folding into a dive-roll that brought her up safely out of range, weapons ready, as the fireball hurtled into the home's vestibule and exploded impotently against the far wall.
Cackling with joy, she arced her arm in an overhand motion, bodily throwing her shortsword in a straight line over her shoulder. With a dull thud! and a momentary spark, it slammed into the far brick wall, severing the ropes and mechanisms suspending a heavy series of safedoors. Boom! Boom! Boom! They slammed down.
She tosssed her hair and laughed again, eyes flashing "They come, sister, they come! Let the Knave's motley band break themselves upon the rock of our house!"
She snapped her fingers and a hulking man in a guardsman's uniform trotted forward from the shadowed interior of the home. "Ivar, inform Stalkinghorse of the demise of his agent. And make sure Darius gets a complete report of this incident."
Something is out of place, her senses screamed. Just then, she caught the lurking shadow of the 'ling out the corner of her eye. Long time she'd evaded capture or assassination at the hands of a graveyard's worth of come-lately challengers, and her autonomic nervous system was already firing before the wand was raised.
She threw her body into the empty air upon her left, folding into a dive-roll that brought her up safely out of range, weapons ready, as the fireball hurtled into the home's vestibule and exploded impotently against the far wall.
Cackling with joy, she arced her arm in an overhand motion, bodily throwing her shortsword in a straight line over her shoulder. With a dull thud! and a momentary spark, it slammed into the far brick wall, severing the ropes and mechanisms suspending a heavy series of safedoors. Boom! Boom! Boom! They slammed down.
She tosssed her hair and laughed again, eyes flashing "They come, sister, they come! Let the Knave's motley band break themselves upon the rock of our house!"
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Balamor Lansmor
- Dasarian Scout
- Posts: 485
- Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:21 am
after all the slaming and the house closes, the dust settles....the halfling walks out into the open...looking at all the comotion he and Rhode caused...
the moans of the emaskulated rouge...the dead and burning ...the smell of electricuted flesh....
*in a mater of fact tone*Mergo looks at the moaning human...well you better have answers...or your in for a long day.
*Mergo takes out a scroll and reads...then changes into a troll, grabs the human and disapers into the shadows*
the moans of the emaskulated rouge...the dead and burning ...the smell of electricuted flesh....
*in a mater of fact tone*Mergo looks at the moaning human...well you better have answers...or your in for a long day.
*Mergo takes out a scroll and reads...then changes into a troll, grabs the human and disapers into the shadows*
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Mon-da-oth
- Forum Troll
- Posts: 2013
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:21 am
- Main Player Character: Rhode Wraigh
- Other PCs: Reginald Schudotter
- Location: Edgewood, MD
**I admit the idea was stolen from Misery.**
Mergo waited in the dark alley as Rhode shimmied down from the roof top to land softly near the Kalem that had been taken prisoner.
Rhode grinned up at Mergo, who was still in troll form. “Taint safe walk’n rounds like dat, but don’t goes change’n back just yets.
Mergo smiled and leaned against the side of the building; his scaled troll hand still wrapped around the prisoners leg.
Rhode leaned over the Kalems agonized face watching the man closely. “Yous wanna tells us sometin?”
The man sneered at Rhode and then grunted and spit hitting Rhode in the forehead.
Mergo chuckled slightly as he looked on. His grip on the Kalem’s leg tightened forcing the man to grimace in pain.
Rhode jerked his head back slightly at the sudden attack before reaching up with his fingers and wiping the spittle from his forehead. He looked down at the man with an expression of shear malice before licking the spittle from his fingers. His hand lanced out suddenly punching the rogue in the side of the face with the guard of his dagger. The crunch of bone echoed lightly down the alley way as blood leaked out from between the man’s lips. His unconscious head lolled to the side as Rhode stood up.
“Is knows wots wes gonna do wit ‘im.” Drag ‘im along. Rhode chuckled at Mergo.
Mergo followed Rhode through the twisting alleys in the dock district and then finally out from the building and along the shore line before finally turning up along a rocky outcropping near an abandoned signal tower.
The smell of decay clogged the air among the large rocks and the sounds of scrapping and crunching interrupted the eerie stillness. Peering around a boulder Mergo could make out the image of a ghoul feasting on some unknown body. The remains of a trap lay nearby.
“Pik’n ghouls.” Rhode cursed. “Is figured one bes ‘ere.”
Rhode stepped out boldly from the safety of the shadows and walked straight towards the ghoul. The creature turned towards his approach as it ripped a chunk of flesh from its unfortunate victim. It hissed in warning at Rhodes approach.
“Is gots sometin fer yous.” Rhode offered standing a safe distance away from the flesh eater.
A look of confusion crossed the harsh visage of the ghoul. “What could you have for me, fresh meat?” It hissed.
Rhode grinned by with a predatory smile. “Fresh meat of course.” He replied and then turned and nodded towards Mergo still in troll form.
Mergo looked down the Kalem prisoner and before tossing the man towards the ghoul. The hard impact on the rocky ground brought the man back around.
The man opened his eyes with a curse just in time to see the ghoul descend upon him and start ripping at him with its claws.
As the ghoul feasted on the fresh victim Mergo looked on with a slight smirk of disgust before turning back into his true form.
Rhode turned away at the sight and set another trap at the entrance to a small tunnel that had several large rocks piled in front of it. He kicked at the partial remains of what must have been a ghoul before turning back towards the still feeding creature.
“Stay outta mes traps ans Is can promise yous more fresh meat to come.”
Mergo waited in the dark alley as Rhode shimmied down from the roof top to land softly near the Kalem that had been taken prisoner.
Rhode grinned up at Mergo, who was still in troll form. “Taint safe walk’n rounds like dat, but don’t goes change’n back just yets.
Mergo smiled and leaned against the side of the building; his scaled troll hand still wrapped around the prisoners leg.
Rhode leaned over the Kalems agonized face watching the man closely. “Yous wanna tells us sometin?”
The man sneered at Rhode and then grunted and spit hitting Rhode in the forehead.
Mergo chuckled slightly as he looked on. His grip on the Kalem’s leg tightened forcing the man to grimace in pain.
Rhode jerked his head back slightly at the sudden attack before reaching up with his fingers and wiping the spittle from his forehead. He looked down at the man with an expression of shear malice before licking the spittle from his fingers. His hand lanced out suddenly punching the rogue in the side of the face with the guard of his dagger. The crunch of bone echoed lightly down the alley way as blood leaked out from between the man’s lips. His unconscious head lolled to the side as Rhode stood up.
“Is knows wots wes gonna do wit ‘im.” Drag ‘im along. Rhode chuckled at Mergo.
Mergo followed Rhode through the twisting alleys in the dock district and then finally out from the building and along the shore line before finally turning up along a rocky outcropping near an abandoned signal tower.
The smell of decay clogged the air among the large rocks and the sounds of scrapping and crunching interrupted the eerie stillness. Peering around a boulder Mergo could make out the image of a ghoul feasting on some unknown body. The remains of a trap lay nearby.
“Pik’n ghouls.” Rhode cursed. “Is figured one bes ‘ere.”
Rhode stepped out boldly from the safety of the shadows and walked straight towards the ghoul. The creature turned towards his approach as it ripped a chunk of flesh from its unfortunate victim. It hissed in warning at Rhodes approach.
“Is gots sometin fer yous.” Rhode offered standing a safe distance away from the flesh eater.
A look of confusion crossed the harsh visage of the ghoul. “What could you have for me, fresh meat?” It hissed.
Rhode grinned by with a predatory smile. “Fresh meat of course.” He replied and then turned and nodded towards Mergo still in troll form.
Mergo looked down the Kalem prisoner and before tossing the man towards the ghoul. The hard impact on the rocky ground brought the man back around.
The man opened his eyes with a curse just in time to see the ghoul descend upon him and start ripping at him with its claws.
As the ghoul feasted on the fresh victim Mergo looked on with a slight smirk of disgust before turning back into his true form.
Rhode turned away at the sight and set another trap at the entrance to a small tunnel that had several large rocks piled in front of it. He kicked at the partial remains of what must have been a ghoul before turning back towards the still feeding creature.
“Stay outta mes traps ans Is can promise yous more fresh meat to come.”
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Balamor Lansmor
- Dasarian Scout
- Posts: 485
- Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:21 am
AFTER THE WEEKEND RAID....
Zoey lovingly combed the knots out of a plait of her sister's luxurious hair with a silver comb. She rotated the marble bust onto which the flayed head of the striking woman had been sewn, and approached a particularly vicious knot with renewed vigor. "You always were the pretty one, Cloey."
It was the only piece of her they'd left behind. Those awful Brigands, they'd flayed the skin from her sister's face and taken the skull for purposes-unknown. For spite? That monster Rhode had evicerated the corpse and shoved her intestines into a sack, carting them off to Coloth-knows-where.
It'd been a trap, of course, and the Brigands had walked right into it. That deathmerchant Stalkinghorse had tipped Zoey off that the Brigands were planning something and there'd been plenty of time to reinforce the hideout. He'd proved useful, that one, especially since the Kalam had siezed that treasured rod of his. A rod that seemed to have gone mysteriously missing in the raid... No matter! As long as he doesn't know we've lost it, he'll cotinue to cooperate.
Unfortunately, the Brigands had proved somewhat more resourceful than Zoey had initially estimated. It seems they'd had outside help as well. There's no other way such an obvious group could simply have walked into our lair, They must have had help. Sorcerous help.
Zoey continued to brush, contemplating the implications.
Zoey lovingly combed the knots out of a plait of her sister's luxurious hair with a silver comb. She rotated the marble bust onto which the flayed head of the striking woman had been sewn, and approached a particularly vicious knot with renewed vigor. "You always were the pretty one, Cloey."
It was the only piece of her they'd left behind. Those awful Brigands, they'd flayed the skin from her sister's face and taken the skull for purposes-unknown. For spite? That monster Rhode had evicerated the corpse and shoved her intestines into a sack, carting them off to Coloth-knows-where.
It'd been a trap, of course, and the Brigands had walked right into it. That deathmerchant Stalkinghorse had tipped Zoey off that the Brigands were planning something and there'd been plenty of time to reinforce the hideout. He'd proved useful, that one, especially since the Kalam had siezed that treasured rod of his. A rod that seemed to have gone mysteriously missing in the raid... No matter! As long as he doesn't know we've lost it, he'll cotinue to cooperate.
Unfortunately, the Brigands had proved somewhat more resourceful than Zoey had initially estimated. It seems they'd had outside help as well. There's no other way such an obvious group could simply have walked into our lair, They must have had help. Sorcerous help.
Zoey continued to brush, contemplating the implications.
Re: A Message for the Fox
The body of the merchant drops to the floor....none see the reason untill to late...the little shadow is gone.
but upon closer inspection the customers in the shop see his neck cut ear to ear....and a small cut across his right calf halmstringing him...
but upon closer inspection the customers in the shop see his neck cut ear to ear....and a small cut across his right calf halmstringing him...
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Mon-da-oth
- Forum Troll
- Posts: 2013
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:21 am
- Main Player Character: Rhode Wraigh
- Other PCs: Reginald Schudotter
- Location: Edgewood, MD
Re: A Message for the Fox
Rhode bites at a bur on his thumbnail pulling the jagged piece off and spits its to the ground. His attention is draw to the doorway across the way as a small shadowy figure bolts out of the building and sprints around the corner into the safety of the alleyways.
A scream comes from within the building and the door opens again as a woman throws the door open screaming "Murder!"
The patrolling guardsman sighs and turns from his route walking slowly back towards the store. Rhode slips in behind the guardsman and follows him inside to see what the commotion is about.
Once in he swiftly makes his way along the shelves and tables filled with trade goods until he can find a vantage point offering a view of the victim.
Several people hover around the body until the Guardsman shoves them aside. He turns towards one. "Go to the Buck and tell Nick. The rest of you get out of here now!" He barks at those still in the store.
Once the store is clear Rhode watches as the Guardsman empties the pouches of the dead man filling his own with the contents.
Several moments pass before the man the Guardsman told to relay the message to Nick returns with two other men.
The Guardsman straightens up from where he is leaning against the counter. "I see you knew who to bring with you Nick. Zoey is getting pretty tired of people killing off her fence and I am getting tired of making reports. Maybe you should think about leaving someone here to watch his back."
Nick rubs at the small mustache under his large nose. His black eyes squint around the store and he sniffs. "If the feller wasn't bringing in decent coin and information I am sure we would just leave him dead and be done with him."
He turns towards the third man and hands him a pouch of coins which he pulls from a pocket in his vest. "You know what to do priest."
The priest grins as he takes the coin and bows his head over the dead merchant. As he begins to pray the dead mans wound closes up and his back arches as if he was in intense pain. Moments latter he sits up panting and covered in sweat.
"I think you should close up shop for the day." Nick advises the merchant as the three men turn to leave.
"I will keep an eye on your door but you give a scream if you see anything odd." The Guardsman offers.
The four men leave allowing the merchant a bit of bewildering peace and he makes his ways on shaky legs to his back room to find rest on a cot.
Like the first time he never gets the chance to scream.
A scream comes from within the building and the door opens again as a woman throws the door open screaming "Murder!"
The patrolling guardsman sighs and turns from his route walking slowly back towards the store. Rhode slips in behind the guardsman and follows him inside to see what the commotion is about.
Once in he swiftly makes his way along the shelves and tables filled with trade goods until he can find a vantage point offering a view of the victim.
Several people hover around the body until the Guardsman shoves them aside. He turns towards one. "Go to the Buck and tell Nick. The rest of you get out of here now!" He barks at those still in the store.
Once the store is clear Rhode watches as the Guardsman empties the pouches of the dead man filling his own with the contents.
Several moments pass before the man the Guardsman told to relay the message to Nick returns with two other men.
The Guardsman straightens up from where he is leaning against the counter. "I see you knew who to bring with you Nick. Zoey is getting pretty tired of people killing off her fence and I am getting tired of making reports. Maybe you should think about leaving someone here to watch his back."
Nick rubs at the small mustache under his large nose. His black eyes squint around the store and he sniffs. "If the feller wasn't bringing in decent coin and information I am sure we would just leave him dead and be done with him."
He turns towards the third man and hands him a pouch of coins which he pulls from a pocket in his vest. "You know what to do priest."
The priest grins as he takes the coin and bows his head over the dead merchant. As he begins to pray the dead mans wound closes up and his back arches as if he was in intense pain. Moments latter he sits up panting and covered in sweat.
"I think you should close up shop for the day." Nick advises the merchant as the three men turn to leave.
"I will keep an eye on your door but you give a scream if you see anything odd." The Guardsman offers.
The four men leave allowing the merchant a bit of bewildering peace and he makes his ways on shaky legs to his back room to find rest on a cot.
Like the first time he never gets the chance to scream.