A Profitable Excursion

[Blackhoof]

Suddenly another Guard rode in, and lunged at the knife-thief, knocking him to the ground. How dare he! That thief belinged to Victor! At least in his mind, he did.

 

"What was that about, Victor?" The newly-arrived Guard, Josiah Penzer, asked. Victor nearly ran him through, right then and there. "For the last time." The Captain replied through clenched teeth, "You will address me as Captain, Penzer."

 

Looking around, he saw the thief that he had fought being lifted up, his hands bound behind his back. "Make yourself useful, Penzer," Victor growled testily, "And arrest that ruffian you just knocked over for me."

 

Excitement replaced anger as the Captain contemplated the gorius torture he would inflict upon these scum. When he captured the two that escaped.... well, the more the merrier.

 

-Victor

Edited March 6, 2011 by Blackhoof

[murf2011]

OOC: Sorry everyone, I ran out of internet, then i moved house, and finally got it sorted today :)

 

IC:

 

Eltar threw his knife at a talkative Guard, and grinned as he staggered back, knife in his shoulder. Drawing another, he flung it without looking, before switching his last knife to his left hand. He ran at the Guardsman who seemed to be their commander, dodging what seemed to be a small crossbow bolt, only to get knocked down by a seemingly late arriving Guard. Eltar fell and landed hard, his head hitting a wagon, stunning him. His knife dropped from his hand, and he saw Aldwyn escaping from the woods, with Akairril chasing after him on Eltar's horse. Then the world went black, and he slumped to the ground, unconscious.

[Amadine]

Aldwyn urged the horses to go faster. they were giving all they had but still Aldwyn pushed them harder. Ellery still moaned in pain on the wagon bed, she was hurt bad, but the moaning at least reassured Aldwyn that she was still alive. Hearing the beating of hooves behind him Aldwyn turned anxiously and sighed in relief when he saw Akairril closing quickly on Eltar's horse.

 

The Foregate came into view and as he passed the end row of houses Aldwyn slowed the horses to a trot. He took the most direct route he knew to the Healer's residence just outside the city gates. She also had a large stable alongside for the animals of her patients and customers. Aldwyn jumped down from the wagon and threw open the doors, then tugged on the bridle of the nearest horse and led them into the stable.

 

By the time Aldwyn had pulled the doors closed the Healer, Mistress Allaren, had come into the stable via the side door. "Aldwyn? What has you on edge so?"

"Mistress Allaren, it's Ellery. She's hurt real bad Mistress. Can you help her?"

 

"Ellery? Slight dark haired girl, and a thief besides?" she smiled, Mistress Allaren was well known to most of the thieves of the Foregate. "Bring her inside and we shall see what i can do for her."

 

Ellery moaned as Aldwyn gathered the tiny girl against his chest, "Shh Ellery, it will be okay." he whispered. Aldwyn followed Mistress Allaren into the house and set her own on the cot in the Healer's kitchen.

 

Aldwyn Frewin

[Blackhoof]

"what do you mean, they escaped!" Victor roared at the Guards he had sent after the fleeing thieves. Reinforcements had arrived earlier and he had sent them after the remaining ruffians. Now they had the gall to return empty-handed! "But sir," an indignant young Guard replied, "They entered the foregate before we could catch up to them and we have no idea what they look like, how are supposed to catch them?" Victor considered that the Guard had a point. How was he to catch them? Suddenly overcome with rage, he drew his sword and, before anyone could react, thrust it through the young Guardsman's throat.

 

A horrible gurgling issued forth from his bloody lips and Victor withdrew Enforcer, letting the Guard fall to the ground. The others stared in horror, lookign from their Captain to their fallen comrade, who was still making a sickening gasping noise. "I am glad," Victor said, "for bringing this poor man's body to me. those thieves can be dangerous when they fight back." without another word, he dorve his sord through the guards chest, ending his misery.

[Blackhoof]

Victor and his retinue cantered into the Foregate, the filthy crowd parting before them in fear. They lead the horses of the dead Guards, with their fallen riders and the captured thieves tied to the saddles. Today went well, Victor thought. A band of thieves apprehended, a noble caravan saved, his reputation bolstered by the tales that would be spread by a gratefull lady and her servants. All that was left to do was to find those surviving ruffians before they went into hiding or fled the city.

 

Hmmm.... Victor contemplated 'thieves honour' and the bond that often formed between bands of ruffians as a result of the near-death situations they put themselves in. What if.... yes, that is a good plan. If I stage a public execution with plenty of notice beforehand, the thieves will undoubtebly try t5o rescue their comrades. If they don't, then I will cut my losses, cancel the execution, and torture the ones I have until I grow bored. The very thought made him quiver in excitment.Oh, how he loved torturing thieves. They deserved it for trying to defy his law.

 

OOC: now you guys can continue with the healer hut scene plz so we can move this thing along

[Amadine]

Aldwyn spent the night creeping about the town, speaking to those he knew and listening to the conversations of those he did not. He learned that Eltar had been taken, Akairril had escaped and Saezar had been killed.

 

Aldwyn found Akairril passed out drunk in a tavern run by a trusted friend of Eltar's - which meant that he was dishonest as the day was long. Truly Saezar and Akairril had been friends for many years and Aldwyn did not begrudge the man time to mourn, but they needed to work up a plan to free Eltar. Aldwyn left instructions with the tavern keeper to wake Akairril - with a bucket of water if necessary - no later than an hour after dawn and send him to the Scarlet Fan Inn. It was not where Aldwyn would be of course, the tavern keeper could not be trusted not to sell Aldwyn out, but Akairril would have to pass by Mistress Allaren's on his way and Aldwyn would be watching for him.

Ellery's recovery under the ministrations of Mistress Allaren was nothing short of miraculous, but what would Aldwyn know of that? All he knew what that when he returned to the kitchen after dawn the following morning Ellery was sitting at the Healer's table eating a hearty breakfast. Mistress Allaren set out another plate and Aldwyn grinned at the small thief, then sat down to eat his own meal.

 

"They caught Eltar, Ellery" Aldwyn said when they finished their meal. "That big Captain of the Guard dragged him off i think, i didn't see what happened, but there's talk of Eltar being in the cells under the main Guard's gate and that he'll be hanged."

 

Ellery looked up sharply before Aldwyn continued, "Akairril should be along soon and we can decide what we want to do. Come on Ellery, we'll wait in the the stable, Mistress Allaren will have customers coming along soon and she'll not like to be seen with the likes of us." Aldwyn grinned at Mistress Allaren and she rolled her eyes then smiled fondly at him.

 

Once the the stable Aldwyn found a place in the wall facing the street with a gap large enough to keep watch for Akairril, while Ellery sat on an upturned bucket her face thoughtful.

 

Aldwyn Frewin

[Amadine]

Once Akairril arrived the trio set out. As they approached the main guard gate the three of them ducked into a side alley. Aldwyn could see that there was only 4 guards on duty, but there were sure to be more inside the building.

 

"Wait here." Aldwyn told Ellery and Akairril then he walked out into the square. Aldwyn strolled across the square, he stopped to look at the market stands several times, so as to appear to be casually shopping. The guards stood at the gate casually joking and laughing with each other, they didn't appear to be very observant. That meant the Captain of the Guard was elsewhere at the moment, a good sign. Aldwyn made his way around the square and then ducked into the alley beside the main guardhouse. Along the edge of the building there were barred openings in the brickwork. The cells.

 

Keeping his voice to a low whisper Aldwyn said, "Eltar! Where are you?" All he could do was hope that Eltar was in one of the cells on this side of the building, the other side would be more difficult being that it was a busy street.

 

Aldwyn Frewin

[keyholder21]

Time passed in darkness and various blurs of light. Mostly red. Red hot pain seared through the darkness on multiple occasions – chasing away the sweet unconsciousness that waited in the wings. At one point, Ellery snapped into consciousness long enough to hear someone screaming in the distance. A lance of pain made her realize the screams were her own. Another time she found herself listening to a familiar voice carrying on a conversation with one that was familiar, but less so. Darkness eclipsed her again before she could make out whose voices they were, however.

 

Eventually, Ellery sat up in bed. The pain was gone, as was the heavy feeling that had been dragging her down. Rubbing her eyes, she looked around the small room. It was sparsely decorated, but well kept. The linens were white – no sign of the red that had surely stained them when she'd been delivered – and of middling quality. A placement for the room niggled at the back of her mind, but it wasn't more forthcoming than just knowing she'd seen it before. Frowning, she tossed back the coverlet and stood.

 

Deepening her frown, Ellery glanced down at her thigh where a crossbow bolt had struck rather recently. At least, she inferred that she hadn't been sleeping for months from the weather outside the window and the sounds of the street. She knew this city like none other – it couldn't have been more than a few days that she'd been out. Yet the skin was hale and whole, unbroken and unblemished.

 

A chill seeping in through the window derailed her train of thought and the lithe thief shivered as she strode over to a chair in the corner. A set of dark clothing had been laid out for her – exactly her size but not her clothing. Irritating and interesting at the same time. Drawing on a larger overshirt for warmth, Ellery slipped out the door and down the stairs.

 

Smells wafted toward her and suddenly her stomach spasmed. She gasped at the ferocity of her hunger, eyes slightly wild as she eyed the cook. It finally clicked where she was when Mistress Allaren smiled. Without saying a word the woman set a plate down on the table and pushed it at her. For a millisecond Ellery considered refusing to eat before she was told how long she'd been asleep, but her stomach moved again and it was all she could do to use utensils rather than her hands.

 

“Ald-” she started to say, mouth full of food, when the big man entered the kitchen. He started shoveling food into his mouth too, though, so she bit her tongue and bit her food rather than continue. "They caught Eltar, Ellery" Aldwyn said when they finished their meal. "That big Captain of the Guard dragged him off i think, i didn't see what happened, but there's talk of Eltar being in the cells under the main Guard's gate and that he'll be hanged."

 

The small thief looked up sharply as Aldwyn paused. Caught? Eltar? The other man continued, "Akairril should be along soon and we can decide what we want to do. Come on Ellery, we'll wait in the the stable, Mistress Allaren will have customers coming along soon and she'll not like to be seen with the likes of us." Ellery nodded and followed Aldwyn out the back to the stables where he kept watch for Akairril and she sat on a bucket, pondering how everything had gone so wrong.

 

Once Akairril arrived the trio set out. The main guard gate wasn't far, and before long they were ducking into an alley. Her body responding before she could think, Ellery backed into a small shadowy recess that faced out into the street. There were four guards in front of the building, though there were likely to be more on the other sides.

 

"Wait here." Aldwyn told Ellery and Akairril then he walked out into the square. Ellery frowned, but followed his suggestion. She was more likely to slip around unseen, but sometimes a big distraction was necessary. Aldwyn strolled across the square, he stopped to look at the market stands several times, so as to appear to be casually shopping. The small thief almost laughed at that. It wouldn't fool anyone in their line of work, but seemed to work on the men in front of the gate. The guards stood casually joking and laughing with each other, they didn't appear to be very observant. That meant the Captain of the Guard was elsewhere at the moment, a good sign. Aldwyn made his way around the square and then ducked into the alley beside the main guardhouse. Akairril backed up a bit, so as to obscure himself from the eyes of the guards – his bulk making it more difficult to stay in the shadowy recesses. She felt his gaze on her as she watched the guards. This one would be difficult if they didn't get Eltar out. We MUST get Eltar back. she thought fiercely.

Edited August 5, 2011 by keyholder21

[Blackhoof]

The heavy ironwork gate screeched open, and two guards entered Eltars prison cell to secure him, clamping heavy steel manacles that were attached to the far wall onto his wrists, leaving his in an awkward half-standing, half-sitting position halfway up the wall.

 

Once the guardsmen had checked the manacles, they nodded to a third guard standing in the doorway, who called out to someone unseen. Within moments, the doorway was filled with the tall and whip-thin form of Victor, the Captain of the Guard.

 

Victor sauntered into the cell, and fixed the prisoner with a smile cold enough to freeze lakes. "I must say, I owe you a debt of gratitude," Victor said with mock friendliness, "If you were not held in such high esteem by your scoundrel friends, my plan would not work."

 

Eltar looked up at Victor, and spat at his feet, the globule of saliva falling short. Victor just smirked and continued, "You see, you are to be hanged. At the crack of dawn. I have put the word out, especially amongst the... lower orders, and thousands of people will gather to see your demise. Or at least.... that is what everyone thinks will happen."

 

Eltar looked puzzled for a second, and Victor barrelled on. "In truth, you are merely bait, the real prize I am after is your friends."

 

"What do you mean?" Eltar replied.

 

"Why, isn't it obvious? Your friends will doubtlessly try to rescue you , and in the process they will be captured by my guardsmen, and for the next few months I will indulge in every torture imaginable, until you beg me to end your pathetic lives. But I wont," Victor's gaunt face came within inches of Eltar's, "because death is too good for mongrels like you. I will make you pay for the immoral lives of thievery and sedition yo have carried out. I will make you pay for every moment you have spent defiling my city with your presence! I will make you and your friends cry for mercy but YOU SHALL NOT HAVE IT!"

 

Eltar looked dismayed, but dismay soon became anger. "They will never fall for such an obvious trap! Do you take us thieves for imbeciles!"

 

Victor laughed, and replied, "Yes, to be honest! Besides, you underestimate your friends devotion to yo. My spies have confirmed it- they are planning a rescue as we speak. They will try, and fail, to save you, and in doing so, deliver themselves into the hands of justice."

 

Eltar slumped as far as he was able, realising that the Captain was right.

 

Victor sneered with contempt a he said, "You thieves- you are all so predictable. It is... pathetic." With that, Victor turned, his black cloak flaring out behind him as he left the room. His guardsmen followed him, locking the door behind them as they left, leaving Eltar alone once more.

[murf2011]

Eltar closed his eyes after the guards left, but opened them again when he heard a voice outside the small grate set high in the wall; it was Aldwyn's voice. "Eltar! Where are you?" the man hissed, and Eltar chuckled. It was alright if the guards didn't see Aldwyn, but if they did, they'd get suspicious of someone standing in an alley next to the prison cells. "I'm here, Aldwyn," he replied, keeping his voice low in case the guards heard him. "We have a plan, don't worry. We'll get you free," Aldwyn told him, and Eltar smiled in the poor light. At least the rest of the gang was optimistic. After hearing nothing else, Eltar assumed that Aldwyn had left, hoping to avoid suspicion, and so he let unconciousness take him.

 

Eltar awoke just before dawn, and glanced up when the iron gate squealed as it opened, letting two guards enter. They undid the manacles, keeping his arms in a firm grip the whole time, lest he try to escape. He struggled a bit, testing their grip, before allowing them to escort him out of the cell. They emerged into a dark corridor, with only a few torches to light the way. Eltar let himself be half dragged along the corridors, until they reached the main room. There, the guard captain stood waiting, with a handful of guards. They put him in chains, and the captain said something, that Eltar just ignored. He wondered what rescue plan the others had come up with, and hoped that they hadn't planned anything extremely dangerous. The door to outside opened, and the guards led him out, with their captain at the head of the procession.

 

As he was led to the executioner's block, he looked at the crowd, trying to spot his friends, but had no luck. the executioner himself was cloaked and hooded, standing in the center of the crowd. Eltar was forced to his knees in front of the man, and the guards stepped back. The guard captain started talking loudly to the crowd, but Eltar didn't pay attention as he tried to figure out how to get free of the irons. As he was shifting around, seeing if the chains were weak, something cold and hard fell into his cupped hand. He curled his hand around it, and looked behind him. The executioner was the only one who stood close to him, the guards having formed a square around where the executioner stood. The man shifted the cloak, revealing two knives in his belt, and the hood moved as if he was nodding at Eltar. Eltar struggled to keep surprise off of his face, and worked on trying to find the key hole. Just as he found it, the guard captain finished his speech, and turned to where Eltar was kneeling.

 

The chains fell free with a click, and Eltar lunged up at the executioner, tackling him to the ground and grabbing the two knives from his belt. As he fell, his hood got tossed back to reveal Akairril, who grinned at him, before pushing him off and drawing his sword. Eltar got up, confused, and was almost killed by one of the guards, who had seen him get loose. The man's sword went past Eltar's hip, slicing through his plain shirt, and fell to the ground as Eltar stabbed the man in the shoulder with one knife, the other going into his throat. He wrenched them out, and saw the crowd shuffling with excitement and fear. Where are the others? he wondered as yet another guard charged at him.

 

Eltar

[Blackhoof]

Victor tried to keep a suitably grim face as the prisoner was brought out, clad in chains and scanning the crowd, as if looking for help.

 

Oh, help would come, alright. It would come and fall straight into Victor's hands.

 

As the one-time thief was brought up to the chopping block, Victor finally broke into a smile and said, "Lets hope your friends are as loyal as I think they are." But the prisoner ignored him.

 

Suddenly, as the prisoner was about to be beheaded, the vile thief broke free and tackled the executioner. Stealing concealed knives, the thief began attacking nearby Guardsmen and the executioner joined him.

 

Victor grinned, "clever thieves," he whispered, and then he shouted "NOW!", springing the trap. Suddenly, dozens of Guardsmen burst out of hiding from sewer entrances all around the square and from under the execution stage, and they all closed in for the kill.

 

Drawing Enforcer and arming his hand-bow, the Guard Captain laughed and advanced on the cornered thieves, ready to capture them himself.

[Amadine]

Standing in the mouth of the sewer with a section of "Guardsmen" Aldwyn looked around. The true Guardsmen were tied wearing only their small-clothes back within the sewer, they had been so intent on waiting for the signal from their Captain that they had not heard the company of thieves approach from within the bowels of the sewer. Silently they had taken out each of the nine Guardsmen one at a time. The poor fools had no even realised what was happening until it was too late. Donning their uniforms, Aldwyn and the others waited.

 

Aldwyn watched, as Eltar attacked the executioner and realised that it was Akairril. The pair of thieves fought side by side and just the came the call Aldwyn and his fellows were waiting on, "NOW!"

 

Aldwyn and the thieves dressed at Guardsmen barrelled out of the sewer and toward Eltar, surrounding him them fought off the other Guardsmen. Aldwyn took a long cut to the arm from a short sword as he had stabbed his knife into the neck of a Guardsman. The confusion caused by seeing members of the Guard apparently attacking their own created an opening which Eltar and Aldwyn took advantage of, escaping down an alley and to the twisting alleys of the city.

 

Later that day Aldwyn and Eltar were sitting in the back of a dingy tavern in the foregate when the news came that Akairril had been killed, along with several of the others. It was time for Eltar to go to ground for a few months. The Captain was not going to forget about his Guardsmen being impersonated anytime soon and with that thought in mind, Aldwyn and Eltar left Cairhein, and headed for Shienar. They spent two months in Fal Dara before beginning to make enquiries in regards to their status back in Cairhein.

 

Aldwyn Frewin

[Blackhoof]

Removed

Edited September 2, 2011 by Blackhoof