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Post by »Kamui Syvil VII on Aug 23, 2007 16:10:52 GMT -5
Kamui glanced upward to see the Black Ops soldiers on the right rooftop scattered by the exploding fireworks, then to Saro and Garu barely escaping the hail of arrows. His eyes narrowed and the glare of his crimson one intensified as Saro took an arrow in the leg. He was innocent and had nothing to do with this.
"You want chaos, I'll give ya' chaos...," Kamui said in his demonic tone, glaring now at the advancing soldiers. His outline wavered and flickered once before he disappeared in a small gust of wind, reappearing in the center of the soldiers' formation, much to their shock. He held up his hand and a blindingly bright flash of bluish-white light went off in the soldiers' faces, most of whom dropped their spears and holding their hands to their eyes in a vain attempt to block out the retina scorching flash.
The already shaken soldiers were now visibly panicking now that they found themselves to be blinded well in such close proximity to their opponent. It was only temporary, their blindness, but they did not know that.
Spears forgotten in their panic, they began to stumble around and throw out careless blows in the direction they thought Kamui to be in. He had, however, moved away from their ranks as quickly as he had come so that they were punching each other out.
Meanwhile, on the left rooftop, the water tower teetered precariously with one of its support poles taken out by Olly's stone. Their attention divided between the tower and the events down below, the Black Op soldiers on the rooftop hesitated.
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Post by wintersonata on Aug 25, 2007 0:05:40 GMT -5
Olly cheered for Kamui in the midst of all the commotion that they had managed to create. She barely knew the man, but gypsies were drawn to troublemakers by instinct, and this Kamui seemed a fine fellow to have as a friend... and not so nice a man to have as an enemy. She grinned and paused quickly from her stone-throwing to observe him knocking down most of the soldiers with an unbelievably bright light--magic, she presumed, although she knew no magic herself.
Many of the Black Op soldiers on the roof seemed to have scattered due to the fireworks, thanks to Saro; loud, bright, and scorching hot, the whining fireballs did a good job of distracting them enough for Olly to throw her last stone towards the water tower's last creaking support pole. It flew through the air with a high-pitched whistling noise, hitting the pole with a resounding crack. The water tower slowly began to tip over, falling faster and faster to the ground below.
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Post by valter on Aug 26, 2007 13:58:08 GMT -5
Upon hitting the ground after his dive, Saro braced himself up on one leg and took aim at the flimsy shelf halfway in the alley, stringing three arrows at once. The first two were way off the mark, but the last shot managed to cut one of the ropes holding up the shelf, sending several ceramic missiles down into the broiling chaos.
After this was finished, Saro took a deep breath and examined the situation. The arrow in his leg was a nuisance, but he knew from experience not to pull it out yet; the arrowhead might break off. He grinned amusedly as Kamui suddenly blitzed into the middle of the soldiers, blinding them with a light flash. The soldiers seemed to be seriously disoriented by now. An ominous creaking noise suddenly attracted Saro's attention. He looked up just in time to see the water tower break on the very edge of the roof, flooding out those who remained and the roof and showering the soldiers below with a flood of water and wood.
This seemed to be the last straw. Some of the more timid soldiers began to back away, and then one of them shouted "Retreat!" and then they began to flee in earnest, stampeding one another in their haste to get out of the alley.
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Post by »Kamui Syvil VII on Aug 27, 2007 2:04:51 GMT -5
Atop the now flooded roof, sodden Black Op soldiers who had managed to avoid being swept off the roof by the deluge silently faded away. This did not go unnoticed by Kamui, nor did the retreating soldiers.
Sakurako growled and nipped at the fleeing soldiers' heels and backsides. Though her bite did not puncture their studded leather boots or chain mail, it offered them no protection from the crushing force behind the bite. In any case, it hastened their retreat.
"Go an' get outta here well ya' can," He called out to Olly, "Those Black Op guys work fast. They'll have reinforcements here in minutes, an' they won't be the kinda peons we just dealt with..." He paused for a moment, then added as a seeming afterthought, "Oh, an' don't forget the food. It'd be such a shame ta' let it go ta' waste..."
As he had suddenly appeared within the soldiers ranks, he now appeared by Saro's side. He gave a whistle, at which Sakurako and Yibbles immediately followed him.
Turning to Saro, an earnest expression upon his face, "I'm sorry 'bout your leg. They were after me, so if anybody, I shoulda been wounded. I can treat it later, if ya' allow me... Unless ya' wish ta' remain here an' wait for the soldiers, in which case I'm sure they'll overlook your actions against 'em, possibly even a reward, for anythin' ya' can tell 'em about me. In fact, that's probably the best thing ta' do, as ya' were only tryin' ta' protect the girl, not necessarily aid me, correct?"
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Post by wintersonata on Aug 27, 2007 3:39:35 GMT -5
Olly whooped and punched the air triumphantly as the guards and Black Ops retreated, but she took Kamui's warning to heart. She'd been lucky that he and Saro had been able to aid in fighting off the soldiers, and she wasn't eager to repeat the experience anytime soon. As Kamui inspected Saro's wound--her eyes fell upon it with a deathly glare she reserved solely for instances of injustice--she wrung out her skirt, squeezing out the water that had managed to soak her hair and her dress as well. She quietly gathered up the potatoes and butter that had involved her in this mess to begin with, then approached Saro and Kamui and spoke when they had paused in their conversation.
"Um..." she said timidly, and quite uncharacteristically. Apparently friend-making wasn't something that Olly was quite used to. "Thank you."
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Post by valter on Aug 27, 2007 9:29:27 GMT -5
Saro gave Kamui a bewildered look as the half-demon spoke. "No, no, it probably is my fault. 'Interfering with arrest' or something like that. But it's fine. I've had plenty of experience treating arrow wounds; you wouldn't believe how bad my aim is sometimes." Saro said with a grin. At this moment Garu reappeared from the other side of the alley, fur drenched and giving Saro a very annoyed look.
Saro breathed an inner sigh of relief, his brother was unharmed. Although, he did smell bad, and the wet fur wouldn't help his temper much. "You're going to come with us right?" Saro asked Kamui, almost childishly. His eyebrows flew straight up when Kamui suggested he give information to the soldiers for his freedom. "No way! I'm not going to betray you." Saro said adamantly. "Something tells me you either had a reason, or didn't mean to do all those things." At his side, Garu rolled his eyes at Saro's naivety. "And besides, I'm not exactly a fan of the Avalan military. Nice tail, by the way." Saro said with a grin.
"You're alright then, Olly?" Saro asked as she approached.
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Post by »Kamui Syvil VII on Aug 28, 2007 6:17:49 GMT -5
"What?" Kamui blinked at Olly and shook his head. "No, don't thank me... I'm ta' blame for this..."
He turned to Saro and grinned, "Nah. It wouldn't be betrayal. You're not beholden ta' me... My actions are my own. I do not deny that I have knowingly broken the laws of men many times. I bear no ill will toward the soldiers of Avalas, for they are doing their proper duty in hunting me down... But I thank you for your comment. I find it rather handy myself." He flicked his tail, sahking off some water.
"Gah! But this is not the time for this. We must go, now. I can smell them coming."
He turned to Olly, "How fast can ya' get us out of the city?"
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Post by wintersonata on Aug 29, 2007 4:07:00 GMT -5
Olly nodded, smiling at Saro's concern. He had been extraordinarily kind, she mused, to put himself in danger--and even take a hit!--for two people he had never met before, one of whom was a gypsy and the other of whom was a destroyer of cities, with a tail to boot.
She met Kamui's eyes briefly, then glanced away distractedly as her list of escape routes ran through her head. She didn't trust the waterway again; they might have seen her come through, and they would most likely be watching that path. She couldn't go back to the camp; that would just be stupid. And obviously the city gates were not an option. That left...
"I know the way to the harbor," she said at last, beginning to walk quickly to the east just so they wouldn't be left standing around at the scene. "My family has some friends there that would be more than happy to cover for us should the guards do any questioning around there. Will that do?"
Olly motioned to her companions, leading them through a side alley adjacent to the marketplace so that they would not attract the stares of those who had seen the guards coming after them. In her skirt she still held the butter and potatoes, although it seemed increasingly unlikely that she would make it back to the camp in time for lunch.
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Post by valter on Aug 29, 2007 7:39:37 GMT -5
Something about the way Olly and Kamui behaved made Saro feel like they'd both done this sort of thing several times before. Regardless, there was nothing for it, so...
"Let's go for it then." Saro said with a cheeky grin, dashing after Olly, with Garu close on his heels. "Phew. Wow, you really stink, Wolfy." Saro teased, extracting a growl from his annoyed brother. "That was a bit of a tight spot, wasn't it?" Saro said. "Where'd you learn to throw like that? I think you were more accurate than my bow." he added with a wink.
Garu rolled his eyes, and hung back slightly, waiting for Kamui and his two companions to catch up. He really wished now more than ever that he could speak, there were so many things he wanted to ask the half-demon about. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a cure to his problem. It was the hope that really counted.
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Post by »Kamui Syvil VII on Aug 29, 2007 8:17:06 GMT -5
"There's no need ta' lie. If the guards question us, feel free ta' hand me over." He said to Olly in a casual manner.
He stood, his fingers laced behind his head, 'Hmm... It's kinda against my better judgment, what with the trouble I attract, but what the hell? I guess I can stick around 'em some more... The dog piques my interest.'
Sakurako and Yibbles in tow, Kamui made to follow, but noticed Garu hanging back. For a fleeting moment there was the same soul piercing intensity in his eyes as when he first saw Garu.
"Hey there, little fella...," Kamui said cheerily, as if they were not fleeing capture, patting Garu on the head as he went.
"We can talk later," He then whispered in passing, only he did not use words in the human sense. He had barked quietly.
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Post by valter on Sept 3, 2007 10:12:02 GMT -5
"Wow, you're the first person Garu hasn't growled at for treating him like a dog. Impressive." Saro grinned, turning around. "He's still not used to being turned into a little puppy-dog." Saro laughed. Garu growled at this, and glared at Saro with a look that clearly said, "Watch it."
"Er... anyway. Where are we going to hide in the harbor? I mean, we've been there all morning, and I didn't see- Oh! Are we going to the warehouse there?" Saro asked eagerly, keeping step behind Olly.
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Post by wintersonata on Sept 3, 2007 21:09:49 GMT -5
Olly turned back to Saro with a smile. "That warehouse is where I usually hide when I come here... good place to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables from the merchant ships. But just in case, I think we might try another hiding spot, because the port authorities might be onto me."
As she spoke, two men in naval uniform walked by the alley in which they had paused. They were chatting amicably, but carried large batons on their hips. Olly had never seen them before, and presumed that they were the nautical equivalents of the guards who had cornered them in the marketplace. *They must be on special alert,* she realized.
Ahead of them were a few small dinghies and sailboats, mostly used by the locals for fishing. The larger boats, owned by captains and such, were for sailing and travelling. Those vessels would be ideal for escape, but Olly couldn't hope to commandeer one of those, at least not as quickly as was needed.
She faced her companions. "I'm going to try and buy our way onto one of those smaller sailboats," she told them. "Once we have a means of transportation, we can go wherever we need to, and most importantly, we'll have those guards out of our hair." She paused as another pair strolled by, their eyes wandering dangerously close to the alleyway. "How does that sound?"
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Post by »Kamui Syvil VII on Sept 5, 2007 17:10:52 GMT -5
"Ah, what can I say?" Kamui shrugged and grinned, "I just have a way with animals."
He pulled his cloak's hood back on when they came near the harbor, pausing in the alley while the naval guards passed by.
As Olly spoke, Kamui looked out at the harbor. It was huge, going on for as far as the eye could see, and very busy. Crowds of humans, halflings, gnomes, even a few dwarves and elves who looked to be from all over Avalas were going about their businesses of either unloading of loading ships, shouting so that they could be heard above the noise, transporting all manner of cargo to where they needed to be, working on repairs for their ships or cleaning them or preparing for departure. Then there were the guards and officials like those that had just passed by that were patrolling the docks, watchful for pirates, smugglers, illegal immigrants, and all around illegal seafaring activities. Ships of all sizes and class, including the mighty vessels of the Avalan navy, were coming from and going to all manner of locations around the world. It was easy to see why Cressa's harbor was famous.
It didn't look like it would be too hard to blend into the crowd once they left the alley.
His eyes fell back on Olly, "That sounds fine. Anybody got any money, or are we doin' this the sneaky way? All I've got at the moment are a few coins, mostly copper ones."
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Post by valter on Sept 6, 2007 17:50:16 GMT -5
"Hold up a sec. They might notice this." Saro said, sitting down promptly and pulling out his utility knife. Bending over the arrow, he started on his work, needling and twisting, adjusting and pulling, and gritting his teeth until the arrow finally came out. "Heh. Black ops sure do a good job with these." Saro grimaced, sliding the arrow in his quiver and bandaging his leg.
"Hijacking a ship, eh?" Saro laughed. "Heh, mom would kill us if she found out, wouldn't she Garu?" he asked, ruffling his brothers ears. "We don't have much with us either; anything we need, we make." Saro said with a shrug. "I guess we're going the sneaky way. Let's just try not to be too conspicious. I guess I'm gonna have to get rid of this." Saro added reluctantly, removing his green-hat and stowing it in his pack.
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Post by wintersonata on Sept 7, 2007 1:59:32 GMT -5
Olly, with a sad finality, abandoned her potatoes and butter at the edge of the alley. If they needed to run again, it would be impossible to carry the groceries, and a girl with a load of potatoes in her skirt was far more conspicuous than a girl without. Hopefully some of the orphans who frequented the harbor would make good use of the food.
She searched the pockets of her skirt, hoping to hear the happy jingle of coins, but unfortunately the crowds hadn't been too generous as of late, and gypsies never had much gold to begin with, anyway. "I don't have any money," she said, "but most of the small boat owners hate the port authorities, and they'd like to do something that makes officials angry. It won't so much be hijacking as..." she searched for a nicer term, "...convincing to borrow for an extended period of time." Olly winked and stepped out into the crowd.
Most of the foot traffic was headed left to right, but Olly had to go straight ahead to where the smaller boats were docked. She had to fight the crowd to make her way through, politely sidestepping shorter dwarves and pushing through the sweaty forms of larger men. It would take some time to get all the way to the ships, and she prayed that no one would recognize or grow suspicious of the barefoot girl with the bright red hair, the archer and his dog, and the extremely tall man in a cloak with a tail, a wolf, and a piglet.
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