King and Country

[Moneytalks]

Vixen seeing that the serpents had been dealt with watched Mansard head off into the woods to set up camp he said. She decided to join him. She thought he might be up to something. She urged her horse into a canter and caught up with him. She checked out his unusual saddle and stiffled her amused smile.

"Mind if I join you?" She asked clearly intending to come along despite the question.

 

[Jonas]

"You company would be most appreciated." Mansard smiled at Vixen. He laughed, "You are one lovely lady. Tell me have you ever heard that a small man walks on three legs." Vixen shook her head and laughed with him. "These mages Vixen, I don't trust them. Excepting my pal Roland, of course. Fortunately my people have a natural..immunity to certain magic. Along with certain tools issued to me by the Grey One, I can handle most mages." Passing a group of trees, three men jump out and block their path. "Stay ready," the dwarf whispered. Jumping down from his mount he walks up to the largest man.

"Can I help you sir?" Mansard said bowing.
"Yea, you can help me get rich!" The man went for his sword.
"Trap!" The small man yelled to Vixen. In one motion he grabbed the garote from his boot, struck the large man in the midsection with his free hand, and spun him around. He whipped the wire around the large man's neck, jumping to jab a knee into the small of the man's back. The second man swung his sword down at Mansard, who swung the now dead body into the blow. Again and again until at last the other man feel over a knife in his back. Seeing the third theif also dead Mansard snorted.
"What took you so long."
"I didn't want to cramp your style." Replied Vixen. "However we have a problem"
"What now?" Asked the dwarf. Vixen pointed behind him. Perhaps 20 riders were bearing down on them.
"It appears they weren't alone," Vixen answered.

 

[Moneytalks]

"Oh and Mansard honey, be an angel and grab my knife while you're there please?" Vixen's eyes were bright with suppressed amusement as he gave her another bow and removed the knife. He wiped it on the dead man's shirt and jumped up onto his horse handing it to her with a florish.

She grinned at him and returned the compliment doing her best curtsie someone restricted by her sitting on a horse. She pocketed the knife and looked at him again. "Got any ideas?" She asked clearly calm enough not to feel the need to come up with a plan herself for the moment.

She enjoyed watching the way Mansard did things. She was finding herself almost fascinated by him.

 

[ShyGoddess]

Glorianna:

She sat atop Jafar wondering who had tampered with her saddle. Vixen's brother had not left her side since her fall. He seemed to think if he stayed by her, she wouldn't get hurt again. She was indignant at the thought. She didn't need him to take care of her, and she let him know it. "You needn't follow me around like a puppy. I'm a capable young woman and can take care of myself. Besides, I have Maven and Jafar to keep me company, so I don't need you."

 

[Moneytalks]

Valdor looked at the flaming mass of indignant fury telling him she didn't need him as she sat on her horse. He eyed her pet and her and smiled to himself. He did admire her spirit and her intelligence but she seemed to be incredibly antagonistic towards him in particular.

She must like me he thought to himself. "M'Lady," he said in his most charming voice, "I wouldn't want to be in your way, I'm very sure you are capable of taking care of yourself, I am merely enjoying your company, this is going to be a long journey after all." He smiled and his eyes sparkled with amusement as she tried to process this remark.

He picked an apple from a tree as they passed and polished it up on his vest before offering it to her. His warm brown eyes so similar to Vixen's looked at her earnestly.

 

[Jonas]

Mansard tied up his pack horses and jumped to his saddle.
"Vixen my dear I'm to tied to run. Let's see what these murdering crooks are made of." The dwarf stood up on top of his saddle. He pulled the matched curved short swords from the scabbards on his back. Holding them like daggers, he cocked his arms till the swords looked like the fangs of a snake. "On Lightening, gettup!" The gelding surged forward gaining speed, Mansard standing steady, poised to strike. "AHHHHHHH!" The small man screamed his battle cry as he charged the on rushing horde.
"Mansard are you crazy?" Shouted Vixen.
"Calllll meeeee mouse!"

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen watched in amazement as Mansard charged the approaching hoard. The she felt the familiar adrenaline rush as she confronted a fight. She pulled out her long staff and urged her horse into a gallop charging forward after Mansard.

"Hey MOOOUUUSEE!!" She yelled over the heavy sound of hooves. "Wait for me!!" She laughed as the wind picked up her hair and she stood up in her stirrups spining her staff around her head like a baton.

They reached the first three riders and Mansard quickly and efficiently sliced his swords through the air. Blood splattered him and Vixen felt the warm droplets reach even her face. She had no time to consider this further though as the third rider charged her. She flicked her staff easily dislodging his weapon and followed through with a downward slash that cracked his skull. He toppled to the ground and his horse galloped off leaving it's rider dead in on the ground. Vixen called out loudly, her warm rich musical voice creating the melodic notes of an ancient amazonian war cry. The sound caused the hairs to rise on the backs of the necks of the riders approaching. They had seen how easily their comrades had been dispatched but they kept on going feeling their numbers would overwhelm the two.

 

[Roland Gilliad]

Roland: i rushed into the thick of the battle. i punched a few guys but then found myself surrounded by about 5 knights. i Flashed out Dragonsting as it glowed Bright blue i Decapitated the first, impaled the second, disembowled the 3 and 4th, i didnt get to the 5th as he was just being cut down by mansard.
"nice shot mansard..."
he said
"he was gonna strike you from behind. now comon we still have 10 more knights to kill!"
we flew into the battle with blood in our eyes

 

[poohlive]

Jumping down from the branch, Garret slumped back to his horse. He was prepared for a battle, and now, nothing.
"Silly mages," he muttered to himself, it wasn't that he didn't like them, it is just sometimes you need to solve things on your own.
Garret got back on Wyld. He had seen two people go on ahead, everyone else seem to stay behind. Garret had no desire to do either, so decided to go into the forest, looking for a decent dinner for them all.
"A nice boar should do it," Garret said, to no one in particular. He still had the bow in his hand, waiting for a stir in the bushes. He got more than that.
From out of the blue came a war cry. Garret recognized it immediately as a dwarves cry. He kicked Wyld in her side, and went towards the attack.
What he saw was a battlefield. There seemed to be 15 or so dwarves, some on horseback, some not. Also there was Vixen, Roland, and Mansard in battle with these runts.
Garret brightened as he galloped faster to the fight, he was going to get some action after all. Quickly Garret took out and arrow, and let it fly.
It wasn't a bad shot, but he could have done better. The arrow landed in the stomach of a dwarf.
"Damn little things, can't get a good shot."
Garret took out a second arrow, took better aim this time.
"One... two... three." This time the arrow struck through, right in the heart. The dwarf slunked over on his horse.
There were less and less of the little guys, and pretty soon none at all, they were either dead, or had run off.
Garret, still on his faithful horse, galloped up to the other warriors.
"Is everyone ok?" He saw Vixen had blood on her face.
"Yes, I believe so," said Vixen, she rubbed the blood off.
"That was lucky, where is everyone else?"
"Right Here," came a voice from the forest. Garret turned Wyld aroundto see who it was. It seemed like there were at least triple the amount of dwarves as before. All of them being led by, what seemed to be a king, or duke, or whatever leader dwarves had.
"What happened, did the circus come to town," Garret said, as he loaded up another arrow. There were only 5 left. This wasn't good.

 

[Morgoth]

Lokken quickly cleaned himself up and joined the others in the the thick of battle pulling out his bastard sword and Grond, only to find himself surrounded by killer psycho dwarves. Soon the blood wad flying and the sweat stinging, he turned as he killed his last dwarf only to find triple the amount of the old ones plus some kind of leader. Quickly he pulled out his ash bow and took perfect aim at the leader's head.

 

[Sith]

Rorthrar

"This is a peace mission!" shouted Rorthrar, "don't you remember? You should try to talk before acting! Elbonia is at peace with the dwarves!"

He started a prayer of calmness to try and help his mates regain their peace of hearts and be able to talk with the dwarves before lasting damage was done to their relation.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen was the first to look over at Rothrar. "What do you mean? They attacked US!" Her eyes were unnaturally hard as she glared at him. He realised that something like a blood-lust had taken over her normal objectivity. Vixen looked ready to spring into attack at any moment.

"VIXEN!" He shouted at her sending a burst of mental energy her way. The effect physically shook her. She yelped in pain and her eyes slowly focused. She shook her head as if to clear it. She growled angrily, "what the hell did you do that for?"

He sighed with relief. "You seem to have been taken hold by the blood-lust" he said calmly. Vixen looked perplexed. "But, they... they did attack us... didn't they?" She suddenly found herself questioning herself and she didn't like the feeling at all.

[Edited by Moneytalks on 07-26-2000 at 07:20 AM]

 

[ShyGoddess]

Glorianna:

She looked deep into Valdor eyes and almost took the apple, but the sound of the war cry shook her to the bone. Jafar seemed to understand and took off, with Valdor on her heels. She arrived just as Rothrar was putting a stop to it all. Glorianna's eyes traveled over the many slayed people, and her heart seemed to stop from all the blood she saw. "What have you people done?!" her voice shook with the angry wrath she felt.

No one seemed to be able to answer. "Do you realize that we are on a PEACE MISSION. We are not a war party! You have just slaughtered man dwarves. They were our allies! Now if you'll excuse me, I must speak with their king and try to calm him, I don't want him to attack Elbonia, but know this, If anything happens to the kingdom of Elbonia because of this, you will all suffer MY wrath. I will make sure you suffer for the rest of your lives!" Glorianna whirled on Jafar and rode toward the drawf king, praying she could control the tears stinging her eyes. The sight of all that bloodshed really didn't sit to well with her. She had watched her parents die in a blood bath from a group of missionaries. She had made it her vow to avoid all wars.

 

[Roland Gilliad]

Roland:i quickly slumped to the ground. if a war happens...then im gonna have to call up re-inforcements....then i realized somtihng odd about tth drwarves....
"GLORIANNA WAIT!!!!ITS AN AMBUSH!!!!"
but i was far too late. the dwarves were disguised orc men. they were a trap to make glorriana run for the dwarf king but she was going to be ambushed and captured.
"not if i can help it!"
i leaped unto shaddowfax and sped off twords glorianna to stop her from being harmed

 

[poohlive]

Garret slowly released the tension on his bow. The arrow slunked down. He didn't know they had an alliance.
When you see your friends being hurt by a bunch of little freaks, you have to go save them, no matter what any diplomatic says.
Garret still didn't trust the dwarves, but put his bow back just the same.
Glorianna rode up, cursing everyone for making such a foolish mistake. Garret was immediately sorry, how could you hold a grudge to such a pretty face like that.
She rid out to the leader of the dwarves.
Garret bowed his head. It wasn't even a full hour into the mission and he had already blown it. Garret really pondered if it was his fault, but every time he looked at Glorianna, he knew it was.
Unsheathing his broadsword, Garret started to clean it. He still kept an eyeful watch on those dwarves, there was something about them that didn't tickle his goat.
Then, out of the blue, Roland started shouting something and running after Glorianna.
"What has he got up his butt this time," Garret muttered under his breath.

 

[Morgoth]

Lokken, hearing Rolands words and his arrows still pointed with pin-point accuracy at the dwarf-leaders head, launched his black arrow deep into the orc's head launching blood and brains all over the surrounding orcs, upon contact, the "dwarf" changed into his natural state of orc," Glorianna, turn back", he yelled after her still moving body right into the ambush.

 

[Jonas]

Mansard, his clothes shredded and bleeding from numerous wounds, slumped down in his saddle. Though the wounds were only superficial he was drained. The battle had bonded the group, now it threatened to rip them apart.

Then he realized...."No! Those are not dwarfs." He rode to Roland, who had realized already. Orcs! He hated the bastaeds. He felt the battle fever rise again. Stirring him to action.

"Kill them all!" His fever turned to a burning rage, and again he charged.

 

[Roland Gilliad]

Roland: Gotta make it gotta make it....i rode with lightning speed as she hadent heard me...she turned around as a bow from the darkness came up. i leaped from shaddowfax and tackled her off her horse as the arrow whizzzed by missing her heart by meer inches. i turned around and found the bowman gone. i picked her up quietly and got thw two horses together. i got out DragonSting and protected her until we got back to the rest of the group. then in great fear i realized she wasent unscathed...she had been deeply cut and the arrow might have been poisened...i Became worried...

[Edited by Roland Gilliad on 07-26-2000 at 09:43 PM]

 

[Morgoth]

With their leader dead and their surprise gone the orcs pullec out their swords and charged, Lokken and the others were at full arms and decimated the first row instantly. After 10 more minutes of fighting, the place was a dead zone." Okay, let's get going", Lokken said after they killed the orcs and washed up.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen heard the battle cry and saw as if in slow motion the disguised Orc's heading for them. They were notorious fighters. Most clan fighters fled when their leader was taken down but these Orc's seemed to get even more violent. She shook her head trying to recover from the mind numbing blast she had taken from Rothrar. "SHIT!" She thought, I need my wits about me now. She saw Glorianna fall and Roland trying to protect her in the thick of it. "Stupid girl!" She cried, the anger welling in her because she already felt attached to the girl. This was exactly why she didn't like getting emotionally attached she thought. She heard the wizz of an arrow from the enemy heading her way and caught it decisively in her hand before it hit her. She growled... she was angry now.

She urged her horse into the flay and threw her knives with deadly accuracy. Her horse stumbled and threw her, she flung herself away from him so she could land on her feet and was instantly attacked by a well armed Orc. She ducked but felt it's large scimitar slice open her shirt. "YOU god damned freak!" She screamed, "that was my favorite SHIRT!!!" She spun and kicked him solidly in the chest and heard a satisfying crack as his ribs broke. She whipped out her knife and sliced open his neck efficiently killing him. She ran through the Orcs usually catching them from behind. She sliced open many necks before she realised there were none left to kill. She was breathing harshly and blood covered her hands.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw Roland inspecting Glorianna's wound. IF that girl surived this, she'd better learn not to throw herself into any god damn army like that. Not without confiring with people who knew better.

She jumped as Valdor approached and touched her shoulder. "Aren't you going to check on her sis?"
"Roland is more than capable," Vixen said harshly. She turned her back and went around looking for her knives in the dead bodies surrounding her. Valdor looked at her back in surprise and then concern. He'd seen that cold look in her eyes before.... she looked just like that as she left home all those years ago.

 

[ShyGoddess]

Glorianna:

She sat quietly while Roland patched her wound. She owed them all an appology. They had saved her life.

"Do you feel any type of dizziness? Do you feel like you've been poisoned?"

Glori shook her head in the negative. Her arm hurt immensely, but she hadn't been poisoned, of that she was certain. "I thank you greatly, sir, you saved my life with your quick reflexes. If we are finished here, I think I owe everyone an appology. I allowed my temper to run away with me and it nearly got us killed." She got to her feet and smiled kindly at Roland, then turned her attention to the group.

"I know this may not mean much, but I owe each of you an apology. I never should have said the things I did, or ran to those things without thinking first. You have my word that it won't happen again." She turned and went to calm Maven and Jafar. They were disturbed by the blood almost as much as she was.

 

[Sith]

Sith

Sith looked the wound from slightly afar. It was clean, no poison there. Seeing the situation safe for now, he uncast his shadow protection, wondering if it had reacted somehow badly with Vixen, as as Roland had said she had overtaken by a blood lust. If that was so, something was amiss in the shadow plane, as it would be the second time something went wrong, the first one it had been his poison turning Roland into a Snake-man, which was almost unheard of.

 

[Sith]

Rorthrar

The paladin cleaned from his sword the few blood it had. He had been one of the last to enter the fray. He still believed in peace.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen kept her distance from the rest of the group. She heard Glorianna's voice and her words of apology. She didn't turn around. She took several deep breaths trying to calm her nerves. She should have been exhausted after a battle like that but instead she felt on edge like she needed to off-load steam.

She felt jittery. She also didn't know how to deal with the thought of someone playing with her mind. That mind rushing into hers knocked her right off balance and she didn't like it at all. All her reasons for not wanting anything to do with magick returned to her. Despite Roland's insistant teaching, she still didn't like magick.

She heard the sound of a twig snapping as someone approached her. She swung around her dagger ready. Garret looked surprised by her attack stance and held up his hands in a hurry. "Sorry," Vixen muttered, slipping her dagger away. "Vixen? Sith asked me to check if you were okay?"
"I'm fine!" She snapped back.
She noticed his increased look of concern. She forced herself to calm down with much effort.
"Really," she managed to say with a neutral voice, "I'm fine."
Garret glanced at Vixen's shirt and noticed blood causing it to cling to her. That was definitely a cut he realised. He wasn't sure how to tell her she was in fact injured and decided to ask Mansard who seemed to be someone who knew how to deal with someone as prickly as Vixen was right now.

"Mansard!" He called as he went to him.
The shorter man turned from checking his pack horses.
"What?" He answered abruptly.
"I think Vixen is injured..."
"So? She's a healer..."
"Yes, but... umm..." realising he was going to sound silly, he sighed, "yes, but she's acting a bit strange and I don't think she'd take kindly to me mentioning it to her... could you...?"
"Oohhhh!" Chuckled Mansard... "she's being a bit bitchy is she?"
Garret gasped at Mansard's use of words, he would NEVER have used that word about Vixen he thought.
"Don't worry boy... I'll handle her... you keep an eye on my packs right?"
Mansard sauntered over towards Vixen.

 

[Roland Gilliad]

Roland:at least she is ok...for this im glad...
"well, we never saw that one coming now did we? it seems these orcs we're headed for the city. we were able to fend them off for now.But from now on i suggest we set a watch when we camp.Now i think it would be best we get to the river with the greatest of speed so i can treat this wound properly.Now comon lets get a move out! I do belive orcs will come here again by the end of the day!"