silverdust [M:0:0:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?board=ci&action=display&thread=314]Mess with the panther, and you get the dagger in your throat.
Moving very slowly and utterly silently, Kat peeked over the edge of the roof, ready to drop down on top of whomever was there. She might be small and light, but even a small and light panther-girl is heavy enough to be surprising. Then there were the claws. And the daggers.
Katerina's eyes did not help her. There was nothing in the small doorway of Mina's caravan. Absolutely nothing, except for a thin line of sand. Well, Dominic, of course, but he certainly wasn't a threat to the girl inside. And, he was attempting to figure out what was going on, too.
But, no one else in the camp was stirring and that was odd. No bark from any of the dogs. No sentry headed inward to find his bed, or any headed out to relieve one.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
silverdust [M:0:0:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?board=ci&action=display&thread=314]Mess with the panther, and you get the dagger in your throat.
Kat's fingers curled around the lip of the roof, and she flipped over it, curling her body and thrusting forward with both feet, kicking into the caravan. Should nothing be there, a simple somersault will bring her silently down on her feet. Should something be there, a foot to the stomach or kidney should start things off nicely.
((Okay. During this I want to give you both a chance to attack. I will post, but I want us to do this in order, as we would have a round robin story. I know we haven't stuck to that due to schedules and such, but I want you both reacting to the bad guys. Dominic 'tis your turn! ))
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Screw risking a false alarm. Things had gotten far too strange and it was far too quiet save for the whispered movement of something atop the caravan. He had already identified that as Kat, hearing her very occasional movements over the course of the night. He'd been amazed at how quiet she'd been though, only because he knew she were there did he continue to notice. Now though was time for noise, he thought.
"Hey! Intruders! Intruders in the camp!" he hollered. He was an experienced singer, orator and even actor and he knew how to project his voice. His voice seemed almost too big for the lungs it came from, almost painfully loud up close, though remaining clear as a rung bell. The voice in itself might have been considered a kind of weapon, carrying a note of undeniable command and confidence.
As he set himself with his staff, listening madly for any sound of impending attack, alert for any feel of footsteps around him he admitted silently he felt neither commanding nor confident. Well, if they came at him maybe he could shout them to death.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
Kat flipped into the caravan, the wind from her movement ripping Dominic’s hat right off his head, and found only empty space; a whole lot of empty space. In fact, she hadn’t hit bottom yet. She had just enough time to register the fact that Mina wasn’t in her bunk or in the caravan at all before falling abruptly into a narrowly dug hole and the end was coming up fast.
Dominic didn’t see her fall, naturally. And, at the moment, he was really much too busy trying to rouse the camp to realize Katerina was falling. The Bard’s voice was thunderous and make no mistake about it; but the pitch was not enough to overcome the magic that had put the guards and dogs to sleep. Nor could his staff or stance stop the air spirit known as Vayu from spilling past him.
Vayu was a nasty creature - in every way that counted. But, beyond all the destruction, damage, and devastations he got up to, he desired young girls more than anything else. Not that he was visible; no one could see Vayu in this form, even if they had sight. The air spirit was intangible, untouchable, and impervious to attack. Katerina had actually passed right through him. The sand that Dominic had heard falling was Vayu trying to refill the hole that his servants had created to fetch Mina. Vayu would repair the damage, but he couldn’t create matter out of nothing. He needed earth, dirt, or sand, something he could pour back into the empty space and reshape the caravan.
Dominic’s voice was getting fainter the farther Katerina fell. Someone was going to have to do something soon.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dom felt, in that instant, the utter wrongness of the spirit as it passed over him like an ill wind. He growled, feeling nausea creep up inside him. He could almost fancy hearing the mocking laughter. He'd never encountered such a creature but he'd heard of them, usually in bedtime stories to frighten little kids and make them behave. Go to sleep or the air demons will steal you away.
This story was far too real though and he knew that there was no chance he could pursue or attack. Instead he moved as quickly as he could inside the caravan, placing his hand upon the bed after finding it with the tip of his staff. Empty.
"Mina! MINA!" he bellowed, as if shouting the girls name with everything he was worth would bring her back. His staff bumped the sinkhole, interrupted in its receding. He toed it warily and then realised what had happened. They'd taken her down and Kat had followed them.
He jammed his staff into the hole, making sure it wouldn't close up completely, marking where it lay. Then, without the aid of his stick and using only his memory he shambled forth, shifting his feet along the ground and bellowing "Cassamir! Everyone! Get the hell up out of your beds! They've taken her!" He had to get them up. He unslung his lute, beginning to play hard and loud, discordant strains that would jar the ears. Come on, wake up and get mobile before they got away.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
silverdust [M:0:0:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?board=ci&action=display&thread=314]Mess with the panther, and you get the dagger in your throat.
Kat was having none of this. If down she'd go, then she'd go at her own pace. She dug her claws into the wall and pushed -- pounced, really -- from wall to wall, making her way down in a more controlled manner, ready to head back up at top speed if need be. Hopefully Mina was down here, though more likely not. Magic... why in the name of Inferno did it always have to be magic?
Dominic's lute did what his shouts could not accomplish alone. It jarred the camp awake from their enchanted sleep. Casamir came rushing around the corner with most of his clothing half on or half off and a dozen dogs barking at his heels.
There was plenty of commotion all over the camp now, too. Other caravans roused by the sound of music, dogs, or Dominic's fading shouts for help. Chaos ensued for several minutes, time spent while many of the other men and boys joined Casamir and the harshly strumming Bard.
Casamir held up his hands for quiet. His voice was a study in contrasts, too. He was doing his damn best to project a calm front, but the line of his mouth was stiff and his words were full of throttled rage. Of course, he had already been inside Mina's wagon. He knew she was gone.
"What happened?"
Katerina's agile body played ping pong (If it hasn't been invented yet, it should be!) down the hole. It wasn't even that hard. The hole only needed to be wide enough to fit a small girl and her kidnappers and for expedience sake, if nothing else, remained narrow until the end.
Katerina hit the wider bottom with a few bumps and scraps but that was all. It was dark, however, exceedingly dark. Dominic's voice did not reach this far down. The grating music had stopped, too. She could probably climb back out, or she could follow the kidnapped girl. The decision was entirely up to her to make.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
silverdust [M:0:0:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?board=ci&action=display&thread=314]Mess with the panther, and you get the dagger in your throat.
Kat blinked and opened her eyes as wide as she could, letting them adjust to the darkness. She sniffed softly, crouched on the floor on all fours. Listening, trying to pick up the direction of the sound of bells. Once she got an idea of direction, she took off after Mina as quickly as she could.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dom was stony faced, he looked absolutely furious in fact. Some of the younger men involuntarily took a step back. He was an excellent projector of emotion and he looked as if he were quite capable of killing someone. They needn't have worried, it was just that he felt absolute dread for the girl, for the cat girl who went into the tunnel too, and fury at his own inability to do anything about it. He couldn't keep every emotion inside so he just let the anger radiate. It bled into his words too as he spoke, quiet and gravelly.
"They took Mina. Kat went after them and I'm going after her. They've been digging tunnels up under the ground. There was a sleeping enchantment too, but it must not have expected us to be here." At the clamours of questions of what 'it' could be he grits his teeth hard enough for them to creak.
"Whatever took the girl underground had magic on their side. Powerful. And when I was at the caravan door some...thing swept past me. Around me. All I can think of it being is some kind of air or wind entity, maybe a ghost, demon, spirit or a wind mage." He looked up, milky eyes opening. "I planted my staff where the hole opened, we can reopen it and follow. I can guide you without lights, so they'll never see us coming. So, who wants to come help me kick this bastard's teeth in?"
He wasn't a fighter, but all he needed to do was inspire others to fight. Inspire them to control their fear and anger, hone those emotions into blades. He may have been scared himself, may have felt guilty and angry, but that anger still permeated his words, giving them weight and power. He turned and strode back toward the caravan, knowing the lie of the land now, long coat kicking out behind him. A tiny little part of him hoped he'd not missed any tripping hazards. The inspiring, heroic stride into battle would be somewhat ruined if he went face first into the dirt.
Last Edit: Nov 27, 2011 21:08:22 GMT -5 by Dominic
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
There was a chorus of shouts at Dominic's words. Every man, woman, and young boy who was left in the camp yelled their assent. They had felt helpless for far too long. Of course, they couldn't all follow him. It remained for Casamir to sort it out.
"Wait, wait... hold on... just a minute!"
Casamir's voice rose from the clamoring shouts. There was no way he would allow any of the women to go. Not because they were incapable of defending themselves, or rescuing the girls, either. But, whatever this creature was wanted females, and Casamir was giving him no chance to capture more of them. He left himself out of the rescue attempt as well, someone was going to have to protect the camp, and he had already let his rage and frustration get the better of him today... yesterday... however long ago.
In the end, he chose the men with no wives or children, and those with level heads on their shoulders. Ramon was one of these, the other six his contemporaries. Seven men, one for each missing girl. The only thing left was to follow Dominic down the hole.
The bells were extremely faint, and lasted for only a few minutes before the sounds of them stopped. However, there was only one path out of the wide landing that Katerina had ping-ponged her way down to find.
The farther she moved away from the original hole, the lower she dropped. She was moving steadily down an incline, and while the ground she walked was smooth enough, there were dozens of places where rocks, blocks, and piles of mud clogged the way. There was a new sound, too. Not Mina's bells, but a constant 'ting' which reminded one of water drops striking a thin metal tray.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dom strode with confidence, taking one extra long step when he reached where he rememebered the caravan step being. His foot thudded solidly on it and he breathed a silent sigh of relief. Confidence. Control. He had to inspire these guys to have any chance of getting them back. He cocked a half-smile back over his shoulder as he went inside, gripping the staff that still stuck out of the ground.
"Okay, get your shovels into that opening, there should be a passage beneath it. Once it's open I'll go in first and you guys just grab my coat tails and follow. Keep your lights doused and your voices down and we'll have them with their breeches down. About time these things learned how it felt to have the shadows come after *them*." He put a little extra emphasis on that last word, causing a murmur of assent from the group. One lad had, graciously, thought to pick up and return his hat.
He placed it on his head and, knowing that he'd marked the spot to dig well enough, snatched up his staff, tucking it under his arm with a a flourish of motion. Again, all for the effect that he was a bad ass and they should all be confident in following him. What he was really thinking was a hope he'd not accidentally brained anyone with that flourish.
The hole was re-dug in moments, the yawning blackness revealed and, without much in the way of hesitation, he lowered himself in and dropped, sliding down the wall until he reached bottom, the others following in suit. Having made it into the inky murk without injury they all linked up, Dom in the lead, trekking onward down the tunnel. His staff tip swept left and right and he whispered warnings of tripping hazards back to the rest of the group.
Last Edit: Nov 29, 2011 12:28:13 GMT -5 by Dominic
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
silverdust [M:0:0:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?board=ci&action=display&thread=314]Mess with the panther, and you get the dagger in your throat.
Quickly, then, but as quietly as she may. Her daggers and throwing knives were already -- and always -- secured against making noise, and she stopped a second to run their bright blades through the mud. She'd pay for it later in hours of effort to clean them and their sheathes, but at least she wouldn't betray herself from the sheen on the blades.
The 'ting' was as persistent as a gnat during a stagnant summer day. The farther Katerina walked the louder it became, too. As mentioned previously the catgirl's ears were very sensitive and the increasing sound harsh. Perhaps, if such a sound were heard above ground, or in an open area it might not have impacted.
But, it was not and it did.
Along with fear for Mina, and apprehension for what might be at the end of the path, Kat was battling physical trauma to her hearing, so much more important in the dark than sight.
Dominic, on the other hand, was having an easier time of it, physically. He did not have to recover from a fall, his descent was controlled and planned, his hearing wasn't being assaulted. He had back-up in the form of seven men who were quite willing and able to fight Mina's captors, too. If there were problems for the Bard, they were mental monsters. He had to project a calm front, and not with just his face; his voice needed to be controlled, collected, and confident.
So far it was working for him.
And now we come to Mina.
Did Casamir's headstrong niece go quietly into the dark? Well... she had been lulled into sleep by the blast of humid air, and her subsequent capture accomplished without a hitch. Vayu was powerful, make no mistake about that. Nevertheless, he could not keep up the enchantment that held Mina to dreams.
He had expended plenty of energy with the ensorcelled wind. It is hard, extremely hard, to subvert even a single person's will. You try telling someone to go to sleep, if you think it is so easy. Multiply that with the amount of people in the caravan, throw in the dogs, Dominic's lute playing, the quick escape and you have one exhausted deity.
Mina was waking up. And she was terrified. But, on the heels of terror came anger.