Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
[21.2.343]
Andrea thunders forward in evening light towards the Confederate headquarters. Matyas' breathing can barely be felt, much less heard. For the few minutes they last her enchantments boost her speed to sustain a full sprint. Mud and dirt spray into the air behind her as her powerful steps carry her desperately towards Matyas' only hope for survival. To her great fortune she is not attacked by more lurking predators.
About a couple hundred feet from base she can make out a fortress behind a wall of sharpened logs. Two sentries are posted in watchtowers over the gate and two spearmen stand at the entrance. Just outside the defenses a group of ten footsoldiers are making final adjustments to their equipment. Andrea guesses that the soul coming out to address them to be their squad seargant. From what she can tell she has not been discovered yet.
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
Andrea slows to a stop at a comfortable distance where she can be seen and heard clearly. She calls out to the soldiers. [Imperial] "Hark! If'n ye be loyal Confederates, fear not! For I am Andrea Halsey of North Hold, knight and enchantress. I must bid thee grant entrance to thy encampment posthaste if thou hast any sense of mercy- as I carry a man wounded, in desperate need of physicking."
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
The soldiers draw their bows at the sight of Andrea encroaching. Their leader holds their first up at head height and the others relax. They take three steps forwards and yell:
Female Leader-[Imperial]: "I know thy family calling. T'was there an ambush? Doth thy foes remain in the shadows there?"
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
Andrea nods. [Imperial] "Indeed't was, though not by men, but by beasts of horrifying proportions. Long legs they had, and six eyes upon their wretched heads. My comrades and I managed to slay them. They are also bound for this camp, though I arrived first as the need was urgent."
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
Female Leader-[Imperial]: "Then they still risk their tenure in this mortal coil! SQUAD! AWAY FULL HASTE!"
The soldiers begin jogging forwards and their leader follows. As she passes Andrea by she adds:
Female Leader-[Imperial]: "My calling be'eth Marcienne of the Tymarin, pass our gate and thy wounded companion shall receive treatment!"
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
[Imperial] "You have my thanks, Marcienne." Andrea proceeds into the camp.
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
The camp is warm and loud but doesn't reek of the usual squalid warcamp odors. Andrea recalls the thick musk from the streets of Nrovthbar.
One of the gate guards rushes her to the hospital, an open space with mats layed down where at least two dozen injured and maimed lay. A man in simple wool robes approaches Andrea. His initial expression of curious wonder for the equine sorceress is replaced with concern when he sees Matyas strewn over her back.
Healer-[Imperial]: "Take leave enchantress, Helusan magic cannot save him now. I fear even Helusan medicine will have no power ..."
The healer takes note of Andrea's expression.
Healer-[Imperial]: "Still, it be my duty to wage battle against death and disease for every life that comes to mine hospital."
The Healer beckons two aides to assist him in moving Matyas into a tent for treatment. A third ushers Andrea away, mentioning something about the unclean air of the hospital being unsuitable for the healthy. As Andrea leaves she notices a golden glow in a tent next to Matyas' and senses the arcane energy focused on it.
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
Andrea ruminates as she approaches the glowing tent. A faint connection lights up in her mind, reminding her of something she read in a dusty old tome in what passed for a library on the Uldish border. Could it be...? She peers within.
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
The aide shakes her hands and mutters requests to turn back. Andrea pulls open the tent flap and sees a woman glowing gold sitting peacefully with a pipe on a small table and a book in her hands. She looks up and remarks in Imperial:
Glowing woman-[Imperial]: "What I am help you General?"
Man from behind-[Imperial]: "Ignore my intrusion if you would."
Andrea turns about to face the man. He wears a lordly white fur cloak mantled by a heater shield and a leather cuirass etched with artistic runes. His hair is clean, white and waves down to his ears. His skin is only a few shades browner than dark of night.
Unknown Man-[Imperial]: "They call me by Marcutio of the Tymarin, what be thy call wild enchantress?"
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
Andrea quickly puts two and two together and gives a short bow while raising a hind leg in a facsimile of the traditional greeting, then backing up to allow passage in and out. "Good sir, I am named Andrea Halsey of North Hold. I take it thou art in command of this post?"
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
Marcutio gives a charming smile.
Marcutio-[Imperial]: "I doth hold command indeed. My station requires I know of e'ery menace within and without. T'would be proper that I offer invitation to supper for a potent enchantress as thyself yet the soldiers speak of injured comrades. They described to me that but one soul visited the fortress for the second is with death."
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
A lump forms in Andrea's throat. [Imperial] "A-aye, that would be Matyas Guester, w-whom I brought in. The healers gave ill portents. Is... is there nothing we can do for him? He is very d-dear to me and gave my family m-many years of service."
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
Marcutio points to the golden woman and motions to the tent next door. She sighs, puts her book down and searches the back of her tent. She retrieves a jar of sand from a reinforced chest and walks past Andrea and the general. She steps into Matyas' tent.
Marcutio-[Imperial]: "Thy companion shall rise to see the morning glow. Were it that this camp was spoiled I would ask not of thee. Yet lacking is a truth of life. Let us tarry here no longer, we ought discuss with warm brews and meal in hand."
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
Sand, sand... what did she know of sand? That it was smooth, soft, and contained only in that jar. Precious, much like a human life.
She gulps, and the lump seems to shrink. [Imperial] "T-truly? I cannot- ah, I am most grateful for thy kindness ....ah, ser," she adds rather late, biting down on her trembling lip as a sense of bated hope swells within. [Imperial] "Food and drink would be nice." She follows Marcutio.
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
By following Marcutio she learns more about the encampment. The beginnings of long term fortifications are being built up on the eastern side while the current command structure lies to the west. There are roughly three rings of fences the separate the areas according to increasing importance. The last stretch of her walk takes her past the skydock. Marcutio volunteers a comment.
Marcutio-[Imperial]: "Ordinarily Skydocks are established a few hundred paces south of the fortifications. Alas, the menace of our environ is severe."
The pair continue onwards. At the command tent (obvious by its size) Marcutio pauses.
Marcutio-[Imperial]: "Once in my spring I was voracious for enlightenment. I did study the history of magic. There did I read there exist equine enchanteresses learned in a method of shifting their form ..."
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
Andrea frowns at the sight of the Skydock. If there was one right here in the camp, then why did they disembark so far away...
Andrea relaxes, content to discuss one of the few topics she happens to be an expert in. [Imperial]"I would fain enlighten thee on such matters. Indeed, they exist, and I am among their number. Though it doth not work quite as one might expect. Thou wouldst consider this thy 'natural state', aye?" she asks rhetorically, waving a hand down Marcutio. "Tis the body thou feelst most comforted in, and were some sorcery or otherwise to alter it, thou would consider it a perversion, to an unnatural state."
She continues, allowing her long winded explanation to steer her mind away from more unpleasant thoughts.
[Imperial] "However, for those destined for full Equine Unity such as myself, this be the natural state." she pats her rump. "Though none of us were born in't, all felt the call of their guardian steed, a most magnificent specimen of horse, whose spirit lay trapped within her human form causing great discomfort. Undergoing our most sacred rite, we cast away that form in favor of another, restoring unnatural to natural. Most decide never to return, not even for a moment. As for me, duty to my house mandates my frequenting of areas not meant for my natural state. Thus I use this enchantment, which remembers mine legs briefly of how they used to be."
Andrea inhales and tilts her head to one side, a muscle slightly twitching in her neck as she flexescasts Walk on Two Legs.
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
ANDREA TRANSFORMS!!!
Marcutio looks on in wonder.
Marcutio-[Imperial]: "A unique sight to behold. If occasion comes mayhaps thou couldst unveil the laws of such spells. For now, to food!"
Andrea and Marcutio take their seats at a wide low table set with a deep red cloth. A servant from the back brings tea and burns a fresh piece of incense in the corner.
Marcutio motions at the incense.
Marcutio-[Imperial]: "We art continually bewildered what nature of creature is so repulsed by these fumes. In several far flung corners such methods prove useful. Here this substance proves more precious than gold."
Marcutio's expression tenses and his gaze turns cold.
Marcutio-[Imperial]: "For three cycles these beasts throw themselves upon our soldiers. Numbers sway them little, or perhaps goad ever more reckless attack. Mine advisers claim it the whims of nature or the cycle of moon and sun. Mine advisers art buffoons. Plain as the sun from perch upon the mountain of Ruhini, this be the work of mages. I know not who nor how."
Posts: 1,492
Threads: 100
Joined: Sep 2017
Reputation:
2
Cool factor:
Andrea leans in to take a whiff of the incense. [Imperial] "The Empire hath more types o' mages than I care to count. Would these beasts be the same long-legged, six-eyed fiends I was accosted by?"
Posts: 393
Threads: 12
Joined: Mar 2018
Reputation:
0
Marcutio-[Imperial]: "This plague of violence serves our foes well. Proper application of reason yields thy suspicion as conclusion."A servant takes a message from a guard at the tent entrance. She navigates around Andrea and whispers the message to Marcutio.Marcutio-[Imperial]: "For treatment of thy companion, and a purse of thirty five pounds, end this abuse of nature. Take this offer to thy captain. At morrow's apex light I will have his answer. I pray for cooperation between our forces good enchantress."Andrea takes it as her moment to leave.[Living on a Prayer End. Resumes in Faces in the Dark at post #121]
|
2.1 Skyway Robbery - Living on a Prayer
