Chapter 4: Face to Face to Face
"How far is the stockade overlook Quick Shroud?", she asks inspecting small contraptions at the end of her arrows.
"Once we get up the second level auditorium there's an exit. The perimeter extends from a small balcony to the right and left. The left route circles the palisade and lobby, the right one meanders around to the overlook. If anything the guards in the remaining tower should be our primary target. They have the highest vantage point and if they shine that spotlight it's easy pickings."
The squad of archers and mages quietly head up the auditorium stares. Gently placing his ear against the door, the hellsguard looks to his lallafel companion dispersing her special arrows awaiting her signal. "Make them count" she whispers to them.
Mimori nods, Quick Shroud returns a conniving grin while knocking on the door, sidestepping out of view. With a creek of hinges a metal helmet peeks through only to be greeted by a meaty grasp yanking him through the doorway tumbling down the stairs. An archer lets an arrow fly hitting it's mark before it reaches the bottom.
Inching his head out ever so slightly he whispers, "Clear," opening the door for Mimori. "Spotlight?" he asks.
"Nope, I can see his silhouette just fine," she lets it fly, the twang of her shortbow triggering two other archers to step through the doorway crouching and aiming at their targets. Silent precision repeats, the shadow of the slumping bodies of tower guards and perimeter sentries alike slowly allow the squad to advance. One guard at the stockade overlook notices a fellow soldier slump over running to check and signaling another but two simultaneous arrows prevent any sort of response.
"The signal," Quick Shroud gestures to Mimori ducking behind the concrete balcony wall.
Raising her bow, she ignites the arrow releasing it up to the sky. The smoldering wreckage below simultaneously releases another explosion from it's roof. From her vantage point, the rear gate of the carrier bursts forth in a chorus of rabid howls and angry hasted miqo'te berserkers meeting the force that awaits them. A large pillar of fire rockets from the roof revealing a hole of dripping melting metal. A creeping unnatural wail of both babe and mother echo throughout the courtyard. Soldiers surrounding the tortured miqo'te prisoners look to each other babbling with bewilderment and fear. One soldier drops his halberd, running over to climb into to a bipedal magitek construct flicking switches to initiate it's power up sequence.
Another abominable scream comes from within.
                                                   Â
Leaping from ledge to ledge in the stairwell, the spear wielding lallafel and her large companion come to the final set of stairs before exiting into the grotto cavern. Warning shots halt them in their tracks when they break through the double doors.
"Ayyaaaa oiy! Hey!," Ola and the others duck looking behind at the bullet indentations in the concrete. With her hands on her hips and a sneer etched across her face, "Trigger happy much!"
"Hold your fire morons," Kerwyn yells to his men. Six other members of the group come out from the doorway their hands over their head sighing in relief.
"Are we ready to cast off?" she yells to the midlander.
"Ready and willing, what's going on topside?"
"Unfinished business," Ola yells in reply. "Where's the cargo elevator?" she asks one of the crewman.
He leads her over to the controls, "It goes up to the stockade entrance."
"I know genius, let me think." Panning the docks and the three piers she notices the two Garlean vessels docked to outer piers. "What about those" she points.
"What about what," Kerwyn yells puffing his cigar, eyes widening when the lallafel starts climbing a ladder to a magitek turret. "Wa-wait!" he shields himself.
"Hmmm this one?!" she pulls a levers releasing a barrage of heavy ammunition into a vessel facilitating it's watery grave. Her roegadyn ally laughs and climbs into the other turret to do the same. She hops down with a smile wiping her hands together giggling at his open mouth and cigar falling into the water.
Scratching his head, "I like your style," he laughs. "Crazy, total disregard for others near deadly flying projectile debris."
"Oh hyur up," she snickers looking up at him on the bow.
"What's next," he chuckles leaning over.
"You have any bomb ash? she squeeks innocently with a mischievous smile.
                      Â
Majhala upon seeing the flaming arrow kicks the lobby doors open leading the charge into the courtyard. She's instantly greeted by the discharge of tank fire shattering bodies into a pulpy splatter of both soldier and miqo'te alike. Crawling back up to her feet from the shockwave, she shakes off the ringing in her ears to intercept the driver before he gets off another round. Two highlander shield mates follow her to engage frothing mouthed berserkers clawing at soldier corpses.
Toggling the machine into gear, he blinks in disbelief at the speeding blur running at him. Pistol in hand he takes aim when it rolls underneath the tank. Leaning over he lets loose numerous rounds, then alters sides to look again.
"Too slow!"came the chirp from above. He gazed up behind him to see the lallafell clinging from the ivy laden wall jumping down at him. The onslaught of whirling pig tails and spiked fists rack his face knocking him cold. "I'm gonna borrow this. Thanks," she grunts heaving him out of the cockpit. Upon looking down at the pedals on the floor she curses her stubby legs "Really!". Accidentally elbowing a lever the tank lurches clumsily forward. A hiss from behind distracts her, a rabid miqo'te climbs up to lunge at her. An arrow from above lodges firmly in it's temple dropping it back down. Majhala sighs in relief nodding her thanks up to the midlander bard and conjurer watching over her on the walkways.
"Move!" Majhala growls in frustration reaching up pounding on a panel of buttons while attempting to press the pedals. The tank rocks back and a roar of flame comes out. She climbs up hoping she didn't catch any of her companions in her line of fire. "Phew." she sinks back into the seat when an ally highlander comes to her aid. Rubbing the back of her head she blushes, "Oops, sorry bout that." The male highlander scowls, "Ok ok you can drive."
                         * * * * *
Still clutching a now feral Ba'srm's neck, the inquisitor feigns his sobbing at the swipes from newly enlongated claws. The scene before him could not be more sensational. Terror manifesting instantly from every direction. From the soldiers yelling and the onset of charging rebels into the courtyard, he could feel his bloodlust beginning to peak. From calls of order amongst the ranks to screams of absolute horror that erupt when the carrier bay doors fall over with feral warcries and beserking miqo'te flowing out.
"It appears the cavalry has arrived," the fool sobs. The mask begins to swivel transitioning to the red faced Malice screeching and leering down at the snarling warden. Daegon palms the Ba'srms face, when the pillar of flame shoots out of wrecked ship.
"Your grace the waveforms have aligned! They're now syncronized," Korvus yells. "Keep recording," he instructs the other researchers. Gazing up to the balconies and walkways he realizes that they're slowly being surrounded. Turning to the vanguards, the doctor frantically toggles their settings  to encapsulate his team in a shimmering honeycomb latticed like barrier.
Daegon pivots and turns Ba'srm around to face the ship. Metalic echoing laughter comes from the ebony maiden upon the sight of miqo'te leaping upon and tearing at unprepared soldiers running for their lives. Other groups of soldiers return fire and cleave with their halberds, the symphony of carnage slowly entering a crescendo.
After the second wail, a blazing blur skyrockets from the hole of the ship landing on the roof. From one knee to a defiant stance there she stood with babe clutched firmly, protectively against her chest wrapped in wreaths of twirling flames. Cracking her neck with a low growl she scoures the landscape for her target. The child's flaming tail flickers and blooms endless bursts of energy enveloping and fueling his mother. He lets out a blood curdling cry bouncing around the courtyard for all to hear, shattering the rest of the windows that yet remain.
TBCÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
"How far is the stockade overlook Quick Shroud?", she asks inspecting small contraptions at the end of her arrows.
"Once we get up the second level auditorium there's an exit. The perimeter extends from a small balcony to the right and left. The left route circles the palisade and lobby, the right one meanders around to the overlook. If anything the guards in the remaining tower should be our primary target. They have the highest vantage point and if they shine that spotlight it's easy pickings."
The squad of archers and mages quietly head up the auditorium stares. Gently placing his ear against the door, the hellsguard looks to his lallafel companion dispersing her special arrows awaiting her signal. "Make them count" she whispers to them.
Mimori nods, Quick Shroud returns a conniving grin while knocking on the door, sidestepping out of view. With a creek of hinges a metal helmet peeks through only to be greeted by a meaty grasp yanking him through the doorway tumbling down the stairs. An archer lets an arrow fly hitting it's mark before it reaches the bottom.
Inching his head out ever so slightly he whispers, "Clear," opening the door for Mimori. "Spotlight?" he asks.
"Nope, I can see his silhouette just fine," she lets it fly, the twang of her shortbow triggering two other archers to step through the doorway crouching and aiming at their targets. Silent precision repeats, the shadow of the slumping bodies of tower guards and perimeter sentries alike slowly allow the squad to advance. One guard at the stockade overlook notices a fellow soldier slump over running to check and signaling another but two simultaneous arrows prevent any sort of response.
"The signal," Quick Shroud gestures to Mimori ducking behind the concrete balcony wall.
Raising her bow, she ignites the arrow releasing it up to the sky. The smoldering wreckage below simultaneously releases another explosion from it's roof. From her vantage point, the rear gate of the carrier bursts forth in a chorus of rabid howls and angry hasted miqo'te berserkers meeting the force that awaits them. A large pillar of fire rockets from the roof revealing a hole of dripping melting metal. A creeping unnatural wail of both babe and mother echo throughout the courtyard. Soldiers surrounding the tortured miqo'te prisoners look to each other babbling with bewilderment and fear. One soldier drops his halberd, running over to climb into to a bipedal magitek construct flicking switches to initiate it's power up sequence.
Another abominable scream comes from within.
                                                   Â
Leaping from ledge to ledge in the stairwell, the spear wielding lallafel and her large companion come to the final set of stairs before exiting into the grotto cavern. Warning shots halt them in their tracks when they break through the double doors.
"Ayyaaaa oiy! Hey!," Ola and the others duck looking behind at the bullet indentations in the concrete. With her hands on her hips and a sneer etched across her face, "Trigger happy much!"
"Hold your fire morons," Kerwyn yells to his men. Six other members of the group come out from the doorway their hands over their head sighing in relief.
"Are we ready to cast off?" she yells to the midlander.
"Ready and willing, what's going on topside?"
"Unfinished business," Ola yells in reply. "Where's the cargo elevator?" she asks one of the crewman.
He leads her over to the controls, "It goes up to the stockade entrance."
"I know genius, let me think." Panning the docks and the three piers she notices the two Garlean vessels docked to outer piers. "What about those" she points.
"What about what," Kerwyn yells puffing his cigar, eyes widening when the lallafel starts climbing a ladder to a magitek turret. "Wa-wait!" he shields himself.
"Hmmm this one?!" she pulls a levers releasing a barrage of heavy ammunition into a vessel facilitating it's watery grave. Her roegadyn ally laughs and climbs into the other turret to do the same. She hops down with a smile wiping her hands together giggling at his open mouth and cigar falling into the water.
Scratching his head, "I like your style," he laughs. "Crazy, total disregard for others near deadly flying projectile debris."
"Oh hyur up," she snickers looking up at him on the bow.
"What's next," he chuckles leaning over.
"You have any bomb ash? she squeeks innocently with a mischievous smile.
                      Â
Majhala upon seeing the flaming arrow kicks the lobby doors open leading the charge into the courtyard. She's instantly greeted by the discharge of tank fire shattering bodies into a pulpy splatter of both soldier and miqo'te alike. Crawling back up to her feet from the shockwave, she shakes off the ringing in her ears to intercept the driver before he gets off another round. Two highlander shield mates follow her to engage frothing mouthed berserkers clawing at soldier corpses.
Toggling the machine into gear, he blinks in disbelief at the speeding blur running at him. Pistol in hand he takes aim when it rolls underneath the tank. Leaning over he lets loose numerous rounds, then alters sides to look again.
"Too slow!"came the chirp from above. He gazed up behind him to see the lallafell clinging from the ivy laden wall jumping down at him. The onslaught of whirling pig tails and spiked fists rack his face knocking him cold. "I'm gonna borrow this. Thanks," she grunts heaving him out of the cockpit. Upon looking down at the pedals on the floor she curses her stubby legs "Really!". Accidentally elbowing a lever the tank lurches clumsily forward. A hiss from behind distracts her, a rabid miqo'te climbs up to lunge at her. An arrow from above lodges firmly in it's temple dropping it back down. Majhala sighs in relief nodding her thanks up to the midlander bard and conjurer watching over her on the walkways.
"Move!" Majhala growls in frustration reaching up pounding on a panel of buttons while attempting to press the pedals. The tank rocks back and a roar of flame comes out. She climbs up hoping she didn't catch any of her companions in her line of fire. "Phew." she sinks back into the seat when an ally highlander comes to her aid. Rubbing the back of her head she blushes, "Oops, sorry bout that." The male highlander scowls, "Ok ok you can drive."
                         * * * * *
Still clutching a now feral Ba'srm's neck, the inquisitor feigns his sobbing at the swipes from newly enlongated claws. The scene before him could not be more sensational. Terror manifesting instantly from every direction. From the soldiers yelling and the onset of charging rebels into the courtyard, he could feel his bloodlust beginning to peak. From calls of order amongst the ranks to screams of absolute horror that erupt when the carrier bay doors fall over with feral warcries and beserking miqo'te flowing out.
"It appears the cavalry has arrived," the fool sobs. The mask begins to swivel transitioning to the red faced Malice screeching and leering down at the snarling warden. Daegon palms the Ba'srms face, when the pillar of flame shoots out of wrecked ship.
"Your grace the waveforms have aligned! They're now syncronized," Korvus yells. "Keep recording," he instructs the other researchers. Gazing up to the balconies and walkways he realizes that they're slowly being surrounded. Turning to the vanguards, the doctor frantically toggles their settings  to encapsulate his team in a shimmering honeycomb latticed like barrier.
Daegon pivots and turns Ba'srm around to face the ship. Metalic echoing laughter comes from the ebony maiden upon the sight of miqo'te leaping upon and tearing at unprepared soldiers running for their lives. Other groups of soldiers return fire and cleave with their halberds, the symphony of carnage slowly entering a crescendo.
After the second wail, a blazing blur skyrockets from the hole of the ship landing on the roof. From one knee to a defiant stance there she stood with babe clutched firmly, protectively against her chest wrapped in wreaths of twirling flames. Cracking her neck with a low growl she scoures the landscape for her target. The child's flaming tail flickers and blooms endless bursts of energy enveloping and fueling his mother. He lets out a blood curdling cry bouncing around the courtyard for all to hear, shattering the rest of the windows that yet remain.
TBCÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
