Saving Lucinne Mercer. (Closed Plot)

[Knight Kat]

[align=center]“Byron, I found your mother!”

Kiht didn't stop to think that her words might give the young man a heart attack. Finally, after searching for so long, Kiht Jakkya found out where Lucinne Mercer was! The woman had been on the very first “target list” that the Ishgard exiles had been shown by Xydane Vale. This list was a list of the assassins' primary targets. Naturally, to the young man who left his post in Coerthas just to find his exiled mother, that was a frightening prospect.

 

“We must needs set out now!”

 

How Kiht met Byron was a long story, and unimportant. Byron Mercer was a young Dragoon-in-training that stepped away from his station to find his exiled mother and discover his heritage. At least, that is what Kiht was lead to believe.

 

He had only planned to be in Gridania on temporary leave. He would only stay long enough to meet his mother. However, things got complicated. Kiht had heard of the woman, but could not find her. She was either already dead, or well-hidden. Kiht feared that Byron might be on the brink of just giving up, and returning to Coerthas. The young man's spirit still seemed to burn with the love of his homeland.

 

Thank Nymeia that Kiht had found Lucinne Mercer. However, Lucinne was in grave danger. The hapless woman was spotted at Fallgourd Float! One could not get much closer to Coerthas than that. The Faces of Mercy were also known, by the few who knew of them, to monitor the passage between North Shroud and Coerthas. They would have agents there even if they were not hunting exiles. If rumor of Lucinne's refugee aid efforts had reached Kiht, then they had likely reached the assassins as well. Kiht and Byron had to leave to rescue the woman, and they had to leave immediately. There was no time to summon the aid of other exiles. As soon as Byron and Kiht could gear-up, they would set out.

 

Kiht strapped on her leathers, and fine mythril chain-mail. She put on her pot-helm and grabbed her short-bow, a quiver of arrows and her heart guisarme. She was readying for battle this time. As much as she loved her trusty harpoons, she needed the elaborate two-pronged pole-arm if she was going to possibly take on assassins. Beyond that, she had her assortment knives sheathed on different sections of her body. If she added anything more, she would be a walking weapon rack.

 

After seeing Byron's reactions, and gearing up with him. She would finally tell him where they were going. “She was last seen at Fallgourd Float. We might have to protect her when we find her, be ready for battle.” Kiht said as she checked the integrity of her arrows, and the condition of her Elm Velocity bow.

 

She would look to Byron with a steely gaze once he finished preparing, and ask him one question.

 

“Are you ready?” [/align]

[TheWizard]

Byron had been minding his own business in Gridania when he was startled by Kiht's voice.

 

[align=center]“Byron, I found your mother!”[/align]

 

Byron's heart began to thump in his chest. It had been some time now since he had heard anything and his extended stay in Gridania was making him more nervous by the day.

 

[align=center]"What?! Where is she?!"[/align]

 

After being briefed on the details he blanched, after all this time he couldn't let his mother come to harm! Byron quickly donned his armor and threw his cloak over it, likely if fighting broke out he might need to discard it. Afterward he inspected his halberd and strapped it to his back and hid a dagger on his side under his cloak, Byron had some idea of what to expected based on his previous encounters with the Faces.

 

Hopefully all of this could be concluded soon for Byron wished to return home... although his experiences thus far had given an unsettled feeling in his heart.

 

[align=center]“She was last seen at Fallgourd Float. We might have to protect her when we find her, be ready for battle.”[/align] Came Kiht's voice as she finished preparing.

 

Byron hadn't brought much with him so he was good to go. He nodded grimly.

 

[align=center]"Then let us make haste, my mother needs us."[/align]

[Knight Kat]

[align=center]Kiht and Byron had made it to Fallgourd Float. However, the small establishment was easy to search, and it was quickly made obvious that Lucinne wasn't there. Fortunately, asking the tavern-keep at the Bobbing Cork yielded useful information.

 

“Lucinne, you ask? Well, someone else was asking about her earlier too. An Elezen man.”

 

“Where is she now?!” Kiht asked in a urgent tone, as she realized the Elezen asking about her may have been an assassin.

 

“Well, she lives in Hyrstmill for now. That's where she takes care of new refugees and such.” The Tavern-keep said in a confused tone. He clearly did not understand why the situation was so urgent.

 

“My gratitude!” Kiht said as she quickly hurried away with Byron.

 

The situation was bad. Either a new refugee from Ishgard was asking where to find her, or an assassin was. Either way, it could lead to her being in great danger. Kiht would bolt out through the gate and into the forest. She hoped Byron was right with her and keeping pace. As much as she realized that running the whole way from Fallgourd to Hyrstmill would quickly wear them out, it would not matter how much energy they had if they did not make it to Lucinne in time. They had to hurry.

 

It wasn't long until they started to enter Banemite territory. The huge vilekin were very aggressive, but easy for a wary traveler to spot. However, Kiht and Byron were not being as wary as they could be. They would be running, and not making an effort to stay hidden for obvious reasons. Kiht just had to hope that they didn't stumble across any Banemites. If they did, they would have to possibly detour, and could not afford that delay.

 

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“You little fool! Be careful! Do you have any idea where we are?” The Sun-seeker Miqo'te woman said to the Lalafell in front of her, as she sat on a boulder in the midst of North Shroud. She was dark-skinned with blueish hair. A small scar was easily noticeable on her nose. She wore light leathers, and a militia harness. She had a short-bow, quiver of arrows and various daggers and knives sheathed on different parts of her garb. She stared at her Lalafell companion with furrowed brows.

 

“We are in a place of trees and rain. I fear none of that! Do not talk to me like I'm a child!” The Dunefolk snapped back to the Seeker woman. He was gruff-looking for a Lalafell. He had a thick goatee, and a misshapen nose that looked as if someone had hit it with a hammer countless times throughout his life. He wore a weathered black robe, and had a silvery metallic scepter holstered on his belt.

 

The Seeker let out a low growl. “This wilderness is dangerous, if you do not respect it, you will be consumed by it.” She retorted in a grim tone.

 

“Bah!” He responded with a dismissive wave of his hand as he surveyed their surroundings. “Just keep your Seeker eyes peeled for the Hyur in the cloak, and the Moon-keeper leader.”

“Tssssk!” She responded in a hiss-like manner. She stood from her seat on the boulder, and slowly walked ahead of the Lalafell while looking off into the distance. Her walk was smooth and fluid. Her hips swayed easily as she moved. She was a very concise woman; every move she made was practiced and controlled. “I overheard them saying they were going to Fallgourd. Our best chance to intercept them is to wait until them come back out into the forest.” She said in a calm, confident tone. Then she looked to the Lalafell with a wicked smirk. “The Keeper is mine.”

 

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Kiht and Byron would arrive at a part of the road that was not far from a small bridge. On both sides of the road were numerous trees and brush that lined low, hill-like inclines. The Sun was just beginning to set, but it was still easily bright enough for non-Keepers to see just fine.

 

For some reason, Kiht came to a sudden stop. She breathed heavily, but was not yet exhausted. She began sniffing the air and looking around. Some kind of glint reflected sunlight on her sensitive eyes, so she was now investigating.

 

“Hold” She said to Byron in a quiet tone.

 

Her eyes narrowed in on some kind of silvery sheen near a bush. If Byron followed her gaze, he might see it as well. “Byron! Take Cover!” She suddenly shouted, and jumped back. However, she was partially too late. The robed Lalafell stepped out from his hiding spot and casts a bolt of lightning at Kiht. Her reflexes allowed her to jump back before he managed the cast, but the bolt still struck her in the left leg. Her leg-guards were mostly leather, but the few metal parts allowed some conduction. Kiht's leg locked up then she fell onto her back.

 

The Seeker scowled at her Lalafell companion. She said nothing, but her expression made it clear what he had done wrong. Besides the fact that he didn't hide his scepter very well, he attacked first which was supposed to be her job. Her bow can fire faster than he can channel and cast a spell. Also, she claimed the Keeper as -her- target.

 

The Lalafell shot a glance over to her. “What? She saw me so I had to act!” He then looked over to Byron and Kiht. “Quick, she is down anyroad! Attack them!” He shouted as he prepared to cast another spell.

 

The Seeker continued to scowl, but prepared an arrow. This was turning sloppy because of the Lalafell. She did not like sloppy fights. Quick, clean and efficient kills; like a huntress taking down prey. That is how she performed. The Lalafell obviously had a different style. And her reaction time? What a mess, she thought. She was so upset at him that her anger was making it harder to focus. His actions would slow her down by an extra second! Unbelievable! She would then prepare to fire her arrow with the intention of aiming it right at Kiht.

 

Byron had little time to make his move, but more than otherwise because of the sloppy execution of their ambush. [/align]

[TheWizard]

[align=center]Upon arriving at Fallgourd Float, Kiht and Byron asked the tavernkeep about his mother and it turned out she had been living in Hyrstmill which ws just outside of Gridania this whole time. Byron frowned in frustration, however it seemed another had been asking about her and this bothered Byron as much as Kiht. They quickly left and headed towards Hyrstmill.

 

 

Kiht and Byron were almost halfway there when Kiht suddenly stopped.

 

“Hold” She said to Byron in a quiet tone.

 

“Byron! Take Cover!” She suddenly shouted, and jumped back. Before Byron could react a bolt of lighting shot out from the brush and struck Kiht in the leg, causing her to fall.

 

The two assailants, a robed Lallafel and a female Miqo'te, of which clan Byron couldn't tell at this distance, seemed to be bickering which bought precious moments of action. Instead of drawing his halberd Byron turned and scooped up Kiht and mad e a low mad dash behind one of the many large trees by the path. He then sat her down and peeked around the tree.

"Fury take those ambushers! However they don't look or behave like the Faces, however they could just as easily be hirelings."

 

He looks back at Kiht, "Are you alright?"

 

Hopefully the ambushers would continue to work inharmonious and offer and advantage. Having just a halberd against two ranged attackers made Byron too uncomfortable.

 

[/align]

[Knight Kat]

[align=center]“My gratitude, Byron.” Kiht said as she started to slap her twitching leg. She slowly started to move her left leg, it was already starting to regain control.

 

They were now safely behind a large tree trunk. It was good cover, but would not last for long. The Seeker archer had not been able to take aim on them during that ordeal.

 

“Swive it all!” The Seeker said in an irritated tone.

 

Kiht had seen them both, but could not tell which clan they belonged to. A Miqo'te archer, and a Lalafell caster. They could not be Faces of Mercy. There was no way. However, they were likely hired by them. Kiht had thought.

 

It did not matter really. Two ranged attackers. Kiht unstrapped her short-bow. She was the only one who could return fire. She closed her eyes and prayed that she was now skilled enough with the bow to be a match for them. She stood to her feet. The expression on her face betrayed her anger. Her ears were pinned back as she gritted her teeth. Her sharp canines became evident as her lips parted.

 

“I am fine.” She said in a stern tone.

 

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The Seeker looked to the Lalafell with a scornful expression, but he did not even regard her.

 

“Bah! Behind a tree huh? I'll flush em out!” He said as he started to march forward. He boldly marched into the road, and out in the open. He closed some distance, but was still no where near melee range from where Byron and Kiht took cover. “Hiding are we?” He said as he charged up a spell.

 

Of course, without line of sight he could not hit them. But, he started casting lightning bolts at the tree they were using for cover. They would not be hit with lightning, and the Lalafell knew it. He wanted to try to scare them. He loved causing fear and pain. He specialized in torture. That was his style; bitterly dragging the fight out at the misfortune of his victims. He started laughing manically as he cast bolt after bolt at the tree.

 

The Seeker did not like his style at all, but she was a trained killer. She would take advantage of the situation. Use the Lalafell to cause an opportune moment for her to strike.

 

She quickly planned it out. The Lalafell would eventually run out of aether. The moment that happened they would charge him. Or, they may even charge him before then. She would take one down with an arrow at that point. She just had to wait. To bide her time.

 

She wasn't worried about her companion. He was trained in many magic arts. He could use umbral ice to regenerate aether. He would be limited to ice spells; but essentially, he could cast magic for a long while.

 

The sun was setting, and she knew it, but they still had nearly half a bell. The Lalafell would have to switch to umbral ice in less than ten minutes if he kept up his attacks. The Seeker figured this would be over long before the sun set. The end of a perfect day; the death of her targets.

 

However, her plans quickly changed when Kiht came around the trunk with her own short-bow.

 

“She has a bow?!” The Seeker said with in a surprised tone.

 

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Kiht took a snap-shot at the Lalafell. He was expecting a retaliation. He threw his scepter into quick swinging motion that caused a magical disruption in the air in front of him. Kiht's arrow was veered off course. The Seeker quickly returned fire, but Kiht was already moving back behind the tree at that point. The Seeker's arrow missed Kiht's head by ilms.

 

Kiht let out an abrupt growl as she slammed her back against the tree. If only she could concentrate a series of arrow shots at the Lalafell, she could probably overwhelm him. However, there was no way to do that with the Seeker watching and ready. The Miqo'te archer had to be taken down.

 

“Byron, please distract the Lalafell, I do not care how you do it. Just keep him busy as I go after the archer.” She said in a rushed voice.

 

Kiht knew what she had to do. A game of forest combat was in order. Kiht would use the trees, rocks, brush and shadows of the forest as cover while moving to close the distance. During this ordeal, the two would exchange arrow shots in an attempt to restrict the movements of each other. Kiht assumed her foe was a fellow Keeper. She had to assume her foe was familiar with this type of combat. It is how all in the Twelveswood fought. The varying terrain elevations, and all the cover meant it was the only way archers could fight. As long as Byron kept the Lalafell distracted, Kiht would have a chance to close in on the Miqo'te archer.

 

Kiht prepared to leave the cover of the tree to head in the other direction that would take her away from the road into more tree and brush cover. If Byron surveyed his environment he would notice a few things aside from trees and brush. He may not have been a ranged fighter, but maybe something in the environment could help him.

 

Upon inspection of his surroundings, Byron might notice some loose stones on the ground next to him. On his side of the road, not too far from his position, was a small strange-looking tree that was very different from all the epic trees of the Shroud. This one was about the size of an Aevis. It had a thick misshapen trunk, randomly arranged branches and what looked like the outline of an inhuman face on the trunk. It was currently motionless.

 

On the opposite side of the road, Byron might notice a sleeping Banemite! The huge vilekin were known to be heavy sleepers that were not usually roused unless something or someone was crazy enough to strike the creatures while they slept. The day had been a hot and dry day in the Shroud, so the dirt on the road was loose and dry at that moment.

 

Kiht would make her move soon. Hopefully, Byron would think of some way to deal with the caster before he had a chance to cast anything at Kiht. [/align]

[TheWizard]

Byron grimaced at the though of fighting a caster when he himself had little range to speak of, save throwing his halberd. However the Lalafell seemed to be a hothead from the looks of his assault on the tree they were current hiding behind... perhaps something that could be used against him.

 

Looking around quickly Byron noticed the loose stones and the sleeping Banemite on the other side of the road. He however mistook the Treant as a normal, although oddly shaped, tree as the like was not seen in Coerthas.

 

Banrmites slept soundly and Byron had no intention of waking it up, the overzealous mage though might be foolish enough to fling spells where Byron ran, including behind a Banemite.

[align=center]

“Byron, please distract the Lalafell, I do not care how you do it. Just keep him busy as I go after the archer.”[/align]

 

Byron nodded quickly.

[align=center]

"Understood."[/align]

 

Picking up a stone with a free hand, Byron launches himself out of his cover and hurls the rock at the mage yelling, "Oi! Come at me you midget!" Byron goes to run past the motionless Treant, using at as cover from an assault, and dives behind the sleeping Banemite. If all went well the mage would strike the things between them and draw the ire of the Banemite.

 

Otherwise Byron mite have a new trouble on his hands.

[Knight Kat]

[align=center]The Lalafell caster simply laughed manically when Byron started running. To him, he was thinking he had scared the Hyur into a panic, and it pleased him. He just had to keep casting, he thought. He figured he would hit the Hyur, eventually.

 

“Hahaha where do you think you are going, boy?!” The caster said in a screech-like tone.

 

When Byron took cover behind what he thought was a weird tree, the Lalafell cast another lightning bolt. That would turn out to be a major error. Neither of the two knew that the odd-looking tree was in fact a Treant. A living embodiment of the Twelvewood's wrath. Or at least, that is what Kiht often believed. As Byron ran to the sleeping Banemite, the Treant would awaken; quite angry about its new injury.

 

“ERRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!” The Treant lets out a loud, gravely roar that rivals the frightening sound of an adult Morbol. The thing animates and begins stomping towards the Lalafell.

 

“The Hells?!” The caster shouts, and readies a fire spell. “Shite!”

 

It was unfortunate that Byron hadn't stopped after the Treant because the roar, and the shaking ground from the stomping Treant roused the Banemite. The huge vilekin let out a series of sputtering hisses and rose on its legs. However, it would not see Byron at first. It would see no one in its direct line of sight. As it rotated, it would only see Byron if he stayed next to it, but if Byron takes cover, the Banemite will begin to aimlessly wander the area to ascertain the situation. On the other hand, Banemites were pretty dumb, so it would likely wander in confusion until it found a target.

 

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Kiht Jakkya ran to another tree as an arrow narrowly missed her. She had her short-bow ready, and an arrow knocked. Her back was to her new tree as she had her head turned, and her body prepared to come around the trunk for a shot. Kiht had to admit to herself that she was nervous. Her archery skills in combat had never been tested to this extent. She felt she needed to get closer to use her lance.

 

However, both Kiht and the Seeker archer turned their head to regard the new commotion brought about by Byron and the Lalafell. Kiht knew what that unmistakeable roar was caused by. She looked over and saw the awakening Banemite as well.

 

“.....Gods, I know I told Byron I did not care how he distracted the caster, but I did not think he would bring the Greenwrath.” Kiht said to herself with widened eyes.

 

She turned her attention back to her archer foe. It seems Byron did cause quite the distraction. For now, she needed to focus on her task. The Seeker archer was only distracted as long as Kiht, so the skirmish quickly resumed.

 

Kiht and the assassin archer moved from tree to tree as they tried to shoot each other with arrows. This went on for many minutes. Kiht was not as skilled with the bow as she could have been, and the Seeker was not use to forest combat. This made both of them miss shot after shot. Arrows were running low, and daylight was running out. The clever Seeker archer realized what Kiht was doing; trying to close the distance. At first, she had thought killing Kiht from a distance would be the most efficient way, but it was getting to the point where that was not that case. The assassin had now sized her opponent up, so she was ready to change her plan.

 

She could tell that she was ilms taller than Kiht which might give her more strength, and partially help make up for the greater reach that Kiht had with her two-pronged lance. The Seeker assassin was a specialist in close-quarters combat as she had trained with Pugilists, and in an exotic art of dagger-fighting. Kiht would have an advantage in reach, but the Seeker figured that she had every other physical advantage. It was time to end this fight, she was ready to close the distance if her target wanted that so badly.

 

“Kiht, right?” The Seeker calls out in a taunting tone of voice. “Lets end this bow-play, and just get right to it, shall we?”

 

Kiht was behind yet another tree when she heard the Seeker. She only had two arrows left, so she had to admit it was going to a melee fight soon. However, she would not be foolish. She came out from behind the tree; ready to fire then dodge. But, the Seeker was a lot closer than Kiht had thought. She was twenty fulms away, and walking towards Kiht while twirling to dirks in her hands.

 

Kiht fires her arrow, but the Seeker was expecting that very move so she fell into a forward diagonal roll as Kiht took aim and fired. Kiht missed, and the Seeker charged. Kiht now had a choice to fire her last arrow, or draw her spear. If she fired again and missed, the assassin would be on top of her and she would not be ready for melee. If she drew her spear she would do so just in time to have it ready for battle. So, Kiht chose what she had more confidence in; her lance. Her two-pronged heart guisarme came to bear on the charging assassin who silently cursed as she forced herself to stop before she charged into the spear tips. The Seeker faced off against Kiht now in a battle-ready stance with her dual daggers.

 

Now that Kiht was closer, she could see that she faced a Sun-seeker Miqo'te and not a fellow Moon-keeper. Kiht was relieved that she was not facing kin, but still angry that a Miqo'te would work for the assassins.

 

“Sun-sister! How could you work for Ishgard assassins! Do you even know what you are killing for?” Kiht asked in a fierce tone as her ears pinned back on her head.

 

“I am not your sister, and I do not know what you are talking about, you are going to -die- because you refused my employer... No one refuses my employer!” The Seeker assassin said as she grew a sneer.

 

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Meanwhile, back at Byron's forest party, the Lalafell caster fired off a fireball at the charging Treant. He figured fire would be good to use against a living tree. However, what he didn't keep in mind was that trees do not burn down instantly if lit aflame. He suddenly had a furious flaming Treat chasing him while pounding the ground with its branches; trying to crush the fleeing Lalafell caster.

 

“Swive me!” He said as he ran faster than he had ever had to in his life. [/align]

[TheWizard]

Byron stood in utter surprise as the Treant roared to life and begin its persuit of the Lalafell caster. The Banemite next to him seemed to sleepily watch as well though it most likely lacked the capacity to appreciate the humor of a Lalafell being chased by a burning animate tree.

 

Then the anger began to sit in and the Bane mite caught wind of Byron next to it and began to hiss and turn.

 

[align=center]Suddenly Byron became aware of the danger right next to him. "Oh for the love of Halone!"[/align]

 

Byron drew his halberd and parried a strike from the banemite's tail before trying around the banemite to flank it as the infuriated banemite began spitting out shots of its web which also would cross paths with the Treant and Lalafell.

 

Targeting the base of the tail, Byron impaled his halberd into a join in the tail's armor, causing the vilekin's green blood to ooze onto the ground. The tail then began to droop as the vilekin began loosing control of it and begin thrashing about.

 

[align=center]

"Ooah damnit!"[/align]

 

Retrieving his halberd, Byron then ran to a larger rock not far away with the thrashing banemite following soon after. Using what he had learned from seeing dragoons fight, Byron ran up on the rock and jumped off back at the charging banemite with his halberd pointed straight down. With a crunch and a screech, the banemite's head was ran-through by the blade at the top of Byron's halberd.

 

Now in it's death throws the banemite began thrashing about like a bucking chocobo with Byron hanging on to his embedded halberd for dear life. The shaking proved to be too violent and Byron was chucked off to slam into the ground hard enough to knock the wind out of him and momentarily stun him. He coughed as he lay on the ground not far from a now still and dead banemite with a halberd lodged in its head.

 

Hopefully Kiht was fairing better and the Lalafell was treant food.

[Knight Kat]

[align=center]

 

The Lalafell caster had made his last reckless mistake. He would not be saved by his magic this time as the burning Treant used a long branch-like arm to grab the Lalafell who could not outrun the large seedkin. As the life was crashed out of him, he would try to cast one last spell, but then he realized, to his dismay, that he was out of aether. He could not manage to recharge while being crashed; there was just no way.

 

The fire would kill the Treant, but not quickly enough. A tree was one of the first things the Lalafell had attacked while in the forest, and ironically, he would end up dying with one. As the crushing grip of the Treant's hand was making him black out, fire started moving up the arm of the Treant, and would engulf the Lalafell caster as well.

 

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Kiht and the Seeker rouge faced off. The forest became silent as the the last two standing were Kiht and the one hired to kill her. Hart Guisarme at the ready against dual blades. Kiht's expression was serious and focused as her ears pinned back. The Seeker's smirk faded as well. She was not fool enough to underestimate this opponent. Suddenly, it was as if time stood still.

 

“One last chance, sun-sister, we do no-”

 

Kiht was cut off as the Seeker rouge exploded at her like lightning. A tempest of blades suddenly storming at Kiht. The Seeker spun aside, and used her blades to knock aside the spear tips of Kiht's weapon. She then tried to close in to lay down a flurry of slashes on Kiht's neck.

 

Kiht was suddenly faced with a foe who was too close to strike with her guisarme tips, but if lancers were so easily defeated by a simple tactic then it would not be an art that has withstood the test of time. Kiht brought the haft in close, and spun her pole-arm around like a speeding windmill blade. The motion knocked aside and parried several of the dagger attacks, but not all of them. Other attacks cut across Kiht's bracers and gloves; mostly slicing metal and leather.

 

The Seeker rogue knew she could not let Kiht gain distance, and had to keep the fight in her face. She shifted her dance of death into a slightly slower, but still quite fast, series of spinning slashes and strikes that would have more power behind them. The attacks became more coordinated, and aimed to get past Kiht's twirling lance.

 

Kiht's right hand was knocked free of it's grip on the haft by a slash to her forearm. She was fortunate that it was protected but her infantry gloves, but the rouge would follow-up her attacks, and Kiht knew it. She had to back the Seeker off. Remembering her training with Lyn, she used her left leg to propel herself back and her right leg to send a kick at the Seeker. Her lance was still gripped in her left hand.

 

The Seeker rogue was skilled in martial arts as well, so she saw the attack coming and jumped back. She was still surprised by it, but did not let that delay her long. The moment Kiht landed back into a position, the Seeker was on top of her again. She blazed towards Kiht with her dirks ready to continue their relentless assault.

 

Kiht was not going to let that continue. She had gained some space, and regained her two-handed grasp on her guisarme. She swung the pole-arm like an axe in a huge arc in front of her. The Seeker would have to dodge back or fully block. That was what Kiht was counting on.

 

The rogue decided not to loose more distance, and is forced to use both daggers to block the blow. With a loud thwack, her dirks met the haft of the guisarme. She prepared to follow through with a spin back into a series of attacks on Kiht, but Kiht expected the block, and the Seeker was then playing her game.

 

Kiht used the counter-weight on the other end of her pole arm and swung it toward the rogue's head. The Seeker was too quick, and she ducked under it. However, right as she planned to deliver a double-thrust, Kiht kicked her head; the spiked leather leg-guards making a heavy impact on the rogue's face. She was knocked back, but skillfully made a somersault back and onto her feet. She had no time to recover as Kiht went on the offensive with a series of thrusts and slashes that grew more complicated an elaborate the more the Seeker parried and dodged.

 

The rogue had made an error. Somewhere along the battle she had miscalculated, and her mind raced to think about how as her body hopelessly tried to keep pace with a direct frontal assault from a lancer. She suffered cut and puncture wounds as several attacks from Kiht landed. She was a melee specialist, but so was Kiht. All she could think was that she did something few should ever do; take on a lancer in a direct confrontation. Little had she known that Kiht spent just as much time training in her melee art as the rogue had. However, the battle was not quite over.

 

In a desperate move from the rogue, she leaped up over a powerful thrust attack by Kiht that was meant to end the battle, and threw out her leg in a wild kick at Kiht's head. The attack landed a glancing blow on Kiht's skull causing her to stagger. However, she did not fall or loose grip of her lance. The rogue fell and slammed into the ground after her reckless attack. She gritted her teeth, and wildly clamored to her feet. The Seeker was a mess. Bleeding wounds on several parts of her body, and her left arm had taken a hard slash that made it useless. She only held one dirk in her right hand. She was breathing heavily with a furious expression as she looked to Kiht. She had killed many in battle using only one hand and one dagger, so she believed she still had a chance since she managed to gain a short respite, and rethink her tactics.

 

Kiht was exhausted. The running then the fighting had taken its toll. She should have reacted quicker, but was suddenly feeling a bit sluggish. The Seeker noticed, and saw that as her only chance. She threw herself into the offensive. A quick flurry of attacks and kicks. Some were blocked by a lance haft, but others landed. The Seeker let out a shout as she threw down a kick that knocked the guisarme right out of Kiht's hands. Suddenly, the tables had turned and Kiht was forced to use her very basic knowledge of hand-to-hand combat which was woefully ineffective against the trained rogue's attacks. Kiht was doing everything she could to prevent a blow to her vital areas. Some cuts were stopped by armor, but others went right through to Kiht's skin. The Seeker landed a slash across Kiht's face, and it was then that Kiht's adrenaline and fury took over.

 

Kiht used her left arm to catch the dagger blade in her gloved hand! The sharp edge cut through the leather and into her skin, but she held the weapon still. She glared furiously at the Seeker with a feral expression, and used her right hand to pull her hunting knife from her belt. The rogue's eyes grew wide as she looked at Kiht's hand wrapped around the dirk blade. It would have been a terrible move by Kiht if the rogue had both arms functional. However, her left forearm was fractured and cut open. She could not even feel anything below her elbow. The Seeker could simply pull her dirk back and free it from Kiht's grasp but that would take a moment that she did not have. Once again, time felt as if it had stood still. The rogue had to make yet another calculation. She had to look into Kiht's eyes, and try to determine if Kiht would show mercy.

 

Unfortunately, she did not know Kiht at all. The rogue yanked her blade free of Kiht's left hand, but before she could follow up with a thrust that would end her, Kiht thrust her hunting knife right into the rogue's chest...

 

Instinct had taken over Kiht, so her glare had been the only warning she could give, and the Seeker woman just had not trusted her. The rogue never showed mercy to her targets, so ironically, she could never conceive that one of her targets would give her any. She staggered back with a knife stabbed into her chest. Kiht had let go of the handle so it stuck there freely like a nail partially hammered into a wooden plank. The Seeker's eyes were wide as she looked around; wondering why she was not dead. Then, blackness.

 

Kiht watched as the rogue collapsed onto the ground; dead before fully landing. She breathed heavily for a long while as she stared at the body with wide eyes. She was relieved at first; even thrilled, but as the full effect of what had happened took hold, she began to feel guilty. She had only fought to defend herself, but she somehow felt guilty now. It was an odd shift of sensations.

 

Kiht quickly got over her shock. It was not like that had been the first time she was forced to kill a sentient foe. It still seemed to have its hard effect on her though. She suddenly remembered the mission; saving Lucinne Mercer. She turned away from the body, and picked up her hart guisarme. She began to walk back to where she last saw Byron, but her legs gave out and she fell to her knees. She lowered her head and took a few heavy breaths.

 

“BYROOOOOOON!” She let out in a frustrated, shouting call into the forest.

 

She had lost blood, and was exhausted, but they only had a malm to go to get to Hyrstmill. Kiht could only pray that they did not have to fight assassins as well. She did not have anything left in her at that point.

 

The sky began to darken as the sunset began its final stages. Dusk had fallen upon the Twelveswood.

 

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[TheWizard]

After his banemite rodeo, the now bruised and battered Byron stood up and coughed.

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"By Halone's bloody fury... is it over?"[/align]

 

Looking around he saw the smouldering corpse of the treant and no sign of the Lalafell mage, either he died or fled which made no difference to the young man. He walked over to yank his halberd out of the now dead banemite and frowned at all the bug juice now covering it.

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“BYROOOOOOON!” Came Kiht's voice from not too far away.[/align]

 

"COMING!" He shouted back and made his way over to her as fast as possible. Now with a darkening sky Byron was concerned, had they wasted too much time?

 

Finding Kiht on her knee he offered her a hand. "It look like we won."