Frægr
Novice
Call me Sabs. ;]
Posts: 42
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 14:54:40 GMT -5
Post by Frægr on Apr 13, 2009 14:54:40 GMT -5
They had agreed to meet in Teirm, though it had been Kyra that had wanted the location to be this very bar. "It will be less conspicuous," she had said, bluntly, in an effort to convince him, back in Surda, at the headquarters. "There's nothing wrong with meeting in a bar. No one would be able to overhear us." Over time, through long hours of pride-less pleading and "high recommendations" from the Commander, Taraak had eventually given into her request.
But now, she was beginning to regret it.
Upon entrance into the bar, Kyra had started in surprise. She had heard of place's reputation, but had never truly taken it to heart, much less decided to enter it...until today. Dragon's Den. The place fit its name, perfectly. From first glance, the building was obviously filthy, and after sliding a finger dramatically across a nearby wall, Kyra confirmed its ownership of a thick layer of black dust. Disgusting. Even the customers looked abnormal. And if anything made the situation worse, it was the mousy-looking bartender that was wiping cups with a cloth that looked like it had never been washed, ever..
Carefully, she specifically selected a table that was embedded in a dark corner. Perfect. She allowed herself a small smirk, and in one quick, smooth motion, removed the navy hood that had covered her face, and made an attempt to make herself comfortable. Minutes passed. Thirst was beginning to sneak up on the elf, but she made no effort to call the bartender. Kyra didn't trust him enough to bring her something that was actually drinkable, who would?
In impatience, Kyra tapped her fingers on the stained oak table and fingered the crevices that were the results of through years of use and violent bar sprawls. Where is Taraak? We need to get on with it. Her eyes wandered around the room, trying to find a source of entertainment.
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 14:56:39 GMT -5
Post by Angmor on Apr 13, 2009 14:56:39 GMT -5
Taraak threaded his way through the bustling streets of Teirm, Details of the mission swirling through his mind. It seemed a long time ago since he had first been briefed in this assignment, even though it had only been a few weeks and less headaches than he had been expecting. Even then this mission had looked to be difficult, but now the more details he gathered, the more impossible it looked. Even so, he had begged the commander to let him take it alone, but to no avail. “I know how good you are Taraak,” He had said. “But there is still no way you can do this by yourself.” And he was right. But Taraak still had wanted to try. Shaking his head, he brought his thoughts back to the mission.
An extremely high-ranking general in the imperial army had been killed in the recent battle at Melian. The man had been a master strategist, and had very nearly succeeded in breaking through the varden defenders and taking the town. Only through the actions of a brave varden archer had the general been killed and his men defeated in the ensuing chaos. Later, through information from the underground, it was learned that the man had a private ship in the bay of Teirm, to which he escaped when he was on leave. This had been his sanctuary, and contained all of the strategies and tactics he had written down. However, the general had been something of an eccentric, constantly sketching plans for machines with no purpose, or rhymes that had no meaning. The empire now had several analysts studying these documents, separating the useful things from the drivel in preparation for shipment to the capital. The mission was simple, destroy the documents. The action however, would not be so simple. The ship was under an astounding amount of guard, so much so that the underground had not even been able to determine where in the ship the documents were being kept. Without this decidedly crucial bit of information, this mission would have to be done with something spies called ‘improvisation’.
To make matters worse, Taraak would be working with someone he had never seen in action, and he did not know what she was capable of doing. From what he had seen, she was extremely prideful, therefore not much of a team player. Oh yes, this will be interesting… He approached the bar, the weathered runes above the door reading “The Dragon’s Den.” This had been the first operational detail they had disagreed on, and he doubted it would be the last. Taking a second to steel himself, he stepped through the door.
The place was dirtier than he remembered, and the clientele where more hostile. Many gave him dark stares, but he ignored them and proceeded straight to the back of the room, glad that his bow was in full view on his back. “Sorry I’m late.” He said as he sat down, situating himself so his back was not entirely to the room. “I was busy getting intel from a few off duty guards from the citadel.” [/blockquote]
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Frægr
Novice
Call me Sabs. ;]
Posts: 42
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 14:58:00 GMT -5
Post by Frægr on Apr 13, 2009 14:58:00 GMT -5
"Sorry I'm late." An unfamiliar voice sounded from above her, and as Kyra's head snapped up, she found herself meeting the eyes of the stranger she supposed was "Taraak." A loner is what they had called him at headquarters, a leader, a fantastic spy: dozens of rumors surrounded the figure that now sat before her, and the elf found herself mumbling in frustration. "I doubt it." She could see, even though it was a first glance that the man seemed the type of person that was never apologetic for anything, especially a small slip up in making his new 'partner' wait. "Now here comes the excuse..."
One eyebrow raised however, at his explanation. "I was busy getting intel from a few off duty guards from the citadel." She had expected a feeble excuse, possibly about being held up by the city gate guardsmen, or something vaguely related. Kyra felt her lungs fill up sharply, and allowed a smirk to fall loosely on her face. Interesting. she thought, lightly inspecting her new partner. So at least I know that one of the rumors is true. He does know how to get work done. His obvious alertness was apparent, and seemed to constantly be on the watch for danger. His position on the chair, even, suggested mistrust.
The elf found herself laughing, slightly amused. His behavior screamed suspicion to the rest of the bar, and she could feel the hostile glares of the surrounding customers, sensing their curiousity towards the subject of their conversation. She forced a smile to her face, and nudged Taraak to do the same. Kyra dwelled shortly on the fact that he might not even know her name, but left no time for introductions, as she hissed through her teeth. "Relax. Try to act natural. Don't make our mission so obvious."
Her acting continued on to casually beckon the bartender over to their table. "The best you've got," she said smoothly, with a laugh."Another one for my cousin over here." Kyra gestured vaguely to Taraak. "The traveler. We've always told him to loosen up." She finished with an attempt at what she hoped looked like a sheepish smile, and didn't stop until the man was well out of hearing.
"See what I mean? Don't appear as if you're going to attack them at any second. That's enough to make anyone suspicious." The elf sighed dramatically, but adjusted her belt so that the hilt of her sword was in close range of her hand. She would be ready in case of any attack, however, if the time came. After a deep breath, Kyra called her mind, and brought herself back to the mission. I need to focus. Though, it probably would be easier if I could do this myself. She was in denial, and knew it. The Commander had been right to put them together, but the woman wasn't used to it. She had always worked alone, and had deducted from first impressions that he had too.
The sleazy bartender then delivered their drinks, which looked suspiciously normal, and Kyra found her eyes rolling as the man didn't bother being subtle as he asked for a tip. She hoped the man didn't see, and paid, dropping the money into his greasy hands, and faked a bright smile.
Not bothering to touch her own dirk, she could see Taraak's eyes rolling. She straightened -- color touching her cheeks, coughed slightly, and decided to make an introduction, properly. Sarcastic comments didn't exactly count. "My name is Kyra. An Elf," Kyra pulled her blonde hair back slightly, revealing a slight point on her ear. "And I've also been digging around Teirm." She withdrew a map from her tunic, and unfurled it on the table, carefully moving the drinks. "Based on my recent stroll down to the harbor, I'm guessing that the boat will be somewhere obvious, probably the main shipping port. But they probably have guards visiting the ship frequently, so I suggest we visit the harbor and watch for people. For example, a person might stand 'casually' near a boat for so long, go instead at intervals, and then switch with another. It'll be subtle, so we have to be extremely watchful."
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 14:59:27 GMT -5
Post by Angmor on Apr 13, 2009 14:59:27 GMT -5
So this is Kyra Sybell. He had heard about her of course, but now he finally had a face to accompany the name. All they’re correspondence had been through the commander up until this point, and the varden kept no records of a spy’s name or exploits. Nor were there any stories told over a pint like in the army, information was kept as tightly as possible. Spying was a dark world, lacking most of the brotherhood that pervaded the rest of the varden forces. The few things he knew in advance was that she was an elf, many times older than he. Her specialty was assassination, and she was a master of herbs and poisons.
These thoughts passed as the bartender delivered the drinks, one of which he set in front of him. Taraak looked at it dubiously, having no intention of actually drinking it. He did not enjoy being told what to do to blend in, but he did have to concede that it worked, the patrons returned to their respective conversations and leaving them alone for the most part. Deciding to let the issue pass, Taraak watched as the bartender extended his hand for a tip. Kyra paid him, faking a dazzling smile. That smile would no doubt be distracting to most men, and Taraak wondered why it was not so for him. He listened as politely as he could as she formally introduced herself, not bothering to cut in. “And I’ve also been digging around teirm.” She said, drawing forth a map of the city and most of the surrounding area, and laying it flat on the greasy table. He listened carefully to her proposal, mind already laying out the resources that would be needed.
When she finished, he nodded his head. “I agree. I can contribute a little more information from those citadel guards though.” He took a quick, barely perceptible glance over his shoulder, out of sheer habit. “One of them confessed, after a bit of tongue-loosening, that he had been temporarily assigned to guard the ship. After that, we were discussing the ship itself. It’s called the Superior Might, and was custom built for the general. By all accounts, it’s huge. Just as big, if not bigger, than any imperial warship.” From a previous mission, Taraak had the opportunity to examine the specifications for an imperial flagship called the Trinity, and therefore knew that that the ship was very large for a private vessel. “It has two masts,” He continued. “And is armed with two ballistae on each side of the bow. Unfortunately, because it’s private no plans of the interior exist, and no one we can get to, not even the guard, know where the documents are being kept.” He paused and pointed to the map, placing his finger on the representation of the bay. “He said that they were moving it around the harbor every few days, in an attempt to stop anyone from laying traps.” Taraak leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “It’s about right there when he faded into a drunken ramble, so I took my leave to come and meet you. With that information though, we now have something to look for. So, our first priority is to find the ship, yes?” He desperately hoped he had not sounded haughty, the last thing he needed right now was an argument in the middle of the seediest bar in Teirm.
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Frægr
Novice
Call me Sabs. ;]
Posts: 42
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 15:00:14 GMT -5
Post by Frægr on Apr 13, 2009 15:00:14 GMT -5
Unconciously, Kyra found herself nodding when Taraak began to explain the ship. But with every word the man spoke, the mission's future was looker bleaker and bleaker, and as a whole, it seemed almost impossible to accomplish. "By all accounts, It's huge...no plans of the Interior exist...they were moving it around the harbor every few days..." A grim line formed across the elf's face. This would be by far, the most aggravating mission she had been assigned to, if not difficult, which she obviously knew it would be. Everything would depend on their utmost skill and concentration, along with a good dose of pure luck and chance. Even the thought of the possible outcomes left the woman's brow furrowed in frustration, though it loosened slightly at the mention of alcohol. The temptation to drink her own tall glass of it was strong, but Kyra refused herself, thinking about how the beer would affect her concentration.
"So, our first priority is to find the ship, yes?" In agreement, the elf nodded her head once again, and pointed her thin finger at the map. "There? You say?" she asked in confirmation of the location of the main shipping port. He nodded his assent. "...I did see an enormous ship while walking, but we'll have to confirm it once we reach the harbor. The size and security will prove to be a challenge, but we'll also have to survey that when we have a chance to actually observe the place. This will probably take quite a bit of time. It'd also be a good idea to keep track of the guardsmen: Writing down the times they seem to switch, who goes at what time, which guard seems to be the most likely to doze off, etc." With a swish of paper, Kyra folded up the map, and placed it back in her pocket. Her face loosened slightly, their plan was unfurling, and she liked the idea of that. Missions were always easier with a plan, and the elf personally didn't prefer going on impulse, though she usually finds herself doing so.
Meeting his eyes, the woman found herself impressed by her newfound partner. One could almost see the trace of a genuine smile on her face, but they were hidden under layers of consternation and foreshadowing that were slowing thickening with every passing second. Impossible though this was, she was somewhat glad to have someone capable accompanying her on this mission. It would be rather aggravating to tutor someone at this point in time, when the clock was quickly ticking away their opportunities.
Their gaze faltered as she deducted that their loose planning was finished, and Kyra pushed back her stool to stand up, and mechanically checked for her dangers hidden in her garments. After finding them all in place, she waited expectantly for Taraak who did the like, and as they were leaving the elf could resist throwing another dazzling smile to the bartender, in supposed thanks for the drinks they never touched. After, in a matter of seconds, the pair found themselves back on the streets of Teirm, and the stench of fish filled their noses. The busy, crowded streets were slightly uninviting, but she pushed forward, and wound her way through the people, occasionally hearing the shouts of street salesmen. From her angle, Taraak seemed to be following a distance behind her, and was having an equally hard time pushing against the flood of people.
As her nose was being polluted with the smell of the sea, and her eyes filled with the sights of the busy port, Kyra found herself vaguely wishing that she was back in the bar, where it was quiet, and not nearly as loud. With a few curses, she pulled her hood over her head, and started to push harder against the crowd, barely aware of the indignant "Watch it!"s and "Look where you're going"s that were filling her ears. It was all too annoying, and color flushed to the elf's cheeks in frustration. She had to get out of all this noise!
After a series of gasps and foot-stompings, complaints and a few curses, the two of them eventually made it to the docks, where things were slightly less crowded, but the smell was twice as strong. At least they had breathing room. After coughing, Kyra turned towards her companion, and raised an eyebrow, motioning vaguely to the harbor that directly in front of them. "So, should we start with the left? Or the right? Or split up (which I would rather not, due to the crowds)" The choice that they made would directly affect the time spent on observation, and the elf knew that the sun passed quickly when one was in a hurry.
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 15:03:36 GMT -5
Post by Angmor on Apr 13, 2009 15:03:36 GMT -5
Taraak Finally pushed his way through the crowd, barely aware of the noise. He had done many missions in Teirm, and he was now quite used to the bustle and activity that normally permeated the place. He followed Kyra from some distance, navigating the flow of people with quick steps and shifts of weight. He followed her through the west gate of the city, finally arriving at the docks.
He caught up with Kyra, taking a look around. The area was less crowded than the main street they had just vacated, but it was still very active. The air was filled with the crying of gulls and the shouts of dock-workers, and the smell of fish overpowered all other scents. A twisted series of piers and walkways snaked across the waterline, to which were tied a staggering variety of vessels.
He turned back to face his companion as he heard her speak. "So, should we start with the left? Or the right? Or split up (which I would rather not, due to the crowds)" Taraak thought for a second. I suppose it doesn't matter. We will be lucky if we find it today. He was about to gesture vaguely in a random direction when a large man shouldered past him, nearly knocking him over. As he did, Taraak was able to see his face quite clearly, and he almost gasped in surprise. He had seen the man on his last mission, the extraction of Thayra Meren nearly a month before. The man had been a soldier in the citadel, and Taraak had nearly lost his life to the man's sword when he was escaping from the imperial cells.
For a brief second he wondered if the man would recognize him, but remembered that he had probably only seen a dark-clothed figure and a large timber door rapidly approaching his face. Being born with it, Taraak sometimes needed to remind himself that some people did not remember everything that ever happened to them. As he looked at the man's retreating back, he noted that he was in worker's clothes, and the sword at his side was not of imperial issue. however, he still had the ramrod-straight posture that indicated he was on duty, not simply enjoying a days leave.
"We need to follow that man." He said, pointing when he was a safe distance away. His companion looked at him quizzically, not moving. Taraak then reminded himself that of all the things she knew about him, his eidetic memory was probably not one of them. "It would take to long to explain right now, i just need you to trust me on this." He implored, watching as the soldier started dwindling into the crowd. He hoped she would come, or they're only lead would be lost.
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Frægr
Novice
Call me Sabs. ;]
Posts: 42
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 15:05:14 GMT -5
Post by Frægr on Apr 13, 2009 15:05:14 GMT -5
"We need to follow that man."
Kyra didn't take it as a casual suggestion, she knew it was a command. From the corner of her eye, she had seen him start slightly at the sight of the man's face, but didn't bother to ask. It had seemed like a long story, and seconds later, Taraak confirmed her suspicions. "It would take a long time to explain right now, I just need you to trust me on this." It was obvious that now wasn't the time to question him, and the man seemed almost absolutely positive about this lead. Her footsteps followed his in stealth, as they began to follow the stranger.
He was rather suspicious, Kyra noticed that almost immediately after the start of their "tracking". The man had a strange aura, obviously not fit for a commoner, and walked in sort-of a stiff gate, as if a soldier. From her angle, his neck (though covered in fat) seemed to be longer than average, and straight as a board. His chin was sticking proudly in the air, which was unusual. In these hard times, when one barely had enough to eat, no one had a reason to be proud.
Silently, they followed, with Taraak in the lead. His whole body suggested complete concentration, and Kyra followed closely behind. She had a few questions on her mind, but held her tongue and kept walking. Their cloaks were rather conspicuous however, and the elf found herself slightly uncomfortable under the scrutiny of the people around here. It was perfect for the bar, but not on the streets. Casually, she took hers off, and folded it neatly, soon to be put in her case, when the time was right.
The soldier traveled slowly, but directly to his destination. He did not stop for food, nor at any of the street vendors, so the trail was relatively easy to follow, however full of disgusting smells. After a few minutes, the pair found themselves standing in front of a relatively small ship, where the stranger had boarded. The elf's eyes drooped, in obvious disappointment, until she looked at what was beside it...
The ship was enormous, bigger than anything Kyra had ever seen. Even its shadow set the partners in complete darkness, and from the corner of her eye, she could see Taraak was in shock also. The navy paint seemed slightly worn with use, but the double masts stood tall and proud against the sky. Along with the pure-white sails, painted neatly on the side was its name, Superior Might. They had found the ship they wanted, and vaguely, she could see a bridge between the two ships: the small one where the soldier had stepped in, and the "Mighty" one itself.
Resisting the urge to jump on the ship and attack, the woman turned towards Taraak. She met his gaze, and smirked slightly. "I suppose, all we can do now is wait, and people-watch.
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 15:16:16 GMT -5
Post by Angmor on Apr 13, 2009 15:16:16 GMT -5
Taraak stalked through the crowd after the man, a good distance back but always keeping him in sight. He knew he did stand out some in the dark cloak he was wearing, but he did not take it off, knowing it probably wouldn’t fit in his shoulder-bag anyway. Twice the soldier nearly spotted them, but he had been able to duck behind a pile of crates both times. He followed inconspicuously but determinedly, always keeping the same pace as his target. He led them through the maze of piers that made up the harbor, past many vendors and beggars, but never slowing. Finally, he took a turn and boarded a small vessel, joining a group of men dressed more or less like himself. Taraak felt his heart sink, for the boat was most definitely not the one they were looking for. He had been hoping to impress his partner, show her that even if he didn’t live a hundred years, he knew his craft just as well as she did. But no, he had been wrong, and they had wasted precious time as a result.
He was about to turn to her and mutter something apologetic when his eyes swept across the ship that was moored to his left, but they got no further. Hardly daring to hope, he scanned the side of the vessel, higher and higher until he saw the words Superior Might inscribed in neat white paint near the bowsprit. Taraak looked up in awe, for it lived up to it's reputation. It was definately larger than the Trinity, a little longer and a good deal wider. The huge hull towered above any other craft in the area, covering it in a foreboding prescence. He turned toward Kyra, attempting not to look smug, but failing miserably. His smile matched hers with the same brightness, although his was a smile of triumph. “I suppose, all we can do now is wait and people-watch.” She said, still smiling. Taraak nodded his agreement. A question did not seem forthcoming on how he had known, so he decided to explain when she was more curious.
They fanned out, Kyra taking first shift on watch while Taraak wandered the area, creating a mental map. He took special note places where they could observe without being seen, of which there were a fair amount. After this, they settled down into the long, boring hours of collecting information on the target. Sometimes together, sometimes apart they witnessed all the goings-on around and on the Superior Might, cataloging strengths and weaknesses in it’s defense. Through the time, Taraak did slip away once to set up a safehouse and acquire some sabotage material they might need, but otherwise stayed close, effectively recording every detail to memory.
Slowly, the sun sank below the western horizon, and new guards came to replace the ones who had been there during the day, including the many that had been below deck. Observing from behind a window of a small boathouse not far away, Taraak resigned himself to a long night. He and Kyra had agreed to meet at the safehouse he had set up in a timber storage warehouse inside the city at about an hour after dawn, to compare notes and plot they’re strategy. After that, they would sleep, or Taraak would, and they would execute the plan the night following. Taraak knew things were progressing remarkably fast, but he could not help but be impatient. On most of his jobs the underground collected all the intel he used, and he discovered that he had taken them for granted. They did the dull, and often dangerous work so that he could do his job, and he had not valued them as much as he should. He resolved then to henceforth respect them as much as they deserved, settling into a more comfortable position. Six more hours… [/blockquote]
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Frægr
Novice
Call me Sabs. ;]
Posts: 42
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 15:17:03 GMT -5
Post by Frægr on Apr 13, 2009 15:17:03 GMT -5
Upon the immediate exit of her partner, Kyra had opened her mouth to form a question, mainly about how Taraak managed to lead them here, and saved the duo from hours of possible searching. However, upon the words coming out of her mouth, he was already talking about shifts, and she shut hers again. She supposed it wouldn't affect them, if she knew the reason or not.
As the day passed on, Kyra found herself leaning against a wooden shipping box, just out of sight of the ship. For hours, she had been keeping track of the comings and goings of The Superior Might and had found nothing worth interest. As Taraak seemed to be off doing his own share of work, the elf focused on her own. Six hours of constant watch contained three exits, by three different guards. The first was a strange bearded man, heavily built, a rather large sword at his side. The second was the same person that she had seen earlier, and the one that they had tracked to this very ship. The third was a rather thin, scrawny-looking fellow, obviously young, but gaunt that gave him the appearance of old age. All exited out of the smaller (neighbor) boat, and all stayed away for (about) intervals of around 30 minutes, and strangely, came back with nothing in their hands.
Finally, when the sun set upon the horizon, the three men exited as a group, and seemed to switch with another. From what Kyra could see, the new guards looked brutishly huge, or their shadows had played tricks on her eyes. A few other strangers had switched places with others, but there seemed to be numerous other shadows on the decks of both ships. The sight itself was depressing for the elf, and she felt her eyes droop in frustration. Finally, Taraak returned from his journey, and tapped her shoulder, signaling retreat. Unconsciously, she nodded in return, and he fell back into the shadows, to what she guessed was his camp.
As the two partners went their separate ways, Kyra could not help thinking that this was the best time of night, the best opportunity to scout the area. Refreshingly, when the elf wandered about the streets, she found them somewhat empty, and eerily quiet. Earlier that day, the two had gotten enormous information, and as some of the small details already seemed to be falling out of the woman's mind already, Taraak seemed to recall them perfectly, with an aggravating smugness (though he tried hard to hide it). Many a time, Kyra had bitten back a rather wry retort, to swallow it again upon realizing the usefulness of his skill. My attitude is still immature, as I am still a young elf... She thought up excuses for her erratic behavior...But now it was too late, her mind was becoming fuzzy due to the lack of rest.
Kyra came out of her corner, and proceeded to walk through the streets, hands in pockets, trying to find a place to sleep, dwelling slightly on the events of the day. Really, I never knew the effort it took to actually get usable information. If any at all... But if only we could actually get going with the mission...the actual searching... Her silent complaints were interrupted by a rather quiet whisper, her elf ears instinctively sensitive to the surroundings. "Sire...It is required..." One voice sounded timidly from the alley. Another followed, dripping with sarcasm. "The requirements do not apply to our deceased General, sire. He is beyond the world of the living." An awkward silence followed the man's words, accompanied by a rather weak whimper. "I have to inspect your ship. From our records, your ship, the Superior Might, has seemed to avoid inspection for 5 years. This is..." [/b] The voice dropped noticeably. "Unacceptable. Prepare for an inspection come two days from tod..." The other man appeared to growl in frustration, "Unacceptable?" But just as the elf made a move to advance on the strangers, stepping silently towards the alley, the voice seemed to fade away, and in matter of seconds, it were gone. The wind had started to blow, and she could hear no more. The elf couldn't risk exposure, but stood there, stiff with shock. An inspection? On, what she thought, was two days from today?
If what she had heard was right, maybe the duo had found their big break. She rushed back to the ship, but found it as quiet as ever. Expectantly, Taraak was not there, and Kyra had no idea where to find him. She desperately needed to tell of what she had heard, but thought it could wait until morning. Maybe they could go off plan, and wait another day. It was an almost too good of a chance to pass up. But, there were only a few hours until dawn, and the woman needed as much rest as she could. As Kyra drifted off to sleep, her thoughts littered her mind, creating dreams fit for nightmares...
[/size][/blockquote]
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 15:17:48 GMT -5
Post by Angmor on Apr 13, 2009 15:17:48 GMT -5
Taraak rose from his sitting position, stretching stiff muscles. He had remained more or less in the same place all night, observing the guards on both ships. He had very nearly fallen asleep on several occasions, but he reminded himself of the nightmares that always accompanied dormancy. His memory might have been a gift during the day, but it was a curse as soon as he closed his eyes for slumber. As he stood, he saw through the window that the original group was replacing the guards that had been there during the night. Taraak noted the timing, the exited the boathouse. He shut the door behind him and squinted at the sun, the great orb spreading it’s amber brilliance across the land. Well. Time to meet Kyra. I wonder if she found anything useful.
The gates of the city had been open only a few minutes, but the soldiers still took no notice as he passed through. As he made his way toward the warehouse, Taraak could almost sense the city waking and coming alive. The feeling of activity slowly increased, and the sound of bustle and shouting voices became progressively louder as the sun rose. He finally reached the building, a large, square, flat-topped structure sitting very near the western wall. Taraak wrestled the rusty door open and looked around. Satisfied the street was empty, he stepped inside into the gloom and shut the door.
He maneuvered his way past large piles of cut timber, stacked nearly to the ceiling. He went straight to a smaller room at the back of the warehouse, this one empty except for a few piles of smallish logs. As he entered this, he saw that his companion had not yet arrived. He was slightly early, so he was not worried for her safety, not just yet. He sat down on a woodpile, a surprisingly comfortable feature when one was tired enough. He scratched at the dirt near his foot absently, and then found he had drawn a representation of the two ships, seen from above. He added some dots for the three men on the deck, then scratched a few more off to the side to represent the ones below it. By his count, there had been twenty-seven guards, give or take. That’s certainly too many for me to fight through, although I don’t know about Kyra…
He stared at the etching for several minutes, mind working to formulate a plan. He made several, but none of them seemed to have even a remote chance of success. As he did this, his head started to nod, his eyes slowly squeezing shut. Finally, he drifted off to sleep, and was almost instantly plunged into a dream.
It was more of a memory than a dream, a shade from his past. He recognized the scene instantly, a rooftop in Uru-baen, the site of his first assassination for the empire. From behind his own eyes, he saw his target clearly on the street below, completely unaware that his life was about to be extinguished. He felt himself pull a shaft from the quiver on his back, nocking it to the string of the imperial longbow in his hands. He drew it back, sighting along the shaft of the arrow to the head of the man below. He tried desperately to stop himself, to change what was unfolding. But it was a memory of the past, he was merely reliving what he had already done. He felt the arrow released, and it sped toward it’s target below with deadly swiftness, there was nothing the man could possibly do. His fate was sealed, and Taraak had been the one to seal it.
He awoke with a start, eyes snapping open. He was breathing hard, and there was a sheen of sweat on his forehead. He slowly brought his breathing under control, trying to collect his thoughts. It gradually filtered into his consciousness that he heard someone approaching through the warehouse, padding on quiet feet. Before he even realized what he had heard, he found himself behind a pile of timber with his bow in his hands. He started reaching for his quiver, but relaxed when the figure came into view. “There you are.” He called out, addressing his companion. “I was starting to get worried.” There she was, standing in the doorway, looking rather excited about something. “What is it?”
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Frægr
Novice
Call me Sabs. ;]
Posts: 42
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 15:19:11 GMT -5
Post by Frægr on Apr 13, 2009 15:19:11 GMT -5
Hours later, Kyra found herself waking to the aggravating sounds of a civilized city: talking citizens, cheep salesmen, yelling sailors, moving ships --- It was all too noisy, and not the best way to start a morning. Groggily, she stumbled to her feet, sensing her surroundings. The sun shown brightly in her eyes as she looked towards the sky, momentarily blinding the elf. As her pupils slowly got into focus, she leaned against a wall, feeling the rough brick underneath her fingers, and gathered her thoughts. Suddenly, in a stream of events, the night before started to come back to Kyra, and it almost left her reeling in shock. Somehow, however, she managed to keep from tumbling to her feet, and instead laughed bemusedly, with it reaching her eyes. Strangers looked from the street to glance at this tussled woman, obviously curious about this strange person who randomly found a reason to be amused, so early in the morning.
She raised an eyebrow at the crowd, keeping a bemused expression on her face, and turned her back. Thrusting herself back into the shadows, Kyra set course for the timber storage warehouse, letting her scrambled thoughts gather into sentences in her mind. On both sides, two towering walls of fading grey brick covered the elf, leaving her with a slightly diminished feeling. From the long crack where the walls did not meet, the sun shown through, beating down rays of hot, bright sunlight onto the newly awakened Kyra. It was rather annoying, and her mood diminished slightly.
Minutes later, she was there, with Taraak already waiting with a wild look in his eye. The elf half-raised an eyebrow, and dropped her bemused expression, curious to what had made him achieve such a face. Was it that he was so deeply worried about her? She doubted that immediately, and put it out of her mind. Something else? After a brief moment of thought, she decided not to ask, as he probably did not want to talk about it, and instead forced a smile onto her face. "What is it?" In distraction from his disturbing expression of late, the bemused expression returned, and Kyra settled herself on a rather large piece of timber to explain her eventful night.
"What happened on my lucky stroll last night was most likely by chance, or a fate. Only the gods know... but in an effort to find a place to sleep, I found two arguing men. They said something about an inspection of the Superior Might...two days from day. Or really, one day actually. Tomorrow. Apparently, the ship hasn't been inspected in 5 years; though it has a good reason. Possibly, even the highest officials in this town don't know what is in that ship? It almost makes me wonder how we ever found out, even. Connections, I suppose." With a sigh, she paused, taking time to let him absorb her rather abrupt briefing. It was pure luck, and a good dose of chance --- and that was exactly what the pair needed at the moment. However, they had come to another roadblock. How to use their newly-discovered information.
"Well, I take it that we'll have to either use this as a distraction, or a disguise. It's your call, Taraak. I take it you remember much about the ship, more so that I, so it might be wiser for you to make the choice. Shall we strike when the iron is hot? Or fall back, and use this to our advantage?"
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 15:22:51 GMT -5
Post by Angmor on Apr 13, 2009 15:22:51 GMT -5
Taraak listened intently as Kyra recounted the events of the night before, glad of the distraction. Already the terror of the dream was fading away, but he knew it would never entirely recede. It and many others like it were always waiting just beneath his consciousness, waiting to torment him. He found it odd that his elven companion mentioned the gods. There were many deities worshiped throughout Alagaesia, but he had always understood the elves had no god. He himself did not worship any god in particular. He knew that something had to be in control of the fates of men, but he also acknowledged that he did not know what it was. Still, this is indeed fortunate. He thought silently as Kyra continued to speak. "Well, I take it that we'll have to either use this as a distraction, or a disguise. It's your call, Taraak. I take it you remember much about the ship, more so that I, so it might be wiser for you to make the choice. Shall we strike when the iron is hot? Or fall back, and use this to our advantage?"
Taraak looked away, pondering the dilemma. Well, getting the information is half the puzzle, the other half is figuring out how to implement it. He thought for several moments, weighing the many possibilities. He looked up, saying wearily. "I'm too tired to think right now. Let me have a few hours rest." Without waiting for a response he stretched out on the hard floor, wrapping his cloak around his form like a blanket. After a few moments of nodding off, he fell into a rare, dreamless sleep.
He woke several hours later, completely refreshed and in higher spirits. It was the first real sleep he'd had in long while, but more than this, the plan had worked itself out in his mind. "I have it." He sat up, a genuine smile spreading itself across his face. "I have it!"
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Frægr
Novice
Call me Sabs. ;]
Posts: 42
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 15:24:18 GMT -5
Post by Frægr on Apr 13, 2009 15:24:18 GMT -5
Her anticipation was almost too much for Kyra to bear. It was a hard choice, no matter what he came up with, and she knew it. Yet, she unacceptably still had impatience welling up in barrels inside of her. From the corner of her eyes, she saw that he seemed to be intent on thinking, pondering different plans and the outcomes, the chances of living or dying.
After a few minutes, she found her eyes wandering around the room, scanning the bland environment. There was wood everywhere: the walls were of oak slabs--painted sloppily with grey paint, and giant logs of various trees littered the ground, placed in military-like stacks. It doesn't seem worthy of the "great plan" that will be created here... she thought with a slight smirk crawling up her face.
"I'm too tired to think right now. Let me have a few hours rest." In disbelieve, Kyra looked at her companion, wondering what he had been doing for the past 6 hours. But, she didn't make a move to stop the man, and leaned against a stack of wood nearby. She was half conscious, ready to jump at the jump at the drop of a nail. And that's exactly what she did when Taraak suddenly awoke.
"I have it. I have it!" Kyra bolted, her eyes opening in a matter of seconds. She tensed, making motions to her sword, but relaxed upon seeing it was only Taraak. She smirked, and vaguely picked up a nearby rock to throw at him to signify her surprise. Missing horribly, and on purpose, she replied to his outburst. "Ahh. So the sleeping giant awakes. A plan, eh? Do tell."
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 15:25:46 GMT -5
Post by Angmor on Apr 13, 2009 15:25:46 GMT -5
Taraak felt an odd feeling of excitement welling up inside him, an emotion that he did not often feel. He was fully rested and vigorous now, without a hint of his previous exhaustion. He was rather surprised when a small rock bounced off the floor next to him, accompanied by a now-familiar voice. "Ahh. So the sleeping giant awakes. A plan, eh? Do tell." He stood up, ignoring her irritation as he drew his knife. "Yes, i have a plan, and it's a good one if i do say so myself." He knelt next to the rough drawing he had etched a few hours before, using his knife-point to enhance it with more detail. "So, we observed all that went on around the ship, and cataloged all the defenses." He added a snaking line to represent the shore, as well as the pier that provided access to the smaller ship. "From this we know that it's guarded by to many men to fight through, and it is nearly impossible to sneak aboard." He looked up at her from his kneeling position, sticking his knife into the sandy grit.
"But like so many things, in the heart of it's strength, lies it's weakness. What if someone were to actually try to get through these defenses?" He pulled up his knife again and drew a line to indicate the passage of a person from the shore to the ship. "They would of course be stopped, searched, and captured. But..." He held up a hand to forestall any comments. "what happens then? They would have to do something with that prisoner, they can't just let him go. I'm guessing there would be a good deal of confusion at this point, for i doubt the guards have a plan for captured saboteurs." He looked up again, his smile even wider than before. "Picture this. A hardened imperial inspector comes to evaluate the ship for soundness. He's a little irritable for having to come during the night, and because of some professional pride in not being able to inspect the ship until now. After letting him aboard, the guards must of course search him, or they would not be doing their jobs properly. Now, what would happen if they found something in the inspector's belongings that shows him to be a saboteur? some of the guards would come running, and there would be great confusion on the deck." He sheathed his knife with a flourish. "This then gives us the opportunity we need to sneak on board and get below, and blow some documents into the abyss, after which we get out and run to Surda, to be greeted by trumpets and fanfair."
He stood up, still smiling broadly. "It will take skill, precise timing, and especially luck, but i think we can pull it off. Well, what do you think?"
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Frægr
Novice
Call me Sabs. ;]
Posts: 42
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Duty
Apr 13, 2009 15:26:33 GMT -5
Post by Frægr on Apr 13, 2009 15:26:33 GMT -5
A smirk of amusement and surprise rose to Kyra's face as she saw a grinning Taraak, in a rare fit of excitement and vigor, struggle to awaken himself quickly to speak of his supposedly brilliant plan. As he stumbled over to a pile of dirt the elf had taken for nothing, she saw, that upon closer inspection, it was a drawing. Her eyebrows raised in curiosity as he proceeded to draw on the ground, making a rough sketch of what she supposed was the "Superior Might." Upon finishing his quick map words started pouring out of the man's mouth, with authority and sureness. Kyra's jaw dropped, and she numbly bowed over the drawing and listened intently.
"...In the heart of its strength, lies its weakness. What if someone tried to get through these defenses...?...They would of course be stopped, searched, and captured. But..." Kyra started to comment on this, "But..." thinking that the combination of their almost superhuman strengths --- (on Kyra's part, they were superhuman; but from first impressions, she could tell that Taraak was skilled) --- could get them past the guards, in no time at all. However, he hele up a hand, stopping her words before the elf could even begin to speak, as if expecting her to object. Already, he seemed to predict her actions, which Kyra felt was slightly astounding.
As the man continued on with his plan, she found herself becoming increasingly impressed with her newfound partner. His words were transparently full of deep thought and debate, as if he had not just thought it up in a dream, but had mulled over possibility after possibly. From his expression, she could see that it was exactly what he had done, even unconcious. His thoughts still run wild in sleep... she thought with a smirk. The result was obvious, and she found herself surprised as he suddenly began to grin even wider that before. "Well, what do you think?"
Though much of the plan was based off of things that both could not control, Kyra found herself smiling in return to his. Time. Luck. At least we have skill... Her scattered thoughts began to gather quickly in her mind, and the elf felt the need to congratulate Taraak on his idea, with a rather large grin. "I must admit...it is the best possible plan under our present circumstances." A musical laugh temporarily sent her grin astray, but it soon returned. "Let's hope we don't get killed."
After saying so, Kyra immediately stopped her happy expression and in one fluid motion, was on her feet. She started to walk slowly across the room, letting the plan process itself in her mind. The elf's footsteps echoed off the lumber warehouse walls as thoughts racked her brain, and her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Finally, she came up with a conclusion.
"...We have one more night for observation and to inspect which guard, and what time he will be appearing on the ship. It will also give us time to figure out a way to put this items on the unsuspecting soldier, poor fellow. We also need supplies, like the oil we'll place in his possession, and whatever else we find can be useful. And..." Her pacing stopped, and Kyra raised her head to turn and face Taraak. "I feel slightly hungry..."
She saw his jaw dropping in absolute disbelief at her irrevelence to their conversation, and fought to bite back a rather good-natured, sarcastic remark. Outside, the elf could see that the sun had already risen a long while ago, and their time was already counting down. "We have one more day." she said to him, while adjusting her sheath. "Let's use it to the best of our abilities" She was quite serious, and motioned to the lumber around them. "But stomachs come first. Both of us have not eaten a bite, not even in that bar where we first met..."
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