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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2019 18:40:11 GMT -6
Cyneric and Callistus have backed up to fight close to the entrance, where they are able to somewhat mitigate the crushing numbers advantage of the opposing side. There’s no more small talk, no confident grins being exchanged. Just silent, painted grunts as they dodge blows and parry strikes of weapons. Sefu is quiet, working his bow efficiently with a blank yet pained expression. His lips are moving in something akin to prayer, but other than that, he looks like he is sleepwalking, not truly there. Cyneric tries to nudge some life into him with a gentle, quick brush of their bodies against one another, but he knows it is no use. The kid - for at sixteen, Sefu is a kid, no matter what he might think - has gone into shock, and it’s only the fear of death that’s keeping him moving at all. They are all pointedly not looking at the spot where Sauda fell, or Agota in her pool of blood. Even Callistus, usually so stern, seems frazzled. All Vindicators know their missions involve danger, but they are also supposed to have one another’s backs. They aren’t even trading lives for lives - there are no slaves here to save. Just things. Callistus grits their teeth in anger. Isn’t part of being a Vindicator rejecting the value of things and placing value on people instead? Aodhians valued people less than things, and they were the enemy, were they not? Callistus huffs out a breath of exhaustion as he sweeps an Aodhian’s legs from under them. The mission is important. They know that. Still feels wrong, somehow. Seeing Sauda die for some supplies? Felt wrong. They hope it will be worth it. Worth trading lives for. Callistus would’ve traded theirs for Sauda’s, if they could. They look at Sefu, and they know. They’ve seen that expression before, on pit fighters who never came out of the pit. They know, and it crushes their heart. Sefu is out of arrows now. He has had a good few shots, wounded several opponents and forced them to retreat, but the reinforcements are here now. Raiders and Chevaliers fill the treeline, relieving the wounded scouting party from their fighting duties. Fresh bodies fill the fray, going against the already exhausted Vindicators. “Their reinforcements are here”, Sefu shouts tonelessly, the anger and pain all gone now. He throws his useless bow at one of the opponents, managing to knock them over. “We are out of time”, Cyneric calls out, a clear indication that now, escape unharmed is all but impossible - there are simply too many enemies, especially if one is hauling out a cart of supplies. Sefu steps out of the safety between the two experienced fighters. Cyneric tries to grab him, but Sefu dodges and barrels through a few Chevaliers before taking off in a run. Maybe he can pull a few of them away, before… He closes his eyes and runs, tears streaming down his face. He doesn’t get far. A Chevalier comes out from between the trees and cuts him down. It’s a quick death, at least. “The kids are both gone. It’s just me and Callistus now”, Cyneric shouts down the entrance, his voice carefully even. |
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Post by Jennycallie on Aug 5, 2019 18:02:59 GMT -6
 Dinah
Paladin
Like so many rabbits, trapped in a warren.
That's how Dinah felt, as screams rose and smoke filled the Bunker, and her heart continued to flutter in her chest. It wasn't beating in time to fear, though. It was rage that fueled Dinah, rage that sang through her blood and blazed from her eyes.
She remembered a different time, so long ago, but not so different. She had been a rabbit, then- a plaything for the jackals of Aodh. But the fire that had come calling then had not trapped and smothered her, but had set her free, even as it consumed the slave barracks beneath the Pit and the air from her lungs... and her daughter.
Dinah would never be the rabbit again.
"We're leaving," the Paladin shouted, moving swiftly through the Bunker. Supplies weren't worth their lives. She passed Verun, and with the smoke and the screams, Dinah for a moment was staring at Magdalene. She shook her head.
"Stick with me-" Dinah started to say, not willing to lose another foal to the jackals, but she paused. "Are those- oh, well done Verun!" Dinah rifled quickly through the box of precious, precious documents. And oh- the map. "Load it and stay close, we're leaving," the Paladin said, automatically extending her shield of Invisibility over the little cadet and turning towards the exit.
"And Verun- maybe have those weapons of yours ready."
Post 5 | 231 words
Badge by Chipo-H0P3
GAME POST #15 | YELLOW BOX POST #2
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 18:58:18 GMT -6
Still trying to listen to the fight above as you work, you are shocked when the voices are suddenly drowned out by a violent shake of the earth. Do they have Earth Manipulators aiding them now?
Another shake, longer and more powerful than the first. You hear some of the support beams downstairs crack. A bit of the floor underneath you dips, but holds. Earth and rocks fall from the ceiling above - none of the rubble is very large, but navigating through the Bunker just got even harder.
Trying to reclaim your bearings, you are shaken by yet another rumble.
The Bunker doesn’t have much time.
Adari, Wendy and Nil are injured by the earthquake or the resulting rubble.
Feel free to integrate the quake and its aftermath into your posts!
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Aug 5, 2019 19:35:20 GMT -6
Nil | Vagabond Vindicator  Things were happening too fast. Too fast for his brain to process.
Savin’ was injured by a fire blast that had entered the bunker, and Nil could hardly imagine what the others were dealing with outside the bunker. But he wouldn’t flee. Not yet. Dinah had not yet told them to leave...so he would only leave when he was told to.
Verun and Wendy were working on boxes when shouts outside were urging them back up. He looked nervously to his fellows. This was important. If they could just buy some more time...some more time…
But...they were dying.
They were losing.
Savin’ finished her work to rest at Eon’s comment, and Eon and Adari set to work on another box. In the panicked state, it seemed like they were going faster.
Except they weren’t.
There was still so much to grab, and Nil wasn’t even sure what to grab next. Dinah had suddenly said the golden, magic words that he wanted to hear, “We’re leaving.”
Turning, abandoning whatever else was around him, he moved to help Dinah with the box she had been handling. But then, something slipped from under his hooves. The very floor shifted, a rumbling causing dust to shake from the ceiling above and coat the air in its grime. He had paused during the rumbling, only to move again when he felt it was safe.
Except it wasn’t.
The floor jolted under him, and he tipped over sideways. His legs kicked the air as he fell, and he landed rather nastily on his left hind as he tried to keep himself standing. It hurt a good deal, and he was immediately worried about being able to run. Well...at least his injury could let them all escape if it came down to it.
He pushed himself up and forward, limping quite a bit as he moved towards Dinah.
“I got it!” He didn’t even mention his leg, which was fairly scratched up and bleeding in multiple places, but there was no time to check it out for further damage. Blood red teke surrounded the yellow box which appeared to be the most important of all. He tucked it in snuggly next to the rest of the boxes before shouting to the others.
“We have to go! It’s going to cave in!”
388 WordsPost #5
Game Post #16 - Yellow Box Post #3 |
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Post by kerarose on Aug 5, 2019 19:59:09 GMT -6
 GAME POST #17
TURN #3: PINK BOX
Agota. Sauda. Sefu.
Enough lives had been lost.
"Hurry the hell up!" she cried, her heart breaking for her adopted children above, whose hearts beat no more. But there was no time to cry- not now. Not when so many relied on her. "Finish what you're grabbing and then we're getting the hell out of here."
As always, she would cry alone, in privacy, where no one else could see her mourn.
Quickly, she investigated the box she had freed. Paint was scraped off of the sides, but otherwise, it looked ok. If only she knew what was inside. Seeing Verun nearby, she called the Cadet over. "Come here, young one," she said, her voice loud in the increasingly more tense Bunker. "You're fast. Take this one with you. I will be right behind." A quick, harried smile as her royal blue teke faded, and Verun's took over. She watched the child take a few steps, then started to follow-
The earth rumbled, rocks falling from above, pelting Adari with debris. Her ears pricked, she shouted at the Cadet, a single word.
"Go!"
Another rumble shook the earth-this one stronger than before. The ground sank beneath Adari, and blistering pain broke out in her front leg as a CRACK resounded, heard primarily by Adari herself. She screamed out, collapsing in a heap as the leg gave way.
Curses filled the air as she investigated the damage. Shallow cuts ran down the leg, a few oozing blood, from scraping it up on the way down. But what she feared more was the pain- yes, a bone was cracked in her leg. Not broken, not completely, but cracked enough to be a real issue. She could still bear weight on it, although it hurt like hell, but putting too much on- like running for her life- could potentially ruin the leg forever.
"Shit..." she said, more to herself than anyone else. Was this truly how she ended up? Captured, sent back to Aodh in chains, or buried alive in the remains of the Bunker?
Now might be a good time to panic.
She rose to her feet, tears streaming openly down her face as she hobbled along, her leg in incredible pain, although it was starting to numb from the adrenaline coursing through her system. Could anyone help her get out of here alive?
Yes- Dinah! She had been blessed with Invisibility by the Sky Goddess. Although she did not like the other mare, she needed help now more than ever. "Dinah!" she called, hobbling faster over to the mare. "I need help... my leg- I think it's broken!"
She prayed that the tensions that hung between them before would not prevent the Paladin from coming to her aid.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 20:41:36 GMT -6
Back to back right in front of the entrance, Callistus and Cyneric are making their final stand. They might be the best fighters in this group of defenders, but the others provided more targets for the Chevaliers to aim their aggression at. Now, just the two of them, there are simply so many things to pay attention to. A constant barrage of arrows, blessings, blades, kicks and teeth to be dodged or parried. Sweat pours from their bodies. The air stinks of fear and blood. The ground rumbles beneath them, and for a moment, they are afraid it will give in, throwing them to the pits of the tunnels below. Home or not, such a fall would certainly kill them both. But the earth does not give, only lurches slightly. The entrance looks a bit crooked, but the good news is that the aftershakes buy them a few precious seconds of rest as the Chevaliers seem hesitant to approach them. Cyneric pants, tongue lolling out like that of a dog. He is exhausted, exhausted from the fighting and death. He is tired to his very bones, and his feet feel heavy. He can feel a headache coming from having to try and see everywhere around himself at once while also flailing about his weapon. His grey coat is marred by innumerable wounds - most of them shallow and harmless, but together they make his head swim. It is like his very skin is on fire, from the tips of his ears to his hooves. The rumbling doesn’t stop. It keeps going. Like it's moving.Cyneric breathes deep. It comes out more like a pained gasp, his bruised and abused sides unwilling to let his lungs expand. But he breathes. It might be his last, but the forest air tastes as good as it always has. The Aodhians clearly get over their trepidation of the shaking of the earth, and resume their attack. He fights in silence. Each move feels like the last one his ever going to make, but he goes on. Parry. Block. Riposte. Dodge. Smash two idiots into one another. Slash. Block. Parry. That one almost slipped. The enemy dagger cuts a wound under his eye before he is able to push them further away. Parry. Block. Block. Parry. Dodge. Less time for counter attacks now. Surrounded from each side, Cyneric fights with equal amounts skill and desperation. Block. Block. Parry. Dodge. He turns slightly, leading a parry into a quick riposte that buys him just enough time to shift his left side to face the enemy. It’s less damaged. The muscles scream less. The maneuver buys him a second of breathing room as his opponents reorient themselves. In the deafening silence of that single second, the world is at peace. That’s when he realizes he isn’t hearing Callistus’ grunts and the swish of his nimble blade anymore. There is only time for a quick side glance. The black unicorn lies dead right next to him, pierced by so many wounds that he can’t even guess which one killed them. In the heat of the fighting, he didn’t even notice. In the flurry of blades, he did not see the strike that brought down his companion. Cyneric feels terrible. Terrible guilt. Survivor’s guilt. But he must press on. And so he does. “ I am alone”, he calls. More of a cry than a shout. |
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Post by houndflash on Aug 5, 2019 21:03:15 GMT -6
Verun|Vindicator|Cadet
Verun paused as Dinah ran up to her and the bunker around them started to shake and collapse. For once in the Cadet’s life, the possibility of death without completing a mission seemed real, fear actually passing through her eyes as the shouts above grew louder. She had understood there would be reason to mourn if they returned but only now did she understand the if in the statement.
“Well done Verun! Load it and stay close, we're leaving! And Verun- maybe have those weapons of yours ready."
As of snapped out of a trance by the praise, the filly cadet nodded towards the Paladin, preparing her firearm just as Reuben had taught her. As she was prepping to follow the group out, Adari’s call reached her ears and one final box was passed towards her teke. Quickly sheathing her gun, Verun took the last box and rushed it over to the cart, using both slight bursts of her speed and fluttering of her wings to keep her steady on the shaking ground. She had deafened her ears to the cries above, but the call of one of their defenders hit her mind like a mammoth. She glanced over at Dinah, or any one who’s eye she could feasibly catch for emotional support.
“I got it loaded. Should we head out now?” The cadet asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she once again pulled out her firearm.
Post #5 Word Count 250
Game Post 18 Pink Box Turn 4 |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 21:22:15 GMT -6
The rumbling never really stopped after the initial quake - none of the aftershocks were as violent, but you could feel the earth’s tremors clearly. The Bunker had held strong, however, and outside some fairly minor albeit inconvenient damage, it seems you are in little danger of being crushed by rubble.
Now you just have to make it out---
A terrible roar of the earth cuts through the whole Bunker. Support beams snap and bend, the cells in the cellar are covered in rubble. From right next to them, a massive lindworm bursts into the complex, pushing through wood and earth and abandoned living spaces as if they were nothing.
It seems terribly upset by something but doesn’t seem to be directly targeting you - which is good, since it’s massive.
What isn’t so good that its entrance and massive body managed to cause plenty of damage without much trying. There is now rubble everywhere, and the integrity of the whole structure is compromised.
The lindworm passes through a second-floor wall back into the embrace of the earth. You should get out before he returns.
Dinah, Nil, Savin and Verun were injured in the lindworm mayhem!
Feel free to integrate the quake and its aftermath into your posts!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 21:22:22 GMT -6
You take your cart, and you roll it up to the entrance. A few of you burst out first, joining Cyneric and helping him clear a way for the others. The Chevaliers, almost as shaken by the lindworm’s appearance as you are, seem almost surprised to see anyone coming out alive, and you manage to push them back just enough.
The remainder of your troop pushes out with the cart. The injured among you do your very best to keep up, and as a tight unit, you push through the Chevaliers, using the cart as a battering ram where necessary.
The less injured among you fight hard to buy you room, to keep the cart moving.
On your way out, you see the bodies.
Callistus, right next to the door, a bloody heap.
Sauda, near the entrance, in a pool of her own blood.
Agota, in the clearing, her throat open.
And finally, Sefu, near the edge of the woods, cut down mercilessly.
But you run.
You run, and you survive.
Utilizing everything you have, from blessings to weapons, you manage to break through. The lindworm breaks the ground behind you, and the Chevaliers are slowed in your pursuit.
And you run.
And you keep running.
But you are bloodied.
Wendy, Verun, Savin, Dinah and Eon sustain injuries in securing your escape.
You are lucky to make it out with your lives.
Feel free to post your character’s part in getting out of the Bunker and making a run for it!
There are numerous Chevaliers in the clearing, so stopping to fight them is not an option. The characters must focus on moving and getting away - this is not an enemy you are prepared to face.
Some Chevaliers may be injured, but no casualties may be inflicted.
After all the characters have escaped and you feel you have enough distance between yourselves and the Bunker, find a safe place and negotiate splitting the loot.
Boxes may not be opened! - moving the items unpacked would be too time consuming and messy, and you are still being hunted.
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Aug 8, 2019 21:24:10 GMT -6
Nil | Vagabond Vindicator Nil wheeled about as he looked to Adari when she screamed, and his heart hammered with such a force he thought his ribs would break. He could see the tears running down her face, glistening like streams from the fire reflected off of them. Time was swirling around him at rapid and crawling rates as he stared at his friend, his teacher, one of his saviors. He couldn’t imagine a world where Aodh got their filthy hooves on her again.
He limped to her side, luckily his own leg wasn’t broken like hers was. This was Isolt all over again. He couldn’t save his labor slave companion, but he would not rest until Adari returned with him safe. He pushed up against her gently, finding his voice.
“Lean against me. We’ll get you out of here.” It was more of a command than a request. If she was left behind, he would stay with her. But that was the worst case scenario. He couldn’t think like that.
“I am alone.” Resounded from outside, a strangled cry that brought adrenaline to his entire body. This was it.
Unfortunately, things don’t really go according to plan. Ever.
A roar, and then came the shaking. The ground jolted beneath his feet, but he locked himself in place to keep from keeling over again, trying to lean against Adari to keep her stable. Rubble descends from above, and the stallion senses danger even before he sees the lindworm appear. As he turned his head, more of an act to keep Adari in place, unfortunately, his face gets lacerated by a falling piece of jagged stone. Blood discolors his vision from the cut, he is unsure how bad it is, but it feels pretty bad considering the right side of his face was stinging terribly and he could feel his blood trickling down the wounds.
The lindworm doesn’t seem to pay them any mind as it submerged again, but now he was blinded on his right side, the side he was trying to keep Adari stable. “Stay against me!” His voice was less commanding, and more yearning. He couldn’t lose her like he lost Isolt. “We’re getting out of here!”
Somehow, they were all getting out. The cart moved with them, the precious boxes stowed within it. They better be worth something. All this pain, death, blood. Was it worth it? NIl wondered…
As they stepped out into the fray, he could see the bodies of their comrades. He couldn’t help but let the tears fall Aodh was nothing but murderers. Only Mistress Melia had ever proved that there was a shred of goodness in that godforsaken place. The left side of his face was tear stained, the right stained with blood and tears. They didn’t even have the time to get their bodies. Who knew if Aodh would leave them for retrieval later. He doubted the Vindicators would even be able to come back for fear of being followed to their new home.
When enemies try to near him he kicks out to keep them away from himself and Adari. He even felt his hooves clip a few faces, but he doesn’t stop running to check the damage. His just wished his leg wasn’t so crippled so he could protect them better, but at least he and Adari could keep each other standing with the double support.
Somehow they get away. Somehow. But he knew it wouldn’t last long It was a matter of time before they were found.
He stumbled against Adari, exhausted, bleeding, panting with bloody foam dripping around his lips. At least he wasn’t haltered and bitted. He couldn’t see her out of his right eye, but the fact she was there next to him gave him comfort.
“We...we won’t have much time.” He looked to Dinah, then turned his head and ear towards Adari so she knew he was addressing her. “...What are both sides taking? We need to be quick.” He wished they would all just go home together, but he knew the mission...he just hoped Eon could help get Adari back with their equipment… No one got out of this unscathed.
694 WordsPost #6 |
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Post by Jennycallie on Aug 12, 2019 17:09:55 GMT -6
Dinah
Paladin
Smoke and screams filled the air, along with acrid scent of singed hair, blood... and terror.
Dinah blinked her streaming eyes as she squinted through the chaos, and despite her best efforts... she was seeing double. Two scenes, two realities juxtaposed over one another. Because as Nil stumbled, bleeding, to her side and the floor pitched and rumbled, Dinah was transported to a different time.
Crimson-streaked sand beneath her hooves, the roar of the spectators, the bit cold and heavy on her tongue. A wounded horse before her, at her mercy.
When the dust began to settle and Adari dragged herself forwards, grievously wounded, Dinah stared at her, unseeing, for a heartbeat that spanned an eternity.
The swell of the crowd as Dinah lifted her eyes, fixed them on the royal box. Hatred beat a steady rhythm in her chest, but she knew what she had to do. To show mercy to another was to lose it for herself. Dinah could not see her owner in the crowd, but she knew he was there. Watching. Waiting. She looked down at her bloodied opponent. Lifted a hoof.
“I got it loaded. Should we head out now?”
Soft words, but they cut through Dinah's fog like a ray of light. The Paladin shook her head, and though her teeth were bared, they were not pointed at any of the Vindicators.
"Lean on me," Dinah said curtly to Adari and Nil. Going slow wasn't an option; they would have to bear the pain. Her dome of invisibility draped over them and Verun as they made their way awkwardly, determinedly to the surface.
When the Lindworm Golem exploded through the wall, Dinah didn't even have time to turn her head.
The beast's tail caught her, and and Dinah was sent spinning away, cracking her knees and shoulder painfully against the Bunker's wall. Worse though was the blaze of pain in her chest, the way she couldn't draw in a full breath without knives shredding at her insides. But better a broken rib or two than a life lost; they had to keep moving.
"Stay- close-" Dinah wheezed brokenly, blood flecking her lips. As the group left the Bunker, Dinah drew hard on her Blessing, hard enough that her vision flickered and darkened and she felt something inside her crack. But the group was invisible, truly and fully.
Invisibility wasn't the same as Intangibility however, and an errant blow from a Chevalier left a deep gash along Dinah's neck. She didn't feel it though, or not truly. What were wounds of the flesh, compared to walking through a field of corpses? Callistus, Sauda, Sefu, Agota. Each name a blow. Dinah would never forget the things she saw, walked through, stepped over on that hellish day.
But they had to keep moving. Vengeance was worth nothing to the dead.
Eventually they left the chaos and pursuers behind... but the lull would not last. And it was time to split again. Had Dinah been in less pain, had she been less grief-stricken and mind-numbingly furious, she would have felt a pain at this, at thsi need for divvying up and separation. It had been nice to see Eon and Adari again, to feel whole again.
"You should have the documents and amulets," Dinah said to Adari and Eon. Pain and rage lent a jagged edge to her words. "Weapons, too. We'll take the gardening and medical supplies, and the Aodhian treasure." Hopefully the treasure would allow them to recoup the loss of weapons, and she could always imbue more amulets herself.
Her eyes fell on the last box. She swayed, blinking spots from her fading vision."I don't know what's in that one, but," she glanced at Eon and Adari, then Nil, Savin and Wendy, "you shouldn't weigh yourselves down. We can take it." Her group was larger; they'd have a better chance escaping with more items.
Post 6 | 650 words
Badge by Chipo-H0P3
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savorda
Dwarf Star
avatar by posy-punch
Posts: 61
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Post by savorda on Aug 14, 2019 1:02:24 GMT -6
| eon you have suffered enough it's time that you won |
The shouts from outside were becoming unbearable. They were losing. There was no denying it, but they couldn’t do anything about it. They needed these supplies, now more than ever. But Eon was getting antsy. They’re dying up there, and he couldn’t do anything to help them.
Suddenly Eon found himself knocked to his knees with the earth swaying below him. At first he thought something was wrong with him. That is until he saw the rubble raining down from the ceiling. He stumbled to one side, narrowly avoiding a boulder that certainly would have broken his legs. Void screeched behind him. Eon expected the worst when he turned his head, but Void had only lost a tail feather or two under a hunk of rubble. If they weren’t in so much trouble, Eon would chew the raven out for scaring him. Others were not so lucky. Adari… But he couldn’t reach her with the ground constantly shifting and swaying, and least not before the lindworm burst through the wall. Again Eon found himself knocked to the ground, the lindworm’s tail missing him by mere inches.
He was exhausted, and surely if there was any less adrenaline coursing through his veins, every cell in his body would be aching. A small voice told him to lay down, to rest and give up. He hushed the voice. It’s gotten louder over the past few months, but it will not win today.
Dinah’s blessing of invisibility was truly a blessing. If they had been in full sight of the chevaliers, who knows how many, if any at all, would make it out alive. They won’t escape unscathed, however. Eon hardly noticed anything at all, just a vague blur of limbs and blades, before a sharp, burning pain ignited on the left side of his face. He couldn’t open his left eye, and that was a problem, but he could still walk. That’s all that mattered.
-
By some miracle, they slipped away. The burning was now a throbbing ache that stretched from his eye down to his left foreleg. He couldn’t check the damage. They didn’t have the time. Chevaliers could burst out of the trees at any moment. They had to keep running. Eon pressed his scarf against his face in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
It took him a minute to realize Dinah was speaking to him. That’s right. The supplies. He simply nodded. He had no energy to suggest anything else. “You shouldn’t weigh yourselves down. We can take it.” To this Eon almost protested, but he knew she was right. How much could he and Adari really take? Especially with her broken leg. It’ll be a miracle if they make it home at all.
456 words | post 4 |
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Post by kerarose on Aug 16, 2019 16:49:47 GMT -6
IW: Dinah, Nil, Eon
Mentions: Everybody
The pain was worse than anything she had imagined before.
She could hardly hold weight on it, the fiery pains racing up her leg when the tip of the hoof accidentally brushed the ground. Tears raced down her cheeks- she never would have allowed that to happen before, but now it just hurt so much. Dinah just came up to her and Nil, who had also been injured. Her shield of Invisibility fell over them, and Adari nearly sobbed with relief-
Until she took off running.
Adari did sob that time, as her already broken leg was forced to bear the weight of all 17.1 hands of her, at once, in a run. Gods, she could feel the bones bowing under the pressure, grinding together as she ran. Cracks continued to resound in the group, and Adari bit her lips to the point of drawing blood to not cry out.
Then the lindworm came through, and caught Dinah, throwing her into the wall of the Bunker. By the wheezing and the blood on her lips, she had broken a rib. At her breathy plea, Adari fell into a state of shock and adrenaline. She no longer felt pain. She no longer felt fear. The only thought that ran through her head was escape, escape, escape.
But the adrenaline couldn't keep her leg from cracking more.
By the time they left the mass of Chevaliers behind, Adari was running on empty. She simply collapsed, her leg twisted beyond recognition, full of bony shards. There was no saving it, she knew- it would have to come off. A single sob escaped her at the thought, and then she returned to silence once more, her face a stony mask.
"I'll craft an illusion to make it seem like we went a different way," she said, her voice clearly tired. Laying on the ground, she dug into the Blessing that her God gave her, hiding the broken brush, the wagon ruts, the blood on the ground. Thinking back, she instead moved it a different way, and had their voices call out every once in a while. Hopefully, that would lead the Chevaliers away from where they were, and give them enough time to split the loot and get out of the forest.
She heard, as if through cotton-stuffed ears, Dinah's proposition. "We'll take the amulets and documents. Weapons are always welcome. After you've catalogued everything in there, medical supplies would be good to have." She looked down at her broken, twisted leg. "I know I'll need them," she muttered under her breath. And she would- especially painkillers.
She looked up, and called Nil over. "It's good to see you again," she said, a pained smile on her face. "Keep up with your training, ok? I'll want to hear about it." She paused, then spoke again. "I hate to ask, but- is there any way you could help me up?"
Once she was on her feet again, she nodded to Dinah and the rest of the Vindicators. "Until we meet again," she said, and then turned to Eon. "Let's go," she muttered, her teke holding up a box, and her leg lifted high off of the ground.
Gods, she was getting too old for this shit.
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Post by flybynights on Aug 16, 2019 20:43:31 GMT -6
Word Count: 599 | Post: 4
Wendy continued to rear and stomp at the edge of the fire, not letting herself stop… until she heard Sefu’s anguished and accusatory scream. She immediately felt horrified and awful before she even fully comprehended the meaning of those words, and looked around frantically at the others, unsure what to say or do except to resume stomping on the fire until the others seemed ready to leave. She stopped again when Sefu called down to them tonelessly, and then at Cyneric’s solemn, dire words that followed. She was still for a long moment after that, before going back to what she was doing, for now.
She heard Adari call out orders to her, Nil and Savin. Wendy stopped for a moment again. “I-I’m sorry, I’m a bit busy at the moment!” she shouted back, in a strained, shaky tone. Then she resumed stomping on the fire.
She was still at it when she heard Dinah announce that it was time to go. Finally… She decided she’d keep trying to keep the fire at bay until most of the others were slightly past.
She was very unprepared for the earthquake. She was in the middle of rearing up yet again when it struck; she lost her balance. And landed on the edge of the fire. Squealing in pain, she rolled frantically as rubble fell onto her and the flames. She managed to extinguish herself; the burn didn’t seem to extensive, and the rock debris seemed to have mostly just bruised her, more than cutting her… She was throbbing with pain, but reminded herself that a lot of others were, too, and they had to keep moving… She struggled to get back to her feet as quick as she could, but that was still rather slow. If she had any broken bones, there didn’t seem to be any broken in her legs, at least.
As soon as she could, she began stumbling after the others, and then she ran. She repeated in her mind: We’re not going to make it… But we might make it! Though there’s little chance of us making it… No, there’s a decent chance, there has to be!
Then the lindworm appeared, and with a shriek of terror, she barely managed to avoid getting bowled over by more rubble. She did successfully dodge, but noticed some of the others hadn’t been so lucky… At a quick glance, they appeared to still be alive, at least, and primal terror was gripping her too tightly for her to stop fleeing just yet.
As she saw more and more of the bloody bodies outside, a whine escaped her, and she faltered. Only for a sharp weapon to gouge a deep wound into her flank. Crying out and whipping her head over her shoulder, she saw that one of the chevalier’s had attacked her. Adrenaline drove her to spring away in spite of the searing pain in her haunch, catching up to the group in time to get a share of Dinah’s blessing of invisibility.
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Wendy was, of course, very relieved that they’d managed to escape, but she was very shaky, silent tears kept trickling down her face, and couldn’t muster any words. Except for murmuring a “thank you…” when Dinah said that she and some of the others who’d been injured didn’t have to help carry the boxes. But Wendy’s voice was so faint and quavery, it might not have been heard by anyone.
Now she needed to lie down and rest as soon as she could, even though she probably wouldn’t have much good sleep for a long time…
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Aug 16, 2019 21:17:28 GMT -6
Nil | Vagabond Vindicator Nil felt numb.
So many died. So many hurt. All for some old supplies.
Was it even worth it? The stallion wasn’t so sure.
Despite it all, Dinah was a godsend with her blessing of invisibility. Nil’s faith in Alya soared evermore, thankful to the winged goddess that she could help them, albeit indirectly.
When they had started distributing supplies, he stayed next to the collapsed body of Adari. He had never seen her cry. He hated seeing her cry. It took everything he had to keep from crying with her even though he had wept while they escaped. He had nothing to add, but he turned his bloody face towards Adari when she spoke to him.
His ears had folded against his head. He didn’t want to split up. Damn it all, why did Shale and Dinah have to split up the Vindicators. They were supposed to stick together, a family. He locked his joints to keep from shuddering from both the pain and the downward spiral of emotions.
“Yeah...I’ll keep you posted.” Was all he managed to say, though when Adari requested he help her up, he did not hesitate to nod and lean down and support her body as she scrambled to her hooves.
And before he knew it, Eon and Adari were leaving with their set of boxes. He took a step after them, hesitated, then looked away. He could feel his eyes prickling with tears, but he knew that he couldn’t lose himself now. He had to hope they made it, as he was in no condition to escort them.
“Take care.” He called out to them hoarsely, before turning back around to the wagon. He limped over to the wagon as he rearranged the boxes inside, ensuring their security. Then he placed his injured leg on the ground to test how bad it was. Not broken, but likely sprained or something. Ears still against his head, he took the side of the wagon and spoke.
“Let’s go.” His voice seemed strained, his red eyes further red-rimmed and glossy. “It’s not safe here. Those of you who are very hurt, just follow. I was built for this. A silly leg isn't going to stop me.” And in a way, he was. Heavy wagons were hardly foreign to the ex-labor slave pony.
388 WordsPost #7 |
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Post by idisturbed on Aug 16, 2019 22:57:16 GMT -6
Savin'
Vagabond | Vindicator | Cadet Eon wasn't wrong. Things would get worse as more boxes piled in the cart. It's just that, it would be great if she could just breathe for a bit longer. Savin' clutched the box and nodded to his words. After she secured it with the other boxes, she leaned some of her weight against the car, one foreleg leaning over just a bit.
She had just stabilised her breathing when she caught Dinah speak. She instantly perked up.
We're leaving.
They were leaving. Savin' quickly responded with feverish nodding.
Suddenly, the dark around her started to violently vibrate. The ground below her shook, threatening to have her fall. She yelped as she took a hold of the cart. She imagined the rubble they would have to get this cart through, and then the chaos they had to face outside. It turned out that the rumbling around her would not be the last.
In the short moment that the ground felt still, the spotted mare turned away from the cart and cried out.
"Hurry, guys!"
Then came a roar that had her frozen in the dark. The vibrations closed in, but she didn't turn away in time. Right next to them, something burst through the earth. Savin' peeled out a cry. The young mare had been injured by the wave of debri caused by the passing lindworm, blasting at her side and having her fall on her knees.
There was no more time. No more time for a breather. No more time to absorb what happened. The young mare quickly got up and returned to the cart, pushing it along with the others toward the exit. From one chaotic darkness and into another, louder, more horrible one.
Savin' would never see what had become of her old home before their arrival. She would never see what they had to charge through afterwards. She didn't need to. Her ears were clinging to her skull for mercy. Her pale pupiless eyes were wide open, and pouring.
Agota.. Callistus..
She would never get to hear or walk alongside them again.
Despite being cloaked within her leader's blessing, she still wasn't safe from getting scathed. Pain swiped her shoulder, causing her to whimper, but she moved faster.
The chaotic sounds would soon be far behind them, but the spotted mare didn't stop until he others did. There, she shakily stood alongside them, only nodding along. Her melancholic gaze turned away and hidden by her mane. Without meaning to, she started to lean her tired self lean a little, her weight going towards another horse's side. Hopefully they didn't mind. When she heard that they had to seperate once again, Savin' fixed her posture and followed along, but let her head hang lower.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2019 4:30:46 GMT -6
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