Closed [Guest ST][Shiress] Without a Quicker Blood

[Hadyn Skellig]

Hadyn really had no business doing anything other than staying put. She was appraised of this as the doctor-hunter boy corralled her before she had the opportunity to make matters worse, his none-too-gentle herding resulting in back tracking and returning to the horse. Frowning at him and the world in general the weaponsmith leaned her tired body against the animal - who, bless her heart, remained stationary. With the rough mane against her cheek the woman sighed heavily.

"You desevwuh a point," Hadyn informed the horse in a strained murmur as she readjusted her feet beneath her to stay upright. It was madness, this whole ordeal. Try as she might the brunette couldn't find it in her to do anything aside from leaning on the skinny mare, her thoughts entirely a mess. As far as she understood it she'd been a useless victim of circumstance - caught up in some horrid plot to swoop Shiress from Syliras and bring her back to... Sunberth? and Orion managed to get in on the action as well, though where he fit into the ordeal Hadyn really had no idea.

Closing her eyes the exhausted weaponsmith prayed for a swift return. A quiet had settled on their little neck of the woods and she could only assume that meant the squire was victorious. And with Shiress bearing a sword it was likely she was semi-alright too. Good. They could dispense with the villains, head back to the city, patch up their scratches and be drinking at the bar by evening. Of course the woman herself would be no help at all but the thought was comforting. Turning her head to the side she caught a glance of Orion somewhat nearby and Shiress just beyond him. He'd need to take care of her, for she likely had more substantial injuries than the weaponsmith. Well enough, she was content to be deposited at her apartment and sleep this nightmare off.

[Orion Michaels]

It was a rather unnerving look, the one Shiress shot his way. He'd seen a crazed look like that on more than one occasion, and it was usually accompanied with 'I thought we were going to be together forever' and a flurry of swings at his face. He'd have taken that over the sword in her grasp.

"No, no. Not Sunberth," he said, spinning the blade in his hand. "Syliras. It's safe there." Orion was lying through his teeth though, wasn't he? The woman was surely claimed from the city itself, brought past the gate guards and off into the woods. If that annoying woman hadn't come to bother him at the White Swan, how differently would things have gone? While he'd hardly filled the role of a heroic knight, he'd offered enough distraction amidst the chaos to allow for things to play out as they had.

Orion gave her time to process what had occurred that evening. It had been chaotic from his perspective, and he'd barely been involved. A visage of madness sat upon the unfortunate woman, through no fault of her own. Still, she hissed at him, animalistic in her movements. Like a predator, the young woman guarded her kill from any who would approach. It was a very different painting than when they'd last met.

Suddenly Shiress was on the move again and Orion's shield found its way up to his midsection. He hadn't come all this way to get stabbed to death by a crazed woman. "I'm not laughing at you," he replied, a tinge of annoyance ringing in his tone. She'd lost her mind. Of course she had. Why would it get any easier now? Wounded people, dazed people, criminals. Was this what he joined for?

The squire braced himself for the attack from the bewildered woman, but it never came. Instead he saw the pain tear across her expression as she aggravated her existing injury. In the blink of an eye, she was out, crumbling to the ground in a heap. He could agree with her there. Getting back to Syliras and sleeping sounded like the best of plans. There was only one problem. Beyond her, he needed to get Hadyn back to the city as well.

Not to mention, the still surviving attackers couldn't just be left in the woods with the injuries they were suffering.

At least there was a wagon that the slavers had been using. That would serve Orion well, only, he struggled enough to ride a horse. Driving a wagon was a whole new animal. Beyond all of that, he had the issue of Lona and Anpeff; both of them were involved in this mess, but he had no interest in bringing them in. It wasn't going to do him any good to fight more. He was slightly wounded himself, and not nearly as skilled as Lona had shown. A judgement call was needed, and Orion hoped he made the right one.

"Lona, as much as it breaks my heart to send a pretty lady like you away," he said with a forced grin,[/b]"I need you to leave here, now. I never want to see you again, unless it's in my dreams." He motioned into the woods. "Take your supplies, a horse, and go. Do what you can to survive. Just never let me see you again, unless it's in my dreams." He turned his attention to Anpeff, the hunter and man who'd listened to his commands thus far.

"I need your help, and it'll be in your best interests to do so," he stated plainly, taking a few steps towards him. It wasn't meant as a threat, but it could easily become one if it was needed. "I am a member of the Syliran Knights," he lied, motioning to his armor. "As such, I request your aid. While I make sure all these are going to survive the trip back to Syliras, I need you to set up the wagon for the return trip."

Anpeff wasn't just going to cooperate with the man, of course, but before he could argue, Orion snapped at him, seeing the disagreement in his expression. "Don't give me lip, boy. I don't know what your involvement in all this was, but as it stands, you're getting set up to be a hero. If not for you, these woman would have been taken away for who knows what. You'll have the thank of the Knights, these women, and for what it's worth, you'll have my appreciation, too."

Orion didn't give the hunter a chance to argue with him any further, tending to the rest of the group as he well as he could before loading up the survivors and setting off with the reluctantly helping hunter in tow.

The long, absurd night could finally come to an end, and perhaps the wounds from this nightmare could start to heal.

[Accolade]

Shiress

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Brawling	+ 3 XP
Begging	+ 3 XP
Observation	+ 5 XP
Escape artist	+ 2 XP
Running	+ 2 XP
Stealth	+ 1 XP
Endurance	+ 2 XP
Dagger	+ 2 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Kidnapped in the night
•	Elijah's return: True fear
•	Elijah's death: Killing your master
•	Elijah's death: Revenge served
•	Lona: mugger/kidnapper
•	Shiress: Survivor
•	Number one way to kill: Stab, stab, stab

Hadyn

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+ 5 XP
Escape artist	+ 1 XP
Riding	+ 2 XP
Endurance	+ 2 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Kidnapped in the night
•	Elijah - Shiress former master
•	Lona mugger/kidnapper
•	Surviving the nightmare
•	Hadyn: Too easily bruised

Orion Michaels

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Rhetoric	+ 1 XP
Socialization	+ 2 XP
Riding	+ 4 XP
Intimidation	+ 1 XP
Running	+ 1 XP
leadership	+ 1 XP
Shield	+ 3 XP
Long sword	+ 2 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Horses are not man's best friend
•	Lona: deceitful wench
•	Anpeff: Do boy
•	Fighting for the women
•	Small world: bedding buddies in the forest
•	Crazy bored: Having a one sided conversation with a horse

Notes :

Woo! And it is done! Good job you all, and a big thanks for sticking this out to the end. I really had fun writing this with you all.

The Sylir has spoken

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.