It has been 9 months since the beginning of this horrendous project... Why? It is a question on many a tongue of the inmates cast below, where the sunlight cannot reach. Soeverein, a highly respected king, renowned for his leadership and heart for his people... Where did this sudden turn in nature come from? hundreds of innocent and despicable creatures alike have been cast into this abominable pit, to what end? What fear could be this great? What is coming? Nobeast knows... except for the one pulling the strings. But he who knows is far off, and we are here, each awaiting their call to the mystery above. Many speak of the things they've heard from the halls above, some say they've heard screams unequaled while being carried down the stairs half asleep. To that end, only one has ever come back from testing, an otter the name of Beschuss Schwelen, a mouthful often shortened to simply Besch. The oddest thing about him is the simple fact that he didn't change at all, upon being called, he disappeared for a week, and returned as if nothing had happened... Strange indeed, but cold silent stares are the only thing you'll get by asking him about this.
The outpost itself isn't so bad really, a little damp at times, but for a stone prison, it's aged well. Straw is provided to sleep upon, and the food served, while nothing particularly exemplary, isn't horrible either. For some of the low-lives, it's almost better.... Except for that constant nagging fear of receiving a summons. These are the only guarantees when you enter the testing pool, as the small batch of new arrivals are quickly realizing. This is where our story begins, though the white squirrel is having a rather difficult time comforting a rather hysterical otter maid.
OOC: And so it begins! I'd like for everyone to introduce/place their characters before the show officially kicks off, so if you're able to strike up a conversation, or interact with any of the other testee's (and they don't have to be played characters, you can throw some random nobody in if you like), that'd be great! Once I get a feel for how everyone's doing, thing's will get a bit more interesting. ;)
The young brown furred mouse on the left wall banged his increasingly dirty head against the stone wall. Moaning in boredom, he looked down at the other recent captives. "Does anyone even have any sort of possibly explanation for this?" he said. Leaning forward and crossing his legs, Warder's eyes rested on a green eyed otter. "Like you. You've been pretty silent, eh? Though it's not like anybeast is making conversation..."
Katie sat in the corner of the dingy room sobbing quietly as not to disturb the small group of captives trying to sleep off the confusion. The hedgehog had been crossing between engulfing herself in sadness and wondering if she would ever see her family or friends again. She tried to occupy herself by listening in to the hushed conversations of some of the more rowdy captives and perked her ears up when she heard a young mouse next to her ask about an 'explanation for all of this'.
Krain sat with his knees pulled up and his arms folded on top of his knees, his chin resting on his arms. He had been watching the Hedgehogmaid. There was something odd about her but he couldn't quite place it. He jumped when the mouse addressed him and looked up.
"I... well, I, I mean, what do you expect?" He stuttered, his words coming off as sharp in his frustration. He quickly softened and shook his head "My father's going to be worried sick... I hope he doesn't make a fuss," He sighed and began tapping his claws rapidly against the stones. He looked up again and now saw that the Hedgehog maid was looking directly at him. He hurriedly looked away, slouched back against the wall and looked at the ceiling.
Pyrin was bored.
The nagging itch to run, or climb, or walk out where the sun could warm his fur was nearly unbearable, he had been trapped in this cell for far too long. Not that he was unused to being a prisoner, the rat was no stranger to waking up after a fun night to find himself in some jail or another. Still by the next day they usually carted him off to trial, Pyrin couldn't remember how many trials he had been in, but considering how long he had been stuck here this was going to be his best. Which ironically made no sense to Pyrin because he couldn't even remember doing anything. It must have been a really fun night.
Rolling over in his bed of straw Pyrin struggled in vain to close out the sounds of the crying otter. Nobeast should be forced to endure torture like this.
"Sombeast please," He moaned aloud in his usual loud voice. "Shut that whinin' ottermaid up afore I do." He paused, as if daring anyone to argue with him. He'd appreciate a good fight right about now.
Katie narrowed her eyes and stared at the roguish looking rat "Nobeast should go through this frustration and torture. Especially one her age. I'm surprised we're not all bawling our heads off." She continued glaring at the rat and slowly grabbed a sharp rock next to her.
"Ease off you two, lest you draw the attention 'o some of the guards." Besch knew an instigator when he saw one, and they had a nasty habit of causing trouble, though they were often on top of the list when names were called. The fact that this one still remained was almost miraculous, "I'd advise you to keep your mouth shut if you're just gonna run it into trouble rat, there ain't any walls stopping the others from putting you six feet under if you make 'em mad. I've seen it 'afore and I wouldn't be surprised if I see it again." The otter maintained his leaning position by one of the central pillars, he heard and saw a lot from here, and it helped to ease the boredom of the common area.
Ellisar (or El, as he preferred,) sniffed to himself and smirked at the otter - a goody - two - shoes if he ever saw one. Seeing as they were being held without reason or explanation, he didn't see a point to follow the rules his captors set. They were breaking rules by keeping him captive anyway, no doubt.
The dark brown squirrel didn't consider his current predicament much of a problem. If he missed anything, it was merely the open air and a soft warm breeze. He hadn't owned a thing before he was taken. Ellisar had simply nicked an apple or two whenever he was hungry and spent his days explored the cities. He loved to watch the sunset from the tops of the buildings - simply jumping away if someone tried to get him down. He had been caught before, of course, but as his antics damaged little, he was usually released - not before making friends with the squirrel officers that had captured him.
He had a bed now - which proved to be more comfortable than the ground or a tree - as well as a steady supply of food and water. The only thing lacking was entertainment, an opportunity for which had now finally arrived. He certainly had no qualms watching a vermin getting beaten up by a crazy hedgehog.
El leaned his back on the dirt and stone wall - his bushy tail leaning on the wall as well like a close friend beside him. He waved up at the otter cheerfully.
"Ah let 'em fight. But not with that rock. Hand to hand - fair. Winner gets the loser's dinner."
He glanced in the direction of the ones who were taking the imprisonment a little harder than he was.
"Best not to keep people you care about too much around. If they don't worry about you and you don't worry about them, everyone's happy. If you're too attached to where you are and what you have, you'll never move on or gain something new." He waved his hand around at the gloomy prison - "Experiences, new friends. This here is a fine example. Who knew there would be an underground prison below the town? I'd say this could shape up to be a fine adventure."
Pyrin sat up, shifting his shoulders so his back popped. He took a moment to seek out the creature who had challenged him, disappointed he allowed himself to fall back onto the straw. He released a heavy sigh letting his narrow chest fall. He'd have to be really bored to beat up a young hedgehog, and a fool to challenge a healthy otter in his prime. Though it was rather sad that of all the creatures gathered around little Kaite had been the only one to rise to his bait.
"Nah m'not feelin' mate," Pyrin grunted to Ellisar allowing his eyes to shut again. "I'd rather not test me lucky stars against that'n. She's a real fighter, I c'n tell by 'ow them quills prickle, an' her jaw curls up ye know. She'd kick any three o' us' tails across this prison easy like, ye see if she don't."
Katie could hear the sarcasm in the rat's voice "You don't think I'm good enough do you? I'll have you know I could easily take the wind out the lot of you in one stroke" She threw the rock aside and faced the rat. "An' If you don't fight me, we'll all know the coward you are." She remarked tauntingly and braced herself for his first move.
Warder rolled his eyes as the others talked. "Look, you guys talk fine..."
He leaned back against the wall. The mouse was becoming progressively less and less worried about the condition he was in and more worried about whether he would be stuck here will all these serious beasts.
Popping one eye open Pyrin stared incredulously at Kaite, an amused smirk spreading across his face. "I say lass, ye got fire n' ye, an yer stupid to boot. Ye'll make a deadly warrior someday eh?" Sitting up once again the hefty rat spat onto his paws rubbing the spittle into his fur. Holding up his left paw like a target Pyrin made a welcoming gesture with his head. "Let's see wot kind'a damage ye c'n do hedgepig. Sock me a good'un, right onto me paw here."
Katie smirked knowing that if she did fall for the rat's silly trick, she would instantly be out for the count. She ran towards him, arms raised, and whacked him in the chest with a move she taught herself on the farm back home.
Krain looked back and forth between the rat and the hedgehog, his brow furrowing as the conversation escalated. "Do we really have to fight..." He muttered rapidly tapping his paw against his knuckles, and then Katie charged. He shut his eyes and cringed, not wanting to see what would happen to the pretty girl.
The hedgehog's attack amused the mouse. Warder looked on as Katie hit Pyrin with a firm punch to the chest.
Of all the things that Pyrin had expected Kaite to do, he hadn't considered a very swift and painful attack. The rat released a slight grunt as the blow landed, but he weathered it bodily, not wanting anybeast to see he had been hurt. She could certainly throw a punch, at least it hadn't been to his stomach.
"Alright lass, ye obviously don' know what's good for ye." Pyrin snapped standing up, rubbing the new bruise on his chest. "Now back off to ye corner like a good hedgepig 'afore I teach ye manners good n' proper like." He was much taller then Kaite when he was standing, a fact that he felt should win him this confrontation, and if not, well it would certainly provided a distraction from the dull prison life.
"Alright ye little wimp, I'll stop. Well never get outta here 'les we work together." Almost Instantly after she spoke, the ground below her disappeared and she flew into the air and landed roughly on her back. Opening her eyes she realized she had tripped over an unoccupied bed and fallen ontop of the young otter who had been against their little fight in the first place. "Sincerest apologies sir" she said as she stood up and brushed off her skirt "You aren't hurt are you?"
OOC: I love the fact that when we are caged with one another, our first thought is not escape. Nope. It's "lets brawl! Now!"
Ellisar chuckled as the hedgehog scored a shocking blow. However, he could see she was in real danger of being slaughtered right then and there. Being an athletic fighter and climber, he recognized expertise and power, and the rat certainly had both.
Pyrin's arms looked toned, and he held himself with the stance of a seasoned fighter. El could pick out several marks and old wounds. This one had been in the business of fighting and scrapping for a long while. (I'm getting this off of Pyrin's character sheet, if that's alright.)
He had just hopped up, and was bounding towards them, when Katie backed down.
He approached the rat, just to ensure he wouldn't do anything unfriendly. He had never trusted vermin much. In his opinion many of them were as evil as they had been in the old days. He leaned in and put a hand on the rat's shoulder, keeping his voice low.
"I can tell you're no amateur rat. You're a seasoned fighter. Don't do anything rash, or you'll have me to deal with. No dirty moves, don't take things too far. Hope you get the chance to fight her fair soon. Fun to watch, eh?"
He patted the rat's shoulder, with some respect, and backed off. He was taller and felt that he was quicker than the rat, and he hoped his warning would be heeded. He was always game for a bit of fun, but this rat was dangerous, at least for young Katie.
Krain slowly opened his eyes and looked up and then a ball of spikes was falling in his lap. He yelped and shoved the girl off of him and jumped to his feet. he held his breath and stared at Katie as she got to her feet and apologised with the politest manners. His face flushed and he rubbed his pricked arm. "I'm, I'm fine, sorry... you?" He said softly and glanced around the room uncomfortably.
"Well, as good as you can get after you fall to the floor like that" She said smiling apologetically "I'm Katie but I don't believe I know your name yet." She remarked and extended her hand towards the otter in a welcoming gesture
Krain adjusted his scarf, even though it didn't need adjusting, and then hurriedly extended his hand to shake hers. "Krain M..." He faltered and then thought better "My names Krain," he repeated the whole time his eyes never left the hedgehog. There was that nagging feeling again, there was something off about her and couldn't place it. He scratched his neck blinked and then realized he was staring and quickly looked at the floor. "nice to meet you," He muttered but it was almost incoherent.
Besch was just standing up to make his way towards the group and check on the pour otter that got sat on, by a hedgehog of all things, before his thoughts were interrupted. A rather snooty looking mouse guard with a couple of others had made their way, with a loud, metallic grating sound as the iron gate into the commons was opened, and proclaimed blandly, "Beschuss Schwelen, kindly follow us up stairs." The otter followed with a sigh, strange indeed seeing as nobeast had ever been called by them self before. His form disappeared, and the sounds of the groups footsteps receded as the entire entourage made their way up the rigid stairs.
Silent, for lack of a better name, had spent this entire time with that same, newly captured otter maid. Holding her gently, in a hugging embrace, covering her ears when the others started talking about her. The gray squirrel gave them all a mildly belligerent stare, getting on the girls case was simply uncouth. She new all too well how harsh this event could be, as she herself had been in shock and denial for quite some time after arrival, losing herself in the process of helping others cope. She'd been around for awhile, and was dismayed to hear Besch's name called again. He and a few of the others, two of which were now gone, had been very pleasant and hospitable to her for those first few months especially. Silent started to reach out with her right arm, but stopped herself after just a few inches of movement.... Hope was dead, she forgot this sometimes, though every re-realization hurt just as much as the first time. She resumed comforting the beast in her arms, though she herself was just as downcast.
There was a grating sound and Krain's head shot up eyes wide, and he froze, only his eyes moving, as they followed Besch out. When the gate clanged behind them he stared at it for a long time. His brow furrowed. That was the only way out, but it was also the unknown. Hardly anyone who ever went through those doors came back, that didn't mean they were dead necessarily. But they surely weren't free.
The grin faded from Warder's face as the fight ended and a guard took Besch away. "See if you can find anything," he called half heartedly. Even the relatively optimistic mouse knew that Besch probably wouldn't come back.
Katie started when she heard the guard call Besch's name and she wasn't sure what to make of it. "Is that as bad as I think it is?" She whispered leaning in close to Krain. She started to feel the slight glimmer of hope she had felt slip away with the closing of the iron door.
"Ye got me wrong if'n ye think I'd waste me time fighting some hedgepig gel for no reason cully." Pyrin muttered to El as the squirrel patted his shoulder. "Ye won' 'ave to concern ye'self wit' me 'bout that. Though I reckon, ye'll 'ave yer paws full soon enough squirrel, so when it comes down to it, we might be at each other's throats for too long anywho. Unless o' course, ye 'ave me watchin' ye back." He winked idly at Ellisar as he moved away. Turning the rat scanned the crowd with a knowing grimace. There'd be trouble soon enough, Pyrin had seen first paw what pent of woodlanders and vermin could do to each other. He supposed his recent actions only went to prove that point.
Settling down on his bed of straw Pyrin watched as they took Besh away, his face remained impassive, though inside he felt a slight kick of pleasure seeing the otter toted off. If he didn't come back that was all the better for Pyrin. Perhaps next they'd take the crying otter. One could only hope.
Gurtun Soilmover hadn't been there as long as some of the others, only four or five months. He had mainly kept to his sleeping area, away from the other, bickering beasts, he didn't want them getting mad at him due to his short temper and hadn't spoken much, only once or twice when someone else had talked to him first. Hearing the door he decided the guards must be bringing food, getting up he arrived in the common area in time to see Besch leave behind the guards. Quickly he turned around, hoping none of the others had spotted him and would follow.
[[OOC: Oops! My apologies, got caught up in some housework/job applications and such...and maybe a few episodes of Columbo in my free time. *sheepish grin* Here, have a possibly over-long post to make up for it.]]
Nora had been there long enough that she was bored, less cheerful than usual, and more than a little dirty. Her fur was much more...brown than its natural shade by this point. Which was at least somewhat useful, she supposed--it helped her blend into her surroundings. She had spent her first month or so circulating through the prison, making friends and eliciting as many smiles as possible, but it soon became apparent that doing so was attracting attention. Her overt activities ceased shortly after. She didn't want to end up on the guards' list of names. Still, she sometimes moved quietly among the prisoners, offering what hope she could while avoiding the gazes of the guards.
She had been sitting quietly in a corner, drawing in the dust, when a disagreement started gaining momentum. Uh-oh. That didn't look very good. Especially since that hedgehog was young and headstrong--wounded pride and real or imagined slights were not easily forgotten by that sort. Nora should know; she belonged to that group herself. But it was quickly resolved (after an apparent flare of temper on both sides) and she relaxed.
Then Besch was called. Nora had seen the otter around, but didn't know him. She suspected that few beasts here did. What surprised her is that he went quietly, without any restraints, and without any visible agitation. He merely gave a quiet sigh and followed the guards. This fascinated Nora, who began speculating on why he didn't cause a fuss, why they'd want him a second time, and what they could be doing that was so unspeakable yet left so little evidence.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she noticed a mole she hadn't seen before entering the common area, only to see Besch being taken away and returning to where he'd come from. Curious, Nora padded softly after him. "Excuse me," she murmured when she was close enough for him to hear.
Gurtun scowled as he heard someone approaching, he hoped it wouldn't be someone irritating. Turning around when he heard it speak he saw a short cat. It would be a vermin, he thought to himself.
"What do you want?"
Ellisar watched closely as the guards marched the former prisoner away.
He smiled confidently at the door, imagining the snooty looking mouse. He would be ready for them when his name was called. He hoped it was sometime soon. He was ready to move on from this place.
Resigning himself to the cells for now, he eased down onto the floor alongside Katie and Krain, leaning against the wall again.
"There's only one way to find out how bad this really is, Katie. We've got to go through that door. There's something big out there, I know it. What's waiting for you out there?"
Katie heard a voice and turned to see Ellisar walking up towards him. "Not much actually, although my family must be worried sick by now." Katie froze as she thought of her parents. She was determined to not to let Ellisar notice her fall apart and she took many deep breaths and turned towards him again. "I imagine you don't have much to loose coming down here do you?" Katie said hoarsely, restraining her tears.
Krain glanced between Katie and Ellisar. He maintained his silence but his brow was knotted with unconscious worry. When he saw that Kattie was on the verge of tears he finally spoke up. "We'll get out, I promise, we'll find a way he said. He was about to place a paw on her shoulder but then thought better of it and folded them in his lap.
"What do you want?"
Nora stopped in her tracks as the mole whirled on her. She suppressed a sigh--unfortunately, even now there was still a stigma surrounding the unfortunately labeled 'vermin' species. Oh, well.
"An introduction, I suppose," she said with a tentative smile. "My name is Nora. I've been here a few months, but haven't seen you before. When did you arrive?"
Hopefully his unfriendliness would not persist. If it did, however, she'd be on her way. No point in causing a fuss over somebeast who didn't give a fig about her...especially if it meant getting noticed by the guards again.
OOC: Scribe: HTML doesn't work here. Use brackets instead.
[i] [/i]
"I'm Gurtun Soilmover and I've been here for four or five months. Any thing else?" he said, scowling.
((OOC: Thank you, Sagetip. Heh, I was a little out of it when I wrote that post...))
Nora's smile faltered. His attitude certainly hadn't improved with the wildcat's attempt at friendly conversation. She shook her head, somewhat sadly. "No. I won't trouble you any further, Mister Soilmover. My sincere apologies for disturbing you." With a polite nod, she turned to head back to the common area.
Ellisar shook his head.
"Nope. Like I said earlier, pal, it's better not to have people you care about, or who care about you. That way, if something like this happens, everyone can still be happy. But your friend is right, we'll find a way out of here. Heck, I'll reckon this is just a place they hold us. They'll have some sort of plan. The King's a goodbeast, he can't be behind anything too bad. I'll bet this turns out to be a good thing. Maybe we'll all be promoted. You'll be a princess, no doubt. I'll bet that's right - this isn't such a bad place anyway. I've been in a few prisons worse than this one."
He grinned ruefully - "When I was young, I climbed all the way up to the top of the great King's tower. It was so high up, the wind was buffeting me around and I nearly fell about a dozen times." He hesitated, shaking his head slightly - "It was stupid. But they threw me into a really nasty dungeon. No straw, hardly any food. Thank goodness I was just a kid - might never have made it out of there."
Krain looked at Ellsar eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar "You climbed to the top of the King's tower!?... my dad took me to see it when I was little, it was... Why?" He said shaking his head.
OOC: I'm thinking something needs to happen to keep this RP going.
IC:
Resting alone Pyrin flicked a small pebble up, catching it and throwing it again. Life in prison could be boring, and tiny moments of adrenaline only blocked out the dull for so long. He rolled over seeking out the squirrel Ellisar. He was with an unknown otter and the hedgehog Kaite at the moment. Sighing he flipped onto his stomach, eyeing a mouse, Warder or something.
"Hoy mate, mousie, fancy a game o' chance?" He spat on the pebble holding it up for Warder to see. "Dry I win, wet ye lose eh? 'Ow's ye luck?"
The mouse eyed Pyrin. "Sure, why not," he said. "Your go."
"Nah, th' stakes are too low mate," Pyrin needled, he slipped a paw into his tunic pocket and revealed a small bottle, winking and hiding it again. "I've been savin' this for me'self, but mayhap if'n ye luck is lucky it'll be for ye. Wot'cha got eh?"
Without any prior warning, a vibration rippled throughout the entire enclosure, followed closely by a violent rumbling caused by an unseen, but extremely loud explosion in the mystery above. The sound filled the room, leaving it's eerie echos and a slight ringing in the ears of the beasts imprisoned within. The room itself felt like it was shifting on an axis in the center, blocks shifted, a few arches collapsed, and nothing was left undisturbed. As the chaos subsided with the resting of the dust clouds and fade of the explosion, a new sound, that of leather boots hitting the staircase and frenzied chatter, soon reached the ears of the prisoners. It wasn't long before one of the guards from mere moments ago bolted smack dab into the gate, nearly falling back onto the self-important mouse that had been with him. The mouse uttered something rather crude at the guard as he shoved him out of the way to get to the locked gate. His panicked hands fumbled with the key a time or two before he could get it into the lock, urgency on the tongue of guard. This urgency died suddenly as the guard turned around... Despite the fact that nobeast could see his face, the sudden loss of hope, the fear, and the dread were apparent to all as the beast collapsed in surrender to his fate. The mouse with the key just managed to open the bar door and was about to fling himself into the cage when a roar from up the stairs screamed down the stone steps in a wave of engulfing flames. The fire died with a flare at the doorway, instantly making the entire living space hotter than a desert sun, but only for a moment. When the flash disappeared, the doorway was a mess, the very stone itself was distorted and smoking. The only traces of the two beasts were a cloud of ash straight across from the entrance, spattered viciously on the wall along with a few shards of blackened bones, and liquid metal that was now solidifying on the wall they had spattered on. The smoking stairs suddenly ceased to billow, the heat seemingly drawn above, quickly followed by the sound of slow steps pattering their own way down... A figure appeared in the now gaping hole, a familiar one at that, it was Besch the otter.... But this time, he was holding a rather large hammer nonchalantly over his left shoulder, both of his forearms glowed with a burning light, as did his shins, feet, rudder, and eyes. The hammer was a rather normal war hammer, though veins of reddish-yellow flowed through it from head to shaft. Beschuss strode partway into the room, and glimpsed at the minuscule remainders of their captors before addressing the mass of beasts with a powerful and serious tone, "Well then, who's ready to leave?"
Warder stared wide eyed at the otter, forgetting the flask Pyrin had offered him. At a loss for words, he quickly recovered. Scrambling up towards the cell doors, the mouse got a better look at the hammer. "Nice whacker you got there," he commented. "So yeah, why don't you chop off that lock?"
OOC: Danflorreguba, making his characters like Dannflor Reguba.
OOC: I'm just imagining the panic and confusion that would be going on after something like that. By the way, magic seems very powerful.
IC:
He was about to speak, to shout, to yell out a clever pun when a large stone fell from the crumbling roof clouting him on the back of the head. Pyrin fell forward stunned, one of his large front teeth chipping off as he hit the stone floor. A few other small stones fell, having equally devastating effect in the crowded common.
Picking himself up, Pyrin shakily stood, his vision blurred. "Ah, 'ow's the blackguard 'oo got me?" He asked Warder in a confused tone as he clutched the back of his head. "I'll teach th' blighter a lesson, ouch."
"Dunno," replied Warder, not looking. "Why don't you look?
OOC: The entire doorway just got melted down, there isn't even a gate left to have a lock on it :D. I'm a little confused as to what you mean, but aight. And yes, I don't believe in Skyrim hand farts and spirit fingers, if I'm going to include magic, it's going to be the kind that defy's the elements and can tear the world asunder. Trust me, I've got quite a few surprises in store ;).
Hearing the rumbling Katie screeched and grabbed at Krain's hand. After the commotion died down she stared at him and retracted her hand. "S-sorry" she mumbled awkwardly.
Gurtun was knocked off his feet by the rumbling.
What was that!? he asked himself as he stood up and felt a sudden wave of heat. Not sure what was going on Gurtun stayed where he was, listening to noise and loud voices from the main room.
Krain shut his eyes tightly as the room shook and dust and small stones fell about him bouncing off his coat. He felt Katie's paw grab his and he tensed. When the shaking had stopped and she had removed her hand, Krain pulled his hand away quickly and clasped his hands together tightly. He looked around and watched in confusion as the mouse and guard tried to get into the cage with them. He gasped and looked away as the room was filled with a blaze of light and a heat wave washed over them. When he looked back up there was Besch and he looked different.
Krain jumped up, starting, eyes wide, his mouth hanging open. "That-that-that's not possible," He stammered. "You-you... how?"
OOC: Stop me if I'm wrong but I am assuming that using enchanted objects does not make you glow.
OOC:
@Faiyloe +
@Rosie Willowwater ... Kratie?
Ellisar had stood when he heard the commotion, and he nimbly avoided the falling rubble. He dusted himself off, as though there was nothing overly alarming about half the ceiling collapsing, and helped a few creatures disengage themselves from the rubble.
He hopped his way to Pyrin, and picked up the pebble matter-of-factly : "Spit side down, I'm afraid. Looks as though I win this one. I believe the blackguard would be that otter fellow. I wouldn't try to biff him though - he's got a hammer that melts a beast. Very bad for the air quality." He cheerfully relieved the baffled creature of his flask, trading it with the pebble. He took a few swigs before handing it off to Katie.
"That stuff's mighty strong. Perhaps a ferocious beast like yourself could finish it for me. Kicks like a mule."
Ignoring the doorway, he climbed and jumped his way through a gap in the ceiling (created by the large rock that had landed on Pyrin's head.)
"Impressive sort of place isn't this?" - they heard his voice echoing from above. He emerged behind Besch: "Can't say where we are for certain. It's a different sort of building than I'm used to."
Besch was mildly annoyed by Ellisar's antics, but now was not the time to go blowing up at people.... at least, not at the other captives. The otter sighed, taking a moment to collect his thoughts before speaking, "There's not much time for explanation, but some is needed. First off, as many have asked me, yes everybeast that has been taken for testing is dead outside of yours truly." He scrunched his eyes at the memory, the thought of what so many others had gone through, "The things being done here are utterly despicable, and we must leave immediately... The rest of the world needs to know what's happened!" He gave a short pause to let the others in the room understand his words, and partake in their hushed conversations. As soon as the group started to rise, he finished the abbreviated briefing, "I know the way out, so stay close, and whatever you do,
do not, try to fight anybeast! Some of the soldiers here are armed with and trained to use enchanted weapons... I've seen a few of them, and they're not to be trifled with. If we go quickly, I'm confident that we can escape." As everybeast picked themselves up to finish getting themselves together, Besch snuck a glance at Krain. His eyes were wide open, in the brief moment that their eyes locked, he gave the other otter a sharp stare. His gaze was one of warning, but not malice, he did not seek Krain's fear so much as his silence. He held a finger to his lips in the sign for silence as he turned to leave. To others, this was a call for stealthy quiet, but it was more so the last of his warning to the Enchanter's son. He jogged his way up the stairs, the breakout had officially started!
*****
Silent was just finishing with the otter maid from before when the explosion had gone off. The stones beneath her feet shifted under her, causing her to fall, she looked up to see part of the ceiling collapsing on her. She let out a slight squeak, rising to a half-kneel and sticking her arm out to try and slow the fall of the bits of rubble. The moment before the rocks struck, she felt a sudden weightlessness come over her as she was yanked out of the way and sheltered from the small cascade by a wildcat. She nodded her thanks, and watched in silence as the rest of the events played out before her. The white squirrel darted about the room, trying to help the more shocked beasts get their wits back and get a move on. She ended up in the back of the group, taking one last look at the prison that had been her home for quite some time now... Finally, the terror was over!.....
OOC: Sorry to break it to you, but Krain is taken. He's got a lovely Maryrose waiting for him back home.
BIC:
Krain frowned and went silent. He didn't take his eyes off Besch. What had they done to him? But even if he was acting strange he was the way out and Krain was not about to let that opportunity go to waste. He rushed after the other otter making sure to stay close but not too close.
Recovering at the slow rate that one would expect, Pyrin only half listened to Besch. He was far more irritated that Ellisar had been able to steal the last his expensive mulled mead while he had been incapacitated. The rat fumed for a bit his footpaws clacking against a apple sized stone, whose edges tapered to a point. Pyrin quickly scooped up the rock, cupping it so the jagged end made a crude, but feasible weapon.
He recuperated more or less completely as everybeast made for the exit, Pyrin was one of the last through, an act he had done on purpose. A small white squirrel followed behind him, and he grinned, winking at her. "Smart of ye, or jus' luck eh. When th' killin' starts we'll be well away, n' armed see. Gotta make sure not too many knows it though. They'll follow," Pyrin presented the jagged stone placing a claw on his lips to signal silence, a irony he realized a moment later seeing who he was talking too.
Warder kept to the middle of the group. Body shield, right? Hopefully Besch could get them all through - he did enjoy the company of Pyrin slightly more than the others - but hey, no loss if one or two unknowns died in the fight, right?
Nora had just re-entered the common area when the earthquake and fire brought the place down around her ears. When she picked herself up, it was to see that the prison was...well, devastated. Besch--at least, she assumed the glowing being before her was still him--stood in what used to be the gateway, looking much more dangerous than when she'd last seen him. Apparently whatever they'd done to the otter had struck a nerve or two. Or twenty.
The wildcat lent a paw to anybeast who needed it (and would accept it) before following the rest up the stairwell. Her spirits rose as steadily as the bedraggled group of ex-prisoners making their way up and out. Could freedom really be so close? Of course, they still had to make their way past the other guards, but after Besch's demonstration of power and his warning not to fight, she trusted that they would get through. Hopefully without any losses, Nora thought, but even she knew how unlikely that was.
She stayed in the back of the group, offering what help and encouragement she could. Perhaps not every creature would make it out...but by the Fates, Nora Eadrom would not leave anybeast living behind!
((OOC: Of course as soon as I stop checking for developments every day, this happens! Good grief. Hah. Despite her triumphant resolution, Nora's probably going to trip and sprain her ankle or something, thus being rendered useless. :D)
Ellisar led the way down the corridor. He was interested in exploring this strange forbidding prison no one seemed to know anything about. He wasn't worried about the guards. in fact, he thought it would be fun to fight a guard. Normally he wouldn't dare, but these guards didn't seem any more in line with the law than him.
He sniffed, and smelled fresh air. The exit must not be too far above them. He missed the fresh air a little, and broke into a slight jog, his spirits high. There was no telling where they would find themselves once they were out. This prison could be hidden deep in a forest, or perhaps out in plain sight.
Despite himself, he was excited. Although normally laid back, he had never been cooped up in one place for so long. The next step was sure to bring more twists and turns!
Katie had been lost in her thoughts when the rest of the group started exiting out of the open doorway. When she finally came back to her senses
the prison was empty though she could still see some shadows and movement in the corridor. She screeched and dashed out the doorway pushing others aside as she ran. She longed for sunlight and fresh air.
OOC:
@danflorreguba Shall we continue? You are needed for the RP to press onward. I don't want to post something and ruin anything you might have planned.
Gurtun followed slowly behind the rest of the party, watching Ellisar dart ahead.
OOC: Sorry Dan, I'm pretty sure you disapprove to stuff like that, couldn't think of anything long to say that Gurtun followed.
OOC: I try to flesh out everything that happens in an RP, let people weave an intricate tale through even the most minuscule moments of the story. That's why I waited. BIC:
It was only a few more minutes... and a couple trips to get all the strays back with the main group, before the exit to the courtyard materialized from the darkness. A ringing sound could be heard by all as Besch let the hammer head slip down to the ground as he turned around to address the mass, "Outside this gate lies our escape, and our captors.... I don't know exactly what's waiting for us on the other side, but they're trouble. Again, avoid engaging them at all costs... Best of luck to you all." The otter beckoned another bulky fellow to assist him with the double oak doors which they proceeded to ram open in one quick charge. The doorway burst open to reveal their location, somewhere in the eastern plains. The outpost itself had been built into the side of a rolling hill, with a decently tall rock wall encasing the courtyard they had just stumbled into. They didn't have more than a moment to look before a furious ball of fire hurtled down from the top of the wall on their left. Besch moved instinctively to intercept, swinging his weapon clockwise around himself and battering the flame down, infusing it with his own power, and sending it to the right in a short wall of spreading flame. The guards who had just emerged from their posts on that side quickly dropped to their knees, shields forward as the inferno passed harmlessly over their heads. Adding on to the beasts who had just come out on the groups left side, the total guard count was roughly just short of two score, not including the two adepts. The first adept was perched in the same place he'd released his fireball from, a rat on top of the left wall, wielding a red bladed dagger. The other was a Hare, who was just now descending gracefully from the opposite wall. He was holding a rather ornate spear, bound by a thin, greenish-turquoise metal band, that allowed him to rest on the winds as he dropped, isolating the last tendrils of the fire to snuff them out. After only a brief moment, Besch knew he only had one option, "Everybody RUN!" With a roar, he slammed the ground with his hammer, releasing several orange, yellow traces through the ground. These traces erupted into walls of fire on either side of a straight path to the closed outer gate. Without any more hesitation, he ran, slowing for nothing, knowing full well that even the slightest misstep could spell everybeasts undoing.
Warder could see the grass plains through the stone and fire, the otter wasn't kidding. The mouse wasn't th fittest of creatures, but with a speed born of desperation he ran as fast as he could after Besch.
Running with everybeast else Pyrin began to wish he had been in the front with the otter Besch. The rat tasted fear in the back of his throat as great swathes of flame flashed all around, not caring what was going on the rat pushed the creature in front of him urging her to run faster. A wicked hissing sound filled the air, a sound Pyrin recognized from many battles before.
"Get down!" He yelled tackling the first animal he saw, the squirrel Silent, bringing her to the ground unwittingly protecting her with his body. A few others heard him, reacting in time falling to the courtyard turf, most didn't.
The back mob of escapees was hit by a salvo of crossbow bolts. The green tinged, steel projectiles ripped through flesh and bone, punching as no bolt had ever punched before, going through nearly three bodies each before losing momentum. Dead beasts collapsed without a sound, dying before they had the chance to scream. Others were less lucky falling with shouts of agony and screams of terror.
Glancing over his shoulder Pyrin noted the guards on the wall, bending over to reload their bows. He also noticed the swarm of guards rushing amongst those who had the speed to duck down, cracking the helpless over the heads with cloth clubs, probably in hopes of recollecting the living for their experiments. Pyrin had no desire or inclination of going back, nor dying, nor getting another lump on his head. Rolling off of Silent he grabbed at her paw while regaining his footpaws.
"Hurry lets go, be ready to duck when I yell!"
Once the doors opened, Nora fell into a world of chaos. Fire, noise, and rushing beasts... Everybody RUN! Walls of flame formed a corridor ahead, it felt like she was baking as she started to run... Get down!
Nora recognized the note of urgency in Pyrin's voice. It was the same tone her mother had used when Nora was a kit, the time she'd decided to run backwards through the hall. Her mother had called for her to stop, but Nora had turned to see why--and slammed face-first into a pillar. The wildcat had learned from that painful lesson. This time, she didn't take time to look. She merely dove for the ground. She learned why a moment later, when a crossbow bolt took the beast in front of her. The suddenness, the crudity of the act shook her. One moment she'd been jogging along behind the young rat and the next, he was simply gone.
But she didn't have time to grieve for the fallen. She had to get up. Now! She could see guards reloading. She helped somebeast to their paws and bent to help another, but a guard armed with a club took a swing at her. She had to get out of his reach. With a guilty look at the beast she'd been blocked off from, Nora turned and ran. I can't leave--there's no time! No bloody time, either get yourself killed or stay alive to be of some use to others. Bitterly, she reflected that her oath to help anybeast still breathing hadn't lasted long.
Then, back into chaos. Running, shouting, searing heat... There's no bloody time. Just run.
Ellisar ducked under incoming arrows and climbed up the walls. He now ran down a battlement, shoving several crossbow beasts off the wall as he went. He sent one careening into the free air, screaming as he went, just as a fireball soared through the air and blasted into the wall just ahead of him.
Not hesitating, Ellisar leaped deftly over the smoldering crater, and continued towards the wall's end. He glanced sideways - one of the adepts was preparing to attack him again.
Ahead of him a lone crossbow beast was guarding Ellisar's escape and lowering his weapon towards Ellisar. El glanced back in forth. His move would depend on who fired first, and he would have only a split second to act.
The crossbow beast released the bolt and Ellisar threw himself down, sliding along the wall on his shoulder - tearing his clothes. He sumersaulted into the air after the bolt had screamed by him, and planted a kick in the creature's chest - sending him cartwheeling over the edge. Another fireball streamed in his direction, and there was only one way out. Continuing his mad sprint forward, El threw himself off the end of the wall into the air. Part of the wall exploded just behind him and he waved his arms as he floated down....down....down...
He reached for his life. The one way he could survive the fall without being crippled - a tree branch. It was getting closer, but he was falling. Everything was as if he was in slow motion. With a desperate reach he felt the branch snake into his fingers, and he clenched it in his hands as hard as he could.
The branch bent with his weight and nearly reached the ground. Just as his direction began to change, El released the branch and dropped lightly onto the ground, not even breaking stride. Nothing was going to stop him - he was free! He could only hope the others would make it, although he was not too worried. He hid himself to wait to see if anyone else would make it out alive.
Krain's optimism sunk down into his boots and a well of fear sprung up in his heart. Two adepts, and one with power over air, the other fire, a deadly pair, if they started to work together... but they were on opposite ends, so perhaps there was a chance. A wall of flame sprung up on either side of them the heat digging uncomfortably into his skin. And then he ran, his arms flung over his head, staying close to Besch. He didn't know what was happening he didn't look back, he was vaguely aware of a shower of crossbow bolts behind him, and screaming and shouting of their victims, but it all sounded miles away. He kept running, his legs burning and tight, his side screaming and his lungs ragged, he ran harder than he had ever run in his life. And all he saw was the door, the exit, the way out. Safty. Freedom. Life.
The crossbows had given Pyrin the chance he needed. With so many beasts felled by cruel fate the way was open. A few others joined the rat as he charged headlong across the outpost's common tearing up grass with his claws as he went. Blood splattered against his footpaws as he cleared the carnage area throwing himself and Silent through the destroyed gate and out into the world beyond.
"Stay close treemouse," Pyrin ordered preparing himself to continue his run. All around them other creatures were ducking, and dodging, and dying as guards and escapees alike crisscrossed the cleared land. About two hundred yards away the land dipped down into a sparse forest, probably the only chance they had of getting away unharmed.
Just then a mouse guard charged from around the wall running straight into Pyrin. The two rodents fell upon the grass rolling over and over as they struggled. Pyrin had lost his rock, and the mouse his club, but the mouse still had a sheathed dagger which he seemed to have forgotten about, or maybe it was because Pyrin had managed to get his paws around the smaller creature's throat.
"Get'er off'in ples." The mouse choked ramming his armored paw into Pyrin's muzzle several times. The rat spat out blood maintaining the deadly pressure knowing his life depended on it. The guard pressed his paw into Pyrin's face digging his claws into the sensitive fur and flesh.
"Aaaaagh," Pyrin's grip loosened for a moment and the mouse went for his knife, which Pyrin caught. They rolled and the mouse was on top, Pyrin on top, the mouse on top again. Pyrin was beginning to grow desperate, and his muscles screamed in agony as they came to a stop, the mouse leaned down applying all his weight on the knife as Pyrin only just held him off. It was only a matter of time until his arms gave out and the blade sank into his chest, or another guard came to his companion's aid. Only a matter of time.
Warder dove under the guard's arm and attempted to knee him in the leg. His old labor job served him well as he pushed up on the guard's arm with Pyrin.
OOC:
@Fatch of Southsward: I'm going to assume you hid behind something hard.
The rat atop the wall was not at all pleased with Ellisar or his actions. Having tracked the squirrel with the corner of his eye, he waited for the feeling of safety to set in. When his target had hidden itself, the soft-metal binding on his dagger unwound and broke into roughly 50 tiny pieces that reformed into spheres as they bristled and sparked to life. The fire adept flipped the dagger into an underhanded position and directed his projectiles with two fingers and a thumb. The bits screeched angrily as they flared up and flew straight into and through Ellisar's hiding place like fiery marbles, the shower of attacks ripping the stone hedge up and chipping flakes off of the other side. The spray swept over quickly, and was followed up by a final, concussive blast as the shards returned to their master whom had already refocused himself on the courtyard fiasco. Luckily for Ell, he'd only been struck in the waist and shoulder.
* * * * * * *
Beschuss knew what was happening without needing to look... It tore him up inside, but he ran nonetheless knowing all to well what would happen to everybeast if he didn't...
You know you can do more... He grimaced as his conscience ate away at him...
Stop protecting yourself, duty calls... For so long, he had avoided speaking of the tests or even thinking about what had happened. Every time the subject was brought up, his stomach fell out, and his heart ceased to beat, but the secrets he held so close were the secrets to their freedom. Still running, the otter finished his contemplation, resigning himself to the fact that the truth had finally caught up with him. As the bolts were fired a second time, Besch spun himself and swung his hammer around in a circle. As the hammer made it's way around, the flames towards the rear absorbed the rest of the wall as they consumed the bolts before they could strike the prisoners. As he spun, and the hammer once again came even with his body, every flame in the courtyard continued it's own motion and streamed into the hammer itself which almost instantly made it glow completely. He released the hammer with a grunt, sending the hammer and all the incendiary energy careening into the door where it promptly exploded. The resulting shock wave almost knocked it's closed-eyed assailant off kilter despite his distance from the gate which now sported.... well, a complete lack of a gate as the entire entrance was a gaping hole.
Now weaponless, he was rushed by a sharp gust as the wind hare charged. The slashing winds were about to make contact when Besh raised his right arm as if it had a shield on it, and though he had no shield, the winds pancaked themselves against a newly risen stone block..... The fur on his body seemed, suddenly, a light and brighter shade than before, emanating what looked like particles of dirt and dust. His chin was resting on his chest, and now raised as his eyes opened, and his fiery veins returned with even more presence than before, the whites of his eyes now turned murky brown, while the outer iris burned with orange yellows and reds. With no enchanted item on his person, he raised both of his hands towards the corner the fire mage had placed himself. The otter quickly turned his hands palm up and crossed them in front of himself, and again as he pulled his hands back in. the tower upon which his foe stood suddenly had the fringe facing the open air boil down into magma, quickly cutting into the structure itself as it became visible on the front side and spewed out violently from the wall, forcing the adept from his perch, and demolishing the entirety of the corner. The hare nearly made it to Besch, but he raised his back leg in front of himself which raised two more stones similar to the one before, kicking outward to send all three flying towards the now fleeing foe. Turning on his inner heel, he dropped to a kneeling position, striking the ground with his fist. This strike sent a ripple the skirted the left side of those evacuating to hammer an unseen presence at the back, he knew not what it was, only that it meant them harm. Some had already made their way out, and Besch followed quickly after, turning back after passing the entrance, waiting for everybeast to make it out whilst urging them to hurry so that he could close the hole.
* * * * * * *
Silent felt herself forced to the ground as the first barrage hit, quickly followed by guards crossing the flames and a rush to get back up. She hardly heard Pyrin speak as she took in the devastation before her, not so much stunned as grieved. Pyrin was attacked suddenly, though he appeared to be able to fight back, that was not the case of the beast to her left. One of the subjects had fallen, and was about to be skewered by a moderately armored, spear wielding otter. She rushed in close as his arm raised, using her left paw to guide the spear away as she swiftly raised her right forcing the soldiers' chin upwards, knocking him off balance. As his hold on the spear loosened, Silent's right hand swept around, assisting the left one with wrestling the weapon away. Continuing the sweep, she forced the spear into a chink in the otters left thigh. The resulting bark let her know she'd made it through as she maintained her momentum to elbow his chin, once again destabilizing the receiver. With one last, quick movement, she shoved him into the flames while at the same time turning to help the one she'd come to save. The wall of fire flared about this time, but the fire was now the least of Silents concerns. Behind everybeast, without any even knowing, there was another adept! It was a female ferret, fully decked in a ludicrously thin layer of silvery grey looking armor, her weapon of choice being the rather sinister looking claws protruding from what would conventionally be called a gauntlet, though this one was more like an archer's bracer. This one seemed a bit crazier, she had that evil smile and slight [ferret] of the head to match. This new adversary dropped the short distance to the ground, and rushed straight for Silent. In a panic, she turned to run, but the ferret was surprisingly fast, catching up in a mere moment. Shifting her wait around, she kicked out in desperation, luckily connecting with the ferret's rib cage. Creepily enough, the vermin seemed to find this amusing, her eyes bereft of sanity, having lashed out with the claws just before the kick. The blow had indeed landed spot on, but the mages claws extended unexpectedly, raking into Silents left side, ripping it up as the cut spread lightly to the middle of her stomach. She let a cry of agony leave her throat, collapsing to the ground in pain while clutching her side and stomach tightly, shaking with the pain. There was little time left to escape, she once again felt a sudden loss of weight as another beast came to her aid. The ferret dashed forward once again, only to be met by a facefull of stone cylinder as Besch's blind attack struck true, catapulting the would-be killer significantly farther away than a simple kick. Even so, while losing consciousnesses, she let loose six small diamond shaped plates of metal that buzzed past the beasts at a frightening speed. The first one whizzed straight into the back of Silent's helper, the second also making direct contact with the chest of the armored mouse combating Pyrin and Warder, rather suddenly ending both lives of those struck, as well as the fight between the two escapees and the mouse captor who had time for one last quizzical glance before sighing in death. The other four shards made contact elsewhere, having less impact on the goings on, despite having grown to slightly more than half the size of the average beast! Silent forced herself up despite the misery and profuse bleeding, semi-running toward the exit and the freedom it screamed of.
OOC: PLEASE SEE OOC TOPIC BEFORE POSTING AGAIN!
With Warder's aid Pyrin gained control of the dagger, bodily lifting the mouse up, only for him to be jerked away as a deadly star-like shard of metal tore his armor and flesh like a knife through warm butter. Pyrin shakily stood up holding out a paw to help Warder to his footpaws. He knew he had just dodged death by a hair's breadth, and had somehow come out alive again.
"Thanks mouse, but don' think I owe ye." The rat grimaced glancing towards the deathly still bodies. "Looks like th' squirrel lass'll live. Though I wouldn' count on th' others, c'mon les' get out o' here while we still can."
Krain Watched as Besch stopped to fight blasting the door down with an immense power. He hesitated only for a moment and continued to run for the exit. There were creatures fighting all around him but he was too terrified to stop and help. Besides what could he do, he was only an enchanters son, not a fighter. He stumbled and tripped falling to the ground with a jarring pain in the joints and then he scrambled to his feet and kept going. When he reached the door he stopped and looked back. Basch was standing in the middle of the courtyard. His weapon was gone yet he still glowed with magic, fire and earth emanating from himself. Krain gaped and stared before managing to tear himself away and keep running. He had to find cover. He couldn't stop. He had to get home. Maryrose would be worried about him. He had to get home to her.
The mouse grasped Pyrin's paw firmly and picked himself up. "Thanks, mate. Yore right, we should go before those beasts in the towers shoot anymore of those things."
He started towards the exit.
"Right behind ye," Pyrin agreed as he collected the dead mouse guard's mace. As he ran with Warder Pyrin tore off the softening cloth and wads of wool revealing the club's flanged stone end. Holding his new weapon at the ready the rat merc joined Besch at the exit clashing briefly with a wounded guard who had been injured by the blast. The doomed creature squealed in terror as Pyrin mercilessly clobbered his head with the mace. Stepping over the guard's body the rat snarled to their otter savior, shouting over the screams and moans.
"Bring 'er down mate, we ain't got fore'er, they'll be comin' out n' force soon!" The rat readied himself as sure enough six more guards approached, these ones armed with spears. Setting his jaw Pyrin decided there and then that his life mattered far more then the lives of the other escapees. Menacing the six creatures with his mace, Pyrin retreated backwards out of the opening abandoning Besch; motioning for Warder and Silent to follow. "C'mon, leave th' heroes ter die, foller me."
El lay still for several seconds - reassuring himself that he was not dead. Sure enough, things were coming back into focus. He touched a tender spot in his waist, and the paw came back bloody, he sat up and glanced down at the blackened spots on his waist and shoulder. He wasn't sure exactly what had happened, but he was badly burned - as though he had been struck by a fiery stone. He stood, faltered and fell to one knee - looking towards the ground. He raised his head, brushing his eyes and clenching his teeth in pain.
He had never felt hindered when he moved. He was fast and agile. Now he felt burdened, as he limped away, hunched over in pain. He wasn't sure where everyone else was - his eyes were blurred and the sounds were echos. The gate exploding sounded like a volcanic eruption far in the distance, and the shouts were like distant cries, carried away in the wind. El didn't know what was happening - all he knew was what the ten feet ahead of him held. He stared at a point until he reached it, then picked another spot, and continued limping until he reached that one. He continued in this manner, as the battle raged on behind him.
Krain didn't look back. He couldn't. He saw El ahead of him, stumbling on like a dead thing. Krain came running up to him and tried to catch him and help support him. Krain cringed when he finally got a good look at him. He looked badly hurt.
"Hey, I got you mate,"
El wasn't sure who had come to his aid but he appreciated it. He tried to keep his eyes open, and kept moving forward. He did his best to slow and deepen his breathing - which was currently coming is quick gasps.
"Thanks mate... They got me... Not sure how... Get me out of here..."
The shock had started to wear off, and he was now aware of other creatures running by them. Were they going to make it?
Silent made it out the doorway, but not very far before she collapsed to her knees with her arms still desperately clinching her wounds. She felt constricted yet light, bogged down by an unseen force, and bleeding out at an unnerving rate. She could faintly hear the altercations of beasts around her, but had difficulty discerning what they were about. Not surprising as she was fighting off fatigue and sleepiness.
* * * * * * *
Besch watched the last survivors rush past with sadness in his eyes, hardly even noticing that Pyrin had spoken, much less what he said. As soon as the last beast still alive enough to escape passed the gate, the otter stretched his arms wide before drawing them back together as if closing a curtain. The supports for the gate broke inward, quickly traveling straight up to create a new wall of stone and earth in response to Besch's upward arm thrust. He turned to run, spotting the helpless Silent, and gathering her into his arms as he passed. He ran, trying to find a quiet spot for everybeast to stop in the woods so they could regroup and plan.
* * * * * * *
Several guards looked on from the wall tops, crossbows leveled on the escapee's backs, "Hold your fire! T'would be a waste of ammunition at this point chaps!" The hare adept tilted the nearest weapon up with the flat of his blade, "Head back to your barracks, each of you, on the double!" None chose to argue, gladly returning to their more peaceful routine. The hare wasn't alone on the ramparts for long, "I'm not one to question, but we sure received some strange orders, hmm?" The rat had mounted the wall top, mere paces away from his colleague, "Strange doesn't even begin to describe it my friend." "Huh, better than just sittin' ere doing nothin' right eh?" The crazy ferret was back as well, hanging off the edge of the new hole torn into the top of the gates structure, "Some scrappin's better 'an no scrappin', 'specially if there's death involved, tee hee hee!" The other two simply rolled their eyes, contemplating the questions that plagued their minds.
Several creatures of mixed species fled past Pyrin as he jogged along. The rodent had kept ahold of the mace and was twirling it in slow experimental loops. He periodically cast nervous glances over his shoulder, expecting to see a swarm of soldiers in hot pursuit, but it seemed they had given up the chase for now, why they would Pyrin didn't know, but nobeast would hear him complaining.
Slightly ahead of him he noticed a familiar otter and squirrel. Grinning he trotted up beside them slapping Krain on the back in an almost friendly manner. "Hoy, looks like ye survived th' crucible cullies." He pointedly didn't offer to help support the wounded Ellisar, but more or less kept his paws to himself, eyeing El's wounds interestedly. "Got yeself some stories there eh? Fought off a hundred foes an' th' like. Somethin' for th' grandkits, if'n ye survive th' night that is - an' if ye got a lover. Heh thas' th' hard part."
Krain stumbled forwards and tensed as he felt a hand hit his back. When he saw who it was he gave a tight sigh and looked away. "What do you want?" Krain said tersely, hoisting Ellisar up a bit to get a better grip on the heavy man. He might be a bit taller than the squirrel but that didn't make him all that strong. At the moment it felt more like he was half supporting, half carrying the man.
"Heh waterdog, what do I want?" Pyrin gave a half laugh stepping around Krain so he was walking backwards, in front of him. It was easy enough to do, with his own good balance and the fact that the otter wasn't moving very fast due to the squirrel's weight. "I want what everybeast else wants, to live. An' I can't do it on me own, ye understand?"
Warder kept close behind Pyrin. The rat, however untrustworthy he seemed, also appeared to be his best bet of getting out of the compound. After all, he wasn't particularly concerned with the lives of the others. "Don't stop to talk," he advised Pyrin. "Only slows us down."