Red Waters, Almond Eyes (Sandpaw vs Ashleg)

[Ashleg]

Vilu's tail swished as he listened to his adversary speak, all the while grinning wider and wider.
"I accept your offer, Marten. I will rule this land and carry forth whatever deal you were going to make with their now deceased king."
He bowed curtly in return and then strode past Ublaz, twirling his red cloak behind him like a splotch of blood in water.
"Calcabba, lead my crew and I to the palace. Ublaz is a matter I'll see to in due time. Come, Parug!"

[LT Sandpaw]

Not entirely sure why Ublaz had backed down so quickly Calcabba hesitantly bowed to Vilu, "Certainly lord, we shall continue to lord Gilvu- I mean your castle." The viceroy turned raising his voice to be heard over the crowd. "Everyone return to your barracks, save you guards. Escort Ublaz back to his ship and secure the docks."

Casting one last smile towards Vilu, Ublaz spun on his heel deserting the scene. He walked swiftly back across the shore with the guards and trident rats in tow. Once they were out of sight Ublaz suddenly drew his sword, hacking down one of the horde vermin. His trident rats sprang upon the others splattering blood across the sands littering bodies left and right. None of the unfortunate souls managed to even raise their weapons in time as they were slaughtered.

A few nearby slaves watched in shock as the final horde vermin was slain, but they said nothing, unwilling to direct the trident rats' wrath upon themselves.

"Sagitar, take two with you and follow that wretched stoat Daskar." Ublaz ordered cleaning off his sword. "We'll wait here for Bowfly and Lask to return with reinforcements. Leave your uniforms and weapons, they'll give you away. Use these fools' things to blend in." Ublaz indicated the felled creatures. "Oh, and take a good archer with you, if you see an opportunity, slay Vilu. That'll make the task of seizing the island far easier."

[Ashleg]

"So, Calcabba..."
Vilu trod lightly on the rat's tail, looking up and raising an eyebrow in mock innocence when the rat's attention spiked.
"The castle has treasured, correct? Tell me all about them. In fact, I expect a full-blown tour..."
The stoat captain couldn't hold back a short laugh.
He hadn't expected to gain control of the island this easily or at all, and the day was rolling over in his favor with each passing minute.

"Mind telling me your current position, Calcabba?"

[LT Sandpaw]

Gasping slightly as Vilu treaded on his tail Calcabba gnashed his teeth trying his best to hold his patience. He hoped with every fiber of his being that this was simply a prank being pulled by Lord Gilvur, but knowing the wildcat lord, that would never be the case.
"I am Viceroy," he said keeping his air of reverence. "Loyal servant and speaker for the lord of these lands, which would be you, your grace."

Sagitar and her two rats rejoined the entourage surrounding the new pirate king, dressed in the rags of fallen horde vermin and armed with bows and arrows. They loitered in the back, waiting for their chance to strike.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ublaz's planning had paid off. Bowfly, along with a small army had returned. Lask, at the head of nearly a score of his monitors, and many more trident rats was closely accompanied by a portion of Barranca's crew. The lizards and vermin crossed the sands in a tight formation weaving their way to where Ublaz was waiting.

"Got 'em all 'ere." Bowfly grunted coming to stand next to the pine marten. "Armed n' ready fer a fight."

"Excellent," Ublaz hissed rubbing his paws together gleefully. "Keep them marching, I've got a conversation to finish with a certain stoat."

[Ashleg]

"Grand," Vilu laughed, "Marvelous."

"I feel like somethin's terribly wrong, Cap'n," Parug whispered in his ear.

The stoat brushed him off.
"Oh, Parug. Ublaz is gone, and if he dares to even make a wrong move with me, why, I will have him killed. Are we nearly there, Viceroy?"

[LT Sandpaw]

"Yes, my lord. Here we are." Calcabba bowed as the gate opened into a wide courtyard and path that led up to the keep. A few of the guards looked uncomfortable with this new arrangement, but held their silence. Just as everyone was about to cross the threshold one of Sagitar's rats separated from her winding his way through the crowd. Picking a small dune for his sniping position he coolly drew an arrow from his quiver, setting it to the string and drawing back the bow.
Any creature who had control over their own mind would have known the foolishness of such an action. They would have known it was suicidal in success or failure. Not this rat.
Compelled to preform Sagitar's orders through Ublaz's hypnotic eyes, he aimed and loosed his shaft towards Vilu all in a single fluid motion.
Farther away Sagitar and her remaining crony watch in eager anticipation, to see whether the assassination attempt succeeded or failed. Even if it was ultimately useless she still had one more rat to try again.

[Ashleg]

Vilu was gazing about the scenery and noticed something off.
There was something shooting at a relatively quick speed towards him, out of the sky.
"Treachery!" He gasped, shoving a random horderat of similar height in front of him.

The beast gave a gurgle and fell, an arrow protruding from his skull.
Vilu's lip curled in disgust.
"An arrow..."
Seething, he seized Calcabba by the ears.
"You know about this, Rat! That rat up on that dune tried to shoot me--kill him or by the stars I'll flay you alive!"

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Sorry for the delay.

IC:

"Y-yes at once my liege," the viceroy stuttered in alarm, doing his best to pry Vilu's claws from his ears. However the horde vermin were more then capable of dealing with the issue on their own, and they pounced upon the lone trident rat, forcing his weapons from him, and dragging him off the dune into Vilu's presence.

"We gotta get out'er." Sagitar whispered to her compatriot as their lone comrade was forced to his knees in front of the pirate lord. "I thought they'd kill 'Im, 'ell spill 'Is guts, one way or another. Move it rat." The two rodents very inconspicuously attempted to sneak away from the others, even whistling a bit as they wandered off.


OOC:

Should Sagitar get captured?

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Indeed.
IC-
Vilu was about to strike down on the rat with his blade but then thought better of it.
He'd put the scoundrel out of his misery, but not yet.
Harshly he grabbed him by the wrist and yanked him back up.
"Lead me to my castle and I will question him there," the stoat snarled at Calcabba.

[LT Sandpaw]

 The viceroy bowed once more, rubbing his injured ears ruefully. "Yes, my lord." After a few hastily shouted orders, and a bit of explaining the guards raised the portcullis and opened the gates admitting Vilu into his castle. A few of the pirates present grabbed the captured rodent, practically carrying him inside the walls. Sagitar snuck in after them, having realized she still had a chance to complete her mission.
"After you lord Daskar," Calcabba said as they made to enter the open gates. "Shall I have the prisoner taken to the dungeons?"

At that moment Ublaz, leading his army over a small hill, came into view fully armed and ready for a fight. The pine marten's almond eyes flashed in malicious greed as he drew his sword pointing it down towards the enemy pirates and horde vermin.
"There, catch them before they get inside and close the gates, all of you charge!" He ordered as Lask and Bowfly led the mixed army down upon Vilu's citadel. "The creature who brings me Daskar's filthy head will be made captain of the Goreleach." Ublaz still had to deal with the Goreleach, there were who knew how many pirates onboard, loyal to Vilu. A considerable threat to be sure, but not one he couldn't handle. And besides, they were nearly two miles away aboard their ship, blissfully unaware of their captain's situation.

[Ashleg]

Vilu flicked his scarf out of the way.
"No, no, just bring him to me once I get to the throne room. There is one, isn't there, Calcabba? I have always dreamed of sitting like a king in front of my own subjects--ah!"
The stoat grinned and flicked an ear towards the gates.
"Hurry up and close them. It would be a pity to have that marten or any of his filthy followers snake their way in."

[LT Sandpaw]

Hustling inside the horde vermin hastily began closing the wooden gate just as Lask reached it. A weasel squealed in agony as the lizard's claws sank into his shoulders pulling him through the door just as it slammed shut. Biting into the weasel's throat Lask flicked his jowls once breaking the mammal's neck.
"Find zomthing to uze az a ladder foolz!" He hissed in disdain as the slower members of Ublaz's army reached the gate. Licking blood from his chomps the general stalked through the milling creatures pushing them away from the high stone walls. "Zey will kill anybeazt who standz too close with arrowz, back to ze hillz."

They made a unsightly retreat back to Ublaz having been unable to catch their foe with his gates open. The pine marten looked livid. The element of surprise had been ultimately important for victory to be possible, and now it was very clear they were aware of his presence.
"You flea brained idiots!" Ublaz growled slapping anybeast that dared come to close with the flat of his sword. "Bring me his head I said, kill the scum I said. Why is it that the only one who seems capable of following orders is my general?" Turning to Lask he motioned for the lizard to approach him. "We'll need to salvage this situation, where is Sagitar?"

The reptile shrugged, his long tongue slithering out of his mouth as he tasted the air. "I do not know, ze wz not outzide ze wallz."

"She might have snuck inside." Ublaz deduced stroking his chin thoughtfully. "We'll need to give her a good target to take Vilu down."



Inside the keep Calcabba and a few other vermin had settled Vilu's prisoner in front of Lord Gilvur's old throne ready for questioning. The room was large and well cleaned with tapestries adorning the walls, and red carpets covering the floor. The dead wildcat, who had been discovered only hours before had been disposed of, and the throne hastily polished in the honor of his successor.
"All hail, Vilu Daskar, lord of the great western seas!" The viceroy choked out, wishing he was anywhere but there. "Long may he reign."

[Ashleg]

Vilu Daskar flopped down in his new throne like a feather.
Crossing one leg over the other, the stoat tried to look regal and fill out the chair. The trouble was, the throne was made for a wildcat and he was nowhere near as big.
He cracked a smile.
All the better for him if the chair was so large. Only a true ruler could ever sit in such a thing.
The pirate whipped his sword out and poised the tip at his prisoner.
"Bow before your ruler."

Parug scampered in and lingered by the door.
Surely he could get Akkla soon?
Somebeast should warn the crew back on the ship, and it could be him.

[LT Sandpaw]

The would-be assassin shuddered and bowed, but not low enough for his guard who kicked his legs out from under him. The rodent fell in a heap, and shuffled into a prostrate position his nose squeezing against the dirt. Ublaz's control was beginning to wane, and as hypnotism often worked the rodent was now hyperaware and willing to follow anyone's orders. Or answer their questions.

~*~*~*~

Outside Ublaz along with a small cohort of reptiles and trident rats approached the walls, waving a flag of truce. The pine marten had a devilishly wicked smile forced on his face, which he flashed like a badge at the sentries stationed on the walls.
"Greetings," he yelled making sure to wave the makeshift flag in front of him. "A fine morn is it not? I come under the flag of truce, as you can see."

[Ashleg]

Vilu tickled the rat's ear with his bone scimitar.
"Who sent you? You're quite a failure of an assassin, you know. Surely you can answer, because if I send you back I'm sure they won't be pleased."