(Wolf's Den)Die Hard I:Conniving Backstabbers- Kill 'em all!

[Antar]

11th day of summer

Noth rose from his tent amidst the camp, and readied himself for finishing the job they started yesterday. Yesterday, they had taken upon the last of the Kessel Crows, and slaughtered them all on the roads as they left Sunberth. Today, today it was time to go deliver the severed heads and collect their pay. In sunberth, there was such a thing about punctuality that was a tenet of business. If one said they were to do a job, then they had to complete it as best they could, no matter what. Otherwise, you were more likely to end up skewered on the end of someone's spear then the person you were going after.

That's all it was, just business. Business as usual. They were supposed to meet up with their present employers to deliver proof the job was done.

Once he had his weapons, his quiver, and his arrows, Noth made his way towards Cade tent and stood outside a moment to call him softly to wake up. "Come on Cade, wake up. It's time to go."

[Cade]

To Antar's surprise The half blood myrian merged from the tent just as he finished calling on him, fully dressed and armed to teeth as usual as if he was waiting for the rogue to wake him. He looked upon his accomplice whose glare in return was puzzlement. " Its pay day Noth.....Its pay day! Of course I am awake" He chuckled as he patted the smaller man on the shoulders before walking past him to collect the barrel of heads they collected the day before.

Cade grasped the fly infested barrel with the dried blood stained it through and through. He shouldered the six heads, ignoring the stench while grasping the hilt of his sword with his right hand. This was sunberth and Cade's hand had rarely ventured far from the hilt of his sword, always prepared for battle, always prepared to deliver death to those that come looking for it. " Come Noth, its time to collect" He said while motioning for Antar to take lead while he carried their 'merchandise".

[Antar]

Smiling slightly at the Barbarian's rather uncharacteristically good cheer in the morning, Noth nodded slightly before turning towards the edge of camp. They had a ways to walk this morning towards the wolf's den and it wasn't any sort of time to let down one's guard. He just hoped to finish things today fast so he might go and work a day out in the South woods, a peaceful afternoon of chopping wood out amidst the wilderness.

All this morning was supposed to be was a delivery of the proof and a collection of the 60 gold bounty. But when did anything in sunberth every go as truly as planned? Sighing to himself, and praying he didn't jinx the day's events Noth began to turn towards the edge of the slums and fade into the streets as he began to walk the ways down towards the Den. The Den was a bad enough sort of place, with a reputation that many who entered didn't usually get out in one piece unless they were recent patients of the doctor there. Another surly, if albeit crazy sort of man who was rumored to torture and dissect people while they were still alive.

Shaking such thoughts from his head, Noth turned to glance back towards Cade as he quickened his pace. Muttering softly, Noth spoke in his direction, "Alright, we're supposed to deliver the heads of the Kessel Crows to the Mongoose Men in an alley off the side of the main street. About a half mile from killroy's kennels, there's an old courtyard there the Mongooses use to work their bit of the drug turf, selling to a bunch of druggies and rejects there, and it's rather enclosed. A good spot to talk privately with somone... or ambush them, so keep your eyes sharp Cade. Once we get close I'll try to find a good spot to cover you, you go get our sixty gold from the Mongeese. Not a copper less as we exterminated the rest of 'em yesterday. Though you'll be in charge of the dealing, Cade. I plan to be out of sight by then."

[Cade]

Cade lugged the stanching barrel above his shoulder the entire distance to the rendezvous location. Just before entering the alley before the courtyard the half blood myrian turned back to his partner in crime "Noth, Think this is the time for you to be gone". With that Cade faced down the alley and marched on, his right hand gripping the hilt his longsword with anticipation of use.

As he entered the courtyard where the mongooses agreed to make payment on the heads of the kessel crows in which Cade had six of within the barrel, four men emerged from the shadows. At a quick glance the barbarian could see all were humanish armed with short swords, assorted daggers and one had a hand crossbow drawn and aimed at the approaching brute. The sinking feeling he was about to be shot heighten his senses and his acute battle awareness.

Cade then heard a slight movement behind him, a red haired creature of beauty moved off the courtyard wall, with a short bow drawn and aimed at Cade. Cade noticed she had a very distinctive scar running down the side of her face which only he could guess matched her career choice for Cade had many such marks to match. He turned to face the four in front of him, exposing his back to the Inarta while running scenerios through his mind for escape. None gave him much hope.


"Well, I see you brought a labour force........ but i think you wasted your coin for i didn't bust my back carrying this barrel by myself" He broke the silence with sarcasm.

" Lets see the heads" A skinny dark haired man with a sharp goatee stepped forward, short sword drawn. This was obviously the crew leader for the other three spread out behind him with a single wave from his hand. Swords drew and sweat trickled from Cade's forehead for he his hand had not twitched once to this show of force.

"Sixty mizhas is what I must see before I hand over the heads" Cade hissed through a snarl, quickly realizing that this situation was not looking good for him. The heads didn't mean much to Cade but he was testing to see if the mongooses had the coin that would prove some intentions of paying. If no gold was shown, the barbarian knew he would be in the fight for his life.

The slight snickers of the surrounding men and the hesitation of this leader was enough tell sign for Cade to figure this was a ambush and Cade had walked right into the trap. He only sighed knowing full well there was only one thing left to do..........trip the trap.

Cade's glare fell upon the dark haired man before him, his fangs exposed like a beast gunning down his soon to be dinner " I am gonna skull fuck you!!!" the myrian spat his threat out with conviction of intent to succeed. He was answered in due kind, the twang of a bow sounded behind him and with panther like reflexes Cade let the barrel fall backwards over his shoulder and catching it by the lip of the lid with his left hand. The wooden barrel acted as a improvised shield, absorbing the Inarta archer's kill shot with wood and skull.

Just as Cade felt the arrow hit the barrel he let his grip go and pounced forward like a cornered tiger that was about to claw and chew his way out of the trap. A familiar sharp pain ripped through his left leg, a bolt from the hand crossbow struck true as he stumbled forward towards the leader. The man before him lashed out with his short sword aimed at using Cade's injury to his advantage but he did not calculate for the barbarian's tolerance for pain.

Cade grabbed the man's sword arm with his right hand using his enemies forward momentum to pull him closer while pushing the incoming blade off to his right side. At the same time Cade has unsheathed his dagger from his chest holster and thrusted the point under his chin to the hilt as the blade scraped the top of the man's skull. Cade growled into the dead man's ear "told you I was gonna skull fuck you".

[Antar]

"Noth, Think this is the time for you to be gone."

Antar had already been in motion at the myrian's words, marching close towards the nearest door in one of the side buildings. He already had his kukri out and slid it into the the side of the door between the doorframe, and the doorwell. Keeping one hand on the knobe he levered the thick steel of the long knife sideways with all his weight he used the weapon as a crowbar. The rotting door splintered and fell open , but was prevented from crashing into the wall by his anchored hand and noth vanished inside posthaste.

In the first chamber's shadows of what looked to be an old den of a hut with one broken fireplace serving as the back wall, the rogue espied a few sparse furnishings. They were the simple sort, like what one woudl find in many of the hovels which littered the streets of the Den. The far wall was broken, mortared over to extend the space into the next structure. A veritable maze of hallways and knocked out block which consisted of the mongoose's turf. It was a labrynth, spread across the buildings around the alleyways courtyard, and the Mongeese thrived in the rat hole they created like the verminous lot they were.

It was their nest, and he was the intruder within it.

Noth's heartbeat pounded in his ears, as his pulse quickened instinctively. To hide his presence he closed the door, and shifted a small nightable to keep it closed before he wheeled towards his first objective. He had to get higher, and find a means of gaining a shooting point towards the courtyard.
He moved deeper into the labyrinth's bowels, peeking quickly around the corner of the wall into the conjoining room as he strained his ears to listen for even the simplest of sounds. The rustle of clothing, the sharp intake of an indrawn breath which might belie the fact his presence was known.

But there was none.

Padding softly through what looked to be a broken bath area, he came to a lantern lit hallway which brought him very close to a cloudy glass window. He could hear muffled voices mingling through the thick pane about chest high. Cade's muttered grunt like common being prevalent amidst the sniggers of the Mongeese. Reaching up to the lever he slowly bent it backwards to spot the shapely figure of a woman between him and where Cade was speaking. A woman with a drawn bow aimed at his fellow myrian. 'Petch, he wasn't high enough to get a proper angle on her. A small creak somewhere to the side of him hinted at the presence of another. Glancing towards the disturbance he saw the rotted appearance of steps, shored up with the inclines of boards over areas where the stone had crumbled and the telltale sound of boots clacking above. Gripping his kukri tighterm Antar could hear the ruckus outside begin to escalate into threats and laughter and he made a quick decision.

He took the stairs slowly, one at a time, praying silently to Akajia they wouldn't snap or creak under his weight as he approached the source of the noises above. He transferred his kukri to his teeth as he crouched on all fours at the top of the stairs. Swiveling his view as much as possible to gain an inkling of what was in this second floor room. It was a small sort of place, barely twenty by twenty and completely enclosed save a ladder that ventured up towards the rooftops. On the far end of the room, a man stood looking out the open window with a crossbow in hand. Staring down as he smiled towards whatever he could see of the goings on in the courtyard. He was taking his time lining up a shot.

A loud shout from Cade's voice about skull's, a telltale threat of a charging myrian came to his ears and Noth's decision was made for him. Reaching up to take the kukri from his teeth, Noth closed the distance. His left arm wrapped around the crossbow man's throat, wrenching it backwards as he brought his kukri down in an icepick grip towards the man's heart. Embedding it in his throat, with the blade angled down past the collarbone with the blade angled down past the collarbone to breach the heart.It was a bloody loud way to die,(even if it was quick) as the gargling of blood began to spill forth from the crossbowman's chest. And the stench of life's fleeting worth slipping from the body as it took it's last breath was apparent in his nostrils. Wrinkling his nose at the smell, Noth unceremoniously shoved the corpse into the nearest wall, snapping his attention towards the outside in time to see the charging myrian close to one of the mongoose men.

In fact, they were very close, dagger range even as behind him the three of his opponents cursed and readied to charge.

Peeking over the window ledge he spotted the woman, knocking another arrow on her bow for a shot as she took her time to line things up. Cursing his luck he stabbed the kukri into the wood of the wall, immobilizing it there as he drew his own longbow for a quick shot down at the red head's back. He drew and fired just moments before she did, and the arrow entering her backside was enough to throw off her shot from hitting Cade as it whistled past his ears. Cursing again he drew another arrow, and took aim towards the three men, but all had come far too close to Cade for a decent shot.

A flash of movement from the corner of his eye instinctively forced him to draw his head back inside cover, as another crossbowmen standing in a window directly across from him fired a shaft in his direction. It plunked halfway into the wall, and the rogue spun back to return fire , only to see the shadowy form fo the crossbowmen duck and run towards some other area of the buildings he could follow.

Cursing his luck for a second time, Antar pulled his kukri from the wall and shucked the longbow behind his back. Vaulting towards the ladder up to the roof, he began to climb the rungs two at a time. Whatever Cade was going to do, the myrian would have to survive a few seconds on his own until Noth made it to a new position.

[Cade]

Slightly unnerved by the slaying of their leader, the three mongooses advanced upon the foreign warrior with weapons in hand ready for the slaying. "You going to die, savage!" the closest explain as the three men continued towards him.

But the savage only grinned a wolfish unsettling grin while taking a more comfortable grip on the hilt of his longsword. " I don't have all day" The barbarian spoke as he bladed his body and lowered his sword into the fool's guard. " So come forward you curs. for the crimson edge" He thrusted forward, a rage in his aura as his sword hungered for the kill. " WARRIORS SETTLE THEIR QUARRELS LIKE WARRIORS" He savagely roared as his sword tore through the first man's arm as the other two thugs struck out at him. With fluent instincts He parried the one blade to the side while knocking the other man's face in with a quick right hook to knock him off balance. The third man came in with a thundering high attack to only be fowled as Cade speared the tip of his sword through his chest, running his blade through and through before unsheathing it from his body. The barbarian twisted on his heels, ripping his sword in a horizontal slash, gutting the remaining man from side to side, spilling his bowls onto the courtyard.

More men spewed from the buildings attached to the courtyard, revenge and bloodlust in their eyes as their obvious intent was to kill the beast who had slayed four of their comrades. They hesitated not, and rushed in with swords ready to bring death upon Cade who had backed himself up against the opposite wall of the courtyard.

Out of skill or luck , the myrian halfblood had chosen his place well. A heap of stone guarded his left, a wall guarded his back and before him and to his right his longsword wove a bloody web of death that none could break through. But they were many, and he was one. And surely, for all his pantherish speed and power, he would of fallen swiftly. Surely.......but.......the wall behind him was actually a door his back was pushed against. This door quickly opened from behind tripping the savage's balance as he fell backwards into the building, dropping his longsword after killing five in the rushed onslaught.

Cade had no time to breath, for the door was not opened by accident, but by a mongoose thug who thought he could get the drop on the barbaric monster. He got the drop, but Cade was quick as he unsheathed another dagger and ramming its blade up into the man's groin, forcing the mongoose to drop his longsword in Cade's grasp. The man fell upon him as all Cade could do to stop a swarm of gangsters from piling in was to kick the door shut while stabbing the man on top of him tell he was sure dead.

The barbarian rolled the dead man off of his own body then jumped to his feet with a newly acquired longsword at hand. The door opened and Cade made a mad dash for the stairs, in hopes of finding a vantage point to defend himself.

[Antar]

Levering the trapdoor to the roof open, Noth sneaked a quick peek out towards the rooftops. They were a little slanted in these parts of the slums, but already he could see they weren't devoide of any mongoose. Two crossbowmen on the other roofs of the courtyard were a clear and present danger to him as they sighted down towards where Cade was fighting. He recognized from his surrounding that he was on the high ground here, aside from one other two story building across the courtyard. To his left there was a story drop to the next building along the way. If he could hold this position for a while he stood a good chance of improving their chances. Pulling himself up through the aperture, Antar took a moment to look towards the nearest one, the man's back was turned towards him as he was half crouched on the side of the roof to take a shot, about twenty feet away and that was enough for him to make what was probably the stupidest attempt of his life to kill another person so far.

He bullrushed the man on the slippery slope, skittering over the shoddy workmanship of shingles which soon became dislodged at his passing as he hurled forwards like a line backer before translating his motion into a sliding kick towards the archer's backside. The angle of the rooftops helped his endeavor, and as the man turned towards the noises, Noth's boots impacted his backside hard enough to send him plummeting over the edge. Not wanting to follow, Antar stabbed downwards with his kukri, using it as and anchoring piton to arrest his fall before he could struggle to a crouched position.

An arrow plinking off a shingle nearby alerted him that one of the other two archers had seen him. "Petching luck!" Noth spat as he pulled free the knife and began shuffling as fast as he could towards the cover of a nearby stone chimney stack. Sheathing his kukri he drew his bow, and knocked an arrow. Long range on the roofs gave him an edge over a crossbow, not much of one, but the rougue intended to use whatever advantage he could. RIght now, there were only targets in his mind. He had to concentrate solely upon the different ways to either kill each one of them and only that. Any more thoughts entering his head right now would doom him for sure.

Breathing out slowly he stilled his breathing as he stood from half cover and took a bead on the archer caddy corner about eighty feet from his position. Adjusting for wind, his eyes focused on the target's center of mass. Judging the distances as the other man began to duck towards cover he released the string, and the arrow's bolt lanced out over the courtyard and into the man's side. He ducked behind cover to knock another arrow. Oblivious to the scream of the dying man as he slid down the roof and into the courtyard below.

His thoughts were already on the thirds as he wheeled towards the other side of the chimney. Always careful to never pop out in the same spot. This target was closer, about forty feet and on the run towards his position, trying to flank him for a clear kill shot. Pitiless eyes stared down the shaft, adjusting at the point to draw and let loose another quarrel towards the man. It took him in the chest, and the man's cry was cut off as he fell backwards to crack his skull on a shingle.

Below him angry shouts at the barbarian were apparent and not seeing any threats at this elevation he took a knee and leaned slightly over into the crowd. He could hear the blood pumping in his ears as the adrenaline propelled him to take a bead on another target. Drawing a fourth arrow, he knocked it on the string aiming down at an opportune blob of color that caught his eye as he steadied his aim to fire. He wasn't even sure he could be hitting anything vital at this moment, he was far too concerned with loosing as many shafts towards the group as possible to thin the herd and slow them down when the myrian was backed into a corner beneath him, eclipsing Cade from his view as he drew back and fired at ten second intervals. The cries of pain from the courtyard were the only sounds that his efforts were having any effect at all.

This went on for another three to four shots, each time with Noth having to take a slight moment to pause and re-knock a new arrow before things became quite tenuos for him. An arrow or two plunked its way in his direction, coming from the second story windows on the other side of the courtyard. he ducked back into the cover of the chimney again. Cursing again, Noth looked at the drop as the hail of arrows intensified.

Figuring that he would be pinned down if he didn't move he considered his options, he could attempt to climb the slanted roof back towards the trapdoor. Or take his chances and jump down to the lower roof. Cursing his luck, Noth decided on the latter and waited for a stall in the arrows to show there was a sign of the remaining archers were reloading. There couldn't possibly be more then two of them left amidst the labrynth. At a silent cue he took off like a jackrabbit and leapt down and across the divide towards the flat one and a half story roof. Rolling to break his fall, he found his luck further wasn't with him as he the rotten timbers buckled and he fell a good six feet down into an attic. Cursing the pain, he coughed and sputtered from the dust, trying to get his bearing before he could get up again. Somewhere nearby, the sound of pounding feet warned of approaching danger...

[Cade]

The barbarian made his ascent up the stairs with a mob of mongoose thugs trailing not far behind. At the first landing stood a half naked human girl frozen in fear at the site of the half blood myrian running for his life. Which played in Cade's favour, as he savagely grabbed her by the hair and tossed her off the landing to only listen to the whore scream in agony as her body slammed into the mob of thugs knocking a few back and holding the mob off for just a few more moments before regrouping.

Regroup they did but now they looked up to the first landing to bare on the Barbarian holding his ground for he was tired of running, his leg acked in pain as he ripped the bolt from his leg and tossing the projectile to the side. Then body leafed and sword positioned low in the fools guard, Cade would rather die fighting than being chased down like a wild pig by the dogs of the hunt. Cade could see from his advantage point from top of the stairs that the mob of men was no more then six thugs thirsty for revenge. The wolfish grin formed upon his face once more, for swinging his sword in battle has been the only home the barbarian has ever known. Both hands gripping the hilt of the longsword he could feel the bloodlust thirst of his blade that longed for the flesh of his enemies.

"I DO NOT FEAR DEATH" Cade growled to the hesitant men below, all human and waiting for someone to be brave enough to make the first move. A handsome looking man, long blond hair tied back in a pony tail and topped off with a red bandana thrusted forward and up at the barbarian. He wielded a cutlass giving Cade the hint that this man was a sea fairing warrior either of navy decent or pirate, either way he was brave. With a quick flick of his wrist and a slight lunge forward Cade had ended the man's life as the tip of his sword ripped through his throat unchallenged by the barbarian's battle hardened reflexes. With a heavy boot to the chest Cade had dislodged his sword from the handsome man's throat, sending the dead man sprawling down the stairs with blood gushing from his wound.

The half blood myian flung himself off the first step at the next man roaring like a savage banshee from hell with a berserker's rage exploding from within the warrior as his deep tone voice thundered and howled through the rickety building. Using his forward momentum, weight and all the strength he could muster, Cade brought his blade down upon the man he was pouncing upon. His blade cut the man in two from collar bone to pelvis while the barbarian crashed into his body then going with the flow he rolled into the remainder of men taking a few of them down the stairs with him.

The berserker pushed himself up off the ground gritting through the pain that waved over his entire body. Cade's head fogged from concussion as his body was used as a battering ram against five bodies, about fifteen steps and a floor. There was a quick rush of steps coming from behind the dazed warrior, Cade instinctively twisted on his heels lashing out with his longsword at the would be attacker............... Only one thing was missing, his sword. The sole attacker thrusted his shoulder into the unarmed half blood myrian's chest and spearing him through a decayed wall and into a make shift kitchen.

The three other mongoose thugs were getting to their feet at the bottom of the stairs, along with the half naked whore as Cade and his attacker wrestled in the kitchen, easily viewed through the new hole in the décor. The hulk of a man, larger then Cade, was putting the beats on the grounded barbarian as he fed powerful shots to the face. Cade's vision was blurred and he felt the blackness closing off his peripheral vision as his right hand desperately tried to block the flurry of blows while his left unsheathed a small throwing dagger. Cade began to rapidly stab the man's abdomen and thigh with vicious speed, forcing his attacker off of him and staggering back into the cupboards.

The barbarian rose wielding the tiny dagger , blood pouring from his face as the larger man felt the many puncture wounds to his body. The hulk looked towards Cade, inferno rage glazed his eyes and right then he knew he only pissed the giant off.

The two beasts charged at each other with the giant striking first, with a powerful kick that sent Cade flying over a butcher's table and crashing into the wall behind it. He could only stagger to his feat as the giant was upon him once more, grasping him by the throat and picking him up off the ground and pinning him to the wall. Cade's breath was being chocked, his body was a mess but his instincts were still true as he dug both of his thumbs into the man's eye sockets with such intensity and strength he could feel the round balls squish under the pressure. A horrible scream ripped out from the giant of a man as he fell to his knees, releasing Cade from his grasps.

Gasping for breath, the barbarian wasted no time as he pinned the kneeling giant to the edge of the butcher's table, the top of his head only exceeding the table surface line. Cade reached out and grasped a large blood stained cleaver and began his work on the man. He chopped at the Giant's face and head with the kitchen tool of mast destruction, screaming in rage with every strike tell there was nothing left.

Cade looked up, releasing what was left of the man while he staggered from around the table and towards the very hole his body made. The three men and the whore looked upon the Half blood myrian savage with horror as he stepped through into the lobby, covered head to toe in blood and brain matter, his face busted up and noise was clearly broken. He leaned against a pillar as if that was the only thing holding the berserker upright on his feet while he raised the blood soaked clever in the direction of the remaining men and woman.

"Which one of your curs are next?" The barbarian slurred through a sinister grin as he spat a mouth full of blood to the ground. The tenacity of Cade's resolve and his savage ways had halted the mongoose thugs in pure shock and fear. Though it was visible that the Berserker was broken, battered and punctured but he still breathed and there was still fight left with in him. Cade's legs were vibrating in exhaustion and the blackness was still invading his vision, but Cade was not going to roll over and die......not just yet.

"were the frek are you noth?" Cade mumbled while lifting himself off the pillar. The time was now, the men were not going to strike first and Cade knew he could not fight the blackness for much longer. He needed to put blade to flesh and end this fast before he was done. The barbarian stumbled and staggered forward, clever at the ready with possible hopes of scarring the three warriors off. Three steps and Cade's legs had failed, dropping the beast to his knees in pure fustration and anger. The sign of weakness boosted the three men's moral and confidence in ending this fight.

Cade took in one deep breath and bellowed in desperation "ANTARRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!"

[Antar]

Blearily blinking the dust from his eyes, Noth coughed and sputtered as he began to wiggle out from underneath the rubble. The sounds of swordplay nearby seemed muffled, as if blocked by an intervening wall or two. They echoed in his head as if someone was playing wardrums inside his skull, and he wanted to close his eyes and sleep, to drown out the noises forever. But he knew he had to get up, he had to move. Being bogged down with a number of unknown enemies would only allow them to rush you, or more horribly wait you out. Worse yet, falling unconscious would get you dead. He had to find Cade, they had to start dividing these bastards into ones and twos to take them out quietly. Efficiently. Shoving a small remnant of tinder off of him, the rogue stumbled to his feet and moved a short distance away from the hole in the roof. It was a lucky thing he did, as an arcing crossbow bolt came downwards to plunk itself into the planking of the floor.

He notched another arrow as sounds above him, on the rooftops were the only sign of something plodding towards the breach in the shingles. Sighting towards the hole, the rogue waited, biding hist time as his heart pounded in his chest. His patience was rewarded by a small blur of color bringing to him the sight of the one remaining crossbowman who had shot at him from a window across the yard leaning over to peer down into the attic. He fired, and the quarrel imbedded itself into the man's chest, causing him to clutch his breast as he staggered and fell down into the attic with a dull thud.

From behind his position, the thumping of something pounding down the stair could be heard as he shouldered his bow to check his other weapons, his gladius, and kukri were still there, but he'd lost five of his arrows in the fall.

Cursing silently he drew his gladius and began to move towards the noises. Peeking around a corner, Antar noticed a stairwell twisting down to the floor below, and he took a hesitant step forwards. By the time he reached the shelf of a second landing, he managed to peak around the corner in time to notice Cade and a muscle bound brute crashing through a wall into a convening area as three surviving Mongooses rushed the stairs after the fighting pair

Thinking the time for games was over, Noth began to marshal his djed, feeling it pool like liquid fire in the pit of his stomach before it began to traverse his way through his arms to his palms. The res fluid began to weep from his palms as he willed it to begin hovering upon his palm, the thin shackling layer of the fluid coated his hand. It took time to concentrate and prepare for his charge, and he hoped Cade was holding his own as he stepped down towards the cretins, ready to spring for a surprise attack. For a few moments the sounds of conflict came from around the bend and the loud shout of his comrade at arms heralded Noth’s timely intervention of a charge.

Noth’s steps were silent as he shoved the gladius forwards into the closest man’s chest, pushing his shoulder into the soon be corpse as he continued to shove himself towards the next. An impact was all it took for the pair to be bourne to the ground as he let go of his blade. The pair fell down in front of Cade, as the rogue leaped with his left arm outstretched towards the third. The fire igniting on the exterior of the thick res coat on his palm. Antar grabbed the man’s face, with the burning residue, causing him to yell in pain as the flames licked his skin, using the distraction to draw his kukri and draw it across the man’s throat as the overextended rogue tumbled to the floor, stamping the fire out on the brigand’s chest as he tried snuff the flames. The heat of the flames had caused his palm to heat up unbearably, and for a moment that was the only thing he could think of as he tried to stamp the fire out.

It worked in time for Noth to turn his head towards Cade. At the other man’s knees the last gang member was struggling to rise out from underneath the one which lay on top of him.. Hissing in pain, Noth uttered. ”Kill the bastard, Cade.”

[Cade]

Noth's appearance was a beautiful sight to the battle worn brute. Watching the rogue at work gave Cade that much more respect for one talented in the subtleties of stealth along with the mystics of the flames. The flames now that had destracted his savior was in threat of letting the last man go and the rogue was not afraid to ask for assistance.

The half blood myrian struggled to his feet with what remain of his strength, for assistance was the least he could do for Antar. With a few quick strides making the distance to the last man and with the momentum building with each step the barbarian landed a brutal strike, implanting his right foot under the man's chops as if he was kicking a ball with the force to make distance. The force of the attack knocked the man unconscious before he landed on his back. With out hesitation nor mercy Cade was upon him hacking at the man's neckline with cleaver at hand. Three strikes later the man's head was decapitated from his body and was in the barbarian's grasp who tossed it into the middle of the floor. He rolled off the mutilated body and rested his back against the stairwell, his body shaking in spent adrenaline and every muscle giving into exhaustion.

"Noth?" Cade sluggishly moaned as he looked up to the Rogue " You negotiate next time?" He bellowed a chuckle that rattled his sore if not broken ribs, making him laugh harder at his pathetic state while forcing him to grip his torso in pain.