Breaking Point (open)

[Wrenmae]

Had he been fully concentrating on Tock, he might have anticipated her unconventional method of bringing him into combat. As it stood, his eyes were a little more focused on the huge cat locked in combat with one of the sailors. So when Tock swung the leader at him, Shroud only had time to tumble backwards from the wild swing, barely keeping his feet as he pitched and pivoted in a half circle. Only room for one malignant glare at the gadgeteer before the stumbling sailor, caught his balance and hurled himself at the injured murderer. Hissing, Wrenmae ducked low, squared his shoulder, and thrust up into his gut as the weight of the larger man crashed down on him. For such a slight fellow, the storyteller hit with more force than he should have been capable of, staggering his assailant sideways. Far from finished, Shroud retreated backwards, scooping up the knife that Tock had dropped and whipping it around menacingly. It felt better to have a weapon in his hand, confidence in his chosen method of destruction. "What's the matter?" he chided the crimson haired woman, "Don't want to smear your makeup?" The comment was followed with a sidelong leap, well out of the way of the cranky creature and her pet axe. The last thing he wanted was to turn the fight into better odds by causing her to switch sides. He doubted that would be a problem now, but given her temper, he wouldn't put it past her to have a tipping point. The blade kept him away from the worst of the leader's wrath, the fellow circling carefully now, wiping blood from his face. "Beaten by a woman," he mocked, "A true Sunberthian to the end. Is that why you came to Zeltiva? Too weak to cut it in Stumble Alley? The docks?" A sidelong glance at Tock and he almost whispered the last part, "The brothels?" With a spluttering hiss of wrath, the sailor hurled himself at the murderer, his meaty arms swinging. Shroud sidestepped, bringing the dagger up and across his chest, pushing in and dragging the blade up against his throat. Gulping, quieter now with his heartbeat against a jagged edge, he backed away from the Hypnotist. Shroud followed step for step, leading his victim against the wall of the alley before craning up to whisper. And cast the Djed within him at once in a roiling surge, punctuating his every word with the most vicious hypnotic trick he knew...obsession. "So sad, these days, the sea that roils and turns, the water that froths and boils. Can you imagine it? Seeping into your lungs? Filling your body up? Can you feel Laviku pull you down into his depths? Can you hear him call to you? Can't you feel every glass of water resonate with his fury? You're a dead man, sailor, and if you touch water again, you will die." Obsession assaulted the sailor's mind, driving in the acute terror of water directly into his head, smashing his waking thoughts again and again. Horror, revulsion, incomprehensible confusion filled the leader's face, and Shroud took the opportunity to spin him around from the wall and push. Push him directly off the docks. The fight was interrupted by the high pitched scream the leader gave off when he struggled with the water, thrashing like a child in the surf. His two friends hurled themselves away from their opponents, dashing to help their friend from the water who clutched at them with inhuman strength, crying, screaming, almost tearing the sodden clothes from his body as he gibbered about Laviku. Perhaps a bit much... Entirely too much. Shroud frowned, spinning the knife up into his grip before backing down the alley he'd come from, eyes on his once allies, narrowed, defensive. He hadn't the stamina or ability to run, so instead he retreated tactfully, weaving around garbage and hoped the spectacle would be enough to stop them from following. He couldn't pull that off again, not without significant risk of overgiving. Down to a blade and his cunning...he'd have to hope their interest ended in the aftermath of battle.

[Fiera]

Blind, Fiera felt herself a mewing kitten once more. She leapt frantically forward, only have a leg connect with her bad side once again. Pain brought forth a frightening screech to her lips, which she was only too happy to pronounce. A savage grunt, then an exclamation and at last soft, whispered words. …the sea that roils and turns… ...feel Laviku pull you down… If you touch water again, you will die. That struck too close to home and immediately unanswerable questions arose. Who would know? Leigo was the only one here that knew, but that wasn’t his voice. Why would anybody say that? It frightened her, to have those fears told audibly. With that the clouds got bored with her eyes and moved to her mind. She could see, but comprehension was beyond her reach. A stumbling man fell screaming in the water. Must have been stabbed. She stared at the water and felt her breath catch… She would die there. Of all the uncertainties, that was one thing she knew. The sailor bearing down on her didn’t let his confusion at her blank, glazed eyes deter him from landing another blow at the base of her tail then quickly sprinting away to rescue his shrieking friend. She hissed softly then came to a realisation. That was magic she felt, and powerful magic at that. And the screams resounding from the water were that of fear, not pain. She couldn’t see Shroud. He’d gone. Ran off, most likely; there was no reward, no thanks given for vanquishing his assailants; liar, in other words, or perhaps an introductory experience of reality. Never mind, she would get her reward soon enough and with that, her revenge. Fiera tested her side. Bruising and from what her rudimentary medical skills told her – a broken rib or two. Breathing hurt. So did walking. Yet he wasn’t in the best state either; this would be fair. It wasn’t hard to track him back to the alley. Fiera almost laughed at the way Shroud cowered between mounds of garbage, knife in hand. She’d let the others get to him first - the redhead seemed bold enough – then maybe question him about the proposed reward while he lay bleeding in the gutter once again. She was a blatantly curious creature.

[Leigo]

It took Leigo a couple of moments to gather himself up before he could push away from the ground. By the time he did however, he would only see the redhead fussing over something while both the tourist and that damned cat were gone. And sailors too – everyone seemed to have left. After thinking about it for a bit, he brought back screams from earlier. Head still a blur; he wouldn’t press his luck any further in pursuing this conflict. Remembering the tourist again made his rage rampant. Blond was never in it for the money or any sort of a reward, but bailing on the very same people who stuck up for you was unheard of. Turning to examine the redhead, he’d ask in a voice that hid his anger well – he thought. “You alright?” even by looking at her he could tell just how much of a needless question that was. By any and all measurements she was in ten times the shape he was. That didn’t matter to him however. Acting concerned made him feel more significant and less wounded. Everyone was gone and the fight was clearly over, but there was this foreign feeling in his mind he couldn’t quite shake off. Surely he would hate thieves any other day as well, but the homicidal rage he felt was something special today – especially since he wanted to act on it so bad. Standing up fully, he’d prepare to leave. He’d find that man again, and he’d hurt him – no doubt about it. For now though, licking wounds and retreating seemed like a good idea.

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Tock watched the leader get thrown into the water, completely unaware that the man had been magically imbued with a deep fear. It didn't matter to her. The other brutes were helping him out, and she felt like they'd been taught a lesson. That's all this had been to her... despite any appearances to the contrary, she hadn't wanted to be a hero, or protect anyone. She'd just been itching for a fight, and just wanted to bully the bullies. She brushed her thumb across Grippy's handle, sending the command to snap his claw closed. Then she touched another spot with her forefinger, and the arm retracted fully, the metal X's that formed it closing and folding back together in a neat stack. She holstered him, then started working out the sore kinks in her left arm and shoulder. She'd been pummeled a bit on that side, and now it ached quite a bit. At least her hands were safe, though. "I's fine," she grumbled to the stranger. Then she called out to the cat-girl, "Jus' let 'im go! Ain't worth the bother..." Tock had no interest in any kind of reward, nor in teaching Wren any more of a lesson. Let him flee and live with his cowardice. Tock had better things to do... OOCI don't know about you guys, but I'm about ready to wrap this one up. Tock won't pursue Wren, and the greater levels of antagonism between them will be built up in another thread after this one. So with the fight complete, from her stance there's not much left but exchanging names in order to lay the groundwork for the other threads we have dated after this one.

[Wrenmae]

Favoring his right, Shroud continued his backward trek down the alley. Behind him, the sounds of combat began to fade into the general bustle of Zeltiva. He did not anticipate being followed, but if so he had his own manner of escaping wrath. Pain bid him stop, putting a hand against the wall and wobbling, barely holding himself upright. His vision clouded. Wren had taken quite the beating…necessary, but still, the pain was almost enough to knock him out. Bruises mostly, perhaps a cracked rib or two, it was difficult to diagnose himself without any formal medical training. In Sunberth he had relied on being untouchable, staying out of combat or simply allowing others to fight for him. It was a painstaking process of manipulation, but usually it saved him from situations like this. Gritting his teeth, the murderer passed out of the alley and into another, spinning along the wall, leaving flecks of blood along the alabaster walls. Where would he go? What would he do? His companions dwindled behind him, at least to his perception. Let them. No doubt they may approach him later. Should that happen, he might be better prepared, especially if they approached him alone. For now though, his lungs burned, his body ached, pieces of him grated against each other and burned his innards. At least you won, Zan comforted But at what cost? Well, a rib or two it seems, oh, right, and all the bruises and shattered dignity. Was that expensive? Shroud scowled. Perhaps too much. Well…did we learn from this situation? Perhaps, Shroud answered, taking a moment to breathe, But I can assure you that this impromptu melee is only the beginning. I take it we aren’t going back to the University? Nonsense, of course we are. Our things are there…but let's not forget that the University is a means to an end...and there is much more to see and do in Zeltiva. Shroud chuckled, despite the agony spreading from his stomach. Make sure you don't kill yourself pursuing it, Zan muttered dryly.

[Cascade]

Adventurer's Loot Wrenmae's Loot : Skill XP Reward Familiary +3 Unarmed Combat +2 Hypnotism +1 Weapon: Dagger +2 Lore: Offering Coins To The Gods Rare Violence in Zeltiva The Difference Between Zeltiva and Sunberth Hypnotizing A Group To Fight A Brawl in Zeltiva [/b] NOTES Fiera's Loot : Skill XP Reward Unarmed Combat +3 Lore: Rare Violence in Zeltiva Not Wanting to Fight Fighting As A Cougar A Brawl in Zeltiva Leigo's Loot : Skill XP Reward Familiary +2 Intimidation +1 Unarmed Combat +2 Lore: Rare Violence in Zeltiva Using Teeth In A Fight A Brawl in Zeltiva Loved the action in this thread. Well done. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to PM me!