The Lost Children (Ricky)

by **Sebastian Stalinsa** on November 3rd, 2012, 7:35 am

“…we all will go down swinging…” Stopping in mid kick of a second trash pile Sebastian stared blankly towards Ricky, the rage disappearing like smoke from his face. Though he often tried to dismiss it Sebastian could not deny the emotional impact such words had embedded into his character since birth. ‘One for all, and all to fight! Prepare and die by our blades tonight!’ It was an ideology that heated his blood every time. To die fighting side by side with faithful comrades, in glory on the field of battle splattered with mud and blood, a spear through your gut and your blade in another man’s heart. A death in the fullness of passion! Nothing could be grander.

Sebastian’s lips moved as if in a trace with a voice hardly more than a mumbling whisper recited an old phrase from the Syliran knights.
“That we shall, unto death doth sever us from our mortal coil. Let no man speak of us as cowards for we died with honor as brothers in arms under the watchful eyes of Tyveth.” The mist curled around his feet as he spoke, cloaked in shifting darkness like a specter.

It took more than right of blood to become a knight. His childhood had consisted of nothing else but, training and dreaming until one day he’d been forced to except the bitter fact that such a fate would never be his. No, someday Sebastian figured, he’d settle down with a girl who held the moon in her hands and start a family. He’d spend his days watching children grow while old age ate away his vigor and strength until one day death found him rattling out his last breath in a warm bed surrounded by the family he’d helped create. It wasn’t a bad fate, a dam good one actually, but still Sebastian couldn’t forget the dreams of flapping banners and battle horns his upbringing had installed within.

At Odis’s sudden bark and Ricky’s exclamation he seemed to return to himself, all past memories slammed into the darkest recesses of his memory. With a shudder the blood of passion flushed back into Sebastian’s face sprouting into a wickedly feral grin.

“Lead on my friend. They’re not guna wait for us to catch up.”

by **Ricky Maze** on November 3rd, 2012, 10:13 am

'Very well then' Ricky thought as he followed Odis' lead. The canine was unstoppable as they followed through the alley into the streets, his nose sniffing the ground as his muzzle frantically followed the scent everywhere. Ricky and Sebastian kept up with the dog with no trouble though, for as they followed through what looked like the fish market Odis took another turn. The street to guide them back to the docks.

Why there? Where at the docks would they go? Most importantly, why did they make a practical circle before going there? Was it to tthrow their followers in a loop? Were they even followed or seen? None of these questions had an answer, a reasonable possibility but no answer. However they would waste no time, for it was of the essence now.

When they arrived Ricky starred at the docks for a minute, just a while ago he was contemplating on what he lost. Now he was chasing a killer who took everything away from someone before they even had a chance at life. Zeltiva really has changed indeed, itself and Ricky for that matter. He now knew that while he may have lost much, he still hadn't lost everything yet; and should that happen tonight...well then he's lived a glorious life while young.

Odis whined only once to he grab Ricky's attention, for the dog knew his master was thinking his thoughts. The pup knew that Ricky would accept what ever fate was to, and Odis would accept that fate with Ricky.

Ricky threw away all worry now, with fear he found courage. With Sebastian he found a means to trust in the moments of darkness, even if they had only met on this ill fated night. With Odis he found the means to push onward, and to live life in all its glory. Yes Ricky has learned much on his journey, but there was room for more...far more. Whether he would survive tonight to do so, that was definitely up to Laviku...or some other God or Goddess out there watching.

Odis led the two to what seemed an abandoned two story building, poorly repaired considering its condition. 'At least they still have one that stands.' He thought in a joking manner, but the time for jokes died the moment the screams of death called out to them.

He swore he could hear something inside, as he leaned close to the door. Odis kept pawing it to go in, signifying that the killer must have gone inside. Ricky had no more room for second thoughts, he slowly began to open the door...and so the trio entered the lion's den.

by **Sebastian Stalinsa** on November 5th, 2012, 5:00 am

The house sent a shadow of dread over Sebastian. He suddenly felt like a little kid again beholding a monster that had lurk in the shadows of his mind installed by the fears and warnings of others but, not something that could ever truly come to pass. He stared at it a moment in silences, tasting the air and straining his ears envious of Odis’s heightened senses. Then another scream cut the silence gushing out of the houses brittle walls like an overfilled sponge. Sebastian’s entire body strained to be let loose, to smash the door into an explosion of splinters as he barreled passed. Only with great restrain was he able to maintain a twitching walk up the despairing stairs. There were no lights he could see from outside but that didn’t mean the place was empty by any means.

Following the other two inside they entered into a large single room which seemed to take up the entire first floor. A good portion of the second floor and even some ceiling was caved in and the smell of rot stung the lungs. Wooden crates of all sizes were stacked haphazardly about in a maze of dead ends, some stacks reaching as high as the next level. Debris and random tools of construction littered the wooden floor. Sebastian squinted around the darkly deserted building wondering if they’d been laid astray yet again. Then so softly he wondered if it was pure imagination a muffled sobbing came from deeper in the maze.

Giving a glance and nod to Ricky Sebastian moved cautiously forward his hand brushing the top of a low create touching upon the grip of an old hammer. Grasping it he blinked at the dim flicker of a lantern igniting up through cracks underneath the floorboards. Illuminated by this new light were the words WE ARE HERE scrawled jaggedly into the side of a wall. Something dark ran like ink from the words and as Sebastian steeped forward to touch it from below came a hushed gritty voice.

“K chaps. The blighted Wave guard just finished up. Let’s get the merchandise onboard Belia for something dodgy happens-Ah shut that one up would you Harp, twerp's giving me an eadach.” This was followed by a solid slap and a subdued yet handsome soprano.

“Shut up now Quinzel, or I’ll cut you up for the fishes.”

Sebastian’s grip around the hammer tightened as his blood began to boil once more. Though he didn’t remember passing a cellar door his eyes searched the darkness again, more than willing to make one of the termite infested floor if he had too.

by **Ricky Maze** on November 5th, 2012, 5:45 am

He allowed Sebastian to lead once more, the man was indeed capable of making the Wave Guard if he wanted to. As Ricky followed him to see the illuminated word's his spine shivered from the chill that crept down. They heard voices below, muttering of a sort, but loud enough to hear.

How tacky that they take children and threaten them, selling them off to slaves no doubt. When he heard the threat though Ricky could tell the blood was boiling in Sebastian, if it pissed Ricky of then no doubt his companion was feeling even furious. It drove Ricky to anger hearing such abuse, enough to where he would not hold any punches come the moment this all goes down.

Odis sniffed around a bit as he looked for a way to get in, his mind was no doubt set on the same thing; for the dog wanted justice done. As the dog moved about each step he took his paws would scratch against the floor, which the two didn't notice could be heard by the smugglers.

"Eh, what was that?" One exclaimed in the other room, the one of the others told him off.

"Probably those stinkin' rats messin' 'round."

The relief was a blessing in their silence, but as Ricky quietly moved around to help Sebastian find the entrance he made a mistake. Not seeing the corner of a nearby crate, he stubbed his foot against it...hard. Hard enough to make a loud noise, and now the smuggler's knew that there weren't just rats up here.

OOC :

by **Sebastian Stalinsa** on November 6th, 2012, 3:28 am

As Ricky swore and the lantern below snuffed out Sebastian’s first instinct was to continue his last order of operations and smash threw the floorboards. Hell if he was going to wait for the criminals to come to him, but what about the kids? Who knew how many victims or how many enemies were down below? At least three he guessed from listening to them, maybe more? Smashing down through the ceiling followed by a blind fight in the dark was out of the question then.

Sebastian still hadn’t discovered a hatch however so what if the scum decided to just take their prizes and run? He wanted to ground his teeth at again being denied a chance to smash some skulls but, the best option really was to alert the Wave Guard and go for the villain’s ship.

“We gotta stop their ship.” Sebastian rasped turning towards Ricky and taking a couple quick steps away from the biggest planking cracks. A blade though the foot wasn’t going to help him run any faster. A little behind and to the left of his two comrades was a vertically standing create which now stood open; Two pairs of malevolent eyes and gleaming swords stalking stealthily out.

“Rick behind you!” He barked sending the hammer spinning with a mighty heave towards the closest pirate.

by **Ricky Maze** on November 6th, 2012, 4:10 am

He heard Sebastian's warning and pulled away when he witnessed the flying hammer, two cutlass weilding pirates hidden in the darkness nearby. One beeing hit by the hammer as what Ricky though could have been a bone shattering hit was heard, knocking one of the two that charged flat on his ass. He may be moaning in pain now, but given enough time he could manage to squirm up on his feet. As for the other one he lunged straight for Ricky sword pointed to strike into his chest, he stood ready and alert waiting for the right moment to dodge. Could he do it? Was Ricky able to use his reflexes to pull away in time? As dark as this room was even with the small light of the illumnious lamp, he couldn't be the judge of that at all.

Preparing for the worst he he would take the blow with his arm, it would end up cutting it but he needed worry. What was one more scar? Besides it was his first instinct to begin with, let him get close to deal the maximum damage he could. The adrenaline kicks in now as everything seems to slow for a moment, all focused on this one particular sword. When he witnessed something he should've seen coming though, his firm expression changed to a look of surprise.

Odis lunged right from the shadows with his canine bare, growling with a furious bite as he sunk his teeth into the pirates arm and pulled it away. He tore and pulled as the man screamed in pain, the torture of his worst situation now growing. The pirates reaction was to punch the dog off, but Ricky knew how to act this time. He remembered when Odis was the first to charge in when the bear attacked, he was first to charge into this one too. Only difference was back then Ricky didn't know how to act, now he clearly knew what to do next. Stop the bastard before he hurt Odis, and so he did.

In haste he went over and grabbed the pirates other arm, pulling him in as he wrapped his other free arm around the mans neck tight as he could. The pirate began to squirm as he was choking, but Ricky was now over the breaking point. He held the man in place, right where he wanted him.

"Sebastian!" He hollard as he looked to his companion, there wasn't a moment to lose as this was perfect for his companion to wail on Ricky's prisoner.

by **Sebastian Stalinsa** on November 7th, 2012, 8:58 am

A grim smile creased Sebastian’s features as he heard the hammer hit with a satisfying ‘thunk’ and crunch of bone. The man spun with a cry of pain tripping over his own feet and falling hard back some ways into the crate’s secret entrance. Before the pirate had even hit ground Sebastian was already moving towards the next one, pulling the red scarf in a clump from his coat pocket.

Then seemingly out of nowhere Odis struck unbalancing the ruffian while Ricky put him in a gripping chokehold. They didn’t have a lot of time to waste on these villains. The main prize was getting father away with each passing second. As Ricky called out to him Sebastian was moving pass to finish the man he’d struck down.

A knight did not gang up upon another man Sebastian had been taught but, fought honorably one on one until skill and luck won the day. But Sebastian was not a knight and eagerly he turned with cold focused eyes, firing a series of brutal blows against the man’s exposed torso and head.

There was, Sebastian knew, something incredibly satisfying about slamming his fist into another man’s flesh. Something primal and savage that lurked under the surface of every human waiting for a chance to stretch its talons. There was no sensation quite like it. Power and life flowed through him carried by mortal combat and the promise of victory and death.

Blood dripped from the pirate's mouth and he hung limply, groaning in Ricky’s grasp. His breathing shallow and hitched with pain as each breath strained broken and fractured ribs. Sensing that the other man was recovering Sebastian spun on his heel delivering a viciously kick to the face that sent his foe tumbling down a short flight of stone stairs.

He could feel the bloodlust coming fast upon him; the desire to kill and feel another man’s life wash over his hands. These men where scoundrels and deserved no mercy, but they were still men with lives just a vibrant as Sebastian’s own. What right did he have to steal another man’s life? His father had been a fine mercenary and killed many a monster and sentient in his time, but that sort of life changed a person forever.

“You must always be then nobler man.” His father had said. “Kill the bastard but, never forget that the blood of nobility runs through your veins, and every moral dilemma will garner greater weight because of it.”

Faced now with giving these pigs a quick and easy death or leaving them to their own volitions Sebastian found it was not an easy choice. His instincts cried for blood, but his heart desired something else. Sebastian's eyes flicked over Ricky's face and to the room beyond taking a precious second to weigh his options.

by **Ricky Maze** on November 7th, 2012, 9:46 am

Ricky finally dropped the bastard as he checked to Odis, the dog had drawn blood from the poor sod's arm. His muzzle was slightly bloody as he licked his lips and looked apologetically to his master, Ricky checked to see his furry companion to see if he was hurt. He seemed to have gotten one bruise from the wretched pirate, but he was now wounded more enough for Ricky's pleasure.

Sebastian's blood lust was insane, he was like a wild fire eager to burn. That kind of temper was to risky for them as they now needed to make haste, and catch up with the others before they made off with their break. Ricky went over to Sebastian and attempted to convince him that they had to pursue.

"Sebastian look I know what yer thinkin, behind all that rage ya want to spill blood. We don't have the time for it, these sorry bastards will rot in the dungeons once the Wave Guard comes and gets them and so can the other's! The problem with that is that we have to stop them first, before they can get away!" He poured all his insight, all his persuasion in one attempt to try and get through the man: his breathing deep with anger and rage.

Ricky needed to keep his emotions in check too, his thought pattern off course as his mind focused on the whole ordeal. One needed to keep a cool head in the thickest of situations, and that was a damn near difficult thing to do even for a natural guy like Ricky. He was feeling a run in with a mixture of emotions, all swirling within him creating the storm that beated within his chest. He was under the high of the adrenaline, and feeling the weight of anguish, plus the fury that flooded his heart, and not forgetting to mention the excitement of the fight that just now happened.

"Hhhhmmmhhhh." Odis whined with his tongue hanging, he too no doubt felt the after effects of his ordeal. They all were now under a lot of stress, but Ricky couldn't loose his cool now and neither could Sebastian. They had to move now, and if Sebastian was intent on more blood letting....well then Ricky tried.

by **Sebastian Stalinsa** on November 7th, 2012, 9:04 pm

The slit of room Sebastian could see offered very little in ways of options. Ricky was right they didn’t have time to search for rope or pry open creates and trap the pirates inside, but Sebastian didn’t like the idea of just leaving them here either. What if they managed to evade the Wave Guard? What if neither he, Ricky, or Odius survived to expose the blighted deeds taking place in this house? Leaning down Sebastian scooped up the blooded man’s cutlass. What if it had been his son or daughter these cancerous felons had captured? Would he still be considering mercy? The blade glinted sharply in the dark as Sebastian held it. It was a nice sword, well balanced, well cared for. It felt good in his hand.

Decisively he turned the cutlass hilt first towards Ricky. “Take it. It’s yours.” He commanded. It was Ricky who first engaged the sword’s previous owner so by right the blade now belonged to him. If Ricky wished to spare the man’s life that was his choice and one Sebastian wasn’t sure he could follow while holding a blade. They would both need weapons before the night was out, and he doubted they’d be able to afford such niceties in the near future. So let the scoundrel live. Let him rot in the dungeons of Zeltiva or escape into the night, but did sparing one man, maybe two, make up for the deaths to follow? Sebastian didn’t know, but he found sympathy becoming quite scarce in his heart. If it had been his own child, he decided, he would’ve run the bastards through. Some would call it murder, other’s justice but, in the end it was just man against man fighting for the right to live. And he was going to live.

There was a scrambling behind them as the second man scurried off into the pitch darkness of the secret tunnel. Gone were thoughts of calling the Wave guard for help, with a path now directly open to them Sebastian would follow and woe to the man who stood in his way.

by **Ricky Maze** on November 7th, 2012, 9:44 pm

He took the cutlass from Sebastian with ease, gripping the handle with a slight fear in knowing that this sword nearly became the cause of his death. It was in his hands now as Sebastian said, it belonged to a new owner... one that would use it for better purpose. He looked to the crippled pirate he placed, he was still wheezing for air. By the looks of it he was to much in pain to even get up, if he attempted to escape then he woupd have to crawl. He wasn't going be going anywhere anytime soon, other then the dungeons once the Wave Guard discovers him. He gripped the handle even firmer now, the memory of this man attempting to hurt Odis after he was caught off guard. It was despicable to think that he had such an advantage over them, even more so thinking at hiw desperate the scoundrel was just to break free. Yes it was a temptation to end his life, but a weak one that Ricky shrugged off; for death was too good for these vermin.

When Sebastian led them he proved to be a valuable asset, his firey will and tempered spirit would do him excellent in service to the Wave Guard. Maybe after all of this was all said and done he and Ricky could both work together, in preparation for that day when they would attempt to try for it. That was if he was able to convince him though and in the future, which was something he'd have to focus on after they pulled through this....if they survive to tell the tale.

He heard a shuffle down below and looked to the direction Sebastion did, the secret staircase that descended below hung open to them. No doubt the other weasel had found it in him to finally run and meet with his other fellows, what a perfect way to lead the trio to their ship. He looked to Sebastian with a determined look, sword in hand and ready for the fight ahead. "After ye' Sebastian, Odis and I have yer back." He reassured the man. No doubt a lot was on his mind as was the case for Ricky, but time was now vital if they were to follow the injured welp.