Xi head out as usual to go and do his rounds before coming upon some slavers, then the worst case scenario happens.
(This is a thread from Mizahar's fantasy role playing forums. Why don't you register today? This message is not shown when you are logged in. Come roleplay with us, it's fun!)
Built high in the massive branches of Taldera's bloodwood forest, The Spires is a city crafted by the peaceful and scholarly Jamoura. Considered a haven for scholars and sages Mizahar-wide, The Spires is a mecca of philosophy and science that draws people from far and wide with its promise of deeper thinking and higher reasoning.
Work, work, work oh and MORE WORK. Xi sighed as he headed on his rounds around the base level his bow in tow. Axes at the ready as well just in case something happened. he'd left all his other gear in the tavern. Creeping quietly through the woods Xi kept himself low hidden behind the tall bushes as he'd learnt from, his time in the spires. Hunkering low or staying in the trees. which ever the choice was it was better made quickly and quietly. Xi stuck to the solid ground, and moved low thought the tall bushes the leaves rustling gently as he took steps through it, the slightly chinking of the metal on his vambraces echoed lightly as his feet crushed the soft earth beneath with an barely audible squish. Since his arrival in the spires he'd gotten better at hiding in the undergrowth, but he had to take his bow off and hold it in-front of him horizontally, lest it give away his position. His movements were slow, controlled and calculated, each step right infront fo the last as he sneaked through the brush. Sliding an arrow from the quiver at his side he nocked it and drew close to the sound of voices. However this was more voices than he'd ever encountered before. At least ten voices now echoed out from the slaver group he'd spent all this time stalking. Xi circled around behind them slowly and listened out to the words of a camp not too far out of the way. Valuable information. Xi kept himself low and pulled himself around behind them.
Xi waited for the group to split up, half of the group going out scouting. Five of them hung around the base camp. Now Xi could really begin his hunt. Circling around out fo the way he followed one of the slavers leaving to the east. Xi was being more methodical than ever before slowly sneaking up behind the first slaver, he waited and waited, for the perfect moment to strike. Then without a second's hesitation the moment the opening present it'self he leapt up and broke the slavers neck from behind. Bearing the weight of the body he laid it down slowly in the earth. Using the high bushes to mask it's location. Skulking off to the side Xi pulled his bow back slightly building up tension in the string. Now he needed one to move to a clear sport for a simple open shot. Pulling back and using a tree for cover from the rest of them, one of the slavers walked out slowly into an open area of the jungle floor. the arrow slid back across his forearm and locked itself and the string at the corner of Xi's mouth. Weight on the right foot absorb the want of the bow to release. Slow breaths left Xi and entered as he waited fro that perfect moment, and then...Release. The arrow launched flying with all the roaring thunder of a tiger strait at the slaver. But it want a perfect shot. it was low. Xi was aiming for the slavers throat. but not the shot went low and stabbed through teh slavers core, just above his heart. Puncturing a lung, at least he couldn't scream that way. The slavers corpse hit the ground like a ton of bricks. Xi darted over quickly before retrieving the arrow from his chest and letting him die without a word. The blood rushing out fo him like a torrent and soaking the ground it to mud.
Two down, eight to go. Using the dead slavers clothes he wiped off his arrow before re-nocking it. Shot two would be a clean shot but would it be kill number three ? Grinding his left heel into the blood soaked earth, he ripped the cord back to the corner of his moth before slowing his mind, and taking his time, emptying his head and then launching the arrow at the target. taking a few seconds to catch himself he braced for a strong launch, the image of his arrow hitting it's target replaying over and over again in his head. Slowly, steadily. Xi snapped his fingers off of the bow string as the arrow hurtled to the target Xi realized it's angle was a little bit too low. It was either going to miss and alert him or stab into his leg and alert him. So Xi raced after it, keeping as quiet as possible whilst still going fast. The arrow missed stabbing into the soft ground between his legs. Xi closed the gap JUST before the slaver could call out for help. The heel of the bow came up and met the slaver's temple. the weight fo that bow coupled with Xi's strength and speed, that blow caved in the side of his head. So Xi's bow was not only a ranged weapon but a up close and personal club too ? Wow a multifunction weapon. Taking a deep breath he watched out at the other two now. Watching slowly he forgot to take a watch of his self, and then it happened...Xi struggles as much as he could but it was too late...Liro was hold up in Xi's body now, and Xi couldn't do anything.
Boy it felt good to be free. The searing grin of insanity and constantly changing facial features sprang up as Liro laughed lightly. Three dead, seven more and now he could truly have some fun in Xi's body. But why take out a foe from range when he could do it MUCH closer and more personally. Ripping the arrow out of the earth and puncturing the body next to him with it again and again. for no reason other than to clean the arrow. A sick grin sprawled out across his face. He slid the arrow back into the quiver and smiled. Hauling the bow over his shoulders again he drew the hand axe at Xi's side. Grinning in sheer malice, oh no he wouldn't give away Xi's position just yet, but he would completely decimate these other two scouts. Thank you for reminding me to, sin with a grin. Liro pulled no punches. He was as brutal as anything. Sneaking up behind the next guard liro kept that malice driven smile glaringly obvious. The smell of fresh blood was what he longed for. He tapped the guard on the shoulder and before he could make it a full turn around to see who'd tapped him, liro had buried the head of the axe deep into the scouts collar bone and throat. The smell of iron glory rolled out with spraying fury and all liro coudl do was smile.
Especially as the slavers eyes went from curiosity through the shocked enrichment of terror to the all consuming fear. Yes MORE. GIVE ME MORE! Liro cackled inwardly watching a helplessly bound Xi struggle to free himself and regain control. Liro wrenched the axe head out of the slaver and wiped it off on the corpse's shirt. One more before the fun REALLY BEGINS> Aren't you HAPPY Xi? I thought you ENJOYED killing slavers? The malicious blood lust driven smile of pure madness growled out further. All that matters in this world is the power to kill, if you cant kill then you are helpless. And no-one And NOTHING can do anything to change that.
Liro practically walked up to the last scout smiling with insane joy as he brought the axe around with fury and power. slamming the head of the axe into the last scouts stomach, then wrenching the blade free of his body. before twirling it around and driving it back deeply into the scouts chest cavity, the sickeningly loud cracking POP of ribs just shattering with the force of the axe head stabbing into them. The terror the agony, it was almost pure pleasure for Liro's twisted desires. The low throaty cackle of happiness, madness, and malice burst forth. Like a torrent of pure corruption. Liro exhaled with a burst of pure relief, he'd been released, unleashed like a force of pure carnage. The deliver of death, and now he felt as it he had put control, though it wouldn't last long so he had to make the best of it. Five enemies left now he'd better make some noise to draw a few of, and then carve them up like steaks.
Quet glory, silence is golden, but blood is red. This was his time to be free, Xi was slowly regaining his control, this place liro hated it'd given XI a leg up on controlling when he was broken into. When his body was available for liro's personal use. Still liro could continue to play with these simpletons Looting the corpse next to him he did spot something that would help him. An arrow. And as luck would have it a long bow arrow. With strange funnels cut into it. Hrrm Perhaps this was his design? Liro nocked the arrow and looked over at the group, hauling the string back he launched the arrow. The arrow flew staight and true but it crated a high pitched whistle that wasn't expected. And as the arrow found it's mark it buried it'self in the groin of one of the men sitting around the camp. Hehe, no kids for you. But the whistling of the arrow had given his position away Liro needed to move out of there fast. Lunging at and climbing a tree he kept his axe in-hand but didn't bother using it upon the tree to help him climb. Scrambling up the tree, Liro awaited the foolish pepole of his next prey.
Suspended in in the trees above liro awaited his slow witted prey as it folded through the simplistic, trap he had laid for it. Like lamb to the slaughter. Come play with me i shall make sure that your last moments are rather...PERSONAL. Liro began cackling to himself within Xi's head. Before Liro could initiate his plan though Xi was back. Fighting for control.
Xi snapped back into control sheathing his axe at his side. Damn you liro. Always causing me more trouble Xi scrambled higher up into the tree. Puling himself up, now he had a problem. Two slavers directly beneath him, Xi's never tried this technique before. Readying himself on the edge of the branch glancing down at the two slavers. Three...Two...One...NOW Xi leapt off the low hanging branch before slamming the two slavers into the ground hard. Knocking them completely out of it. Now Xi had a point to prove. he'd killed three and liro had killed three, two left and he was going to subdue these two without using lethal force on them. Taking a deep breath XI rose top face the other two slavers as an arrow zipped by his face. Narrowly missing him. Drawing on his own mindset of calm he bull rushed the duo. One was brandishing a crossbow and had narrowly missed, the other was readying a spear. As Xi closed the gap the second one dropped the crossbow before drawing a broad sword. now it Was Xi against two weapon wielders. Something about this hearkened him back to his days in sunberth. Xi watched them the one with the spear struck first. Xi narrowly blocked and dodged the spear point but within mear moments the sword was on him. Twisting his body slowly he rolled out of the way of the cut but used the spear to block it. The sharp edge of the broad sword sliced clean through it just shy of the tip. Xi rolled around the now length fo wood before gripping the now shaft of wood and booting the other slaver off of it. Now Xi had a weapon, one which could be used to incapacitate them at a some what longer range.
The second of the slavers then drew a weapon Xi was not expecting. A tulwar. This curved sword was something Xi had never seen before, but now Xi had a staff of sorts. Grinning Xi now stared down the slavers before him. The longsword wielding slaver attacked first. Xi feinted making it look like he was going to block with the core of the staff but now he slipped out to the side and brought the staff down on the back of the slaver's head. Now Xi had one on either side. Xi was now at a disadvantage. Watching the blade of the slaver infront of him Xi spotted something in the high polish of the sword steel. The other slaver behind him, he could see him in the steel. Good. The second slaver attacked Xi wasn't stupid enough to try the same feint twice. Xi dodged the tulwar and instead of pulling the staff out he drive it into the slaver's stomach. A flourish of movement and then both fo teh slavers were on the same side now. Both were groggy but now Xi had a chance to end this Charging at the pair of them he threw the staff horizontal. Both of the slavers caught an end like the moron's they were before Xi delivered a kick of unprecedented power to the core of the staff. Burying both of their backs into the ground. More slavers for the jail and more bodies to leave behind...Xi sighed. Anothern challenge he'd have to remember now on the jobs. Even when his mind was perfectly calm. Liro could STILL creep forth.
