Completed Retaliation

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A lawless town of anarchists, built on the ruins of an ancient mining city. [Lore]

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Retaliation

Postby Dale Hawthorn on January 12th, 2015, 12:20 am

"The Warshmal's boy got hurt bad when we attacked the Seaside Market. Some of us knew that was goin' to be trouble, we weren't celebratin' with the rest of our Brothers. None of us knew how bad it was gonna get..."

10th of Winter, AV 514 - 4th Bell - Daggerhand Territory


An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. By that reckoning Dale should be blind ten times over by now but here he stood, leaning up against a warehouse wall as he packed his pipeweed in his pipe, eager to light the stuff to bring some warmth to his aging bones. Too many of Sunberth's resident hungered for revenge or retribution, most of them would never get it. Those that achieved it would find that it brought little comfort to a grieving soul while others were consumed by it, spilling more blood than was needed and thus propelling the vicious cycle forward. It was of the many injustices that had contorted Sunberth into what is was today. But justice was blind in Sunberth; Faith was pried from cold, dead hands.

From a single dim lantern that struggled to illuminate all corners of the damp, dingy warehouse Dale lit a splint. It was probably for the best as all it would do would reveal the plethora of insects and rodents that lurked in its isolated, shrouding shadows. It was best to let them scurry about in the shadows, leaving each scuttle and creak to agitate the mercenaries that had mostly decided to huddle around the lantern to keep them on edge.

Outside the warehouse dark, grey, furrowed clouds canvassed the skies, not letting a single ray of the setting sun slip between them as snow spilled from the heavens to blanket Sunberth. The weather had caused enough trouble already and the season had barely begun, it was only going to get worse. But in the warehouse at least they were sheltered from the bitterness of any breezes or sting of snow on flesh not that it stopped any of the men from complaining.

"By the gods, when will this weather let up? I'm this close to losing my toes..." One new face complained. Dale had actually never seen the man before, in fact almost half of the faces that filled the warehouse he hadn't seen and Dale had been in the Daggerhand for over a decade now, he knew the faces of too many grunts and he had a hunch that this man wasn't Stiletto. "It's winter, get used to it" Dale replied bluntly to put an end to a presumably long trail of complaints from the man before clamping the tip of his pipe between his teeth and plunging the lit splint into the chamber. He suckled like a newborn born baby, coaxing life into the embers as felt the familiar twang of Kline fill his mouth before inhaling a lungful of hot smoke.

"What are we even doing out here? I don't like sittin' on my arse to wait around, I want to be kickin' some guys door down or slitting the throats of the Sun's Birth like in the Seaside Market" The same man complained again while some of the newer faces nodded with him.
"You do what you're bloody well told. We've been ordered to wait for a delivery, so we will wait for a delivery till winter comes round again if we have too. So shut your fuckin' mouth and don't talk about things you know nuthin' about" Dale replied, following up with a withering glance to quell any further responses from the man. He wasn't actually in charge but none of them were either and he was not going to listen for what could be an age to his whinging.

Dale didn't like it either but he wasn't going to fuel the dissent on the new gang members. They didn't know what was arriving, when it was arriving or whether to expect any trouble. Though given the fact that it required six men alone to guard the warehouse where it was to be delivered too he could at least make a guess at the last unknown. He popped the pipe back into his mouth and leant back against the wall, listening to nothing but the sound of rats scurrying about in darkness and the wind forcing its way under the door.

All that was left to do was wait now.
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Last edited by Dale Hawthorn on March 2nd, 2015, 1:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Dale Hawthorn
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Retaliation

Postby Dale Hawthorn on March 1st, 2015, 2:39 pm

"Open up!" A gruff voice called out followed by three swift loud knocks on the warehouse door. This sudden disturbance was enough to send every person inside the warehouse reaching for their weapons and eying the door with sudden unease and suspicion. "Show us your ink" Dale demanded as he opened a wooden panel on the door, bringing a scarred and disfigured face into a view. The man merely opened his hand and revealed the Daggerhand tattoo on his palm that belonged to every man who sworn allegiance to the gang.

The door shuddered and shook as it was yanked apart while its rusted hinges filled the cold winter air with an ear piercing screech. A large wagon greeted them, flanked by several more men who were presumably Daggerhands as well but Dale paid them little heed as he turned once more to the disfigured newcomer "What we got 'ere then?" He asked, curious as to what delivery required at the very least twelve men to oversee it.
"Slaves."

The reply was blunt, as much to be expected from a Sunberthian on the topic. Above all else the citizens of Sunberth values their 'freedom' though many turned a blind eye to the slavers and wares within the city, it was more an export then anything so few people encountered the poor creatures on a day to day basis so while opinions on the topic if raised would be conflicted many including Dale were happy to completely to pretend that such an activity did not occur in his city.
"Right... Well load them off then, we were told to wait till the goods were to 'ead to market so I'm guessin' the quicker they're in the warehouse, the quicker you can hit the boozer..."

They were a miserable lot. Clothes draped loosely from their bodies, skin clung tightly to bone and hope had hung itself a long time from their faces. They shuffled weakly off the cart towards the warehouse as their chains rattle ominously in synchrony, Dale pondered for a moment where, why and how these individuals had found themselves knee deep in shit before dismissing the thought entirely, it was the only way to protect his mind from the work he had to do to survive.

"They been searched?" He asked.
"Nah, gonna need you lot to do it before they take one step into that warehouse" He explained as Dale's face cringed at the thought of a complete, thorough search of their wares.
"I think I know just the man for that job" Derek said with a michevious grin as he joined the two men. He waved over the young man who had been complaining early "Oi you, you said your hands were cold. I know just the place for your to stick 'em" He said before the older broke down into a rare welcomed laugh.

"Get right in there lad, we don't know what he could have smuggled up there before our boys took 'em away" Derek said with clear glee as Dale did his best to maintain a serious face while he inspected the mouth of another slave. "Well, this one ain't hiding any teeth" He joked as he inspected the disgusting sight of her bare mouth "They should send this one on to the brothel, I'm sure someone would enjoy it" He quipped before sending her on her way to the warehouse.

Progress had been slow but steady, the sun was threatening to break her way through the horizon but Dale was confident they would be packed up and ready to return to their empty beds before she made her entrance. The wind whistled through the courtyard again, carrying the sounds of the footsteps with it before dropping its bitterness entirely.

"You 'ear somethin'?" Derek ask as Dale stood up straight, like a wolf that had just caught the scent of prey. In a mere moment the mood had change, the casual banter passed to a thro between everyone in the courtyard dropped dead as hands found their way wrapped around weaponry for familiarity and comfort. "Somethin'..." He replied slowly as weapons were drawn cautiously.
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Dale Hawthorn
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Retaliation

Postby Dale Hawthorn on March 1st, 2015, 2:40 pm

The first scream the tore through the air as the sound of clashing weapons followed soon after. This was Daggerhand territory, screams were always heard but never followed by fighting, it could only mean one thing. "You!" Dale shouted, as the courtyard scrambled into action "Get the slaves inside, bar the door, not one of those slaves escapes" He ordered to the young man before quelling any dissent "NOW!" He screamed.

"Get that cart out of here!" The scarred man who had arrived with it begun ordering as he organized his own men. The cart driver didn't need to ask twice as he whipped the horses into action, beckoning them on with lethal intent as the galloped from them courtyard. All the while the cries and clashing grew louder still as the men pulled back towards the far edge of the courtyard, their backs almost up against the warehouse as the stared down at the entrance, waiting from the first sign of their enemy.

"Steady..." He muttered to his Brothers, to many of the younger ones would take the chance to run, the only way to get them to stay was delay their inevitable retreat till whatever godforsaken enemy flooded the courtyard, blocking the only entrance and forcing them to fight their way out. It was the sight of glistening metal that announced their enemy, the Sun's Birth.

Chaos reigned through the courtyard, the only true victor was death as they men and women of either side collided with brutal and unrelenting force. The snow and ice that paved the ground danced with the glow of torches the Dragoon had brought with them, keen to raze everything the Daggerhands had claimed to be theirs.

Dale right foot had barely brushed the ground beneath him before his body was forced to twist with it. Steel cut through the air with lethal aim as Dale raised his own blade to deflect the viciosu blow away from his gut. His jaw clenched as he breathed heavily through gritted teeth, blood seeped from a long cut across his stomach but it wasn't a killing blow so as his pain turned to white hot flash of anger he raised his own blade back up through the air and whipped around with the intent to cut a man's head off.

Their blades meet inches away from his opponent's throat as Dale felt the force of the man pushed him back, his feet sliding on the icy ground beneath his feet. He played it aggressively, a man with no shield and little armour always would as he waited for a moment for his feet to pushed against something with more grip then ice and when he found it he pushed his knee upwards, right intot he tender bollocks of the man.

It was a low and dirty blow but what else would you expect from a Daggerhand, let alone a Sunberthian. The man grunted with a pain that all men could sympathize with as he doubled over, his force on Dale's blade relaxing. Seizing the fleeting opportunity he followed up with an uppercut, striking the man's with all the strength his clunky left hand could muster. His opponent stumbled back but Dale had only brought himself distance, his enemy was far from out of the fight

Dale decided to return he distance he had managed to wrangle from him as he propelled himself forward, knocking against the Dragoon as he was sent sprawling back, cursing violently as his head smacked against the icy ground. With him down, and more importantly unarmed as bother their blades slid smoothly away from them along the icy, Dale was on top and in control. He didn't expect the Dragoon to beg or blubber and he didn't disappoint. Swiftly as he could manage he pulled out the dagger tucked into the back of his belt and slid its sharp edge across the man's vulnerable neck. It sent a spray of blood into the air, splattering across Dale's face. He could feel the sickly warm blood on his skin, he could taste it in his mouth, and he could hear it gargle as the man choked on his own blood in his final, undignified moment.
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Retaliation

Postby Dale Hawthorn on March 1st, 2015, 8:18 pm

The fight had been devastating to both sides, bodies of men Dale had fought alongside for a too many seasons do count lay bloodied and broken in the winter snow. He had little time to mourn his fallen brothers as a new enemy emerged from the ranks to battle with the Daggerhand.

He announced his arrival with a blood curdling scream before punching Dale with his buckler shield, hitting the man square on his nose as he stumbled backwards, his nose and vision throbbing equal as blood ran down into the edges of his mouth. He gave his own shout of defiance in return, one for his fallen comrades and his own anger as he swung back wildly at the man but it was a rookie manoeuvre, batting Dale's sword away with his own as the Daggerhand's toes curled, seeking grip on the icy ground as the Dragoon cried out once more and swung his sword down to mark Dale's torso with a bloody wound.

Dale shifted his weight onto his right foot, the ice beneath his feet turning into a bitter blessing as his foot slid away and the rest of his body followed as he lost his balance but retained his life. It would have been for nought though as his feet continued to slip away beneath him, his balance knocked too far off to regain it but as the Dragoon whipped his blade back round the armour-clad man collapsed before him with a pitiful croak as his was helmet knocked off and a bloody blade embedded in the base of his throat. As he sunk to his knees the bloodied face of Derek before him. A quick nod was all that it took to convey their bond before they clasped wrists like brothers and Dale was pulled to his feet.

"Fall back" A voice cried "Fall back, let them burn!" The voice shouted again as the Dragoons begun their scattered retreat, pursued by few more bloodthirsty and vengeful brothers. It would have been a time to rejoice but it was the smell of smoke that stopped any thought of victory in their minds. Dale's head whipped around like a deer facing a forest fire, his eyes wide as he saw the flames dance around the warehouse door, faster than any amount of snow or sleet would stop as broke into a run towards them.

Screams begun to rise faster than the fire, the slaves were burning as weak fists pounded on walls as he heard the voice of the Daggerhand he had sent in there early to protect the slaves rise above all others. "Kick the door down!" Dale screamed as he sprinted past his comrades and into the flaming doors. His knuckles smashed against the blackened entrance, pain shot up his arms as the man screamed out in pain before pulling back pink, burnt knuckles on his right hand.

It was only Derek that stopped Dale from taking a second swing and two more brother to pull him away all together, his feet dragging helplessly across the ground as he screamed out like an animal. "Get them out!" He screamed, his voice cracking from the strain as he continued to wrestle but there was nothing he could do to escape from their grip as he watched the warehouse roof collapse, sending up a glorious spray of embers as the cries of pain and anguish were silenced.

"I sent him in there, he was so young" He whispered now, his eyes watering from smoke and sadness as their grip slackened and Derek rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"It ain't your fault, it's theirs. We'll gut every last one of 'em, I promise you..."
"Every last one..."
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Dale Hawthorn
Bloodshed Is Our Native Tongue
 
Posts: 44
Words: 42364
Joined roleplay: September 22nd, 2014, 2:24 pm
Race: Human
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Retaliation

Postby Khara on April 5th, 2015, 2:47 am

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Dale Hawthorn :
XP:
  • Intimidation +1
  • Observation + 3
  • Leadership + 1
  • Acrobatics + 1
  • Weapon: Cutlass + 2
  • Brawling + 1
  • Weapon: Dagger +1
  • Endurance + 2
Lore:
  • Inspecting slaves; not a pleasant task.
  • Attacked by the Sun's Birth
  • Saved by Derek
  • Fire at the warehouse
  • The guilt of losing a comrade
Injuries: Various cuts, bruises, and burns. Will be fully healed in 20 days if treated.

Comments: Great little short thread! Things really escalated quickly there and you managed to convey that chaos and action really well. Nicely done! :)
Please don't hesitate to PM me if you have any questions/comments regarding your grade. I'll be more than happy to take a second look if you think I've missed something!
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Also, please don't forget to edit your post as 'graded' in the request thread.
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