PM to join Disrupting Rituals [4]

[Shimoje]

Smoke rolled through the bronze woods with the stench of burning flesh and hair. It was completely nauseating. After taking a few sips from his waterskin, Shimoje redeemed himself and pulled his shirt up to cover his mouth and nose, slightly coughing in the process. By this time the smoke had engulfed a good portion of beneath the canopies and made it harder to see. This worked more in his favor, but at the same time he almost thought if the group of knights would be able to navigate the woods not knowing them as much as he did.

With the new dangers present, and worried about his comrades, Shimoje knew that he shouldn’t continue any further. He figured that he should take a break and wait for them. During the wait Shimoje laid down close to the ground trying to get away from the smoke, and started to crawl a bit away from the flames of the dead bodies. As he crawled he looked for anything that he could scavenge. There wasn’t much left, and it was fairly hard to see while crawling so he couldn’t find anything useful.

As he crawled, inch by inch, the leaves and bramble of the woods slightly scratched against exposed skin, causing it to itch ever so slightly. Shimoje wasn’t used to such things, and even while trying to be stealthy he made a great deal of noise. Luckily he was still near enough to the flames for his sound to slightly muffled out. In the distance he could see two bandits standing in the area as if guarding something.

He couldn’t make much out of their figures, but all he knew was from the ground they looked really tall, and at this point he knew he couldn’t take them himself. “Where the petch is the rest of the group?” Shimoje thought to himself as he crawled to some brush and tried to hide once again. In the process one of the bandits turned around.

“Did you hear that?” a deep voice coughed through the smoke.

Shimoje’s eyes widened. He knew he couldn’t survive an interaction with a bandit. Shimoje looked around for anything that could possibly be of use. The only thing near was twigs, small rocks, and a centipede. After seeing the centipede Shimoje slightly worked his way away from it. He had no idea what sort of insect that was, but it didn’t look friendly. Instead, he picked up a twig and launched it in the opposite direction hoping it would make some sort of sound that would distract them away from himself.

The branch whirled through the woods and got caught in a canopy and fell through the branches of the tree till it finally hit the ground. It wasn’t much louder than when he snuck into the bramble, and it was just enough to cause the bandit to walk towards it. Now was his chance to escape. Shimoje knelt down and tried to run as fast and quietly as he could away from the scene when a hand grabbed on his shoulder. Immediately Shimoje grabbed his knife and stabbed at it and then didn’t care about being stealthy anymore. He ran as fast as he could in the direction towards the flaming bodies and back the way he came. He could hear a yell in the distance from him stabbing the hand of one of the bandits. “Over here! Don’t let him get away!”

The bandits started to chase after Shimoje. He had only hoped that they wouldn’t alert the rest of the bandits.

[Ferrin Al'Mandrikan]

TIMESTAMP:

LOCATION:

Ferrin dismounted Cyprus. He put up a hand to signal the other Knights and Squires to stop. Though, who knew if Sera Reeves would want to listen to him. "Why are we halting? We should investigate further."Demanded the She-Knight as she continued her walk. Ferrin turned. "So we know what's going on... Also, I'm not trying to lead you or anything." Croaked Ferrin in a solid whisper. He didn't want to be ordering the other Knights and Squires around; and plus he wasn't ranked to either. He was still learning how to become a Knight; a proper Knight. By the looks of it currently, he appears squire. Squires don't lead the Knights, but as of now, Ferrin has that role. He's the only one that can show the others where the scen was last.

"Fine, carry on then." She responded childishly. Sera Reeves brandished her blade and began playing with it almost in a bored manner. She waited with her fellow Knights and the other two squires that came along on this trip.

When Jade spoke of them to be silent. Ferrin regrets wearing the metal armor. It posed a great challenge for one to sustain any amounts of stealthiness. Sera Reeves focused her attention to the other Squires. "Take watch on these horses. Be careful and don't get caught. Remember what you've been taught."She chuckled almost devilishly as she figured out she had made something ryhme. It was sort of dark, in a way; her rhyming. The manner of which Sera Reeves made it appear; it felt creepy.

Ferrin unsheathed his short broadsword and readied his shield. He left his longbow strapped to Cyprus including the quiver as well. He figured that he wouldn't need it at the moment. They were just searching for Shimoje at the moment, it wasn't like he was going to walk into a war zone or anything. Right..

Three Knights accompanied the couple; Sera Reeves, Ser Maximus, Ser Zulkar. Each Knight has their own personality. Each one with a different view of how they perceive specific things. But now, the three were quite. It was peculiar, the quietness. Ferrin followed behind Jade, he was already breaking a sweat. He did all his best to avoid any sounds that relished from his armor. But, the Knights, they were having more difficulty attempting the stealthiness.

"Jade, this isn't going to work..." Stated Ferrin obviously. But he spoke in a cordial way that wouldn't get Jade upset most likely. "If were part of the Order, the bandits will probably know that they should walk away..."

"Fool, it won't work that way." Scoffed Sera Reeves harshly as she crept up closer to the two. She matched pace with them, but she was only behind them. The line that they never held together, looked more like a disfigured "X." Whilst they walked, twigs and leaves snapped beneath their boots.

"Well. Why not? I don't want to fight them..." Ferrin replied weakly. He saw so much death occur just the day prior of today. Like he really needs to worry about killing more. He shouldn't need to.

"By Sylir, boy you stated in your report of the bandits being followers of Rhysol. You yourself explained that we should clear them out of these woods. Exterminate..."Sera Reeves replied wearily. She knew that killing was wrong, but without Ser Xervos here at the moment, she needed to drill this part of being a member of the Order, into Ferrins head. It was an important part. By no means, will the Order allow Rituals done on their land. By any mean will they not.

"Yes Sera Reeves, I understand..." Said Ferrin with a nod, not looking over his shoulder. The other two Knights stood silent. But, after a few chimes of walking. Zulkar spoke. His red hair swiveled as he spotted smoke rising through a canopy of a small region of the trees. Where Ferrin was yesterday.

"There smoke. They must be close."

"Jade, should we follow the smoke? Will Shimoje be there..." He calmed himself down. He was getting nervous. He didn't like being nervous, not one bit. "But I hear yelling now as well. Should we put out the fire, or follow the voices?" If they didn't put out the fire, it could spread. If they didn't follow the voices; someone can be killed. Ferrin was hoping for it not to be Shimoje. After all, Shimoje played a big role in this discovery to. It be a shame to see him dead, and it'll be worse for Ferrin; to not be there when Shimoje dies. If he does. Ferrin started to breath heavily due to the smoke inhalation. "I think... We should split up the group."

Al'Mandrikan

[Jade Laken]

DATE, YEAR, LOCATION

Jade walked ahead of them with her hood up looking like any normal huntress. The light clinking behind her seemed to ring out loudly in the quiet of the forest. When Ferrin spoke of the plan not working she was not surprised at all. With all of them in such heavy armor anyone with half a brain would know that it was a group of knights moving through the forest.

"Don't get snippy with me lady," Jade said with a slight growl already not liking this woman, "we need a new plan and fast. Even with just the two of you following it would be impossible to sneak up on them."

The blonde said thinking when Ferrin got her attention. Looking up the woman's heart dropped seeing the smoke. Her first instinct was to run headfirst into the smoke and find her friend. Clearing her throat Jade looked over to the pair beside her and heard shouting ahead.

"Ferrin you guys go get the knights. That's Shim's voice I know it is. I'm going in further," Jade said and pulled her hood up.

Quickly the drykas disappeared into the encroaching smoke. Hiding behind a tree she kept her mouth covered with the cloak. Once all had went past she raced the other direction. Sliding to a stop she saw the burning bodies, swallowing down the bile that rose up her throat. Now was no time to get a weak stomach, jerking her head around she heard more voices.

"Oh shit," Jade said and used her cloak as a marker for the knights.

Two sets of rough hands grabbed the blonde and dragged her off not worrying about the cloak. Fighting the woman did not want to give the appearance of having a plan.

"NO! LET ME GO!" She kept shouting fighting against their iron grip.

[Shimoje]

Title:

Smoke turned to ash, as particles of dead bodies floated in the air. It was not in the least bit pleasant. As Shimoje was running through he could almost barely see. However, his sense of sound and feeling was still there. He felt and heard something run past him and then heard very loud yelling in the other direction. His first reaction was that those idiots thought they nabbed Shimoje. He was partially enticed to just continue running, like a coward… when he recognized the voice.

“Jade!” he yelled out once as he made his way in the direction of the yelling. He couldn’t make a single petching thing out. As the female yells got louder and louder, almost in pain, Shimoje started to run full pace… until finally colliding into something very hard. He fell to the ground almost immediately, the object he ran into seemingly un-phased by his force. There she was. Jade, now on the ground, and Shimoje was on top of her. His hand went from underneath him as one of the other bandits grabbed ahold of his head, now noticing how bald it was.

In plight of the attempt to grip at hair, Shimoje was forcibly pushed instead. Straight into Jade’s cleavage, but he didn’t know the difference. Instead he struggled to get up almost immediately, letting out a grunt when he felt something on his hands. He knew this feeling… could it be… blood?

“Jade are you alright!” he managed to get out as he got up to his feet, before he was punched harshly in the back shoulder blade. In the process he stumbled forward, and grunted … running away.

The two bandits continued to search and one sounded as if he was punching at the air, probably trying to punch sounds he though would be Shimoje. The smoke was thick, and it was starting to get to Shimoje through all this struggle, as he was breathing heavily. All that ash of dead bodies… going straight into his lungs. His vision started to blur and he collapsed to the ground and started to black out. Just as he hit the ground he instantly took a very large inhale. It seemed a remainder of some fresh air was on the ground.

Regaining his thoughts, he started to hastily crawl on all fours through the woods towards the sound of Jade, trying to remain stealthy. He looked literally like a mud beast at this moment, and almost demented because he couldn’t even crawl straight due to the punch. Every now and then he would dip his head below the veil of smoke to get some fresh air, and crawl holding his breath.

When he finally reached the pinnacle to the sounds he was following he grasped onto a fleshy and smooth limb, it almost felt like an ankle, but he couldn’t be too sure. Crawling forward to see the body, it was surely Jade’s and seemed to be being dragged. He followed them slowly, trying to match each of his movements to theirs. It was then that he heard the sound of the knights squires making their way through the smoky woods. It didn’t seem like any of the vegetation was on fire, just the bodies, and by now the bodies would surely be burnt fully. He couldn’t grasp how so much smoke came about, but all he knew was that if he could hear the knights and squires arguing about yelling out for them, then so could the bandits. That is when they hit Jade upside the head and she fell to the ground.

After a moment of what seemed to her being unconscious (Shimoje wasn’t really sure) he crawled towards her, all mangled like and covered in mud and said “Let’s Go. We have to get out of this smoke!”

"My Speech." "Other Speech."

[Ferrin Al'Mandrikan]

TIMESTAMP:

LOCATION:

"The smoke, it's getting thick. Thick by the tick."It was Ser Zulkar, his voice was heavy and quite doubting. Though, the group trekked closer. Step by step, that was when Ferrin noticed the cloak with his keen eye sight.

"So, we'll be safe. Her cloak..." Said Ferrin in awe. She had probably dismissed it over the tree on purpose. As a marker, perhaps. "She's close-"

Then the cries for wanting to be released came about. "It's that blonde girl again." This time, Sera Reeves spoke up. Her snarky attitude, still well, snarky.

"Sera Reeves, do you mind? We're in a bit of a crisis." Spoke one of the Squires.

"It's obvious I know." Harped the She-Knight anxiously. Her gaze shifted from each of them and then to the burning bodies. "Let's go fetch them. We won't need to split up." She said, "Zulkar come on. Let's get a move on, Ser Maximus, you to." She ordered. The squires, including Ferrin agreed to follow along. Well, they didn't have a particular choice.

The scent of smoke creot through the forest. Though, the fire itself wasn't spreading vastly. Otherwise, things would be worse for all of them

"Jade!" Ferrin called out, his voice was half shaken by all of this commotion. It was a little bit to much for the squire to handle, though he wouldn't give up, he must find his friends. Then, he saw movement. The other squires saw it to, two men running out of the smoke, "there!" Exclaimed Ferrin. "Those men. They've must've been around Jade and Shimoje." Said Ferrin.

"The quickest way I'd to go through the smoke..." Sera Reeves exclaimed. "Otherwise, we'll be caught in the flames when it spreads on the sides. We need to crawl. Or attempt to go around." She said thoughtfully.

"Let's go around and make it quick." Said Ferrin.

A chime or so later...

The group managed to make their ways around the burning bodies. Ferrin still had no sight of Jade and Shimoje. He was starting to lose hope, but then again. A voice. It was shims. His voice called out to Jade. "Shimoje!" Yelled Ferrin. "Shimoje hey! We'll get you out of there. Don't worry!" Ferrin dropped his shield and weapons and descended into a crawl position. There was an arm on his shoulder. "You can't go in alone." It was Ser Maximus. "I'll come to. Zulkar come." The three crawled under the dank smoke.

It was sweltering hot. The heat already entereing through his armor, Ferrin began to sweat like a hail storm. "Shimoje!" Coughed Ferrin. Ferrin managed to find a body, a hand. It was a dead corpse. A burnt one and Ferrin gasped. He jumped and almost thrown up. The other two split up. Their voices were faint under the heavy smoke as well. "Jade!" Coughed Ferrin again, his coughs were getting rougher and rougher by each inhale.

Soon, it'll be over soon. Thought Ferrin.

Then, Ferrin felt a hand graps onto him. Instinctively he grabbed hold to it. Whoever it was, Ferrin was leading their way out. Coughing as well. Once Ferrin reached the edge of the line of smoke, he held out his other hand, then two sets of Knightly hands pulled the three out. Ferrin was on the ground, Jade and Shimoje were next to him. Ferrin rolled over on his back, breathing in the fresh air. "Breath, breath." It was Ser Maximus. Commanding the three to breath.

Ferrin was breathing.

Breath in. Breath out.

Breath in. Breath out.

He was good after two long deeo breaths. "Jade, Shimoje, are you two alright? Jade?" He Asjed the two while he took the efforts of standing up. Hoping that they'll be okay.

Al'Mandrikan

[Jade Laken]

DATE, YEAR, LOCATION

A sudden shout from Shim caused the woman to cease her struggles. A new struggle from the woman started wanting to be free. The men found it much harder to hold on to the squirming drykas. With a growl one punched the woman as hard as he could. It took everything in her to remain standing and not bow. She spat at the man wanting him mad, wanting him not focused the two things that would HOPEFULLY give her an advantage. Soon enough someone had ran smack dab into her. Landing with a grunt the blonde tried to figure out what was going on. Who or what had run into her. A sharp pain in her head told her not to move. Jade knew instantly that she had landed on a sharp rock causing her skin to open and her to bleed. Not concerned at the moment adrenaline kept her from feeling a lot of the pain. She grunted again when one of the men pushed Shim down on her again. Using her long legs to her advantage she kicked the man in the knee causing him to go down and release Shim. Who very quickly ran like a coward, rolling her eyes the blonde got up and raced off once more noticing strange marks pointing in strange directions. Sliding to a stop the blonde cried out when an arrow grazed her side causing even more blood to flow.

"Petching hell!" she growled and turned the opposite way only for the two men to have returned.

Another battle insued between the three. Jade continued to fight the men hearing several people calling her name. Growling the woman bit down on one set of hands causing him to release her screaming. Quickly grabbing her dagger from inside her boot she stabbed the other man's arm. Once both had released the young drykas she shot forward running the way that they had taken her. Her mind screamed to run towards Ferrin's voice, but she knew that would not get them any closer to finding the knights. Wincing blonde tresses got caught by a stray limb pulling her back some before retching the hair tie out. Shaking her head she went to continue only one of the men to grab her hair. The blonde cried out some when he yanked her back. Pulling the other way Jade hated to do it, but she used the dagger to cut off the hair that was being held. With a startled gasp the man stumbled backwards. She continued to fight for what seemed like forever. In reality the blonde had only been fighting for perhaps five to ten chimes.

The sudden closeness of the knights caused one to punch the blonde hard enough to knock her out. Falling to the ground she was out cold when Shim found her ankle and Ferrin appeared. Still out cold the woman didn't register a lot of what the men were saying.

[Shimoje]

"They are starting to burn the bodies!" coughed out Shimoje. He had never seen anything like this, and by lykatas sake he would ensure everything to survive this situation. He wasn't completely sure but whatever pestering and flaming bodies had caused all of this smoke it wasn't just from the few in the wild that ferrin and Shimoje disposed of earlier. Either way now there were many more thrown into the mix.

As approaching the horrors of jade slicing off her own hair and getting knocked around a bit he grabbed onto her ankles. The whole situation just made him think. With the cover of the smoke he crawled forward to the bandit using his concealment of mud and took out one of his larger knives from his tool kit. He hated using them on people, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

Slice.

Slice.

Two quick movements of the blade through the cover of the smoke cut through the leather clothing and footwear of the bandit. Blood squirted uncontrollably through the gashes in his ankles properly bathing Shimoje in blood. Screams of pain... And terror sounded loudly through the forest as the deep voiced man lost his composure and fell to the ground. Shimoje was of anything surprised but always scientific in his strikes. This would be perhaps his most grotesque kill ever. As the man fell gave first screaming into the ground he faught to get away from the demon below the smoke. A strange crawling demon with blood and mud across his bald head with strange knife like appendages. At least that is what the man thought he saw. As the man picked up his body with his arms attempting to crab himself away from Shimoje... He striked again. This time to the neck. To silence the awful screams. Once the duty was done Shimoje simply stood up to being surrounded by the Knights, and wasnt really sure but he could've sworn that he heard ferrin.

Shimoje walked back over to jade and attempted to grab her arm to pick her up and get her standing on her feet. "we're fine." Shimoje growled to them. He didn't care of they saw him for the monster he currently was or not. All he knew is that he did as was required. More than what he could say for the slow knights and awful tactics. They were useless. Where were they through all of this, huh?

Shimoje was growing to despise the Knights more and more but there was still that misled and quirky squire that's been there through a lot of it with him. "ferrin. By now they know we are here. Lead the Knights North past the clearing where the smoke should settle." Shimoje was not attuned to the way the sylirans worked, and he didn't care. This was his case. This was his struggle. A little bit of coughing and strolling through the woods wouldn't compare to how Shimoje felt. Being responsible for ser xervos and yargul. He didn't need this pressure. He was a simple sailor and gadgeteer.

Though nothing was ever as it seemed. Shimoje after helping jade to her feet simply let the strong willed woman handle herself. He didn't want to say much but he knew. He knew that north it would take longer to reach the clearing than if they headed North West. To the direction of the sea. Shimoje remembered back when he was in woods similar to this. It was woods like these where he met lykata. A goddess. Can you believe it? Shimoje looked at the back of his palm and it didn't glow like it did before his arrival to syliras. He wasn't sure why, but he could surely have used that gift.

No matter, he would work it out. "grab ahold. I recognize the way" Shimoje started to dart North East. Before long he reached the edge of the clearing. And in it... He saw something he had never seen before. Large shrines being carried from the depth of a cave. Many slaves groaning and bending over attempting to carry heavy loads to the west. All while a few of the bandits tended to make a few last prayers to their god. That's when he spotted them. Yargul and ser xervos chained inside a cage aboard a carriage.

Shimoje had to think. He never expected this. If those petching knights came they would probably just go in swinging.

"stay clam jade" was his last words before the sound of metal armor approached to his east.