Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-3293219-20150928220113/@comment-3293219-20150930135719

By this point the sun was about to come up as the sky became a peachy orange as dawn broke over Skyrim. Greymane and Zaydate had remained silent all night, holding their position and praying that they weren't being watched by the crows. The Nord constantly doubled back over his shoulder, making sure that they hadn't changed from the last time he looked. If his calculations were correct, Talin's distraction team should be leaving the city, giving them ample time to sneak into the city unnoticed. Talin's team stepped out of the Bannered Mare, each of them were ready to take on the Murder of Crows and retreat. The Imperial lead them towards the main gate, knowing that they would need to stand outside as soon as possible, Zaydate was probably already quite anxious to get inside, not to mention that she risked being caught with every passing second.

As the Imperial approached the gate, he noticed that a group of three guards were obstructing him, stood around, talking to themselves with no intentions of moving. Talin got the feeling that this was going to end badly as they all turned their attention to the group, each of them fixing their gaze upon them and standing defiantly in their way.

“Sorry but we’re not letting anyone out of the city, not with the crows on the horizon. Roads aren’t safe and the Captain’s not letting anyone get snatched up.” The Guard insisted much to everyone’s dismay as Talin glanced up to the sky, seeing that the sun was coming up.

We don’t have time for this… He thought, frantically, switching his attention back to the guardsmen who stood in his way.

“Please, our friend is out there, she needs our help.” He begged, trying to reason with them as quickly as possible, not resorting to lying, just yet.

“Sorry but if your friend is out there, she’s as good as dead… I doubt she’d want you to throw your lives away either.”

“She isn’t lost, we’re a distraction team, we’re trying to help stop the Witch who controls them but right now our friends are waiting on us to get their attention as they’re sitting ducks!”

“Look, if you think that you’re an exception, then go talking to the Captain, we have our orders and if you get snatched up, the Captain won’t give a shit, he’ll have our heads.” The Guardsman’s comrade said, backing him up.

Nissa stood, seemingly frustrated by their obstruction, she was looking forward to running for her life and these assholes were ruining her fun. Without any prompting, the Dunmer decided to take the initiative, stepping forward and getting in the end guard’s face, with a broad grin.

“Gee, I like your helmet. Does it double up as a sick bucket?” She asked, quickly grabbing the man’s head and yanking his helmet off of his shoulders, much to his outrage as his messy brown hair was almost pulled out with it.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“I think I’ll try it on…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">The Guard immediately tried to snatch it off of her but she quickly turned around and began to lift it, seemingly putting it on her head.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“Madam, if that helmet isn’t on my head in five seconds, you’re going to spend the next week in the dungeon!” He warned, indignantly taking a step forward.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“Five…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Four…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Nissa looked around, looking just as frustrated as he did, were these guys like the fun police or something? Screw it…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“Oh, you want it back? Should’ve just said…” She shrugged, tossing the helmet up and down in her grasp, looking a little annoyed and confused.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">   “Three…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“Urgh, fine!” She finally snapped, snatching the helmet out of the air and slamming it down on top of the guard’s head…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Upside down…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">The steel cap knocked the Guard’s head down to the point that his chin toughed his chest, shaking his head up like he’d just walked into a tree or a window. The shock of the blow knocked him out cold, sending him towering over and landing with a thud on the ground. Nissa stepped back with a proud smirk on her face; he should’ve phrased his command a little better…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Both parties watched the spectacle blown away and left speechless by it, however, Talin was quick to use it to his advantage. He grabbed the middle guard and grappled him, kicking his knee so that he could easily push him to the ground before stamping on his helmet and keeping him down and out.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Kazriss also snatched a guard by the arm, turning around and flipping him over his back, sending him to the ground with a loud ‘thud’ and a clatter. The Khajiit immediately stood up straight and proceeded to dust off his hands, feeling rather proud of that one.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“Alright, move!” Talin insisted, stepping forward and pushing the gate open that was surely going to get someone’s attention. <p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt; padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">The remaining group members got to work, assisting Talin in opening the gate. The gate opened a little quicker than they were expecting, with a loud groan as the group shoved their way past it and proceeded to run down the approach, hoping that they had the Bird’s attention. <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Fortunately, they did, the Murder of Crows saw movement on the horizon and began to go into a frenzy, waking up Zaydate, who had taken a minute or two to rest her eyes, with a start. The Argonian and Nord looked up as they saw the entire Murder fly off of the cliff face, into their black cloud formation, getting ready to swoop down upon the fleeing travellers. <p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt; padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">“Right, let’s move!” Zaydate insisted, not even waiting for Greymane before she hopped up to her feet and made a move towards the mouth of Helga’s cave. Greymane wasn’t fare behind her, hoping to get away before the crows came back. <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Talin’s group got half way up the road to make it look convincing before they saw the crows flying in from the North. They stopped and stared at the incoming birds for a few moments before Talin looked back, over his shoulder.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“Turn back, now!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Nobody needed telling twice, they immediately turned back around and made a break for the approach, running up hill would be difficult enough but they were facing an enemy that could swoop down on them, moving ten times faster than they were and swarming them. They had to make it before the crows arrived or they were done for.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Within the twenty seconds that it took them to get to the approach, the Murder was already 2/3rds of the way there. Seeing this, Talin ensured that this would go as smoothly as possible.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“Kazriss, Nissa! Make sure the gate’s open!” The Imperial barked, looking up to see that the Crows were already flying towards the approach in a diagonal, just as they made it up the first ramp.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Diana stopped and turned back, taking a deep breath as she charged up a scream, within seconds she projected it across the valley, creating a funnel of sonic energy that knocked all of the birds aside, though many just flew around it.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Talin stopped and looked over his shoulder, seeing that Diana was returning to his side, he gave her a nod to ensure that she was okay, though she brushed his concern off and carried on moving.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Nissa and Kazriss had finally made it up to the gate, which had already been shut behind them on the way out. The Dunmer, not having much patience for this bollocks, thumped the large wooden structure with as much force as she could muster, driven by a mix of anger and fear.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“Hey, assholes open up!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Her politely phrased request came with no reply; it would seem that the Guardsmen had left her and her companions for dead.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Diana spun around again, seeing that the large black swarm was coming down upon them, she took in another deep breath and screamed a small chunk of them out of the sky, Talin made sure that he stayed close by her side, raising his sword and getting ready to cut them down in case any tried to attack Diana and damage her concentration.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“Get that door open!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Nissa rolled her eyes, what did he think that she was doing, practicing handstands? She and Kazriss immediately got to work on it, whilst Talin, Diana and the others tried to hold the flock back.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">At this point, Diana had used her sonic shriek attack half a dozen times in one go, resulting in her being famished. She continued to shriek anyway, giving another two funnels of half hearted screaming before she eventually lost the ability to hold herself up, stumbling off to the side and falling to her knees, resting on her hip as she did her best to keep herself awake.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“Di!” Talin called, quickly rushing over to her side as the large flock, which was previously being kept at bay, was now descending upon them, without anything to stop it. The Imperial knelt by Diana’s side, making sure that she could at least acknowledge him but her eyes seemed to be shut, whilst she hung her head, trying to catch her breath again. Seeing that she was the easiest victim for the crows, the Imperial stepped around her and stood in their way, raising his shield as the swarm descended on them both, engulfing them in seconds.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">The swarm, flooded up the approach, swallowing up everyone who got in its way, eventually cornering Kazriss and Nissa as they fruitlessly pushed and pulled at the chains that operated the draw bridge. <p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt; padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">At this point, the two of them looked up, seeing that the cloud was heading straight for them. Nissa drew her katana, not wanting to face the end unarmed and cowering in the corner, she lunged forward and roared in fury, slicing down into the first crow that was unfortunate enough to get in her way, just hoping that after they were done tearing her apart, they left her beautiful coat in tact. <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Helga snarled as she jumped back, finding it impossible to morph herself as her crows were tasked to capacity. Instead she blasted Nikolai in the face for having the audacity to try and stop her.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“Oh, joy… It seems my crows have yielded fruit once again.” She cackled, blasting another lightning spell at Ragnar.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">“I guess I have prisoners to spare…” She decided, getting ready to set the entire room ablaze.