Passing on the Marbles |
Summary: | The gang tries to get Marbles off safely, but run into a bit of a snag or five in getting him on his way. |
Date: | 1867-06-12 |
Related: | With Great Porpoise |
NPCs: | {$npc} |
Players: |
Four Corners - Docks |
There isn't a ship afloat that hasn't been through the logbooks of the dock-master of the Free City of Four Corners… at least, if you listen to the dock-master. Ships of every description, from private yachts and slender fishing knars to big-bellied merchant cogs and bristling naval brigantines. Dockworkers and sailors with tattoos and tattered breeches, errand-boys running underfoot and over crate, fishermen fixing nets, wealthy merchants attended by slaves and bookkeepers and travelers, sightseers and more, all of them here where the ships are loaded and unloaded beneath the wheeling gulls. Businesses catering to the sailors and men who work her crowd the dock front, with restaurants, taverns, whorehouses, bonesaws, pitch-vats, money-changers, bounty-offices and shipwrights all fighting for space. This too is where the fishing boats unload their daily catches. There is a fishmarket right on one of the more rickety quays where one can find bright silver tuna, swordfish, cod, bass, anglerfish, grouper, mussels, abalone, huge prawns and tiny shrimp and anchovies, squid, enormous mottled lobsters, crabs, spiky urchins eel, salmon, even monster tuna. Waterbirds of various types are here as well, such as tern, cormorant, swan and heron. |
1867-06-12 |
It has been a week since Marbles was placed under Vigil House arrest to protect him from the Cardinal and his men on trumped up charges. One among the number thought it better to kill him, spare him the burning that is the usual mode of church execution, while another sought to find him sanctuary.
That sancuary is found by one's associate, Captain Arnald Fletcher of Hosue d'Armaz's Merchant Fleet, and Captain of the Ghost Hopper, an Aequoran Sloop with strangely black sails for it being named Ghost Hopper…
Captain Fletcher stands on the endge of his gang plank with hands behind his back. He looks apprehensive despite the stoic stance, and his eyes dart this way and that. He checks behind him several times to make sure the ship is both still there and ready to sail. Both of whihc are apparently true. The sun begins to dip below the horizon of Four Corner's skyline, and somewhere at a local Dock inn, a sea chanty is heard in the distance.
Clad in his full plate, Reliant warcoat, Havelock is an imposing sight. More so given the sidhe steel blade that hangs at his side and the weighty shield clutched within his left hand and perhaps the wary look upon his features says it all. Today is another bad day in a long line of oh so bad days. Keeping a watchful eye, or as watchful as he is ever able, the Reliant does his best to stay ready as he and the others seek to aid the poor befuddled Marbles and get him to that waiting ship. Another fraught journey, one amongst many and this one is merely from a tavern to the nearby docks. It is a wonder that Havelock's lustrous blond hair hasn't turned white.
Dress in the simple, and relatively unmarked robes, of a priestess, Viola does her best to escort the befuddled Marbles along. Her warhammer rests upon her hip at the ready, should it be needed. There is an eye kept out, even if her main task does seem to be to keep Marbles as quiet as possible. He has been dressed up a bit like a layman with a cloak settled over him with a nice hood.
Marbles, for his part is MOSTLY quiet, except he occassionaly lets out a slight moan, or a simple, "Not safe." as a Statement to the situation he finds himself in. The docks are relatively quiet, with few people around, not many ships coming or going into port at this time of day.
Tavi, a mostly healed black eye and split lip accompanies the pair, the fiant rustle of chain under his simple tabard. He eyes the sloop in admiration and looks to Myrana. "I don't know why YOU'RE so upset," he says quietly. "You weren't the one who got pummeled for doing the right thing."
Dressed in a simple dark cloak with a hood over his own armor, Jarret has only brought his lightsilver handaxes for weapons today. After all, those can be hidden under the cloak. He's near the ship, looking around rather carefully at whaever might be nearby, just in case.
Havelock casts a glance back towards Tavi and for the first time there's a faint smirk, "I certainly appreciate what you went through, it could not have been easy… well I'm sure the first part of your plan was, the second, third and fourth part however." The words spoken softly as he keeps watch, nodding to the group, "And thank you all, in years to come I'm sure this will all make sense."
Myrana's eyes are tight, lower lids drawn up and arms crossed before her chest, hip cocked. "How is it," she grumbles, standing next to Tavi. Their friendship is terrible. "That whenever we need a distraction, I'm the one that gets smooched?" She shakes her head, making the gold tasselure of her earrings chime brightly.
A smaller ship, much more questionably seaworthy ship than Captain Arnald's discharges a number of armed, seedy looking types around ten or fifteen yards away. These men notably look rather sour, covered in sea water as they are. One of them is Bertram. The short, middle aged man is clad in a set of green brigandine and while armed, is not heavily so; a short sword, a dagger and a round shield appear to be all he's got in the way of weapons. He carries a burlap bag over his shoulder and grumbles something under his breath.
A gentle patpat on Marble's arm comes as a response to that occasional moan or mumble. Viola couldn't exactly argeu the matter, nothing of the world was really safe any more now was it? A glance goes towards Myrana,"I am sure Mr. Quite Free, would be happy ta let you take the punches the next time around instead."
Tavi grins to Myrana and winks ever so slightly. "Because Viola already turned me down. I figured if I didn't giv eyou a chance to object, I'd at least have a decent few moments." He grins and looks toward Fletcher. "Also. A nice chance to feel your backside. Very firm by the way."
Turning to face the group, Fletcher nods to Myrana. "Ah. My Lady Myrana. I trust this act will see us … Even? Yes?" He nods to the group and then studies Marbles who is, muttering quietly to himself. He shakes his head. "What ever is wrong with him, I'll see he gets good care in Ryalta. It really is becoming quite the little city you know."
He's about to say more when a rough voice calls out: "FLETCHER!"
The Captain's face goes white. "Oh. One's Balls." He turns toward the rough voice. "Ah. My esteemed Njorvolk friends. If this is about the Spice I had to dump … "
The Lead Njorvolk snarls. "We paid off the Watch Fletcher. We're gonna gut you, steel your pretty little boat, and then add it to the Clan's fleet as payment for your incompetance." He gestures. "And, since you rbought such willing and - " He licks his lips toward Viola and Myrana, "Supple looking slaves, I might even come out on top."
The men behind him snicker slightly, and the Njorvolk just grins. "Now. Enough talk. I hate speaking in Easterman tongue. You can throw yourself into the ocean and drown, or I'll gut you like the fish worm you are."
He and his men, who are all carrying the round shields favored by the Njorvolk, advance toward the group, a hungry look in their eyes.
Viola gives Marbles a faint glance after the charming Njorvolk make an apperance,"Did figure you were gonna end up right one of these days." Least more right. Havelock gets a sigh,"You know…they tried to do that with me once before, make me into a slave, I dare say it didn't turn out so well. " Moving Marbles along behind her, as that hand pulls along that warhammer of her…does exactly one to go quietly as it were. "I am a bit to stringy for a slave, truly."
Havelock casts a glance towards the stringy Viola, a flicker of a smile creasing his wolfish features as he steps forward towards the Njorvolk, "We have no need of this quarrel, we've haven't the time…" The sidhe steel blade that is Judgement is drawn slowly from the scabbard at his side, "But if pressed, we've the inclination." His words spoken in fine Barbarian, each word spoken with a certain ease by the Reliant as the fierce blade is given a swish before he slips back to his more natural common tongue, "So turn about, do yourselves a favour."
Looking about to make a comment, Jarret's cut off by the arrival of the Njorvolk. "I'm not sure what he told you," he comments to them, while reaching inside his cloak to get hold of those two handaxes now. "But you fine folks have a simple choice. Go away, or be killed." Taking a few moments to get rid of that cloak now.
Bertram is generally not inclined to get involved in other peoples' business, but he makes the exception for White Hallers - especially today, after the ship he was on had a close encounter with some of them. He drops his burlap bag and pulls the guige strap of his shield in order to make it more readily available. "Hey, savages. Why don't you do what the priest-knight o'er here says and piss off before YOU get gutted. How's that sound?"
"Even, yes." Myrana says to Fletcher, more gently than she spoke to Tavi, a smile tugging at her lips. "Favor for favor and done-" Her gaze slides to the Whitehallers who approach, and narrows. She takes a breath, and lets it out slowly though her nose, hand going to the hilt of Ardaigh at her side. "<Mother Viola, we'd best put our friend on the boat,>" in Old Tongue, softly. She steps very softly behind Tavi and Fletcher, till she feels the rope keeping the sloop at the dock against her shin thorugh her skirts
The Njorvolk Captain smirks and looks to Havelock. "Ah. God's metal. A fine addition to my treasures." Then he looks ot Jarret. "The Blood Axe! Many times have we raided your lands. It will be a guaranteed entrance to the Summer Halls if you are killed." He smiles darkly. "Or. If I die at your Eastern hands."
Fletcher is slowly backing up the Gang Plank. "Oh. One's. Fucking. Ball. Sweat."
Marbles looks at Viola's back, "NOT SAFE!" And he turns to run.
Tavi sighs and has his two Cutlass' out in hand a heart beat. "Oh good. I thought it had been awhile since I was accosted on the Docks." He looks to Myrana, "You do take me to some lovely places Love. Wherever is your barbarian bed toy? I think we could use him right about now."
The Njorvolk Captain, raises his sword and then drops it, the men with him let out a roar and surge forward, feet pounding on the docks, White Hall steel glinting in their hands.
"I've gotta work on my voice, I guess. Bugger it." With a shrug, Bertram pulls his shortsword from its scabbard, slips his hand through his shield and charges one of the Njorfolk from the flank, aiming low with his shield.
Turning towards the Njorvolk Captain, while having his axes ready, Jarret is unable to hold back a bit of a grin. "Well, then you will thank me when my hands place the final axe into your body, yes?" Moving forward to try taking the man down now.
<COMBAT> Njorvolk2 attacks Jarret with Axe &Shield but Jarret DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk1 attacks Myrana with Warhammer & Shield but Myrana DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk Captain attacks Jarret with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk4 attacks Havelock with Broadsword - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk3 attacks Viola with Mace & Shield - Light wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Njorvolk attacks Tavi with Axe &Shield but Tavi DODGES!
<COMBAT> Viola attacks Njorvolk with Warhammer - Moderate wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Tavi attacks Njorvolk with Cutlass Blade - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Myrana attacks Njorvolk1 with Ardaigh but Njorvolk1 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Jarret attacks Njorvolk Captain with Handaxe but Njorvolk Captain DODGES!
<COMBAT> Havelock attacks Njorvolk4 with Judgement & Shield - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Bertram attacks Njorvolk2 with Gladius & Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Tavi has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
And so it begins, Havelock steps towards his northern opponent and leaves himself open just enough to allow the barbarian's sword to clash against his sturdy plate, allowing him to slice the man's chest with a firm slash of the sidhe steel blade he wields. Nothing is said, the fight is noise and commotion enough for Havelock and so he moves with ease, seeking to put down his opponent while trying to keep Marbles within view, and if need be, intercept, grab and protect as he is left walled in and not safe at all by a clash of steel.
Bertram's side charge is effective, in so far as the smushy faced White Haller with the mace and shield doesn't notice him coming in. Bertram's shield pushes into the man's mail clad chest, though, and does no damage. The sell sword curses, and decides to switch tacts, going for a wide slash with his shortsword.
Viola nods towards Myrana, though with a fair few of the fine gents now eying her in particular, she does nudge Marbles further back and over towards Myrana a bit,"<Being aquainted with the Captain as ya are, might be best you help get Marbles settled in.>" Answering in soft kind as she does better ready that war hammer. And well, Marbles seems to have his own plans as he turns to head out at a run. And the Njorvolk are upon them. Without her usual shield, Viola's arm is open and get tagged lightly. But it does little to slow her as she lays her warhammer into another of theirs hands just a might be harder.
The Njorvolk surge forward, slashing and hacking and smashing with their weapons. Two of them come in on Jarret, the Captain's sword bouncing off the Galenthian's armor, while the other misses the agile Knight. The one that misses, turns and faces Bertram, charging and swinging his weapon for that man, instead of allowing the man to be left unattended.
The other Njorvolk move in and slash trying to hit them hard, or drive them off the docks and into the water below. However, they take wounds as the staunch Westerners hold their ground.
Tavi ducks and then slashes with both baldes, sparks fly up as the Cutlass' fail to breach the links and the nimble fighter rolls back and up, his swords already flashing once again. He spies Marbles running off down the docks and calls out, "Whomever clears their opponant first, go and get Marbles!!"
Marbles flat sprints, waving hsi ahds in teh air as he screams, "NOT SAFE!" over and over again.
Having to dodge two people at the same time makes Jarret miss his own strike. "Ah, so you need to be two, hmmm?" he comments, looking towards the Captain again. "You may still get out of this alive, you know. One last chance…" While he speaks, he moves into position for another attack.
Myrana strips off the tied left sleeve of her kirtle and draws Ardaigh with a brilliant flash of lightsilver and opal. To Viola she shouts agreement, then lays in on the whitehaller who charges her, twisting out of the way of his strike and missing on her own in the process.
<COMBAT> Njorvolk3 attacks Viola with Mace & Shield but Viola DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk2 attacks Bertram with Axe &Shield - Serious wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Njorvolk4 attacks Havelock with Broadsword but Havelock DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk1 attacks Myrana with Warhammer & Shield - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Njorvolk Captain attacks Jarret with Sword & Shield but Jarret DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk attacks Tavi with Axe &Shield but Tavi DODGES!
<COMBAT> Viola attacks Njorvolk3 with Warhammer - Light wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Tavi attacks Njorvolk with Cutlass Blade - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Myrana attacks Njorvolk1 with Ardaigh - Moderate wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Jarret attacks Njorvolk Captain with Handaxe but Njorvolk Captain DODGES!
<COMBAT> Havelock attacks Njorvolk4 with Judgement & Shield - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Bertram attacks Njorvolk2 with Gladius & Shield - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Tavi has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Havelock has changed stance to Aggressive.
There is just a mild sigh as Marbles runs on off. Easily ducking and dodging that next mace rounding in at her. "Now, I did say that it didn't go to well the last time a lot of ya tried to cart me on off." To punctuate her point, Viola's warhammer in all of it's shiny glory smacks the Njorvolk she's facing off with right in the stomach. Right under the shield.
"Ah!" Myrana is knocked bodily aside and crashes into one of the wooden lantern posts. The wood splinters a little and she ducks behind it with a labored breath to evade a second crushing blow b ythe whitehaller's warhammer. At the axis of his second blow though she thrusts around it, holding her bloody side with one hand and opening up a horrific gash across the side of her face.
Njorvolk that charged Bertram slams the man with his Axe, drawing blood, but not biting deep enough to kill the sell sword thanks to the mans' armor. THe Njorvolk's grin of satisfaction is short lived as the man's return is no less frightening and drives the Njorvolk back a step.
The Captain smiles as Jarret dodges, he twirls his blade and then presses formward, the point shining in the fading light of the Four Corner's sunset. While the rest of the Njorvolk fail to gian any significant ground the people defending Captain Fletcher, manage to drive into the White Hallers, wounding and forcing them back a step or two.
Tavi's blade rakes through links this time and he rolls to the side to avoid a counter swing. Without missing a beat he stands up and slashes at the man in front of him.
Havelock delivers another cutting blow against the Njorvolk, slicing the sidhe steel blade against the man's abdomen while wheeling about the stumbling and bleeding northerner's own attack. For a bulky plate clad Reliant, he's rather swift upon his spurred feet. The crimson warcoat billowing in Havelock's path as he moves with a certain ease, casting aside his shield and pressing his attack with a certain fervour as he seeks to press the barbarian and make his way towards Marbles. Teeth gritted and eyes narrowed. Oh so wolfish. Grrrrrrr!
As the wild, matted beard barbarian turns towards Bertram with rage in his eyes, he slams his axe into the man's chest. Perhaps things aren't going so well. The axe head sinks deep into Bert's brigandine cuirass. In return, the sellsword punches his shortsword through the barbarian's mail shirt, the weapon penetrating but then glancing off a rip bone. The White Haller howls. "Piss off and die, wanker!" Bert yells at him, going for another shot in the chest.
Jarret shakes his head a little as he misses again, but once again, he moves in to attack, ready to dodge once again, like he's done quite well so far.
<COMBAT> Njorvolk Captain attacks Jarret with Sword & Shield but Jarret DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk3 attacks Viola with Mace & Shield and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk attacks Tavi with Axe &Shield but Tavi DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk4 attacks Havelock with Broadsword - Light wound to Right Hand (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Njorvolk1 attacks Myrana with Warhammer & Shield - Light wound to Right Arm (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Njorvolk2 attacks Bertram with Axe &Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Viola attacks Njorvolk3 with Warhammer - Serious wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Tavi attacks Njorvolk with Cutlass Blade - Critical wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Myrana attacks Njorvolk1 with Ardaigh - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Jarret attacks Njorvolk Captain with Handaxe - Light wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Havelock attacks Njorvolk4 with Judgement & Shield - Serious wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Bertram attacks Njorvolk2 with Gladius & Shield but Njorvolk2 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Tavi has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Njorvolk3 has been KO'd!
With a cutting blow, Havelock gashes the barbarian's right hand and swings about to deliver a further blow as the poor man reels under the flurry of sidhe steel and receives for his troubles a feeble knock against the very same hand. The only thing showing upon his face is annoyance, teeth gritted against whatever twinge came from the retaliatory blow and again he presses forward, eager to end this as a faint rumbling growl of annoyance thrums within his throat.
Its fortunate that Myrana is accustomed to wielding only one blade, and hasn't got a pistol out just now; the next blow catches her in the right arm and would have knocked the hand cannon into the water. The glancing blow is returned by a slash at the man's shoulder as Myra tries to catch her breath, head still spinning from the strike that knocked her into the pole. "Stop calling him that, you ass!" This, clearly, is directed at Tavi. "I don't make up nicknames for your— your WHATEVER."
Viola shifts again as the mace comes at her, the Njorvolk gets nothing but air. Which leaves him open again. Viola's warhammer goes rounding to his chest with a far more solid hit causing a loud crack that sends the man tumbling over with a groan. And leaving Viola now open, and she goes spriting after Marbles. He can't be hard to follow, right? Man waving his arms around madly and being all 'Not Safe'.
Tavi's stand and slash results in forcing the Njorvolk to make a blind attack as the Cutlass cuts into the man's gorget and sprays blood. He looks over to Myrana and winks at her. "I'm sorry. That was callous of me love. Perhaps I should have said Fuck Buddy?" He looks to havelock. "Is that less crass?" Then he sidesteps the blind counter attack.
The Njorvolk however are driven back as even more are cut into. One of them falls, from Viola's hit and he screams as he falls into the central ocean of the docks.
This time, the melee between Bertram and his axe wielding opponent is less conclusive. The axeman tries to follow up on his last hit, but Bert blocks most of the blow with his shield, and as a result only a weak hit lands on his brigandine. Bert's sword slash, too, is weak and misses entirely. He grumbles.
At least this time Jarret manages to hit his opponent. Sadly he's only managed to bounce the axe off the other man's head. But we'll try once again. Moving in for another attack, he starts moving to one side, then back to the other.
"We're NOT LOVERS." Myrana gets so mad at Tavi she actually whips her head that way to give him a glare that'd peel paint off a whorehouse. Then she shrieks and ducks below a massive swing of that hammer.
<COMBAT> Njorvolk4 attacks Havelock with Broadsword - ARMOR on Right Hand stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk attacks Tavi with Axe &Shield and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk Captain attacks Jarret with Sword & Shield but Jarret DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk2 attacks Bertram with Axe &Shield - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Njorvolk1 attacks Myrana with Warhammer & Shield but Myrana DODGES!
<COMBAT> Viola tries to attack but has no target!
<COMBAT> Tavi attacks Njorvolk with Cutlass Blade - Light wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Myrana attacks Njorvolk1 with Ardaigh - Moderate wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Jarret attacks Njorvolk Captain with Handaxe but Njorvolk Captain DODGES!
<COMBAT> Havelock attacks Njorvolk4 with Judgement & Shield - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Bertram attacks Njorvolk2 with Gladius & Shield - Critical wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Tavi has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
The fight between the sellsword and the axe wielding, matted beard lunatic is not going well for either. After the last axe blow glanced off of his brigandine, the White Haller sinks another one in, this time with deadlier effect, next to his first hit. Bertram howls in pain, his body tensing up and his back arching. The White Haller leans in for a killing blow, sensing blood.
That's where Bert strikes. How much of the howling and production was true or false is unclear, but he suddenly lurches forward and thrusts his shortsword towards his enemy's chest. It pushes through mail, padded jerkin, flesh and bone and right out the back of the man. And yet, he does not fall. Blood bubbles up in the barbarian's mouth, sure, but he's still up. "Tough bugger!" Bert praises, admiringly.
The Njorvolk fellow doesn't seem to want to just give in, he keeps taking the fierce cuts and slashes that Havelock deals him while dealing little in return. Annoyed, impatient and certainly in dire need of quite moment of prayer or two, Havelock seeks to press the Njorvolk further, while raising his voice for the others to hear, "You are bleeding, you are dying and you are done." Not that Havelock relents on pressing the poor fellow he's hacking at, "Surrender!"
With robes flutterign and streaming along behind her, Viola sprints on after Marbles. Thankfully, with his hands waving about and the whole 'Not Safing' he is going slower than her and she is able to catch up to him. It is with practiced ease her warhammer gets settled back at her hip, certian it'll take both hands to gather the Marbles back up again.
Rolling to the side, Tavi slashes once again and once agian is rewarded with shattered links and drawn blood. He comes up from the roll and slashes once again in two rapid strokes. "I know Love," he says in a matter of fact tone. "That's why he's just a sex toy. You don't sex toy your lover. That's just odd."
The Njorvolk Captain snarls and continues to press into Jarret. "Just DIE Sokar!" He says in a frustrated angry voice.
Marbles blinks at Viola when she catches hima nd shudders repeatedly, rocking back and forth. "Not safe. It's not safe. Not Safe…"
Myrana spins around with a whirl of maroon skirts and a flash of her heavy white braid and brings all her weight down into a powerful slash, opening up the maile of the hammer-wielding man's belly like it was cream. The lightsilver cutlass arcs back, trailing shed metal links and gore. The D'Armaz heir holds her place on one side of the gangplank, hugely outsized by the whitehaller and fighting loudly with Tavi as she does so. Their fighting styles are, actually, rather similar, though the way Myra fights is rather more heated as she is forced to push herself to escape and penetrate greater reach of weapon and arm.
"We're not having sex you insufferable clod!" She is going to murder Tavi. Just murder him. Making her be straightforward about unmentionable matters! UNFORGIVABLE.
An arm wraps about Marbles as he rocks, Viola murmuring to him,"The world ain't safe, my dear. Just some bits are worse than others. Come we'll do our best as we can as we go along, eh?" An eye faintly kept on the fight yet going on, though it does seem they have things well in hand at the moment. But Marbles it seems is once again in her care.
"Not sure if she wants you to be her lover either," Jarret remarks to Tavi, before he grins at the Njorvolk Captain. "So far, I've never seen anyone die from not getting hit, so you should either try a little harder, or just give up. Stepping back a few paces again, he shakes his head in Myrana's direction. "Really? This is the place where you're talking about your love life?" Moving to attack the Njorvolk Captain again."
<COMBAT> Njorvolk4 attacks Havelock with Broadsword and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk attacks Tavi with Axe &Shield - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Njorvolk Captain attacks Jarret with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Right Hand stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk2 attacks Bertram with Axe &Shield - ARMOR on Right Arm stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk1 attacks Myrana with Warhammer & Shield but Myrana DODGES!
<COMBAT> Viola tries to attack but has no target!
<COMBAT> Tavi attacks Njorvolk with Cutlass Blade - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Myrana attacks Njorvolk1 with Ardaigh - Light wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Jarret attacks Njorvolk Captain with Handaxe - Serious wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Havelock attacks Njorvolk4 with Judgement & Shield - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Bertram attacks Njorvolk2 with Gladius & Shield and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Tavi has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
<COMBAT> Njorvolk4 has been KO'd!
Havelock plunges his blade into the Njorvolk's chest, elliciting a ragged gurgling cough before the honed blade is drawn from the sucking wound that proves rather fatal. Pushing the man forward and off the docks with a splash into the waters below, the Reliant turns and swings the weapon as he approaches the man harrying Lady Myrana, call it chivalry given the words being bandied about and the resulting annoyance from the tiny silver-haired noble-sneak. And so, weapon swung, Viola and Marbles glanced and as safe as they can be, the plate-clad knight steps into the breach and seeks to drive the blade through the man's body. Afterall… it is the done thing.
The White Haller pushes deeper on Bert's shortsword, keeping it lodged into his chest. He manages a weak blow on Bert's burnished steel vambrace, which bounces off. Bert's not able to get his sword free of the man's chest quite yet though. Blood pours down onto his right hand and arm. "You're a man finished, savage! Just yield!"
"Well he keeps bringing it up because Tavi Deverot is a tight-pantsed d..DOORKNOB." Myra was trying to say something else, but she's distracted and not good at body or sex-based insults. The arguement has given her a second wind, though, and she dodges in past a swing to attack, making it seem almost effortless. Past the whitehaller she sees the red-robed shape of Havelock bear down from the rear and she all but laughs in punch-drunk relief: Warhammers make pretty quick work of a fighter like her.
Obviously distracted, the Njorvolk he's facing manages to score a light hit as Tavi is busy teasing Myrana. He stumbles backwards and slashes at the Njorvolk, but once agian finds only sparks as the Cutlass failes to break links. He frowns slightly and steps back, driving a blade into the wood of the dock, and in one smooth motion draws a Hand Cannon from his belt and shoots at the Njorvolk in front of him.
The Captain snarls as he is driven back and looks up at Jarret. "Filthy Easterman. The Tuskenvold SPIT on you Sokar! Traitors to the Njor!" He lurches upward and slashes at Jarret once more, even as another of his number is felled by havelock's Sidhe Steel Blade.
The Njorvolk fighting Bertram snarls in rboken and heavily accented Common, "Am I savage for not following your God? Or Savage because I am willing to die for my Gods?" And then lashes at the Sell Sword.
<COMBAT> Njorvolk Captain attacks Jarret with Sword & Shield - Critical wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Njorvolk2 attacks Bertram with Axe &Shield but Bertram DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk1 attacks Myrana with Warhammer & Shield but Myrana DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk attacks Tavi with Axe &Shield - Moderate wound to Left Leg (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Viola passes.
<COMBAT> Tavi attacks Njorvolk with Hand Cannon and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Myrana attacks Njorvolk1 with Ardaigh but Njorvolk1 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Jarret attacks Njorvolk Captain with Handaxe but Njorvolk Captain DODGES!
<COMBAT> Havelock attacks Njorvolk1 with Judgement - Light wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Bertram attacks Njorvolk2 with Gladius & Shield - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Tavi has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
"And I will remind SIR DEVEROT that it was his old BUSINESS PARTNERS that tried to accost us the last time we were here!" Myrana goes on to say.
Delivering hit, Jarret shakes his head a little. "Ah, so that's what it was. I thought it was just raining…" There's a brief pause before he moves in for the next attack, taking one that sends him staggering backwards instead. Taking a few moments to recover.
Njorvolk have gone down, but with it looking like the gang is struggling. Viola does shift to try to get Marbles along to the ship as was the original plan. The Captian does want to not be in debt now doesn't he? Though after taking care of these fine gents, that might no longer be the case. Bad day all around. A hand on the warhammer, time to deliver Marbles!
Havelock thrusts the sidhe steel blade, slashing the man's abdomen but finding the armour for once causes it to be little more than a glancing blow. Not that it deters the Reliant who has certainly made his presence known as he brings that blade about in a most swift and cutting arc. No warning, no pleas for surrender, just a most deadly intent.
The Shot goes wide as the Axe slams into Tavi's leg sending him off balance. He drops the gun and draws the second in one smooth motion and fires again, a second report echoeing over the waters of the Central Ocean and the docks of Four Corners. "Myrana!" Tavi fairly snarls, "I'm usually saving YOU so shut your pretty trap until Ramius can fill it!"
The Njorvolk Captain grits his teeth and slashes at Jarret once again. "You won't deny me my vengeance Sokar. And I'll have Slaves to trade when I'm done!"
"You're a savage because you eat nothin' but cod, drink filthy mead and don't wash yer bloody beard or balls." Bertram says. He shrugs out of the direction of axe attack and finally manages to dislodge his sword from the man's chest. Blood pours out.
<COMBAT> Njorvolk Captain attacks Jarret with Sword & Shield but Jarret DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk2 attacks Bertram with Axe &Shield but Bertram DODGES!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk1 attacks Myrana with Warhammer & Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk attacks Tavi with Axe &Shield - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Viola passes.
<COMBAT> Tavi attacks Njorvolk with Hand Cannon and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Myrana attacks Njorvolk1 with Ardaigh but Njorvolk1 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Jarret attacks Njorvolk Captain with Handaxe but Njorvolk Captain DODGES!
<COMBAT> Havelock attacks Njorvolk1 with Judgement - Light wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Bertram attacks Njorvolk2 with Gladius & Shield but Njorvolk2 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Tavi has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
And so Havelock's next attack dashes against the Njorvolk's right arm, seeking to keep the man from following through with an attack upon the noblewoman. Yet with all the clash of steel about them, Havelock takes but a moment to step back and ready his next attack as he seeks to come in at the man's side, levelling the blade as he drives forward to try and force the man's attention onto the approaching blade.
Just like an armadillo, Viola rolls on up the gangplank with Marbles. After having skirted around the fight. Viola taking some note on the number of bandages that are going to be needed soon. So much for a quiet day. She looks around for the Captain.
Jarret is unable to hold back a chuckle as he hears the Captain's words. "Your vengeance? For what?" A brief pause as moves in for another attack, missing and dodging the incoming attack. "Ah, that girl from your home area that I met in the tavern that time, was it your sister, hmmm?" Waiting for the right moment to strike again.
And once agian Tavi is drivne to the deck of the docks. He drops the second spent Hand Cannon and grips his sword easily, rolling to the side and slashing as he does so. Not so much trying to kill the Njorvolk, as to drive himbacka nd give the former pirate some breathing room.
Myrana is shoved with the shield, and she falls off the Docks witha squeek into the warm waters of the Central Ocean. The Njorvolk turns to face Havelock and smirks. He stalks forward, Harhammer ready to kill.
The Captain snarls and continues to trade blows with teh Sokar Heir. The sounds of their fight jsut one more et of ringing metal in the melee before the Ghost Hopper.
THe Captain nods to Viola. "Get off the ship unless you're coming. We'll shove off and make haste for open waters!" He nods to Viola and then turns to give orders. Immediately men begin to cut tie lines with axes or knives, whatever was at hand.
Marbles takes a deep breath and while eyes are still wide he says to viola, ina soft, possibly not heard whisper, "T-t-tha-Thank you…."
Somehow, the ballad between Bertram and his nemesis continues, both too close to eachother to hit. The mercenary decides on a risky course, putting his shoulder and shield into the man, dropping his sword and pulling his dagger out quickly for a ready shot.
<COMBAT> Njorvolk2 attacks Bertram with Axe &Shield - Light wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Njorvolk Captain attacks Jarret with Sword & Shield - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk1 attacks Havelock with Warhammer & Shield - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Njorvolk attacks Tavi with Axe &Shield but Tavi DODGES!
<COMBAT> Viola passes.
<COMBAT> Tavi attacks Njorvolk with Cutlass Blade but Njorvolk DODGES!
<COMBAT> Myrana attacks Njorvolk1 with Ardaigh - ARMOR on Neck stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Jarret attacks Njorvolk Captain with Handaxe - Light wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Havelock attacks Njorvolk1 with Judgement - Critical wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Bertram attacks Njorvolk2 with Dirk - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Tavi has started a new turn. Pose and choose your action.
Viola nods to the Cpatain,"Tempting, and maybe some day. But not taday." Marbles is given a light pat to the arm, smiling to just barely catch that whisper. It was new words! "Take care." And with that she is bounding back down the and into the fray, cause it looks like they could use it.
Twing and a miss, but so did the Njorvolk warrior. He's about to drive forward in a fencer's lunge when the ship's lines snap and the Sloop begins to move away from the dock.
The White Hall Captain snarls and cries out "ENOUGH!" taking a step back and shaking his head. Blood dripping form multiple wounds. "Our prey is leaving. You were not our target, merely people in our way." He nods toward the ship. "Let us leave, and no more blood will be shed." He grins to jarret. "But. Keep up the pressure and one or more of you will go to your Sun Palace. This I promise."
The force of Bertram's shoulder and shield into the Njorfolk causes them both to collapse on the ground. His dirk misses the barbarian's neck, while the latter is able to force the tip of his axe up to lightly cut at Bert's own. They roll around on the ground, Bert trying to keep his shield close to his body. He's breathing heavily and bleeding from multiple wounds, mostly from his chest and now also his neck. The sellsword isn't in this for ideology and he isn't getting paid. He no longer cares to fight. "Aye, aye, aye. That's that then." Evidently, he's of the mind to stop the fight.
With Myrana shoved into the waters, Havelock briefly watches her plummet before gaining the full attention of a smirking barbarian and Havelock's only response is simply to hack at the man, slicing armour, flesh and bone with a decidedly deep and exquisitely painful attack. The sidhe steel cutting deep in a violent slash that sends blood splattering across the docks, while leaving the Njorvolk standing and no doubt in some measure of pain. Yet as the cry to end this rises across the docks from the White Hall Captain, Havelock nods swiftly and lowers his weapon an instant later and shouts, "Our quarrel isn't with them, but their employer. Let us bind their wounds and tend to their dead and see them safe from this city and perhaps, just perhaps there's some information to be had."
"So it was your sister…" Jarret begins, spitting out some blood as he does. Turning to look a bit carefully at the Captain, he studies the man carefully. "You will not go after them," he states, studying the Captain rather carefully. "If I find out you do, I will bring the might of the Red Sails down on you, and you would wish you had died here today…" A brief pause, before he adds, "Do I make myself clear?"
Viola ends up near Havelock as the Captian says is piece, there is a faint look towards Havelock of 'did he just really say that'. "Might as well, but we best tend to our wounded first. And assumign they wish for that bit of help." Giving a look along towards the Captain and noting,"I did mention it didn't go to well the last time ya all tried that, right?" Cheeky little priestess. Shifting her war hammer back a bit as the other hand starts to settle to her healing bag.
Havelock cleans his blade on his warcoat and sheathes the once bloodied weapon before adding, "When you are asked of this man you sought, he went into the waters…" And crouching down, Havelock moves to aid Myrana in getting back upon the docks safely by reaching down over the edge. With Viola's arrival, Havelock grins at her words and nods, "That you did, though I would have to disagree with you on one point of order…" The words uttered firmly as he sets about getting his own healing supplies in order, "Too stringy? I think not." A smile follows those words and but a moment after, the Reliant sets about busily checking, padding and tending to wounds, while closing the eyes of the fallen who are checked and if found to be breathing still, made ready to be taken to the hospital. Only a single glance is given to the departing ship and then Havelock is busy, more padding, more wounds staunched and no matter the God or Gods worshipped, the treatment offered is unwavering. A pat here, a squeeze of the arm there and Havelock is in his element. having dished out wounds, not he tends to them.
Given some breathing space, Bertram rolls away from the badly wounded White Haller, slinking a few more yards on his back before he gets up. First, he tucks his unbloodied dirk away. Then, he grabs his shortsword, which stays in his hand. All this looking tough is harder than it seems. He sags to one knee at a fair distance, closer to the mixed party of Church, New Faith, Aequorians and Galenthians - more his people, anyways. "Bloody. Unhh." He's in a lot of pain from the wounds on his chest, which begin to flow freely.
The Njorvolk Captian smirks at Jarret and then nods. "Very well Heir of the Red Sails. Today, over this matter, we will allow Fletcher to leave without my ships behind him." He moves and nudges one of his dead men into the water. "We come from the sea. Our Dead are tended." He nods once and sheathes hsi sword. "We'll take care of our own wounds." Then he motions, nad the surviving Njorvolk follow after as he heads toward the Embassy.
Tavi blinks and then looks over the edge of the dock as he gather's up his dropped weapons. "Myrana love. I know we were discussing Sir Ramius, but I doubt even the entire wild and wastful Ocean could cool the heat of your lust for him." He grins and offers a hand to pull the soaked d'Armaz out of the water.
Viola quirks a smile to Havelock,"Fine, not exactly stringy. " Her eyes touch over him in that way of a healer,"Got a bit to m uch red going on there. You do just like ending up in my care, don't you?" A mild tease, but then it is time to set to work about getting some of the wounds patched up. A simple nod to the Captains words, likely expecting them. Wounds at least set to see people able to move, as it likely wasn't the wisest to simply hang out…all considering.
"Considering I didn't have to intervene in your fuckin' fight, but I did, d'ya think I could get someone to patch me up, mayhaps?" Bertram grunts over towards Viola and crew. He hasn't sheathed his sword, still watching the Njorvolk carefully.
Myrana lets Tavi haul her out dripping from the quay. She shakes the water from her face and pushes the wet bangs from her face with ahand, shaking water from Ardaigh with a slightly noodle-armed swipe before sheathing it again. And, narrowing her eyes at the pirate, bunches her skirts up on one side above a white thigh and wrings them. Grumpily. At least it wasnt the slums. "Fortunately, we are not talking about a Selkie," she grumbles to him, almost under her breath. "Though it would be nice if he didn't hate boats so much. I think my rib is facing the wrong direction, incidentally. W- Hey, don't I know you?" She calls to Bertram.
"Weren't exactly our fight," notes Viola as she comes Bertram's way with some bandages. "Was his," a head motion towards the leaving ship. "Ain't like ya need to get snippy about asking one of my ilk ta heal ya." The priestess assessing the blood and a injuries of the man before setting to stopping up some of his wounds as well.
Watching the Njorvolk head off, Jarret lets out a bit of a breath, making sure to stay in place until the people they just fought are out of sight. Then, he stumbles a little, sinking down to his knees. Taking a few deep breaths as he looks over at the others.
"Aye, well, easy for you to say snippy when you didn't get a fucking axe buried into your brigandine twice." The mercenary lets out a breath, his sword going away. "Mother." That last word is said a bit apologetically, but that's likely all he's willing to give. He glances over to Myrana, narrowing his green eyes. "Eh. I dunno. I don't usually cavort with your kind, if you get my drift. Ever hire the Fox's Sons?" Removing his shield, he pulls off his cuirass and gambeson in order to enable treatment, and then motions at Jarret. "He's gonna need a dressing or two, I bet."
Tavi just admires the shown leg while Myrana wrings out her skirts. He does however refrain form saying anything else, other thant o shrug out of his half cloak an offer it to Myrana. He looks over to bertram at Myrana's questioning of the man and smiles slightly. "Pleasure to meet your aquaintance my good man." He says with a grin. "Sir Tavi Deverout, of Aequor."
The Njorvolk d not look back, and slowly the docks return to normal, as if the entire fight had not happened. SOMEBODY had paid the dock workers well, as not a one appears to bereporting anything to the guards, and the local guards don't appear to care.
"Done that before, I prefer to avoid it again. Also being turned into a bit of a pincushion is never much fun." Counters Viola easily enough. The woman does have the scars to back up her words, even if a good number of them do hide beneathe the robes. But overly not seeming put off by his mood, she'd dealt with worse. She did appear to know her wor thought, in seeing to the mercs wounds in short order. Before moving on towards Jarret and giving a slight sigh,"Lord Sokar, we must quit meeting like this." Viola smiles to him before working to stop his bleeding as well.
"Thank you," Myra says as she wraps the cloak around herself and lets the wrung but still sodden skirts fall back into place. Her hair she just leaves alone, silently glad that she'd braided it, anticipating a fight, and so she's not being strangled by wet strands. "We might've done," she says to Bertram, and now that the fight is over winds one wet arm through and leans gratefully on the aggravatingly uninjured Tavi. The halfcloak might keep him from getting too wet. "What about when the Cardinal's Guards come looking for the man?"
"Cheers." Bertram seems to be lightened by the way that Viola handles his wounds. He glances over to his cuirass. "Going to need to replace those plates." Slowly, his gaze meets Tavi's. "Eh. Bertram of Harcourt. I used to run with the Fox's Sons, until we were, uh… forcibly disbanded by a party of Hawkness in a mountain valley. Before that, Black Fox Company. Hey, is he really the Blood Axe?" He quirks an eyebrow at Myrana. "Cardinal's guards? What?"
"Always…" Jarret coughs briefly, before he takes a bit of a breath. "Always a pleasure…" A brief pause, before he adds, "This… went well, hmmm?" Going silent after that, letting Viola work her magic.
"It is, but ya could just ask me for a drink and not go about needing quite so much tending to. Hmmm?" Viola keeping to that light banter as she tends to Jarret's wounds and stops all that blood from continuing to leak on out. She does give a mild glance Myrana's way,"It is Four Corners, people have a way of up and vanishing easily enough, don't they?"
Myrana clears her throat delicately. "The fellow who escaped on that boat has been accused of crimes he is not sane or strong enough to have committed," she says, and switches hr gaze to Viola. "…Indeed, they do." One of those dissapearings happened just now! Ah, the wonders of the criminal underground. Was it worth it to use up a favor to send Marbles away to Ryalta? That remains to be seen.
"Huh." Is Bertram's only answer to that. He leans back on the dock for a moment, just recovering from the combat and the wounds he took. Battle is a young man's game, and he's not a young man anymore.
Unable to hold back a chuckle, Jarret grins at Viola. "A drink might be a good idea at some point, yes. However, I'm not sure you would want me to go drinking right now?" Looking to the others, he pauses for a few moments, as he studies Bertram. "Who are you?"
Viola flashes a smile to Jarret,"No, not right now. But next time, eh?" The woman now coated with far more blood than was her own. All in a days work for the chaplain. "A bit of rest for ya first before then." A slight nod towards Myrana,"I dare say he slipped our grasp and we've not been able to find him ourselves. Don't ya think?"
Myrana nods, smiling wrily to Viola. "The insane are known to manifest bursts of strength that'd surprise their caretakers."
"Eh? Bertram of Harcourt. Like I said before, m'lord. I used to be with some outfits, but they're either gone or out of touch for me. I guess I'm now in it alone." The sellsword frowns, looking rather sad at the idea of no longer running with a crew.
Jarret nods a little as he hears what's said, offering a brief grin to Bertram. "Good job, thanks."
Viola nods,"That they do, and I would know that well enough." Viola flashing Myrana a grin before moving to clean up her things. "Though I wreckin' we don't want to loiter here all to long here either."
"Aye. I'm going to get myself in some clothes not soaked in seawater and my blood. Just know, m'lords and m'ladies, for all your spelunking, digging, mining, building and exploding needs… Bertram of Harcourt is your man. And that's not just a load, ask anyone in my world around the city. I'll be around if you need someone for that. Or just have some interesting opportunities." Having said his peace and advertised sufficiently, the middle aged sellsword grunts as he picks himself up, hefts his armour and the burlap sack he'd dropped before the fight and begins to head into town. And likely into a bottle.
Myrana nods, and leaning on Tavi makes good an exit.