Late at night-
.
*Thunk!* A noise alerted the two next to him.
"What was that? Should I check and see?" Iona asked. Mallol smacked her in the back of the head. "Oww! What was that for?"
"Let him do it. Just get down into cover." Mallol just noticed that is how a lot of servants get killed. By checking a bump when things are going on. 'A damn upset husband or wife will take them out easily.'
"She is right. I will not go down easy." Thrasher went up and opened the door. A blade came through that he grabbed and pushed up. Stabbing the guard in the throat. "Out of the way, welpling."
*Crack!* The guard was thrown into the room against the wall. Neck breacking. It hastened his death. Mallol went to work taking the armor off him. A sword was thrown to Iona.
"Next armor is yours. Stay behind me. Well, put some close on first."
"Right!" Iona was nervous but she also didnt want to die. The sperm in her body was already strengthening her mentally and physically. But not changing her personality. There was no point really. 'I have to survive. My daughter needs me!'
*Shine!* Bathed in light, Thrasher requipped his armor.
"Raaahhh!" Another guard came over swinging like a mad man.
*Swish!* The blade went pass with ease. A quick strike to the throat crushed the man's larynx. He dropped chocking on his own blood.
Thrasher then kicked him into the next two. The force strong enough to blast them in front of the next door. Which open to show Tracker coming out. He stabbed into all three, killing them in an instant.
The three bodies were thrown inside.
"Eh?" Thrasher looked with interest.
"Warchief!" He called to get Thrasher's attention to the man coming around the way. But a quick punch shattered the guards sword and sent the fragments into his face. "Heh, nevermind."
"We are ready!" A voice called from the room. It was defintely Ellisa's voice. Dairren came out with her. "Glad you made it cousin."
"Yeah..." Looking behind, Mallol and Iona were fully outfitted. "Well guess everyone had a good night."
"So how do you wish to do this, the hounds have taken out a good bit and funneled the others to one location really. The fires were taken care of earlier." Seeing Thrasher's face he elaborated. "I went and took care of it after we seperated. That is were I met these two who were catching up."
"Alright. If they are funneled I will meet them head on. Go and clear the castle interior." Thrasher said. He turned to Ellisa. "I take it you wish to check on you parents?" She nodded. "I am sure Tracker can help you with that."
*Beep!* The bracelet went off. Letters lighting up communicating to Tracker what the dogs found.
"Your mother is on her way with an injured Fergus and Oriana. Oren is in shock."
"That is a nifty bracelet." Ellisa muttered. But she was more worried about her family. "I say we go and meet them. The faster the better." She took off running the way Tracker pointed.
"Iona go with them! Mallol, I am sure you can shoot a bow well, right?" Thrasher asked as the two moved. Iona obeyed seeing as the more dangerous route was with him. Which she couldn't provide much help with.
"Of course. I rather that or sneak." Mallol switched to a bow and was ready in seconds. "Sure we are going to make it?"
"I bet your ass on it." Thrasher smirked.
"We make it out of this, you can have it." Mallol returned the smirk as they bound the corner. An arrow flying out catching a guard in the throat. "If you can handle it that is."
"Waaaaaghh!" Thrasher let out a war cry. The guards were stunned and Mallol felt her adrenaline kick up. "Show me a proppa fight boys!" As he moved Rage had trigger making him look bigger and meaner.
"Monster!" A guard tried to run seeing the dark monster. He was grabbed by the throat and dragged along the walls. "Ahhhhhh!" Screaming as a door handle caught his face. The stone grating his flesh down.
"Stay back!" Another guard swung his axe catching Thrasher in the side.
Health -1
It barely made a dent. The axe chipped and crumbled. Before the guard could scream, his mouth was grabbed and crushed. An arrow then pierced his skull.
"Fire!" Three guards switched to flaming arrows trying to take Thrasher out. But the full armor had only a few openings. "Take out his support!"
*Twang!* The arrows fired togethor but didn't make it to far.
*Woosh!* A black wind pushed the arrows off course. They hit against the ground breaking into several pieces. The dead guard in Thrasher's hand was throw at them like a torpedo. He sent it low, knocking them over.
*Twang! Twang! Twang!* Three arrows made it into each of the guards. Thrasher went over and crushed the heads to make sure. The armor and weapons were then picked clean by him.
"Haa, that was intense. Spying is defintely better." Mallol kept watch around the area. She was suprised at how fast Thrasher picked the bodies. But she chalked it up to the armor. It glowed faintly everytime he picked something up. "Seriously, I want an armor like that."
"Oh?" Thrasher got up and spread his senses into the rooms. It correlated with the map. No one else was around. "So you are staying with?" Mallol came up and checked him over.
"Yes. Considering how you kept me safe and are not that bad. Bit of a slut but that is fun in its own right. Besides, I feel like things are going to get worse before they get better."
"Yes, it defintely will. Come on." Thrasher said nothing else as they moved to the next area. "We have traitors to kill." The power of an ork considered her as one of his own. A bit of power made her stronger to keep her alive.
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-The Courtyard-
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Roderick and a few of the guards were down waiting. The area had been braced but they wanted to provide a chance for the rest to escape. Fear etched across their faces.
"Fall back get bow and arrow." Thrasher said calmly. They looked to Roderick who nodded agreeing. "Coordinate with them Mallol, I will hold off as many as I can." He said to be nice. They would need an army to stop him. 'I need to get stuck deep in to get some goodies.' Eyes blazing green with power.
"I hope you know what you are doing." She fell back taking a defensive position on the wall. Suprised when a hound came up to her. It dropped a better bow next to her. "Alright. Not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. "Such power!"
*Shing!* The magic from the bow transferred to her. The engraving foreign but Dalish from the looks of things.
"Found it amongst Arl Howe's men." Iona said. She was covered in blood and looked exhausted. Another of the bows in her hand. "To tired to flee with the others. So, providing back up."
"We will make it. You have to introduce me to your daughter."
"Promise." Iona smiled. "Eh?!" She was suprised when Thrasher turned and waved his hands. The lot of them felt their stamina return and wounds close up in seconds. "He is a mage..."
"Shhh do not even whisper that." Mallol said quickly. "Anyone asks, it is the armor. "
The spell was Restore Health and Restore Stamina. Thrasher did melee so his spell slots generally were full. They were used for a quick recovery to get him or his forces back in a fight. Or to treat someone for his own amusement.
"Hmm." Thrasher pulled out a bow he picked up. The first crack in the door, he fired. 'Never understood in seige fighting they never fired into the openings. I mean especially if you have the time. A little magic should make things interesting.'
*Twang!* The next shot came out green and went pass a few soldiers.
*Fwish!!* When it made it far enough, a green flame erupted killing a good bit of the forces. Incensed, some bashed with all their might into the door. Behind them, the flame burned the others catching them between flames and the door.
*Twang!* Mallol caught the next one that made it through. A good bit of the door gave and the arrows were let loose from the others. The front guards were skewered.
Feeling the spell dwindle, Thrasher expended another spell slot to keep it going. The troops that ran pass the dwindling flame were lit up and swept away in the fire. The screams were drowned out by the burning inferno that reached into the sky. The locals would speak of this in the coming days.
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-Aftermath-
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"Haa not much to be done." Eleanor sighed. She tended to Bryce who laid in bed. Duncan was to the side waiting for the man to pass. "Fergus must take the position and remain in the keep. Roderick is his own man, I will not prevent him from becoming a Warden."
"My son will go as well." Lady Landra voiced. Dairren was shocked but felt it was right. His mother was furious at what happened. "I still have friends who owe favors. Arl Howe will not get away with this."
"Lady Landra, you do not have to send your son." Thrasher said. He came in with the others. "A little evidence suggests that this was set up by the Grey Wardens. Specifically Duncan." He turned to the Grey Warden. "What say you? Very weird that you travelled with him and knew nothing of what was going on."
"I was not apart of this. I stake my honor on it." Duncan said calmly.
"Enough cousin. You were not there." Ellisa said. "Duncan helped us a lot. Especially after Trace went to defend the East Wall."
"No more fighting tonight." Eleanor lamented. She felt this was all just a bad dream. Her husband was dying and their home had been attacked. "Ellisa go to the Grey Wardens. I know it is what you want. Represent House Cousland."
"Of course mother. Do not worry. I will be safe." Ellisa looked to Thrasher. "I know you are not joining the Grey Wardens but you are heading to the battle yes?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the World. I will be there. Trust me." Thrasher smirked as he thought about a few things he needed to do there.
After some talks, Duncan left with Ellisa and Ser Gillmore. Oriana limped in to pay respects. Despite her husband's protests. Oren was asleep to tired from everything that happened.
"You should be resting dear." Eleanor told the stubborn woman.
"I had to pay respects." Oriana squeezed her father in law hands. Taking comfort he was at least aware of what happened.
"I should have trusted you more." Fargus said. "The signs were there but I didn't want to believe it." Thrasher walked over to the bed. He placed his hands over Bryce Cousland. "This will hurt. Leaving you all.."
*Pulse!* The amount of magic that passes through causes the room to vibrate a little. Cure Disease, Cure Poison, Restore Attribute, Restore Fatigue, and Restore Health were cast.
"Ugghh!" Bryce groaned as black ichor flowed out of his body. As he healed, the D.G. cells and spores took route. Such a prime candidate for spying. "Ha.. ha.. thank you."
"Yeah yeah." Thrasher sent the residual energy to Orianna. "Can't have you limping around with everything going on."
"Thank you!" Fergus pulled Thrasher into a bear hug. The man moved so fast, there was know time to react. "You are the best cousin!" He dangled Thrasher about as they twirled.
"Uh huh." Thrasher didnt want to hurt the man so he just let it happen. "Put me down."
"Right." Fergus moved to his wife happy as can be. Thrasher moved outside. The others following with.