---Returning to the inn of the Dozy'Mare. ---
Byrnn, still on the floor, began to think to himself about what just had happened, hearing the bell in the distance but pushing it away.
He remembered seeing the bartender snatch the necklace from him, but not the slamming a fist into his face that sent him back in an instant.
Everything that started with the showing of the black oval necklace that Byrnn had procured from the prisoner in the dark chasm was now spiralling out of control as he could feel the throbbing in his nose that moved to his head.
Not sensing the malice behind him as he wiped the from his blood onto his leather sleeve, the blood seeped into the thick, ever-darkening material.
*STUMBLING CLACK OF BOOTS GETTING CLOSER TO BYRRN, TAPPING OF OF THE WOODEN PLANKS.*
No longer standing in shock from the realisation of the necklace in Magio's tight embrace, Amanda began to move forward in a daze, almost dragging the heels of her boots as she lurched forward, making her way ahead of the other three behind that would soon follow.
Amanda, witnessing what had just unfolded in slow motion, stared at the man trying to prop himself up. Ignoring the tolling of the bell, the man and answers she wanted pushed it all away, drowning out the call from outside.
*ANNOYED GRUNTING COMING FROM BYRNN.*
The battered guard mumbled to himself, just catching the ears of the young woman getting closer to him that would soon bring her own wrath.
Thick, bloody hands fumbled around the guard's nose, calming as soon as he felt along the nasal line, noticing there were no breaks in his nose.
Byrnn: Thank the Lord... (Rubbing his nose.) So much for a fucking peaceful drink... 'Irked.'
*SLAPPING OF LIPS, FOLLOWED BY A FORCEFUL SPIT ONTO THE WOOD BELOW.*
A mixture of saliva and blood landed onto the floor as scowling green eyes stared downwards as thigh-high boots planted themselves into the wood, seeing the man wipe the drool from the bottom of his lip.
A raging fire burnt inside of Amanda.
The young adventurer was now standing over the crumpled guard, who had relieved the taste of iron from his mouth. Not wanting to hear the man in discomfort or the mutterings any longer as he spoke to himself, not caring in the slightest at his words or discomfort or the vulgar act that landed next to her feet.
Amanda: Where... where is he? 'Incoherent mumbling.'
Byrnn, not ignoring or even acknowledging the words of the young woman, focused on trying to stop the last remnants of blood from pouring past his mouth. With two fingers, he pinched his nose closed, preventing the blood from escaping any further, free from the taste in his mouth but not the welling on his face.
Amanda, seeing the long, dried streaks of red smeared along the man's lower chin as the guard continued to hold his nose, her blood boiling as no immediate answer came to her question.
Only now acknowledging the presence of the woman, Byrnn, looked up, feeling eyes on him. His interest moved up past the worn tips of the thigh-high boots, then upwards to the scowling face of a young woman and her lush green eyes.
Byrnn: Huh? What do you want? 'Annoyed muffled tone.' You come to lend me a hand? (Lifting his hand up.)
A slender hand lurched forward, ignoring the hand lifting up.
Instead, she grabbed for the guard's collar, feeling for anything to hold onto, until a piece of leathery material rubbed past her palm, her hand tightening in an instant; it was one of the straps that looped under the armour, holding the shoulder plate in place.
*LEATHER CREAKING IN THE YOUNG WOMAN'S HAND.*
Byrnn: Whoa! Hey, what gives... 'Shocked.'
The young adventurer attempted to pull Byrnn to his feet without thinking as a full-grown man's dead weight fixed him where he sat, his ass still planted on the wooden floor. Byrnn, not budging at the failed tries from Amanda, just feeling the pulls on his neck dragging his chest forward.
Before the guard could grasp who the person was or why they were doing this, the young woman blurted something out, and an arm moved, it was shooting in the direction of the bar with a pointed finger.
Amanda: Why do you have that? (Pointing to the necklace in Magio's hands. Still holding onto guard's collar.) Why! 'Loud.'
Byrnn looked to where the young woman was pointing; his eyes sharpened, seeing the stone that caused it all that sat motionless in silence, unlike himself that rocked back and forth, they traded places.
Amanda: Where is he? 'Angry.' WHERE IS HE? (Shaking the man violently.)
The reiterating question rang in Byrnn's ears; more forcefully as time went by, a furious shout echoed through the ground floor of the Dozy'mare, almost matching Magio's bellows from before.
Amanda: WHERE IS HE? 'Demanding.' WHERE IS AYRELL? (Pulling harder.) WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM?
Trying to use her legs to help in pulling her weight back for more leverage but failing in her attempts. The scratching and scraping of heels dug into the wood, sometimes slipping, leaving thin black streaks as Amanda's slender arms struggled to lift the fallen man, clenching and unclenching the leather straps digging into her hand, not hearing the footsteps get closer.
*HURRIED FOOTSTEPS MOVED CLOSER FROM DEEP WITHIN THE BAR.*
Another set of hands came to Amanda's aid, all of them dragging the slump that was glued to the floor back into the world and onto his feet in one fell motion.
Byrnn: Fucking hell! Is this ever going to end... 'Grumbling.'
Feryn, Amanda, Yervel, and Rache pulled the grunting Byrnn from side to side, their own grunts mixing into Byrnn's as they ragged on the man's armour, shaking him even harder. The extra trio who joined in spoke in unison, ignoring the grumbling words of the guard.
Yervel, Rache and Feryn: Where is he! 'Demanding.' TELL US!
The daze from Magio's punch began to fade; the guard's brain eventually coming to its senses fought back at the weakness in his legs that wanted to fall back down and slump to the floor. Through instinct and muscle memory of old, two arms recoiled and pushed back the three young women, freeing him from their grasp.
Amanda being the first to go, was flung back much harder than the other two, being sent into the stacks of chairs and wiped down tables.
Rache loosened her grip, feeling something hit her chest, fumbling for something as she moved back from the push of an elbow.
Yervel, not being able to hold on, her little hands failing but trying her best, Amanda's hip slapping off of her side dragged her away as only one set of hand's remained; it was Feryn, holding a firm grip, still latched onto the man's arm that was writhing around.
Feryn: Amanda... (Looking back at the three.) You BASTARD!
Feryn turned back to the man he was holding onto, determined to hold on even more.
Feryn: Nice try, arsehole... 'Furious.' Now you better tell me where my friend is!
Feryn pulled himself even closer to Byrnn, hooking his elbow around the thick armour gauntlet and smelling the blood, sweat, and ale on the man, hearing his friends failure behind him to hold on.
*SMASHING OF BODIES ON WOOD.*
Three young women tumbled backwards from Byrnn's natural strength, all of them clipping the tables and chairs that were propped up.
Byrnn: There's always one! 'Annoyed.' You better get off of me, you brat!
Gonf, finally taking notice, swivelled on his stool in interest as he watched Yervel, the first to fall back, stumble past the table closest to the bar.
The little magician still managing to stay on her feet caught her balance; the charred cloak and skirt flicked up as she tumbled into a table, knocking over one of the chairs in the process. As did her skirt, briefly showing the gap under her skirt where the cream tights stopped below her waist, the laced suspenders being visible only for a moment before the skirt fell back down.
Gonf briefly looked away, not wanting to be caught looking at a sight that comes once in a lifetime, not entirely interested in the view even for a moment, more worried for the young one's honour.
Gonf: How times a change... and clothing. 'Mocking mumble.'
Rache caught her balance more quickly than the others, her body not even coming close to the same fate as Byrnn, still knocking over a chair to her left as her right arm clipped into it as she held onto something in her right hand, gripping it tightly as a shout came from the commotion of the two men in front of her, still embroiled in a game of tug of war.
Feryn called out.
Feryn: A little help here! 'Pleading.' All of that shield training is finally... paying... off. (Being ragged around.) But... even I have my limits. 'Struggling.'
Rache, ignored Feryn's calls for help; her gaze was fixed on Amanda, who had her arms spread wide as she was out splayed across the wooden floor, hearing the groans of pain as she tried to get up.
*GROANS COMING FROM AMANDA.*
Rache wanted to move forward, worried about her friend, but the commotion in front of her grew even wilder, pulling between one or the other.
Before she could act, Yervel moved to help Amanda, pulling her up onto her feet as soon as she reached the young woman in discomfort, then turning to see Rache holding something in her hand.
*STRUGGLING OF TWO MEN IN A TUSSLE CARRIED ON.*
Yervel's arm wrapped under Amanda's, struggling to pull her up.
As she turned to Rache, she noticed the leather and steel in the scout's hands; her eyes grew wide, and then she smiled even wider.