The Huntsman and The Swordswoman (Vodarara + Mari)

Job descrip:

Vodarara had spent the day gathering berries and small critters gathering whatever was edible that wouldn’t cost him a penny, in theory many may see him as cheap but he preferred his isolation and it was much better than being beaten up by “accident” by imuchakk.

The Night closed quickly in this place and Vodarara had decided he would stay out this night, this area was prone to bandit’s thus Vodarara had taken to cold camping, without a fire just huddling between or in a bush or somewhere that kept some warmth, that would protect you from the wind and the elements, he settled himself down eating a few berries……


110/500

The wooden wheels would whirl and squeak as the loose iron hinges held it together as it, against the ground so smoothly before small stones would cause it to bump and rattle. The sun beated down upon the caravan. Three wagons filled with different types of items for trade and supplies to get where they needed to go, all pulled by horses by the pair, with laughter consuming the air. A large man sitting in the back of one of the carts, with the blinds wide open, a set of wine and crackers placed by his side as his large wide mouth, bursting open with every breath. "So you came back to the job you left, Eh!? That's some irony you got there!" He boasted loudly, slapping his belly. Before his a young maiden with a large pink smile on her face, her attire floating in the wind as she strode behind the cart, with her weapons by her side, clinging to her waist, making a clanking sound with every step.

"Ya...I guess it is? Why do you think that happens? Maybe it's gods way of telling us we are taking the road we belong...or something like that." She'd reply with a curious face as she'd tilt her head. There were three other guards that came along on this journey, to on the sides and on up in front. The rest of the merchants were leading the horses to the next resting point, because the next checkpoint is quite far and they'd like to not make any stops for it.

"So how's important is this run?" She asked. The man pointed to the wares behind him. "The stuff we have here are just for trade to increase our own profit as merchants. The town of Portsmouth has already paid for the materials we are just picking them up, so the travel back will probably be more treacherous then the first." He said with a large laugh. The blonde women would look at the wares with concern, bandits wouldn't know what they have behind these blinds and if they did get notice of what we are doing on the roads they'll come for us more then twice, once upon and again coming back, They always get a second chance to strike a caravan, especially one where they return to their original town. She hoped that the rest of the guards were prepared for this. But she kinda didn't mind it, she'll have to train hard while she's here and hopefully see some sights along the way. She saluted the merchant before returning to her post in the back.

Within the dark shadows of the stone hedges, a dark grin grew...

451/500

The moon was out in force tonight, it gave a reasonable amount of light if your eyes had adjusted to the darkness, around in the distance however could be seen little blobs of fiery light, these were spots where either people were camped out or people where moving along using a torch or a lantern of the sort to give themselves light to see if the darkness, it seemed the people of these lands had stopped using their eyes to see in the night.

Nearby there was weak numerous moving lights it seemed to be moving across the plains rather than down a main route, that was rather odd it was of little sense for a large group to move on the plains, especially with the dangers involving night travel.

130

240/500

The sun one the rise, would create large reas of shade, caused by the now large obstructions of stone and rubble. The road was now consumed in dirt and dry desert, the amount of greens diminished from their sights, on the open road. With the sun past it's highest peak, the merchants started to put up lanterns up on the front of their carts, for the night to come. Far in the distance there was a rock formation, that was similar to the shape of a tent, with a cave within itself. Mari tired from all the walking secretly took shelter within the last cart hiding behind some of the merchandise, with the blind held up so that she could still keep watch of the are.

She sat with her legs crossed and was slouching forward, from boredom, from getting no action the entire day. There hasn't even been any beasts in the horizon for a while. She doesn't know the other guards by name, so affiliating with them wasn't the biggest thing in the world, seeing as they seemed to be the type to look down on others.  She pursed her lips as she puffed her cheeks with the thought. When something caught her eye.

Far in the distance would she see a shadow dash through the horizon before disappearing within thin air. She assumed it was the heat playing tricks on her.

"Oi! We are stopping here for the night! But we are heading on the road early!" One of the merchants shouted as they grew closer to the checkpoint. Mari jumped out from the back of the cart as she notified the front that everything on her end, with her hand waving through the air. The guards separated toward both sides of the entrance to the cave, while the merchants rode the carts in. With a one way entrance/exit it was going to be easier to protect the merchants and cargo. Mari followed behind inside to help unload the tents and bedding.

The three merchants large in size of course, seeing how they usually just ride in their carts and eat their fill, with the money they earn, trading, bargaining and even thieving from peddlers. But Mari knew her place and respected their occupation, not many can do it, let alone well and it's the best way to gain finance within a province. When finished, she bowed a bit before exiting, to see the rest of the guards lounging and eating their dinner. She was also given a portion of foo, that was kept in her bag but it was still pretty early.

"I'ma head up a bit keep an eye out on the horizon." She said before grabbing a torch. "I'll put this as a marker, to mark our territory." She replied again, though the rest of the group didn't seem to care much about their situation, they think that guarding is just about protecting the target, but it would make things easier if they took further precautions.

953/500

There was a beauty to night, the bright twinkling that filled the skies as clouds shifted around in the darkness with occasional light breaking through, it was a time that felt so relaxing but one could never let their guard down at a time like this, during the night there were predators far greater at using it than People could, if you were adapted to such an environment your ability at using it was great, they may say Humans are good at adapting but you can only be part of the middle group, you will never truly outclass the ability of beasts in this field.

Vodarara shut his eyes slightly it wasn’t the time to fully sleep but if you didn’t snooze you could very well drop your guard completely when you least want it.

135

375/500

With that the sound of feet bashing against the ground erupted through the night as two bandits charged with all their might toward the front entrance of the checkpoint. Mari who was more farther out, could see their shadows but being so dark it was hard to tell what was happening. Both bandits had a slim build, with low amount of clothing. Both with blades tied by their waist. "Kehehe, break the guards from the entrance." One of them spoke to the other. The second bandit pulled his blade from it's sheathe and pierced through a small barrel releasing a liquid he shook it around in his hand. "Grab that torch!" He'd shout.

Mari became wide eyed at the sound of person voice shouting, it seemed that he was with another and two on one, wasn't the best way to go. Mari hesitated a bit before dashing back toward the checkpoint with her hands waving in the air. "Grab your arms!" She'd shout toward the other guards. The two bandits had made it to where Mari was at last, with the torch in their hands. " Toss it!" One would shout as he'd toss the barrel far off into the distance of the checkpoint. The other with the torch in hand swung it menacingly as it catch fire to the gas, a long stream of flame and ember would shoot out into the sky lighting up the area as it chased the barrel.

The guards in front of the entrance, would stare at the flames that would fly through the sky when reaching it's highest point, it'd clash with the barrel, which would explode within the air, brightening the entire area. The guards eyes would widen, as they'd watch Mari run toward them with two bandits chasing after her. "There's four of them! Lets lower their numbers!" One of the bandits would shout.

One of the bandits chased after Mari, grabbing her bun from behind. She quick unsheathed her blade, pulling her arm back as the bandit tried to pierce her chest, the blades would clash sending her striking the ground. "Sorry girlie. We're taking your merchandise!" He spoke as he lifted the blade over his head. Mari would roll out of the way as he'd thrust the blade into the ground, jumping to her feet she'd slash downward toward the bandit, only to be bounced back as he roughly pulled his blade out in attempt to block her strike.

Far off into the distance, watching the scene dwindle as he prepared himself, another bandit bound for a fight that these merchants weren't soon to forget.

500+/500

Not far from his nest, a loud clashing of weapons could be heard with erratic movement of the blooms of light given off over in the short distance, It was as if no one ever wished to allow him a decent rest.

The night may be young but the night gave some of the best hunts, the creature which disturbs another’s sleep will many a time feel its wrath and punishment.

When he made sight it seemed a caravan was under attack by a large well seemingly prepared group of bandit’s, there tactics more hit and run and it seemed there order’s had been given to them prior it seemed like there was no major leadership in the main heat of this fray.

The vast majority of the guards were good, they stayed together covering each other they had experience, with some of the other, Vodarara would guess to be veteran’s assisting those who got into trouble, the bandits were looking for weakness in the ranks of the guards.

Find the weak link in a chain and when you break it you will win a logical tactic.

It seemed that the most overextended and one of the weakest links had been discovered, a female in one of the most extended parts of the group, her first mistake was to try retreating with her back turned to the enemy, with your back turned you can’t evade or fight back.

With that long hair they had other issues as well with the enemy grabbing onto it to try to pull her down, a fighter should never have easy exposed hair, fighting beast’s anything to far extended could be an easy target.

There attacks slightly brash, they didn’t come up to par with Imuchakk fighters.

Though those bandit’s did seemingly have some worthwhile equipment, by Vodarara’s rules what he kills was his for the taking.

His red dark scarlet ebony bow, like midnight red from the horn of the Rampaging Unicorn he had slain not long ago mixed with the running veins of strong plant fibres.

His clothing dark with many different shades of grey’s, with broken colours and bars it breaks up ones outline in the dark you don’t need camouflage as his cowled green cloak, fluttered lightly in a weak breeze.

His quiver hung at side angle at his hip, withdrawing one of his finer arrows a “Maw” a fang from such a great beast and so very good at ending lives.

It was time to see if the weak female could put up a decent fight, arrows move like a whistle near silent an unexpecting foe will many a time meet there death without knowledge in till it stick through their body.

A rough parry occurred in the combat as the arrow whistled through the second bandit whom was preparing to join that fray, he would not get a chance to reach as an arrow embedded in his vital organs.

_______

490

865/1000

Skill:

1 Bandit - Bleeding out/Dead

Stamina 120/150

10/10 Arrows

Bow Status:
Damage:
None

Personal Status:
Damage:
None

Mari and a sole bandit squared off, both held blades in their hands as they stared off into each others eyes before they both dashed forward and clashed with their blades pressed together, as they pressed all their strength into their handle. Without being able to surpass either ones strength, they pushed away from each other, to give themselves room. Mari placed herself into a stand still stance, with both feet placed beside one another and her weapon straight with both hands on the handle.

With that a whistle through the air would gleam between them both, dragging the air along with it. Both Mari and the Bandit looked at each other with widened eyes, as if the gong struck and their continuation of their battle began. Dragging dirt into the air, they'd both blast forward. "Frontal Strike" Mari would shout as she begun to swing her blade horizontally twice across toward his torso. The bandit simply place his blade out before it got swatted away by the first swing, but getting his chest slit and his clothing ripped cleanly.

The bandit that continued toward the entrance, held a barrel within his hand, propped and ready for the trigger, when something pierced him. It all happened so fast that he started to lose balance in his legs and started to struggle walking in a straight line. As he tripped over himself, he dropped the barrel of oil, which would burst open and over himself. The blade that he held out scraped the rough ground, causing a few sparks to erupt and strike the oil. It burst into flames, burning the body of the bandit, as if a torch to light the way toward the entrance. The two guards stood by the entrance. "Oi, don't come inside! Barricade the entrance!" He'd shout.

Vodarara watched as the battle below continued, the weakest sword fighter was still trying their best to deal with the enemy they were matched against at least it would be more entertaining to watch the battle unfold now it was a bit more balanced, it’s no one watching such a one sided battle.

It seemed some liquid had ended up on the floor after his target had chosen to go after a barrel on one of the transports, thus leading to it becoming spilled over the floor.

But now wasn’t a time to really be observing, what was approaching wasn’t attempting to hide its presence in any shape or form.

Vodarara prepared an arrow bringing it to his bow and its string, preparing a “Thermos” headed arrow long fused.

The creature continued to approach, Vodarara launched his arrow directly upwards, observed the wind slightly, his time would be limited for this he dropped his bow turning to face the target.

Vodarara said “at least you have keen enough eyes not to try sneaking up on me”.

It seemed this enemy would be more seasoned than the others.

Well with the estimated landing point he’d have to advance himself, Vodarara closed his target and engaged hand to blade.

Just now to buy himself some time.

Focus on evading and leading your enemy, roll off your heels, shift your centre of mass.

Avoid what comes in and when the time is right.

With the next stab the Bandit had attempted to try stabbing his gut, dirty on dirty fighting you could say.

Vodarara used his left hand to grab the blade of the sword, it made a few cuts through his gloves but it was nothing to matter, it was a better situation to being gutted in combat.

It was time to finish this little match, Vodarara gave a swift kick as the Seasoned Bandit attempted to withdraw his blade, he stumped backwards.

The Thermos clinked to the ground behind him, Vodarara’s shot seemed slightly off it was meant to land between the legs of the bandit, followed by an explosion of hot liquid which rapidly burned its prey.

It seemed his enemy was down and out how disappointing, he was still breathing but he was to weak and just small fry, there was no need for such small fry to keep on breathing, Vodarara used his boot to crush the windpipe of his combatant, dispatching him.

The Battle still continued below, so Vodarara set about looting the corpse of the enemy he had battled in melee.

____

WC: 425

1290/1000

Thermos:

1 Bandit Dead
1 Seasoned Bandit Dead
1 Bandit Remaining

150/200

10/10 Arrows

Bow Status:
Damage:
None

Personal Status:
Damage:
None

(Due to needing to move onto Imuchakk i will be posting, if we get to a point when mari returns id be happy to edit and wrap things up etc)

Vodarara finished picking clean the corpse of the Bandit whom had attempted to take him on in close quarters.

These items should fetch a decent value in coin and maybe a bounty on the bandit himself.

The battle still continued to rage below, the female still continuing their battle, Vodarara notched an arrow launching it into the distance into the fight followed by a second arrow to follow up.

The Bandit would find arrows imbedding into them self, with that being incapacitated at the mercy of the fighter whom they had battled what would their choice be, however this was not something for Vodarara to worry about, maybe if he meets this person again Vodarara will attempt to claim a favour.

The Hunter shifted into the shadows, retreating into the darkness and disappeared into the night.

The next morning he would part with the items he had acquired…..

(Vodarara exit)

______

WC:150

-2 Standard arrows

Last enemy killed all Bandits dead

Vodarara leaves area

Other data in posts cover other details