The Road to Razasan

The Road to Razasan

Postby Jirai » Thu Feb 21, 2013 10:23 am

This trip was not the same as the last one.

She had taken a few weeks to carefully plan the whole thing this time, rather than the abrupt departure precipitated by the events of a particular birthday party that she cannot, to this day, properly recall. Letters had been sent, visits made, a chosen few persuaded to come along, another few - well, two, really - carefully left in the dark about the matter.

If the planning has been kept a little quieter than it might have been, there is certainly no secret to the departure. How could there be, with all that baggage? Rhaena Olwak is heading to Razasan.
User avatar
Jirai
Op
 
Posts: 1580
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 5:00 am

Re: The Road to Razasan

Postby Jirai » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:27 pm

Rumors were lovely things, whispered behind painted fans and gossiped over expensive teas and delicate cakes. Murmured in cultured tones, exclaimed with false dismay for anothers misfortune, but never, ever written down.

It is a company into which Rhaena Olwak fits herself seamlessly.

There are whispers of war and talk of weapons, despite the king's reluctance, as has been the case since some refugees from Derry began to finally trickle into Razasan. The Flagellant's towers have gone dark, for the first time in memory. These are dark tidings though, and all too easily set aside in favor of lighter fare - at the moment, the target of choice amongst these gowned and coifed women is the absent Lady Bassanid, who has kept to her bed with morning sickness, her lord husband dancing attendance. This occasioned much laughter amongst the company, for everyone except the lord knew the child's father was none other than their groom.

This leads naturally into all sorts of discussions about who favors whom and who has found themselves in beds not their own, or who yet wishes to find such a bed. One of the younger ladies is quite distraught, as the young man she fancies, one Arlan Kostroma had only just left the city on the road to Heath, at the head of a number of King's Own.

Amidst this all is Rhaena Olwak, laughing or nodding or smiling or frowning when appropriate, occasionally inserting a tiny question of her own to guide the conversation. Rumors are never to be written down, but travel all the faster for it. Fastest of all to Myrken Wood, but a thought away.
User avatar
Jirai
Op
 
Posts: 1580
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 5:00 am

Re: The Road to Razasan

Postby Jirai » Tue Mar 19, 2013 9:51 am

The journey to Razasan had been utterly uneventful. There was no reason to think that the return trip would be any different. The caravan wasn't very large, but it was well-guarded for its size. Just as well, for it was clear that these were no simple travellers. The carriage itself was well-appointed and large enough to comfortably hold Rhaena Olwak and her small group of companions, the wagons filled with trunks and clothing and whatever else it was that Rhaena had been acquiring in Razasan. Drivers and guards, the latter mounted, rounded out the contingent that wended its way along the road from Razasan to Myrken Wood.
User avatar
Jirai
Op
 
Posts: 1580
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 5:00 am

Re: The Road to Razasan

Postby Suede » Thu Mar 21, 2013 10:57 am

Suede Roschen had come to an understanding with the governor. He would have free clearance to liberate undue wealth from anyone passing through Myrken's borders so long as they weren't one of the down trodden. Perhaps the tailor didn't care about the details, perhaps those hired were too thick to identify their targets well, or perhaps Suede had been careful in his use and acceptance of words that the lovely Miss Olwak's carriage was considered an appropriate target.

It was nothing so cliche as a fallen log or a man strangely standing in the middle of the road. The trees to the side of the road simply began to sprout fast moving, very sharp branches that flung themselves into the road. Guards, drivers, and anyone else not in the carriage but within bow shot would be at risk from the series of volleys. And when they settled, why of course the demands would come. A bored voice calling out in baritone for them what were still standing to drop their weapons and prepare to be taxed.
User avatar
Suede
Member
 
Posts: 894
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 4:00 am
Location: Georgia

Re: The Road to Razasan

Postby Jirai » Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:55 am

Rhaena Olwak's carriage was not an appropriate target.

The attack was abrupt, taking the small group entirely by surprise. The first those inside the carriage knew about it was when the shouts and screams started, followed by a thud and a lurch in the carriage itself as its driver fell from the seat, an arrow through his throat. This elicited shrieks and screams from those inside the carriage, albeit briefly. It took little more than a moment for Rhaena Olwak to silence her fancily dressed companions, not much appreciating the distraction.

Actually, there really wasn't anything about this situation that she appreciated. Whatever was happening, it hadn't been planned or intended - by Rhaena or Glenn, at least (and really, other people's plans did not matter).

Outside, the guards recovered swiftly from their surprise - those that were still standing, at least. They did not drop their weapons. These were Rhaena Olwak's men, heart and - more importantly - mind. The wagon was brought up in a hurry to serve as a makeshift barrier against the arrows. The voice that replied was certainly not bored, an angry assertion that the bandits were welcome to take their tax in steel. This was followed by different voice with a rather rude quip about taxes and the girth of Myrken Wood's tax collector.

Inside the carriage, Rhaena's bronze eyes lost their focus.

Rhaena Olwak's carriage was not an appropriate target.
User avatar
Jirai
Op
 
Posts: 1580
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 5:00 am

Re: The Road to Razasan

Postby Suede » Sat Mar 23, 2013 1:43 pm

Well they were more stubborn than most, that had to be given. But when a man is paid for a job, he best do it. It didn't matter if you were being paid to rob or be robbed. So those down by the cart really couldn't be blamed for trying their damnedest to protest on behalf of their employer. That didn't stop the score or so of bandits in the trees from offering up a second round of long distance handshakes and a a response about trying to rob the taxman, but he'd had too many folds to search.

As for the steel, well of course they could pawn those somewhere, or replace their own weapons, and that was fine. It was just now a matter of convincing the men to surrender before all the arrows were wasted. A trio of this little gang began to go around to either flank of the cart brought up even as the guards were putting it in place and Rhaena began to do what Rhaena did best to their utter ignorance.
User avatar
Suede
Member
 
Posts: 894
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 4:00 am
Location: Georgia

Re: The Road to Razasan

Postby Jirai » Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:08 am

On the contrary, it was now a matter of convincing the other set of men to do something completely different before all of the arrows were wasted. Rhaena Olwak was very good at convincing people.

The bandits had chosen their ambush site well and the little group defending the carriage had already lost a significant portion of their men. It was only a matter of time before they were completely overwhelmed. Rhaena Olwak did not hurry, though. It would be better to do things right the first time, and so she focused her attention first on that trio moving to flank her guards and second on the closest man she could find to the bandit's leader. It was a delicate task, leaning gently on their minds, slipping in and making little changes, one set of directions for the trio, a different set for the other man.
User avatar
Jirai
Op
 
Posts: 1580
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 5:00 am

Re: The Road to Razasan

Postby Suede » Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:25 pm

Simple men for simple tasks have simple minds to fall in simple traps. Rhaena wouldn't find it particularly difficult to convince two of the flankers to change their job, quietly and quickly turning on their ignorant friend with a silent dagger in the back. They'd strip him of his spare arrows and turn back to flank around their own compatriots, convinced to the world that they had just snuck up on a hidden guard for Rhaena's group. Even now they believed they were still flanking around as they originally planned, their friend still with them.

Twisted ideas wormed their way equally into not the nearest bandit to the leader, but one a good distance behind him, who quietly drew back an arrow and took aim on the guard crawling around the back of a tree to try and scout the situation. He'd been set as lookout, and damned if he wouldn't do his job. An arrow was draw and loosed into the guard, who let out a shocked gasp before collapsing. Only it was the bandit leader others saw fall, and then two more arrows fell into the group.

Chaos broke out.
User avatar
Suede
Member
 
Posts: 894
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 4:00 am
Location: Georgia

Re: The Road to Razasan

Postby Jirai » Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:45 pm

Chaos.

Absolute chaos.

All directed by Rhaena Olwak.

She sat there, inside the carriage, her companions having been quieted by reassurances both verbal and other - but she had no attention to spare for them. What mattered right now was what was happening outside the carriage.

The bandit leader fell to one of his own arrows. More arrows launched into the attackers, and not from the besieged defenders! The carriage's guards were quick to take advantage of the confusion, and half of them launched a charge once the confusion became apparent, the other half remaining to guard those in the carriage.

At this point, there was little that Rhaena herself needed to do. A nudge here, a nudge there, tiny things - a moment of distraction when one could ill be afforded. That, she thought, would be all that was needed to ensure success.
User avatar
Jirai
Op
 
Posts: 1580
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 5:00 am

Re: The Road to Razasan

Postby Suede » Thu Mar 28, 2013 12:55 pm

Success enough. Even with all the touches, the uncertainty, the blood discord, a good number of the bandits managed to beat a retreat. A hasty, confused, fear filled one, but a retreat none the less. Far more were left bloody messes on the forest floor. Most were dead, a few were still in the process of dying.

Still a trio of other bandits were still left, standing about in a dazed confusion as the guardsmen finished their sortie. They didn't even seem to notice. Nor did they notice the blood on them and their weapons, all of it from formers friends... or at least partners in crime. Little more than cattle waiting to be directed by the sheep dog, they'd give the guardsmen no resistance, but would make no effort to respond to anything they said, either.

And those fleeing on their noisy retreat would quickly disappear into the woods unless pursued, to spread stories of madness and haunted forests that take no kindness to criminals.
User avatar
Suede
Member
 
Posts: 894
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 4:00 am
Location: Georgia

Re: The Road to Razasan

Postby Jirai » Thu Mar 28, 2013 1:54 pm

Success enough. That was all she required. Chaos, enough chaos that her possessions need not be liberated, the men guarding her not completely obliterated.

Still, there had been losses. The bodies on the ground were mixed, bandits and guards together.

Once the violence had abated, and only then, would Rhaena Olwak - aided by a uniformed man - emerge from the carriage, the fabric of her skirts gathered up in gloved hands to keep them from being marred by dirt or... worse things.

She surveyed the carnage, lips pressed tightly together. After several long moments, the Governor's lady moved calmly towards the trio of bandits standing docilely amongst the bodies. There was no resistance from them as they stood, the blades of her guard's weapons pressed against their chests. There would be no resistance as she reached out to lay an ungloved hand on their foreheads, first one, then the next. With such close contact, it was -easy.- So easy, to first erase what was there and then to overlay what she wished to be there.

The last of the three, though, was different. Rhaena pressed her hand to that man's head, the same as she had the previous two. And then she hesitated for a moment.

"You," She murmured quietly, bronze eyes unfocused. "You killed Aris." The elegant woman considered him for a moment, her hand still pressed against his head. "You shall have to take his place." This would take more effort, the woman standing motionless for some time. Enough for the remaining guards - plus two, who had no idea that they had ever been anything else - to load the dead bodies onto the cart. Dead bodies could not be left lying around, not in Myrken Wood. They would be burned, as soon as was possible.

Still, it would be some moments longer that Rhaena Olwak stood there, doing what she did best. Eventually, though, she dropped her hand, considering the man who had been a bandit for a moment before turning back for the carriage.

"Come," She said, "We have lost much time and I would be in Myrkentown before the sun sets." And the new Aris would follow her lead, taking control as if he had never been anything else.
User avatar
Jirai
Op
 
Posts: 1580
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 5:00 am


Return to Myrkentown



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests

cron