knightsoflegend | mission ♔ all those arrows you threw you threw them away

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mission ♔ all those arrows you threw you threw them away

WHO || Francesca, Christos, Katniss [closed]
WHAT || Francesca attempts to spy on the humans' secret meeting; a concerned Christos follows
WHERE || The Municipal Building, Magadan, Russia
WHEN || Night of April 7th
HOW || Actionspam

The Russians were nothing if not subtle. Luckily, with three of them living in the Municipal Building, and two of the Knights specifically on watch for it, it became clear that they weren't the only guests here anymore, and that a pattern was emerging. Slowly, other officials from nearby cities, as well as high ranking military personnel were gathering, often ostensibly for other purposes, but so many at one time made it remarkably suspicious.

Especially when Francesca had been prepared to look for exactly these signs.

The most difficult aspect was getting out from under the watchful eye of the guard, but she also had a great deal of experience with that kind of thing as well, which is how she managed to secure herself an ideal place for spying on the proceedings.

Most of it was exactly what Wynn and Luthir had both feared for: some sides arguing for a military mobilization against the dark elves, or in other cases, both the drow and the sun elves, others arguing for trying to make another attempt at forging peace with the elves.

And of course, the prominent conversation topic of what role the Knights meant to play in this, and whether the drow ambassador could even be trusted.

** **
Meanwhile, the other end of the mission had finally reached fruition, with Christos, Thomas, and the squires collapsing in the tunnels at enough points to effectively cut off drow movements - hopefully right on time, as Thomas had also managed to "intercept" drow plans to invade the sun elf and human territories that night. While he planned to stay behind with Merlin and monitor things on the battle end of things, Christos slipped away, heading into the city, his squire at his heels.

After all, he'd made Francesca a promise, even if the tunnel process had taken more than the 'one day' he'd theorized.

[ooc;; please wait for the two threads to be up below. if anyone is not comfortable with where I've put their character in all this, please tell me and I will be more than willing to adjust/talk things out withyou! (I know I've talked to some of you, and figured those who haven't tagged the other mission posts yet might just want their bits handwaved, so we can move to the mission end)]

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[Like Katniss sleeps. She hardly ever sleeps, and tonight is no special occasion. So yeah, she's easily managed to trail along after Christos, wondering what in the world is so important that he'd slip right on out without telling her anything.

A part of her feels betrayed, as if he should have included her. She's downright tickled when she realizes that he's left behind the rope he just scaled across, because that means she doesn't have to be reckless and loud while chasing after him. She adjusts her bow to be secure while she makes her way quietly across.

Where she finds him...with binoculars.]

Isn't it a good idea to let someone know when you sneak out in the middle of the night, in case you don't return? [This is hissed in a not very pleased whisper as she reveals her creepy stalkerness to him.]

[To Christos' credit, he doesn't really jump at the sound of her voice, though he lowers the binoculars with lightning speed, and one hand moves beneath his cloak towards a dagger. He stops when he sees who it is, and his expression turns to annoyance quickly enough.]

You shouldn't have come.

[She manages to look more sour than he does, but a look of defiance flashes over her features briefly before going back to being a good old sourpatch.]

I doubt you should have either. [Her arms cross over her chest to signal that she's going to be a stubborn bitch and not go anywhere.]

[ Well ... yes, you have him there X( shut up

He glares at her for a long moment, as if debating how much time it would cost him to physically drag her back to the other building and cut the line so she couldn't follow him. And trying to calculate the odds of her scaling the building anyways, and possibly bringing all the guards down on his head.

Christos doesn't even dignify her accusation with a response, as his attention is drawn back to the vehicle he was watching. His brow creases and he raises the binoculars again. ]

Something's amiss here.

[ He watches the door of the van open, one man stepping out to converse with the guards, leaving the van door open behind him. Christos' eyes don't leave the display for a moment, as the two men seem to get in a bit of an argument, and the guard appears to radio something in.

The drow's gaze narrows, his mouth a tight, set line, as someone opens the doors of the building, holding them wide as he yells something incomprehensible to the guard.

The binoculars are immediately folded, and disappear into the folds of his cloak, and he's on his feet. ]

I need to get inside. With or without you, but if you're going to shadow me, I won't brook any mistakes.

[She nods, knowing she has to be serious and on top of her game with this.]

I can handle this. [She promises him, once again adjusting her bow so it's in a comfortable position for her to quickly move. She motions for him to lead the way with a nod of her head, and she moves to the edge of the roof to peer down at the scene below. She only offers it a brief moment of attention, before she's turning back toward Christos.]

Don't worry about me.

[ He's got plenty of other things to worry about, after all.

Christos moves to the roof entrance, not even bothering to try and see if it's unlocked. Instead, he draws a pick out of his boot and makes short work of the latch. It swings open into a dark stairwell, and he motions for her to move down ahead of him, putting one finger to his lips to indicate she should tread as lightly as possible.

And then he shuts the door behind them, leaving them in complete darkness. Which wouldn't be a problem for the guy with nightvision, but he hopes her eyes adjust quickly as he heads down to the bottom of the steps.]

[She can handle herself, despite not being able to see anywhere near as well as him. What she lacks in sight, she makes up for with an innate ability to just navigate her way around decently in the dark. It's almost as if she's had years of practice, without really knowing for sure. It's weird, and she dislikes it, but she just rolls with it, and only stumbles a couple of times, keeping it near silent each time she does.

She wonders what she should be prepared for, and Christos' sense of urgency has her hand across the string of her bow, just waiting for the moment to slide up and pull it off of her shoulder so she can take aim and strike.]

[ The door down here as locked as well, and seems to be giving him more trouble than the one on the roof did. Which only makes him more frustrated, which only makes it harder. It takes a moment of tense jiggling before it springs free.

He listens at the door for a full thirty seconds before opening it just a crack, and then wider to reveal a fancy upper hallway of the Municipal building, with rich red carpet, bright sconces of crystal refracted light, old fashioned paintings hanging on the walls, and doors off in each direction.

He's already studied the building plans, thank you very much, so he heads off to the left without much hesitation.

It's quiet, almost eerily quiet, so the sound of approaching footsteps rings loudly around the corner, and he's quick to dart open one of the side doors and gesture sharply with his head for Katniss to follow. It looks to be a small abandoned office, one window letting in some light from outside. ]

[She's right on his heels as they head down the hallway, sparing only a moment to glance around and gain a slight feel for their surroundings.

At the footsteps, she freezes in surprise, but doesn't wait for the urging of Christos to know to duck into one of the side doors. he just so happens to have acted before her, so she slips in right after him.

Inside and with the door closed, she slides her way along the wall of the room and over to the window, hugging the wall as she turns her head to peer out. She doesn't want to be seen by anyone on the outside, but is curious to see where they're currently at in relation to where they had been perched outside on the roof.]

[They appear to be at the side of the building now, and a couple guards walk down below, guns hoisted on their shoulders. They pause to exchange a few comments, and they don't look particularly on edge.

In fact, they're laughing, when abruptly blood sprays out from theirs throats, and their two bodies slump to the grass silently. A slight shadow of something moves beneath the lights, but otherwise there is no assailant in sight. Christos doesn't notice this display, as he's still listening at the door, and he reaches for the handle, once it's all clear.]

[By the time it's all clear, she's on his heels once again, having seen nothing of great interest out the window. You know, except for their bodies hitting the ground. But that doesn't really bother her, although she knows it bears mentioning.]

Two guards outside were just taken down.

[This is whispered to him in almost passing, as if she was telling him they were out of bread and to buy some on his way home from work.]

I didn't see who did it.

[ Her casual announcement gives him a split second of pause, and his eyes dart towards the window, but he apparently doesn't think it's worth sacrificing time to go double check, and takes her at her word. Including that the assailants weren't to be seen.

They slip out into the hallways again, navigating on some path that he seems to understand but isn't exactly looking forward to sharing out loud. He displays no interest in the offices or rooms they pass by, other than as places to hide when echoing footsteps threaten to be heading in their direction.

Finally he halts at a pair of large, ornate double doors, which are locked, and he bends to jimmy a pick into the handle. ]

Stand watch.

[Nodding, she pulls her bow up to be at the ready, sliding an arrow from her quiver up to rest in her hand and then onto place at the string of her bow. She has no intention of firing unless it's necessary, but she's definitely on alert and ready to strike if need be.]

[When the doors swing inwards, there's a short staircase that leads down a flight... and the body of a guard lies there, quite dead, his blood pooling under him. Christos curses under his breath in a language that sure isn't English, and then there's a dagger in his hand and he's heading down the steps, cloak swooshing over the dead man's head.]

[And now shit is real.

Or more real than it was when she saw those two guards outside die.

She takes a few seconds to stare down at the dead body and all the blood, barely registering the fact that Christos said something she didn't understand. She sees him leave, but she offers the body a final stare down, as if it's going to give her answers to a question she doesn't know to be asking.

She glances over to see Christos almost out of her sight now, and it's with a curse under her own breath that she hightails it out of there and back over on his heels.]

Tell me what we're facing.

[She hisses this out in a whisper as they move, nerves now starting to overcome her after an up close encounter with a dead man.]

Drow. [ He says it immediately, and there's a level of acid in his voice that seems very strange, considering he's talking about his ~own people~. But there it is. ] Stay close. They're likely cloaked with invisibility spells to have infiltrated this far. [ Nevermind that the both of them just did with no invisibility spells. No one is as awesome as he is, obviously. And Katniss by extension, I suppose. ] If you see an armed dark elf, shoot them. Do not hesitate.

Edited 2012-04-11 04:52 (UTC)

[She only nods in response, and keeps her senses on as high alert as possible. The thought of enemies cloaked with invisibility spells pisses her off. She's not going to have the upper hand in getting the first shot if she can't see them.

At one point she feels that she senses something close, and she spins about to take aim and fire. But it's only a decoration on one of the walls, and she feels foolish and traipses along after Christos.

She's starting to feel paranoia seeping in.]

[ Well founded paranoia, it seems. As they head down the hallway, two very visible dark elves round the corner up ahead. Their long wild, white hair hangs loose, unlike Christos' and they're each dressed in dark, intimidating armor, large swords at their sides, and daggers on their hips. They instantly freeze as they register at the pair, and unlike the other hallways, here there is nowhere to hide or backtrack.

Christos' hand whips out lightning-fast, sending the blade in his hand spinning through the air. It buries itself ~~for a crit and triple penetration damage...~~ right into one the two warriors' foreheads. He goes rigid, his eyes roll back, and he falls over with a heavy thump, as his drow companion glances down at him in shock. ]

Edited 2012-04-11 05:20 (UTC)

[She reacts a few seconds too late, and her arrow is sent sailing after Christos has sent his blade flying. It flies right over the body as it falls to the floor, and lodges itself in the wall. She huffs at the sight of a wasted arrow, but swivels to take aim at the second warrior, as another arrow is pulled from her quiver and placed at the ready.

She doesn't wait for a signal or permission, she just takes aim at the enemy's neck. She knows if she can pierce the large vein that's there, it will hopefully just bleed out and Christos won't need to waste effort on another attack.

With the armor, however, it makes things tricky. but she doesn't have time to stand and contemplate her move, she just releases the arrow and prays it actually makes contact while the drow is still in a state of surprise.]

[Welp, I rolled it for you and ... she also got a critical. No shit. Which mean that arrow hits right in the money spot piercing the drow where it counts. He lets out a herk and staggers backwards a step, trying to reach for his sword, but he doesn't seem to have the wherewithal to draw it because HIDEOUS PAIN, and instead reaches up to try and grab the arrow, weakly wrapping his fingers around it.

By then it's too late, and Christos is upon him. He yanks out a silver rapier and lashes a deep gouge into the drow's cheek, and then swings the blade around with artful dexterity, slicing his head clean off. Yep.]

[Katniss realizes at this point that while she's good at killing things, she doesn't like it. So in order to distract herself from how horrified she is at what she was just able to do, she stomps over to the wall to retrieve her stuck arrow. She plucks it out and steps over the second drow's head, so that she can also hop over the body and stand next to Christos.]

Keep moving.

[ ISN'T THAT HIS LINE. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HIS LIFE EVEN. Katniss turns things into the Twilight Zone.

Rather than be a good mentor and congratulate her on her nice shot, he just... seems to get the fact that she won't want to be praised for her killing abilities after... killing someone, and says nothing instead. There are two main doors at the end of the hall, and Christos heads straight towards them, bringing his rapier down in a sudden series of zigzag slices through the air as he gets close. They cut through nothing but air, which seems to satisfy him, and he tries the door, and finds it locked. Surprise.

But it doesn't take very acute ears to hear the sudden chaos exploding inside the room: screams of terror, howls of pain. Rather than waste more precious time trying to pick it, Christos simply directs a powerful kick at the door (str check 24), and with one shuddering blow, it flies open.

And what they see awaits them in the top thread. :| ]

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mission ♔ all those arrows you threw you threw them away

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