Thread: Slaves of the Illithid (Morathor and Kaybee)

The orc roared, raising its massive club above its head in both hands. That proved to be a mistake its opponent closed the gap between them with a single stride of her long, lean leg and uncoiling her willowy arm in a lunging thrust that drove the glowing blade of her rapier expertly through a gap in its armor, piercing through its heart. The orc sputtered, faltered, and as it lost the strength to hold its weapon above its head, it tried with the last of its strength to at least guide the club's descent and take the woman down with it. But she had already whirled gracefully out of the club's path, the massive weapon crashing to the ground less than an inch from her heels. With a flourish of her sword, she flicked most of the foul blood staining its blade across the floor. The remainder burned away with a sizzling sound, cleansed by the holy power she had imparted on the weapon. Elyssa's nose crinkled. Ugh. Smells like bacon. Hey now, came the muffled voice of her companion, a woman nearly as tall as the holy knight, and a good deal broader, with full curves that strained at her snug clothing. She was pressing the sleeve of her heavy brown coat over her mouth and noise--warding off a similar smell from two charred corpses laying at her feet. That is an insult to bacon, I like bacon. These things are... Lienna's scowl was evident even with half of her face covered. Rancid. I shouldn't have used fire. You really shouldn't have, Elyssa agreed, sheathing her sword as the glow subsided from its blade. She dug a kerchief from her pocket and began to wipe the sweat from her face and neck, reaching up her unarmored left hand to tidy the crown braid which encircled her head. You two got off easy, you didn' have to touch em. A third woman strode towards the other two, notably shorter than either of them--which was to say, of average and unremarkable height, as opposed to their towering statures. The wide neck of Leilah's loose tunic had slipped off her muscular shoulder, and she had not yet reached up to correct it instead, she was holding her hands awkwardly at her sides, presumably so that the blood coating her knuckles would not drip onto her clothes. There seemed little point, as there were red splatters already across her face and chest, only some of them fresh. She stretched one of her hands towards Elyssa, vivid blue eyes fixed on the kerchief. Can I borrow tha? When you're done? Elyssa screwed her eyes shut and placed the cloth in Leilah's hand. Keep it, she said, trying not to gag as she imagined the battered orc corpses Leilah must have just walked away from. She wondered if it would have been better just to look--surely the real thing couldn't be as brutal as what her own mind was conjuring up. But she'd thought that before, and been wrong, so for now she would avert her eyes. Elyssa took a deep breath to steady herself, then opened her eyes and cleared her throat. Fiera? After a moment, one of the wooden support beams crossing the mine's ceiling creaked, and a small figure detached itself from the shadows, dropping to the ground in front of the holy knight. The girl--woman, Elyssa had to remind herself, a couple of years older than Leilah despite the difference in size and, more importantly, demeanor--slowly stood up, black eyes darting around the room, taking everything in. All enemies deceased, she said, her voice quiet and raspy. Oh good. So none of them got away to raise the alarm? No. Fiera looked up--and up, and up, standing a full foot shorter than the holy knight, and that wasn't even counting her leader's heeled boots--to meet Elyssa's eyes. Acting strange. Elyssa nodded. Their tactics, you mean? I did notice they were more coordinated than orcs tend to be. Or humans. Or anything. And reckless. Moved as one, no regards for own safety. Elyssa pondered this, glancing down at the orc at her feet. I hadn't noticed, but now that you mention it... I've seen plenty of orcs leave themselves open like that, but it tends to reflect a lack of skill. These ones were quite skilled, and yet, here we are. She glanced at Lienna and Leilah. Any thoughts? Religious fanatics, maybe? Lienna reached up to her face, pressing the knuckle of her thumb against the crescent-shaped silver cuff she wore on her lower lip--a sign of her own religious devotion. Care more for their cause than their own lives? Coulda been controlled, yeh? Leilah wiped the last of the blood from her face and pocketed Elyssa's kerchief. Lienna? The sorceress furrowed her brow. I didn't sense any magic about them, but there may be some powers that ain't magic per se... Need more information, croaked Fiera. Will scout ahead. Sure tha's a good idea? asked Leilah. No. But necessary. One scout, low risk. Lienna reached down to ruffle Fiera's hair the young woman fidgeted at the touch, but she lifted herself ever so slightly onto her toes, pushing herself into it. Lienna smiled at her. You're a lot to risk in my book, kid. Despite being pleased with the attention, Fiera spoke as forcefully as she could. Intel is critical. Go in blind, all die. Don't want you all to die. Alright, Fiera, said Elyssa. Fair enough, but be careful. Fiera slipped silently through the tunnels of the long-abandoned mine. She blended beautifully into the shadows, the uneven patchwork of her clothing breaking up her outline. Her leather cuirass was the most likely to give her away--a solid dark brown that covered her entire slim torso. Still, almost nothing would be able to see her making her way through the darkness, not before she saw it. Of course, not everything relied on sight to find its prey...