Thread: Certain Doom, Interrupted (Methos and Autumn)

Androkles paced about the deck of his ship. Dark eyes slid from the full sail to the horizon as he seemed to seek to cause the wind to pick up and speed their voyage through pure force of will. His boots beat upon the wooden deck as his brow furrowed with rather deep thought, the Prince seeking to decipher exactly how he intended to liberate the captured princess. His brothers suggestion that a slightly more elaborate plan was necessary had not been entirely misplaced. Yet as he sought to sail in under the cover of night and beard foreign gods, dutifully he called upon his own gods to aid him in his struggle. A quartet of lambs were sacrificed their throats cut and blood left to pour into the sea as Androkles called for the assistance of Poseidon, Zeus, Ares and at the suggestion of the Aegian Pindar, Aphrodite for it was said she had favoured the Aegian royals. He sought the blessing of the gods in this rather audacious venture, with his hands sticky with the lambs blood his men took the lambs and butchered their bodies. As was tradition the fat and bones were offered to the gods while the meat was consumed by those offering the sacrifice. Time weighed heavily upon him as he wiped off his hands with a bit of rag. He had two days until the full moon would strike. Although he moved with all due haste, he had some inkling that if a large victory sacrifice was going to occur then it would wait no longer than that particular night. The last thing Androkles wanted was to sail to Aegina, and find he had arrived too late. However, there was little his fretting could do in that respect he simply had to trust in gods to allow his arrival to be timely. Sailors and soldiers kept the ship headed towards their destination as day wound down to night. The Thessilians could see the brooding mood that lingered upon their princes features as hed sat down and leaned back against the mast. Whatever troubled him left his men with little in the way of doubts, for luck had ever accompanied their princes bravery no matter how often his adventures were deemed foolhearty. For now as night set in the prince let his head droop against his shoulder as that rust coloured cloak was pulled around his form to ward off the night air. In sleep he seemed to find the answers that had eluded him. As with his eyes shut, his mind was filled with the image of a harbour with many strange ships within it. The ships themselves had been left unguarded as one could hear festivities in the street, and the sound of drunken singing coming from the city. The ships burst into flames and suddenly the reveling invaders rushed from the city to seek to put out the fires. Surely that would provide all the distraction he needed to slip inside the city and liberate the princess. Thus when he awoke the suns rays shining down on his face, a smile graced his lips as he rose to his feet. After a moment was spent stretching he hollered for several of the officers. Thus a trio of sleepy eyed Thessilians struggled to their feet and after a few brief yawns wandered over to the prince with curious expressions gracing their features. Androkles launched into explaining his dream to them and once hed described the details hed lay out his plan. Well move in by cover of nightfall, find a save cover to anchor our boat. I want you to take the small boats and fill them with the pots of flaming oil we have, start a blaze among the barbarian ships and then get the hell out of there. Your fires will be all the distraction I need, when I and a half a dozen men slip into the city and move to rescue the princess. We will all return to the boat and then get out of here before the fires are all extinguished and they launch ships to see who or what was responsible for the fires. Thus they headed towards the island, grower nearer so that birds were soon spotted. They sailed away from the city and the harbour itself. Pindar rather helpfully suggested a safe harbour a short distance from the city. Their approach had they sail far from the city and then they return in a northerly direction to hide from the site of enemies by approaching beneath the cliffs. There they weighed anchor and as evening began to approach armour was shed by both the prince and the half dozen companions he took with him. A grappling hook with rope, their sword, sandals and tunics was all the equipment they sought to take with them on this particular venture. Their faces had been darkened with a charcoal paste as well as their arms and legs, for the prince sought to move like a ghost through the city. The row boats were launched after casks of oil had been loaded to it. The strongest swimmers were selected to spread among the ships in the harbour and carry the casks on board, and empty their contents before burning brands were thrown upon the ships. The prince and his men were ferried to the beach and then began to make their way across it through the fading light. Pindar led them to a trail up through the cliffs, and from there they began to job towards the walls of the city a few mills distant. As darkness fell, and they grew closer to the citys walls they could hear the sound of music and rather raucous partying taking place. Thus as they slipped up to the walls and the grappling hook went over the edge and caught in place, Androkles clambered upwards, followed by Pindar and then five Thessilian soldiers. The rope was retrieved by the last trooper, and then with Pindar taking the point they began to slip through the dark streets towards the palace. A pair of guards were spotted playing dice and drinking wine at a table before the entrance to the palace. Androkles, raised his hand and quietly drew his sword and his dagger. He drifted through the shadows until he came near to both guards. Without a word his dagger whistled through the air and pieced one guards throat and left him gargling and gasping for air as he fell to the ground, the other sought to draw his sword but found the prince upon him before he could pull it free. Two brutal thrusts later and he too lay bleeding upon the floor. The Thessilians darted forwards and pulled the bodies out of sight. Thereafter, all seven of the rescue party headed into the palace and began to make their way towards the dungeon.