Dusk Wing
Disciple Pony
You can always trust me to be untrustworthy.
Posts: 64
|
Post by Dusk Wing on Oct 7, 2014 13:22:43 GMT -5
At Maud's words, Dusk gave a resigned sigh. He had hoped he would be able to get out of this while sticking to his convictions. But it seemed that wasn't the case. Wanting to get this over with, he walked over to Julius, to borrow one of his knives. "Julius, do you mind if-" his sentence getting cut short by Shoal taking Lucky hostage.
He quickly analyzed the situation, and realized they still had the advantage. "I have an idea, but I need you to trust me." Dusk muttered to Julius as he used his wing to pick pocket one of Julius's knives, "I need you to aim the gun at Shoal, and be prepared to fire."
"So Shoal, I can tell you didn't quite think this through." He stated confidently, as he circled around the ambassador, attempting to get between him and the door. "You're in a temple out in the middle of nowhere, with ponies that will try to kill you if given the chance. You have no way to get back to the Griffon Empire, and the only thing keeping you alive is your hostage."
Stationing himself in front of the door, "Killing Lucky will only serve to get you killed in a rather brutal fashion." Finishing his little speech as he took hold of the knife with his mouth.
With quieted hoofsteps, Dusk walked up behind Shoal, keeping his head low should the griffon attack. When he got close enough, Dusk stabbed in one quick motion, aiming for Shoal's lower spine. Hoping that would get him to release his grip on Lucky so Julius could finish this.
|
|
|
Post by Julius Softpaw on Oct 7, 2014 18:47:58 GMT -5
Just about to walk out the door, Julius turned and, giving a somewhat wicked smile, gave a small bow to the monotonous-toned pony. "Ah, yes. Thank you, Maud. I had almost forgotten." With that said, Julius reached under his wing and pulled out the pistol. It was about that time that he noticed Dusk whispering to him. Giving the barest of nods, Julius whispered back, "Just don't kill him."
When Dusk took one of his knives, Julius pulled the hammer back on the center barrel of the pistol and aimed it at Shoal's head, right between those beady little eyes and drawing his gaze. "Let us spare these unnecessary pleasantries, Shoal. Put Lucky down and we can settle this like Griffons."
|
|
|
Post by Lucky Charm on Oct 9, 2014 4:44:52 GMT -5
Throughout the mess that followed his ill-advised attempt at mercy, Lucky seemed oddly calm for one being taken hostage and held at knifepoint. "This," he remarked dully, "is what I get for trying to be a good pony. I'm not even surprised." Lucky's eyes tracked Dusk as far as his peripheral vision went, but once he was gone he had to guess where the thief was. To Dusk's credit Lucky couldn't hear his hoofsteps at all, even on the stone floor.
That also meant he had no idea when Dusk would strike. Though he could just be guarding the way out, Lucky was sure he'd seen the briefest glint of steel in his wing as he passed by Julius. Either way, he thought, best give him an opening rather than wait.
So when Julius drew Shoal's attention with talk of 'settling this like griffons' Lucky took the opportunity to reach up (Shoal really shouldn't have gripped him under his forelegs, leaving them free) and wrap his fetlocks around Shoal's knife-wielding forearm. Testing the strength of this new enchantment - and with his own leg strength as a habitual runner - Lucky pulled to get the blade away from his throat, at the same time jerking his head back to slam it into the griffon's own.
If Lucky could get free this way, great, but the idea was more to knock Shoal off balance right now and make him lose his grip on the knife, giving Dusk an opening to stab him. If that didn't finish the job then the attack would surely give Lucky the chance to escape properly, leaving the rest to Julius. Lucky was a great believer in teamwork.
|
|
|
Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Oct 16, 2014 16:16:36 GMT -5
“Haven't you been paying attention, Julius? You're barely a griffon if you acquiesces to pony ideals so easily. I'll see hang - GAH!” Shoal uttered before squawking in surprise and pain as Lucky took the opportunity and attempted to break free from the griffons grip. Fortune favored the pony, his head butt knocked Shoal square in the side of the beak, however, the ambassadors beak cut into Lucky's scalp, drawing blood below his mane and as Shoal broke his grip, the knife in his talon jerked hard and caught Lucky across the side of his muzzle, forming a gash from the bottom of his jaw and up across his muzzle and ending at his check just below his eye socket. Shoal stumbled back as he clasped a talon cross his own face, a stream of blood flowing from his beak and nostrils and swiped at the air with his knife before falling forward with his bloody talon to the ground to catch himself.
Shoal turned quickly around and made a dash for the door, knife still in his grasp. He could easily clear the distance to the door in three bounds, though before he could complete his first full stride, Maud intervened. In a burst unexpected speed, she closed the distance on the fleeing griffon and slammed his hoof down on his tail and stopped him with a violent snap back. A crack broke from Shoal's tail, the sound of bones separating, as he slammed into the stone floor in a heap. He remained motionless for a few moments when he rolled over onto his side and tried to stand, his knife protruding from below his last right rib. Maud stood close and watched, unwavering.
Shoal turned his head towards her, his beak spoke slurs as he gripped the knife's handle with a talon. “If... I can't leave here alive.” He started to pull on the blade, inching in out by painful inch. “I'll take one of you-” With a bird-like shriek, he slipped the blade out from his body and in one pained motion, charged Maud with the knife raised, and with a beat of his wings, he was upon her in a blink of an eye, “With me!”
|
|
Dusk Wing
Disciple Pony
You can always trust me to be untrustworthy.
Posts: 64
|
Post by Dusk Wing on Oct 16, 2014 22:03:19 GMT -5
Lucky's successful attempt to break free caused Dusk to halt his attack. He stepped back, knife still in his mouth, feeling that the situation was handled and he could just let it play out. He watched with interest as Shoal gave a futile attempt to flee. He saw as Maud stopped him, causing the ambassador to fall on his own knife. He was enthralled, like one reading a good book would be.
It took him by surprise when Shoal managed to find the strength to attack. He was even more surprised when the griffon went after Maud and not one of them. He considered running to help, however, he could tell that he wouldn't be able to move fast enough to do so. Instead, he did the first thing that came to mind. "SHOOT HIM, JULIUS!"
|
|
|
Post by Julius Softpaw on Oct 17, 2014 11:22:10 GMT -5
Julius, caught somewhat unprepared for Lucky's escape simply watched as Shoal, wounded and bleeding, made a run for the door. He was caught even more off guard when the rock-like pony managed to not only catch up to him, but take him down as well. Within moments, however, he was back in the game. Just in time to see Shoal rush at the pony with his knife.
Not even needing to hear Dusk's shout, Julius aimed carefully, knowing full well that if he missed this shot, he could hit Maud. He took the shot, praying silently to anything that would hear him that he wouldn't miss.
|
|
|
Post by Lucky Charm on Oct 17, 2014 12:01:21 GMT -5
"Eyaargh!" Lucky gave a strangled cry of pain as the knife raked across his face. He'd been expecting some trouble with the beak, but the gash on his face took him by surprise. That plan had gone much better in his head. Nonetheless, he managed to dart out from Shoal's reach, ignoring the burning in his face as he put some distance between himself and the armed griffon.
Turning, he saw Shoal had tried his own escape, only to be caught by Maud, of all ponies. Lucky had suspected she was more dangerous than she looked, but he certainly wasn't prepared for her speed. Good thing he wasn't on the receiving end of that mess. The pegasus winced as Shoal rose, revealing that he had fallen on his blade, but worse was that he now seemed determined not to live but to kill before he died.
Lucky's first instinct was to tackle the griffon to the ground, but something stayed his hoof. He remembered where his instincts had lead him in the past. He remembered all the times in the last week alone when rash, thoughtless action had gotten him and others hurt. So instead he took one moment to look around and take stock of the situation.
When he spotted Julius aiming his pistol Lucky realized he had been right to stop. He would've only messed up the shot. His role in this chapter was done. And frankly if the bullet didn't kill Shoal then Maud probably would. All that was left for him now, once this whole mess was over, was to use the bandages and disinfectant he always kept in his saddlebags to patch up the injuries he'd received getting away from Shoal's grasp.
|
|
|
Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Oct 18, 2014 2:11:49 GMT -5
Julius's shot rang almost true, the loud crack from the barrel deafened the ponies in the chamber while the shot flew out and struck Shoal in the thick of the wing. The shot propelled Shoal to away from his attempted murder of Maud, knocking him into the far corner of the room near the door. His knife fell from his talon, skidding along the stone with a bloody streak towards Maud and the trio. He, for a moment, was a still sack of fur and feathers. After a long, quite moment, the griffon stirred, he head turning up from his cowering feathers towards the others in the room. His brilliant eyes shining like a morning sunrise as he moved a wing to cover his body.
Maud stepped back, as unaffected as she had always appeared despite being nearly set upon by an angry griffon, ”He needs to die, if you three had just done what was asked we wouldn't be discussing this now. Somepony end him already and we can get going. I'm bored with this miserable thing.” She spoke, cold and distant. Clearly uncaring, but true all the same. ”Let me spell this out, kill him or I will kill you all. I'm tired of pussyhoofing around this. If you cannot follow one simple order, you cannot be Trotonic. We ask many things, some questionable, some bad, but all for the greater good. We ask this of you now, so obey, or I'll end him and you three. It's as simple as a sedimentary rock, one layer upon the other, the weakest breaking under pressure.”
A grumbled emerged from the feathered heap on the floor, “Let me live... I will deliver Tartarus to your doorstep. Then I'll burn you to the ground like an angry god - You hear me you curs?!” He peaked up as he spat threats from a bloody beak. “Let me live, I dare you. See what comes to traitors and cultists. History is told by those who survive...”
Maud indicated with her a jutting of her head what they need to do, she nor Shoal was kidding when they spoke of the possible outcomes the trio could face.
|
|
Dusk Wing
Disciple Pony
You can always trust me to be untrustworthy.
Posts: 64
|
Post by Dusk Wing on Oct 18, 2014 15:47:58 GMT -5
When Julius managed to hit Shoal, albeit with a nonlethal shot, Dusk let out a sigh of relief. It seemed like the ambassador used what little energy he had left and wouldn't be getting back up again. However, Dusk didn't want to take any chances. He walked around the ambassador, keeping a safe distance, while listening to Maud's little speech. A speech that didn't exactly inspire confidence.
When he stood next to Julius, Dusk returned the griffon's knife. "He's gotten back up and tried to kill one of us twice. Let's not have a third time." Under his breath he added, "Let's make this quick. I like living."
|
|
|
Post by Julius Softpaw on Oct 18, 2014 21:27:41 GMT -5
Julius stood there with an almost ecstatic grin on his beak as he stared from the gun to Shoal, not even caring if he didn't kill him. "That... that was... I think I just found my new favorite weapon." Hearing Maud's words stirred him out of his stupor, though. Quickly bringing a slight grimace back to his face.
Taking his knife back from Dusk, Julius quickly approached the wounded Griffon and, weary of anymore surprises, socked him in the jaw. "That'll be enough from you, Herr Whitecap. I admire your persistence, but even a Griffon knows when it's time to give up." He drew his belt knife and quickly slit the ambassador's throat, moving back to avoid the worst of the blood and wiping the blade on Shoal's robes. "A fitting death for one such as he."
|
|
|
Post by Lucky Charm on Oct 19, 2014 16:56:56 GMT -5
Throughout the whole affair Lucky kept a straight face, despite the pain - and partly because of it, as moving it much made the cut along his jaw and cheek hurt more. He wasn't sure how deep it was or if it would scar yet, but he'd probably find out while disinfecting it. Still, it wasn't easy containing his anger at Maud's speech. He'd been duped, sent to die, conscripted into an order he knew nothing about with next to no information, threatened with death and held hostage by a desk bird with a knife. He didn't need a 'greater good' lecture from the Rock Whisperer.
Still, knowing the cost if he continued to appear squeamish, he forced himself to watch as Shoal was killed in cold blood. He just knew he'd have nightmares about this. Maybe with a bit of luck Princess Luna would notice them and he wouldn't have to tell anypony about this 'order' - she'd see it all in his head. Until then, though, he was stuck. He didn't plan on dying and he didn't doubt they'd know if he ratted them out.
Before they left he picked up Shoal's knife, lying forgotten near his hooves. He'd recently lost his old knife in Royal Rocks, and this one was good quality - sharp, good steel, concealable in the wing, all in all not a bad blade. He pocketed it before looking up at the others. "He's dead," the pegasus said simply and grimly. "Let's just go." He said no more - it hurt to talk. He'd have to see to that cut soon.
|
|
|
Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Oct 21, 2014 18:19:29 GMT -5
Maud watched the whole affair as she had reacted to the situation as a whole, cold, emotionless, even as the Ambassador let out his final death rattled as he flailed and jerked against the pain of the knife, a talon grasping at the stone and darkness while the other clasped his neck in his struggle for a few more moments of consciousness before finally was still. Maud approached the body, tapped the Ambassador with her hoof and when he failed to respond, she turned the body over and snatched up the badge of his office pinned to his lapel and stashed it in her clothes. She then turned and addressed the three, ”I'd say, 'good-job', but that was really sloppy. Don't disappoint us in the future, or you will end up worse than him.”Motioning towards the body. ”So now that we understand each other, you can leave. We have rooms on the upper floor for you tonight, an acolyte is waiting to guide you to them. Arrangements to bring you back to civilization are being worked on, Elder Camembert will speak with you individually about it. You can also stay in the temple if you want, I don't mind.” Maud turned back to the body as she started to drag the body towards the back of the chamber, leaving a wake of feathers and blood as she did. ”And don't forget, you're now bound forever in blood.” With her last cryptic statement, Maud disappeared into the darkness with the body of Shoal and Rock Rhino close behind her. ==End of Temple Quest==
|
|