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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 15:30:27 GMT -5
If Conrad wasn't unsettled by the bloody hand prints, the hacked up corpse of the girl certainly made his heart skip a beat. If he fell, this could likely be Cypress' fate this day...
Conrad's resolve wavered only for a split second, before it solidified into a iron determination.
As Buckley and Chisel sat idling around the fire, Conrad felt a cold fury rise up within him, steeling his will for what he was about to do to both of them.
Conrad Miles rolled 3 dice to "Work It Out" 2,1,2 (0 successes) Conrad Miles rolled 5 dice to "Stealthy Wit" 2,2,5,5,5 (0 successes)
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 15:38:03 GMT -5
Singer took a long look at Conrad and then reached into her vest. She left it open, revealing her gleaming blow dart barbs. She leans in to whisper to you. "He followed the girl... that was what those hand prints were. They fought with Chaff here.. but none of Chisel's sword cuts on the girl..."Singer rolled 4 dice to "Investigation" 8,10,6,10,2,6 (3 successes) TEXT The redhead withdraws her blowgun and crouches, picking her mark. A breath later; Buckley smacks the back of his neck and comes away with a dart. He rises with a bellow; turning in a wide circle. He doesn't see SingerOh, but he sees you. He tears towards you, raising his sword. Behind him, Chisel hopped off of his rock. Beast rolled 4 dice to "Spotting" 3,8,4,8 (2 successes) Link 2012-03-30 22:36:23 Singer rolled 5 dice to "Stealth Shadow" 8,8,4,2,2 (2 successes) Link 2012-03-30 22:34:32 Conrad Miles rolled 5 dice to "Stealthy Wit" 2,2,5,5,5 (0 successes)TEXT
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 15:50:30 GMT -5
His cover already blown and Singer's loyalties clearly on show for now, Conrad leaped from the undergrowth with a yell to rival Buckley's, the face of the dead girl in his mind fueling the angry rage that flowed through him.
Conrad Miles rolled 14 dice to "Sword (8) / Sword (6)" 8,5,8,5,6,2,3,2 / 3,9,1,8,1,4 (4 successes)
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 16:02:21 GMT -5
"You!" Buckley laughs, dancing forward. His sword cuts a shallow cut on the back of Conrad's wrist. "You like fighting with girls..?" Chisel manages to duck around Buckley; but he's still off balance from the surprise attack. His sword slices past Conrad's arm. 2012-03-30 22:58:23 Chisel rolled 5 dice to "Attacking (Sword +3) (Conrad)" 2,2,4,5,6 (0 successes) Link 2012-03-30 22:57:19 Beast rolled 6 dice to "Attacking (Sword + 3) (Conrad)" 5,7,5,6,8,6 (1 successes)TEXT
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 16:14:05 GMT -5
~I can't take on both of them at once...~ Conrad thought to himself, mind racing as he deflect Chisel's attack, taking a cut on the wrist from Buckley in the process.
Acting quickly, Conrad used his current momentum to step so that Chisel was on the opposite side of Buckley to himself, readying his weapons for another assault on the blood-spattered tribute.
Conrad Miles rolled 14 dice to "Twin-Sword Slash!" 5,4,4,7,10,2,1,1,6 / 8,8,2,6,3,4 (3 successes)
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 16:17:49 GMT -5
Conrad's fast footwork managed to trip up Buckley, who scowled. "Pansy." He spat as he darted around Chisel to try again. Chisel, perhaps more intoned with Conrad's fighting style, caught him with a shallow cut on his thigh. 2012-03-30 23:15:54 Beast rolled 6 dice to "Attacking (Sword) (Conrad)" 1,6,6,4,4,5 (0 successes) Link 2012-03-30 23:15:31 Chisel rolled 5 dice to "Attacking (Sword +3) (Conrad)" 4,3,3,9,4 (1 successes)TEXT
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 17:47:39 GMT -5
Conrad hissed as he felt the sting of Chisel's sword, but at least now the Career tribute was on the far side of Buckley.
As for the gore-soaked tribute before him, he rewarded Buckley's failure to hit him with a left slash and a right hack of his twin short-swords.
"Shame you can't sharpen your blade with your wit."
Conrad Miles rolled 14 dice to "Left Slash (8) / Right Hack 6" 7,7,8,8,6,4,3,7 / 3,5,5,5,10,7,3 (3 successes)
Conrad had to admire his opponent's skill. Even with Conrad's superior weapon count, Buckley was proving difficult to do anything more than inflict mild wounds to him. Still, for her survival, Conrad was prepared to chip away for as long as it took Buckley to fall.
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 17:55:15 GMT -5
"Enough of this bull s***." Buckley tossed his sword aside, beginning to square his hips with him. "Watch that he doesn't get by." He barks to Chisel- and then he rushes at you. He runs with his hands aimed for your face, as though he may gorge your eyes out. Yet at the last second, he drops his hands to hook beneath your arms. You find your sword clasped uselessly against your side, your second arm held out at an odd angle. You can't swing your weapons... Beast rolled 5 dice to "Grapple - strength" 6,3,8,8,8 (3 successes)
Grapple: Roll Strength + Brawl - opponentÕs Defense for attacker to get a grip on target; roll Strength + Brawl - opponentÕs Strength to perform an overpowering maneu- ver or to break free; instant action. (p. 157) "Nice work." Chisel stated - looking behind you. Singer straightened up. The short girl gave Conrad an abashed look. "Sorry Conrad." She managed, speaking quietly and looking more towards the ground than your eyes. The three of them are working against you?
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 18:29:06 GMT -5
Conrad glared into Buckley's eyes as the male prevented him from using his swords...
Conrad Miles rolled 4 dice to "Freedom! (Will)" 1,8,4,6 (1 success)
...right before he delivered a punishing head-butt that broke Buckley's grip on him. Conrad snarled, emphasizing his distaste with a twin-flourish of his weapons as he readied a combat stance once more.
"Can't even face me honorably man-to-man in a fair fight... and this is the person you trust your lives to right now? Who do you think is next on his list?"
Conrad didn't know if the other two would care what he said, but you couldn't deny he had a point...
Conrad Miles rolled 5 dice to "Logic" 8,5,4,7,4 (1 success)
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 18:40:05 GMT -5
"Are you seriously trying that?" Buckley cautiously felt his nose, dabbing at the blood. His expression now looked particularly off balanced, with his grubby appearance and blood streaked face and hands. He bent and picked up his sword; his gaze not leaving Conrad. "She never had a chance in the Games." Chisel said, slowly and heavily. He seemed genuinely distressed. "Singer...?" The petite girl turned and began walking away, towards where she had been watching you. The girl quickly loped into a sprint, moving away from the three tributes as fast as she could... heading towards Cypress. You realize. Out of the corner of your eye, you see Buckley strike out. The blade cuts along your leg, causing a searing pain. You are hobbled for a moment, wondering if you can put weight on it... Beast rolled 6 dice to "Attacking (Sword) (Conrad)" 6,7,8,3,1,10,8 (3 successes)
Chisel frowns, appearing troubled as he glances after Singer. He does not attack you, holding his sword at the ready.
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 18:53:25 GMT -5
Conrad's eyes widened as Buckley's blade cut a gash in his leg but the painful wound was not the reason. This fight ended here and now. Conrad reacted almost without thinking, bringing his swords in a deadly arc across each other as he aimed for his opponent's neck.
Conrad Miles rolled 11 dice to "Called Cut & Called Thrust of Will" 8,5,9,2,9 / 9,1,3,10,7,3,10,3 (6 successes)
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 18:58:57 GMT -5
There is a sickening sucking noise that seemed to last forever. A blood bubble formed on Buckley's lips as he glanced down, apparently wondering why his feet were not responding to him. His arm lowered, dropping his sword unceremoniously beside his foot. Buckley's knees buckled and he pitched forward, sprawling on the jungle floor. He wasn't dead, but you'd bet your last dollar he would be in about two minutes.
Chisel met your gaze. He remains where he had been, standing at the ready five feet away from you. He opens his mouth but then closes it, not finding anything to say. Was there anything to say? Did Conrad have any driving questions at this juncture?
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 19:29:09 GMT -5
Conrad lowered his blood-stained swords, regarding what he'd done to Buckley with a strange look of sorrow and pity.
"I'm sorry..." Conrad spoke with a note of honest remorse. "I'm so sorry."
One last swipe of his blade, and Buckley breathed no more, his life ended swiftly and mercifully. It was a kinder death than his heart pumping its last over the jungle floor, but it was still less than the male deserved. Than any of them deserved.
Conrad turned towards Chisel, meeting his gaze. Gone was the sorrow and pity that Buckley had saw towards the last of his life. The fierce look that had replaced the former emotion in Conrad's eyes now conveyed six little words. Just six.
~Out of my way, or else.~
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 21:24:02 GMT -5
As Conrad stared over to Chisel, the large remained in the clearing of the ruined campfire. This kept him clear of the path to Singer, who was no doubt hurrying towards where you had first met up with her. She was likely retracing her steps; trying to find a sign of your passing. You recall your efforts at camouflage... would they fool the undivided attention of the petite tribute?
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 21:36:49 GMT -5
Taking Chisel's inaction as a sign of compliance, although obviously temporary, Conrad ran in the direction Singer had gone, a sincere "Thank you." his parting words. Conrad raced in the direction Singer had gone, painfully aware his path was taking him back in the general direction of Cypress...
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 22:08:13 GMT -5
As far as Conrad could tell, Chisel remained in the ruined camp. He must have moved somewhere, as you hear the hovercrafts arriving for the bodies of the dead. Where he might go is driven from your mind by the more pressing question of what would Singer do to Cypress. Crashing through the underbrush, he notes Singer's discarded life jacket on the ground. Following the trail of a torn piece of shirt - in Cypress's color you realize! You find one of Cypress' implanted knives in a tree further into the jungle, another glistening with blood lying on the ground. You reach the cave where you had left Cypress and found the cave empty. Turning, you see a streak of mud and crushed underbrush, rolling towards a lolling hill. Following the trail of crushed underbrush, you are surprised to see a bloody and bruised pair of girls battling in the muddy ravine. Cypress' had a vicious bruise on her chin and was bleeding from the mouth, yet Singer's shoulder was bleeding freely. Yet what alarmed you most was what the girls didn't seem to notice - a black python coiling around their legs. As you watched, Cypress was struck in the face. She fell to her knees beside the python which began to coil around her leg. Singer lunged forward and grabbed Cypress around her neck, attempting the throttle her. As its perch was shaken, the snake reared up and made two lunges to bite... As you watch in horror, the black snake latches onto Cypress' ankle. The snake pumps all sorts of unknown toxin into Cypress as Singer throttled her... Singer rolled 6 dice to "Mace attacking Cypress" 10,9,3,8,2,7,3 (3 successes) Link 2012-03-31 04:53:30 Singer rolled 6 dice to "Mace attacking Cypress" 5,3,9,8,7,7 (2 successes) Link 2012-03-31 04:53:08 Singer rolled 6 dice to "Mace attacking Cypress" 5,2,5,6,10,9,9 (3 successes) Link 2012-03-31 04:52:12 Singer rolled 5 dice to "Brawl attacking Cypress" 9,3,5,5,1 (1 successes) Link 2012-03-31 04:51:35 Cypress Woodward rolled 6 dice to "Throwing knives at Singer" 9,1,8,3,9,4 (3 successes) Link 2012-03-31 04:51:13 Cypress Woodward rolled 6 dice to "Throwing knives at Singer" 9,7,8,1,9,6 (3 successes) Link 2012-03-31 04:50:56 Cypress Woodward rolled 6 dice to "Throwing knives at Singer" 3,1,8,3,4,6 (1 successes) Link 2012-03-31 04:49:57 Singer rolled 6 dice to "Searching" 4,4,9,5,2,1 (1 successes) Link 2012-03-31 04:49:33 Cypress Woodward rolled 4 dice to "Stealth" 3,6,3,9 (1 successes)
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 22:22:06 GMT -5
Conrad moved forward before his brain had time to process anything, racing towards the pair, desperation overriding logical reasoning. One sword flailed in Singer's direction, its purpose to force her away from Cypress.
Conrad Miles rolled 4 dice to "Flail" 5,10,10,8,8,1 (4 successes)
The other sword's purpose was to strike true as Conrad attempted to remove separate the python from its head.
Conrad Miles rolled 6 dice to "Flurry" 5,4,1,5,9,8 (2 successes)
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 22:28:19 GMT -5
Singer shrieked as the blade sliced a deep gorge along her back. The redhead pitched forward, landing hard on the ground. She writhed once, shrieking in pain. Blood was soaking through her shirt, from her wounded shoulder and from her back. The red head began to still as Conrad's sword went for the snake. He cut a red slice into the snake's length. It writhed quickly and began slithering away, seeking the dark moist hiding places of the jungle. It had done its damage.
Glancing to Cypress, you see that she is coughing. She rubs her neck as the effects of Singer's assault pass. Cypress hurriedly unrolled her sock, revealing a puffy bit mark. It was already swollen to the size of a golf ball... Is that a good sign? A bad sign?
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 22:44:06 GMT -5
Several ideas flashed across Conrad's mind, none of them offering any advantages over the other. The cave wasn't close enough to carry her or fetch the anti-venom he knew he'd seen in Cypress' pack. Even if a sponsor could afford to send them anti-venom, time was a critical factor.
Recalling a prior incident in the District a few years back, Conrad lowered his lips to her bite, trying to suck out what poison he could... he just needed to buy enough time to get her back to the cave... she couldn't die... not here... not today... not her... not like this...
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 22:57:08 GMT -5
"My body's going numb." She managed, but her words were formed slowly and with difficulty, as though her mouth were full of cotton. You could already feel that her leg was dead weight in your hand. You do what you think is right to get the poison, lowering your head to her leg. Cypress is quiet and still, but her skin is warm under your hand. When you glance upwards, she's leaning unnaturally to the side. Her green eyes are blinking slowly, like a reptiles. Thankfully they are tracking and focused on you.
"Conrad..." She whispers. "Are we the last ones?" There's still a gleam in her eye as she's eagerly awaiting your answer.
Yet you realize that Singer lays still at your side. Her small chest no longer rises. She seems so much smaller in death... like a doll dressed in these somber black Games uniforms. Yet if Singer is gone, that means you have Chisel to contend with still... You look to Cypress. She manages a smile, albeit a weak one.
What should you do? Hide Cypress and see if a sponsor would send her medicine? Could you deal with Chisel quickly enough to try and treat her... with a start, you realized you didn't have the medical kit. Could Chisel have grabbed it?
Your wounds are stinging, you realize. Checking your leg, you see that the deep cut from Bobbeh has already turned an angry red color. It hurts to put weight on it... and carrying Cypress would be that much slower.
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 23:24:21 GMT -5
Conrad forced himself to meet his partner's eyes as she whispered the question to him, matching the smile with his own.
"Just one more, then we can get you home. You just hang in there okay. Can't keep Cedar waiting."
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 23:39:43 GMT -5
"Cedar."
Something glints in Cypress's eye. She seems to be trying to remember something that is just out of reach. She opens her mouth, fumbling for the word. You wonder if she's picking up the argument that you and she are partners. A fleeting expression of frustration shows on her face, perhaps frustrated that the word escapes her. Cypress would shake her head to start this argument, you realize. Yet Cypress' body is slowly relaxing against the spine of the palm tree behind her.
You hear birdsong above you... which seems so odd in this place. Where were those terrible parrots that had kept you up in the meadow? Yet bird song surrounds you. The afternoon sun beats down through the palm leaves, bathing you and Cypress with warmth. Cypress turns her face up towards the sun, closing her eyes. A smile plays on her lips, slow and sweet.
"It felt like this the day before the Reaping. I remember going outside and lifting my head... and smelling the pine ..."
There are no pine trees here and Cypress opens her eyes. Those green eyes turn to look at you, but her eyelids are heavy. She makes a soft sigh.
"Conrad... shouldn't you be going?"
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 30, 2012 23:47:32 GMT -5
The smile on his face never felt so wrong, as he fought against the cruel harshness of reality with everything he had.
"In a minute." A lone tear broke away, streaking down the right side of Conrad's face as he turned his head away so that Cypress wouldn't see as he fought to keep his voice stable.
"I'll come back for you soon... you just rest and take it easy, okay?"
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Post by Seryna on Mar 30, 2012 23:54:24 GMT -5
"Okay," Cypress agreed, her voice sounding sleepy. Her green eyes fluttered shut, her long eyelashes contrasting with her pale skin. "I'll wait here." She promises, her head lolling down to her shoulder. Her shoulders roll against the tree, making her look as though she's snuggling in on herself in preparation of a restful nap. The birds above your head begin to quiet. The jungle itself seems to hold itself as Cypress lets out a shaky breath, then another. Cypress lets out a small, sleepy mumble that sounds like 'alliance'. Then she moves no more as death steals across the sleeping girl, taking her from the arena by Conrad's side.
For the first time, Conrad is alone.
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Post by Aeon The Phoenix on Mar 31, 2012 0:08:07 GMT -5
As the girl who was and would always remain his best friend lay silent in his arms, the tears fell thick and fast from Conrad's eye as he held her close. He was dimly aware of a furious primal cry of despair, loss and pain echoing through the jungle, before he realized it was him.
The jungle almost respectful in its quiet state, Conrad forced himself to his feet, the pain in his leg nothing compared to the pain in his heart at Cypress' death.
He didn't know how long it took, didn't care, as step by step he carried her back to the cave. He couldn't... wouldn't just leave her there. Not alone...
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