[HC Event] Star Catchers

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Shashka

"Uh, hello is what, you ass." She had to admit, she was pissed off. She didn't expect a glowing reception but seriously? Pointing a spear at her? "You can put that thing away. I'm not a bear... or is this how you greet everyone you meet on the road?" She added extra emphasis on the word bear. It never hurt to mentally wound your opponent. Shashka pushed back the drape of her cloak to reveal her daggers. "Unless, of course, it's a fight you want instead?" She left her hands floating near her weapons, itchy fingers twitching. Truth be told, she'd much rather fight her way out of this than talk. She had no plans to kill the girl, but she could incapacitate her if need be. That would accomplish three goals: put Shashka in first, get this girl out of her way, and she could stop pretending she knew how to (or cared to) talk to other people. She eyed the point of the spear. She has reach on me, but I'm betting I'm faster.

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"Excuse me?" Saphira raised her eyebrow. Wow. Peasants. No manners at all.

"This is how I greet bears and people who run by and let me die by bears. Sorry not sorry. Now what do you want?"

She edged a little to the side, leaving the road wide open to see if the girl would take it. Saphira really hoped she would.

"Bear's dead now, in case you're wondering."

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Shaska and Saphira RTRP:

Shaska
Shashka gave a sarcastic laugh. “You’re making me feel bad for the bear.”

The girl had shifted to the side. Was she giving herself a better vantage point from which to strike?

“You can put down your spear, or I can unsheath my daggers. I won’t ask again.”

Saphira
She rolled her eyes. "I don't take orders from anyone, plus I can't really do that. There's danger everywhere, as evidenced by bear. But I'll not point it at you." She switched the spear to her right hand and held it up, pointing to the sky. "You still haven't told me what you want."

Shaska
“I’ll take it.” Shashka relaxed her stance. “I was hoping for a useful travelling companion but I can see there aren’t any here... But, unless we decide to fight it out, we’ll end up travelling together from here regardless. So maybe we could do it with a little less threatening? Hm?" Her tone was impatient and tinged with annoyance. They could already be on the road if it weren’t for all these dramatics.

Saphira
Saphira smirked. "You've left me for dead before and now you want me as your travel companion? Do you think I'm stupid or something?" She looked back at the road and shrugged. "We can always travel a few feet apart. I'll even let you go first if you wish. I have to rest a while, anyway. My feet are killing me." As if to emphasize her point, she sat down on the nearest rock, began to unpack her bag, and popped several berries into her mouth.

Shaska
“Allow me to answer your burning question - yes. You must be about as smart as a warthog if you think I’ll go in front of someone who just pointed a spear at me.” She had to be kidding. “Oh my feet hurt, oh poor wounded baby. That’s the kind of crap someone says before they sneak up behind you in the woods and jam a spear into your belly. We can walk side by side. Pack up your snacks and let’s go.”

Saphira
"Uh, you can't make me go anywhere. I'll stop if I want to. You can stop with me and wait until I want to go, but who knows when that will happen? Shouldn't you be in a rush anyway? That's why you left me the first time, right? Oh, right. Where's your partner? Did you feed her to a bear too?"

Shaska
That was it. This pretentious little brat. She had hit a sore spot. Shashka had made a fool of herself, and this audacious girl was sticking a knife in the wound. With a growl, she kicked out, trying to knock the berries from the girl’s grasp.

DM wrote:: Did it hit?
--1
--Just Lucky I guess~ -1
----0

Complete miss!

Saphira
Saphira easily leaned back to avoid the kick, more amused than anything. "What are you, five? God, what do they feed people where you live?" She popped the rest of the berries in her hands and stood up. "You don't wanna fight me, girl. Just walk away and go get your star. I'll even share it with you if you're the only one there."

Shaska
I-I missed?! Her hand had been mere inches from Shashka, how could the girl have dodged? As the embarassment bubbled up, she heard the girl’s comment about Deepwall, her home. What do they feed people where you live?” Shashka buried the feeling under more rage. She clenched her fists. “You insignificant little two bit hussy!” Like a ball of fire she hurtled herself at the girl, trying to tackle her to the ground.

DM wrote:: Did it hit?
--4
--Just Lucky I Guess~ 0
----4

She connects!

Saphira
She needs to learn better insults, Saphira thought as the girl tackled her to the ground. She rolled so that she was on top of her and aimed a punch at her face. "Now you're just asking for it. Resorting to names is such a plebeian thing to do."

DM wrote:: Did it hit?
--6
--Just Lucky I Guess~ 1
---Critical hit!

Shaska's choice - broken nose or black eye!

How much damage?
--3
--str 3
----total of 6 points of damage

Shaska
The hit connected with an ugly snap! as she felt the bone in her nose crack and slide. She screamed out in pain, blood rushing like a geyser, dripping down her chin. Shashka rocketed up a hand, right palm out, creating a spark as she attempted to connect with the side of the girl’s head

DM wrote:: Did it hit?
--6
--Just Lucky I Guess~ -2
----4 Hit!

How much damage?
--1
--str 6
----7 points of damage!

Saphira
She hit the girl's nose with a satisfying crack, and blood began to rush out. Saphira was honestly surprised, and felt a little bit bad. But then the girl slapped her. With fire. "Ow!" she rolled away from the crazy, checking to make sure her hair wasn't burnt. If she dared touch it... "This is stupid! Why won't you just go ahead and leave me alone?!"

Shaska
"Becaush youff pisshed me the hell owf!" she yelled, as she sat up to inspect the damage. "You browke my frickin nosh!" Her voice sounded overly nasally from the brand new placement of her nostrils.

Saphira
"Wow, you really need to learn to control that anger issue," Saphira shook her head. "You're willing to get hurt or worse, killed, over a stupid argument? Please rethink your priorities. Why are you even here chasing the star in the first place if you're just going to throw that away the first time someone pisses you off?" She rubbed her cheek, her skin still stinging from the slap. There was probably an ugly red handprint there that would mar her cheek. If this left a scar, she might actually have to kill that girl.

Kitty
...What... What was she seeing, exactly?

Kitty halted, slate eyes focused above the one raised pale eyebrow. She reached for Cassandra, hoping to catch the other girl's attention, and pointed in the distance. She could vaguely hear voices—probably female voices—and she was looking at what probably was some kind of scuffle.

A scuffle involving blue cloaks...

Shaska
“Maybee if you wouldff controlled yer frickin’ mouff, we wouldn’t be haffin this problem.” She touched the tender bridge of her nose, trying to press the bone back into some sort of proper shape. She hadn’t had any form of medical training during her trials, and as she touched the breakage, her eyes teared and she could swear she saw stars. She decided very quickly it was best to leave it alone. “I amb here fer my fambily. What’re you here fer? Gonna wishh fer a new shervant? A fanshier bathtub?” She started to roll her eyes with annoyance, but winced halfway through.

Saphira
Saphira couldn't help but chuckle at the girl's mangled speech. Okay, now she was feeling pretty bad. "It's not my problem if you let words get to you." She stood up slowly, using her spear as a way to push her up, looking into the distance, where that mysterious boy and the star was waiting for her. She laughed at the girl's questions. "You think too small. My wish is so much bigger than that. But when it happens, you won't miss it."

Shaska
“Yer a real assh, but you haff a hell off a right hook.” She didn’t like this girl, but she was impressed by her strength, especially when she seemed so damn snotty. It seemed somehow unfair that she could be both.

Shashka pushed herself to her feet. If the girl was getting up, so was she. She wasn’t about to be the only one left sitting in the dirt. “Sho what now?” She followed the girl’s gaze. “Affter all that we shtill travel together to the frickin’ shtar?”

Saphira
"Thanks," she shrugged. Upon hearing the girl's second question, she sighed. She supposed she would feel bad now if this girl got eaten by the tree. "Why do you even want to travel together so much? You don't even like me. If I promise not to stab you from behind, will you just go?" She had to see how smart she was, though. Just a little test. "I could have killed you easy when I was on top of you. Or even when you were down wailing about your nose. Believe me, I'm not interested in being a murderer. I feel like we'd just be miserable if we traveled together."

Shaska
“Becaush promishes from people you dont kndow don’t mean anyshing. Juss becaush you don’t kill me now doeshnt mean you dont shishkerbaaab me later.” Shishkebab was a poor choice of words considering her current speech pattern, and she made a little spray of blood as she struggled to get it out. She dabbed at the leakage with the corner of her cloak. “Iff we go togesher, I know where ya are.”

Saphira
"Damn, you need help." She put her hand on her hips as she watched more blood spurt out from the girl's nose. "Okay, fine, but I'm not sure where to go, actually. Do you see that road up there? It looks like it hasn't been traveled on recently. It's all dusty and there aren't any footprints or anything. Which is suspicious and possibly dangerous. You can go see for yourself. And yes, I'll come with you," she added with a roll of her eyes before the girl could protest.

Shaska
And to think we could have done all that without the punching, she thought, bitterly. Though, looking at the girl's face made her feel a little better. Least I got her back. Shashka approached the road and saw that it was bare. "I notished earlier that there washn't anyone around. I thought it wassh strange."

Saphira
"So... any ideas? Wanna risk just trying to get across? I'd rather not," she admitted. "What's your name, anyway? I'm Saphira, so I'll thank you for not calling me a hussy anymore."

Shaska
“Sashka,” she replied. “Wait... so, nobody has passed you yet? Nobody at all?” What Saphira was saying was finally starting to dawn on her.

Kitty
Whatever had been going on, there was no longer a tussle she could see. The two figures stood together now, apparently conversing in tones more appropriate for a normal dialogue. Kitty gave a glance to Cassandra, wondering what the brunette would think.

Saphira
"No. I'm fairly sure the boy from Deepwall is up ahead, but I haven't actually seen him, and I can't track him anymore. But no one has passed me."

Shaska
Thunderstruck seemed an insignificant description of Shashka’s reaction as she paled to the news. So Ariel... didn’t come this way? Never... passed me at all? A wave of guilt washed over her. She had been so quick to judge the girl that she had never gone looking for her. She assumed it would just waste more time as Ariel ran ahead, presumably cackling all the while. In reality, she could’ve been hurt and in need of help, and Shashka might have made things worse by abandoning her. She felt terrible, but she had come too far to go back, and they all knew the risks, right? I mean, we all sign up for this knowing we might die. She steadied herself and refocused on the task at hand. “We could... throw something? See if it springs some sort of trap?” The idea sounded cartoonish, even to herself, but... she didn’t really have any other ideas.

The blood running from her nose had settled, letting her speak normally again.

Saphira
"Well... any idea is better than no idea." She looked around for a rock, finding one that fit her palm, then threw it toward the part of the road under the tree, the one she'd inspected earlier.

DM wrote:: Did it hit?
--1
--Just Lucky I Guess~ 1
---2
The rock flew wide and actually hit the tree instead of the road under the tree.

Nothing happens.

Shaska
As Saphira's rock pinged off a tree, Shashka knelt and picked up a rock herself, giving it a gentle toss toward the center of the road.

DM wrote:: Did it hit?
--5
The rock lands in the middle of the road under the tree.

Nothing happens.

Kitty
Now they were… throwing stuff? Probably rocks. What the heck was going on over there?

Shaska
"Uh. Well?" The idea seemed even lamer now that it had been completed and nothing had actually happened. "Maybe it's just a road and you're worrying for nothing."

Saphira
"Ok, then, do you want to go first?" Saphira challenged, raising her eyebrow.

Kitty
They hadn’t slowed, so it seemed that the Lorhammityhams were going to approach these possibly-crazy other Star Catchers eventually. Kitty hoped it wouldn’t be bad. What if they attacked her and Cassandra the way she had seen them possibly attacking each other?

Shaska
"Actually, yeah. I do." She was tired of standing around, they were out of ideas, and the rocks were just sitting there. "Maybe your boyfriend just swept the path on his way by." She started to walk ahead, down the road.

DM wrote:: As she passed into the unkempt area of the road, devoid of any solid set of tracks, nothing happened.

"Wow, what a super scary path," she said, walking ahead in an exaggerated manner.

Saphira
Now she kind of hoped the road would eat her after she said that. "Okay, keep going. Test the bridge too," she said cheerfully.

Kitty
One of them was walking away, but Kitty could indistinctly hear them talking.

DM wrote:: A brute shot out from behind the other side of the tree, attempting to grab Shaska around the waist, pinning her arms to her sides within her blue cloak.
Did it hit?
--6
Critical hit!

Shaska is whisked off the ground, her feet inches from the road as an enormous, muscle-bound scruffy man lifts her, hugging her tight so she can't move.

Another man, this one slight and svelte with a curly black goatee mustache and greasy hair, steps out from the other side of the tree, his bow aimed at Saphira. "Two for one, isn't that convenient? Drop your coins, girlies, and we'll consider letting you go."

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She shouldn't be surprised that Shashka had gotten herself in trouble. She really shouldn't. However, that the problem turned out to be bandits was something she didn't expect. She looked at them and their obvious need for personal grooming with distaste.

"Are you blind? Do you see these cloaks? We don't have money."

Did they mean their Star Catcher coins? Surely not - they wouldn't be able to use it. They did not look seventeen. Plus it was more of a token of promise, anyway, which made it worthless to people hoping for a quick buck.

Now, if they'd caught her in her town, they probably would have hit the motherlode, but she wasn't exactly carrying any gold right now.

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She hadn't quite gotten close enough to talk to them, but she was close enough to see that someone had grabbed the first cloaked figure and another threatened the second. Kitty reached for Cassandra without even thinking, hands tense, her hands claws of fear. She squinted slightly, wondering what he held. Judging by the stillness, it was a weapon. Based on the stance, a bow. She didn't hear their demands. She felt suddenly terrified by the blue cloak wrapped around her companion. How many were there? Would they see them, too?

"What do we do?" she whispered, her feet feeling frozen in place.

This wasn't like the bear. Kitty didn't think she could abandon these clearly endangered people, even if she didn't know them, and survive the guilt it would bring her.

But she also couldn't risk dying here, not when so much was at stake.

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DM wrote:: "Did I say money?" The man looked blankly to the buff bandit holding Shaska and, up on meeting his gaze, the larger man squeezed Shaska tighter. "I asked for your coins, girl," he said fixing a dangerous eye on Saphira, "Last chance."

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Cassandra still wasn't certain just what was going on between the two girls up ahead. Their interactions with one another contrasted so starkly against Cassandra's own interactions with Kitty and Charles. Was that because they knew each other, to quell any potential fighting for the time being?

As she and the others moved a little closer, Cassandra realized she recognized one of the two to be the girl who killed the bear. Single-handedly, if truth be told. Like some kind of warrior straight out of brand new tale just waiting to be told. Cassandra didn't hold high hopes for the survival rate of the other girl in this.

Everything changed when two men came out of the trees, grasping one girl and threatening the other with a bow. Cassandra's eyes narrowed even as her heart began to race.

She felt a hand grasp her arm and Cassandra didn't need to look to know the startled touch came from Kitty. The whispered question sent her mind racing for a second, with the most prominent answer being: I don't know. But Kitty's hand on her arm helped to ground her, calming her racing heart to a manageable beat, manageable enough that she could think properly.

What should they do?

They had to do something. It was one thing to fight against other Star Catchers. That made sense, it was almost expected, having the same vital goal as each other, a keen need to be the one to come out on top. But to allow a fellow Star Catcher to get attacked like this... it clung to her skin like tar, black and impossible to shake.

She thought, then, of a plan, taking inspiration from the books she held in such high esteem. If they could do it, so could she. The deep blue cloak pinned around her shoulders spurred her onwards, stories echoing in her heart.

Cassandra glanced at Charles and then Kitty—there was no time to explain the plan in its entirety. "Follow behind me, and be ready, but... be safe." Her eyes lingered on blue-grey for a second, before focusing ahead. "If things get too rough, get out of here, okay?"

She waited until she was close enough, close enough to see the scene properly, Star Catcher Axe tight in her hands. She recalled a similar scene she'd read once, using it to her advantage. She could do this. These guys would listen to her. She was the hero in this story, wasn't she?

"Back off," she called out, voice strong and steady. She hefted her large axe to be in clear view, a clear sign of warning. "Get out of here, scavengers. These girls are mine, as is that star. I've killed the other Star Catchers and I will be the one to kill these ones." She paused, shifting position, axe blade catching in the light. "Besides... you're out numbered. Get out of here now, and maybe I won't kill you too."

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Kitty felt like she was watching this scene, rather than participating in it. Her face remained blank as she heard the words Cassandra uttered. In this moment, she almost believed it—almost believed that her schoolmate murdered other Star Catchers, regardless of how much her logic could see right through it. It was easier to play along than to admit how fearful this situation made her. She kept to the back, per the instructions, and her fingers had tightened around her own weapon, finding it in the time it had taken for the approach.

She didn't want to do this. She didn't want to be shot, or have to kill anyone. She didn't want to stay here and face any of this.

She didn't want to run. She didn't want to wonder what had happened to them.

Her muscles tensed, waiting for a reaction. She tried to lie to herself—she couldn't admit it—but she'd run. She would always find it in her to run.

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Quote :

"That true?" the svelte man questioned, then abruptly shifted his aim from Saphira to Charles, his target the largest of the approaching three, and fired, his eyes never leaving the redheaded girl as he reloaded his bow.

Battle wrote:: Highwayman shoots an arrow at Charles, aiming at his eye.
Does it hit?
--6
Critical hit!

How much damage?
The arrow hit his eye. Kid's pretty dead.

Charles has died. His body crumples in place slightly behind Cassandra and Kitty.

"You're welcome for saving you the hassle. Hand over the coins; I could care less for your past victories.

dm wrote:: Perception Check:
--10
Cassandra: 7 + 5 = pass
Kitty: 1 + 1 = fail
Saphira: 4 + 4 = pass
There are no less than 7 star catcher coin bags on the Highwayman's belt in various sun-faded shades of blue.

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She felt something warm on her face. Kitty didn't notice if it was damp. She didn't think about the fact that it came from Charles. She didn't reach up to touch it. That feeling before, of being rooted in place, had taken hold of her again. Her face and arms were still. She didn't flinch when she heard the thump of the arrow or move when the form of the larger teenager silently fell. He didn't scream. She didn't scream. She didn't move. She stood there, eyes fixed on the men, mind empty of thoughts.

Everything about this was wrong, and none of it was something she could handle.

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Shashka

It all happened in an instant. First she and Saphira were alone, and now she was being held tight by hands the size of meat cleavers, surrounded by other star catchers. She was utterly stuck. With her arms pinned to her sides any fire she might create would only burn herself which meant... she needed to talk her way out of this? We're doomed.

No sooner had she thought this then an arrow flew, and crimson blood spurted from the eye socket of one of the recent additions to the group. She felt herself go slack, the fight gone out of her. She had been prepared for being hungry and tired, for environmental pitfalls and hungry animals, but she hadn't steeled herself for human depravity. She squealed, tears bubbling up and out of her, blurring her vision. They'd killed him without a second thought, without a hesitation.... and we've all just seen it. She realized suddenly what this meant. Even if they got their coin, they'd probably murder the group anyway for what they'd seen. These sickos were just having fun, but what could she do? She started to kick her legs and scream. "No.... NOOOOOO!" Maybe she could distract them, give the others time to react.

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The arrow whistled through the air, ending its travel with a sickening sound. A second later, a thud echoed around her, destroying any hopes that the arrow had missed her friends in a helpless instant.

For a second, she couldn't move, frozen in place. She couldn't make herself turn around and see who had been hit—not Kitty, her mind hoped unkindly, selfishly, terribly. She couldn't face the truth of this. Not yet. Not now.

She noticed the gleam of deep and faded blue hanging from the man's waist, trophies earned through horrible deeds.

A white noise filled her head then, her skin itching and uncomfortable, three sizes too small, but she did not tremble. She felt a kinship with those coin bags, understood their original owner's hopes and dreams. Hopes and dreams that had been shattered by this monster of a man.

As the pinned girl began to scream and kick wildly, Cassandra's eyes narrowed, hands gripping her axe ever tighter, and she swung the great blade at the man. For the first time in her life, she only wished to cause harm to another.

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DM wrote:

Battle wrote:: Cassandra rushes the Highwayman and attempts to hit him with her axe!
Did it hit?
--2
--Just Lucky I Guess! 2
----4 She hits!

How much damage?
--5
--STR 7
--ARM -2
----10 points of damage!

That she rushed him surprised him; he moved easily to avoid her unpracticed swing, but at the last minute she connected, the blade slicing brutally into his arm, slowing only as it cut through the leather hiding beneath his dingey white sleeves. He jumped back, slicing the arrow in a move to strike across her face, aiming to either hit her eye or slice the skin above her eye to blind her as he called, "Torvald! Get serious!"

Battle wrote:: Highwayman attempts to blind Cassandra!
--1
----He misses!

Torvald attempts to crush the air out of Shaska's lungs!
Does it work?
--6
It's working! Unless interrupted, Shaska will be Knocked Out in two turns!

Having missed, the Highwayman danced backward, moving out of Cassandra's reach.

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Shashka

As she swung her legs, the man increased his hold on her. Shashka's heart beat an alarm bell in her rib cage and fat tears rolled down her cheeks as she struggled and wheezed. Try as she might, she was losing. Her brain screamed for oxygen as her useless lungs pressed against the unrelenting force. I'm going to die here. She had struck out trying to become a member of an elite military regime, and she was going to die here in the woods, unable to save even herself. If she hadn't been on the verge of passing out, she might have noticed the irony. As the moments ticked by, her kicking slowed, the edges of her vision darkening she swooned, light-headedness taking her over.

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So they did want the Star Catcher coins. But why? It made no sense. She was about to use her negotiating technique with them when suddenly the Lorham crew showed up, one of them claiming that she'd killed the others. What? Was she really dealing with a brute from some nowhere village? Was this the girl who had axed - no pun intended - Shashka's partner? Shashka never told her what had happened to her, but it had seemed like she didn't know either.

It did get the bow aimed away from her, so that was a plus, she supposed?

And then it fired. And there was that squelching sound again, the same one as when she'd hit the bear in the eye. Saphira was too afraid to turn and look, but soon she heard the unmistakable thud of a body on the ground. She had to look.

The arrow went through his eye, now blank and unseeing, just like the bear she'd killed. As it turned out, seeing a bear and a human being in the exact same predicament had very different effects.

The boy, no older than seventeen, was dead. Just like that. In the blink of an eye. His hopes and dreams, whatever they were, in catching the star, snuffed out in a matter of seconds. It was so easy and abrupt that for a moment she could not move. That could have been her.

That could have been her.

If they hadn't shown up...

She couldn't avert her eyes from the bloody image that she knew would always be imprinted in her mind, would haunt her nightmares for years to come if she ever made it out of here alive. It was like a wake up call that she never wanted. Who am I kidding? Why am I on this stupid, dangerous journey, leaving the comfort and safety of my perfect life for a throne?

Up until now, everything had felt like a game. Even killing that bear.

But now it all became too real.

She slowly dragged her gaze back to the men, her eyes falling on the pouches of coins on their belt. So they weren't these men's first victims. How many more teenagers had they killed? And for what?

Despite everything, she still couldn't understand it.

Everything burst into motion as the axe-wielding girl charged forward blindly, possibly getting herself killed too. Goddamn peasants. Always choosing violence as the answer first. Surprisingly, she managed to land a hit, but now Shashka was in trouble. Cursing every god that existed, Saphira grabbed her coin pouch and threw it to the ground between her and the men, not close enough that they could simply pick it up, but not too far that they'd have to take more than a few steps to get it.

"What do you want with these anyway? You can't even use them! And not everyone will even accept it as payment! If you tell me what you really want, there's a good chance I can help you. I have connections everywhere."

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Her attack found its mark, getting a strong hit on the man. It startled her as much as it spurred her on even further.

The attack coming straight for her eyes was quick, but she dodged out of the way just in time to escape a crippling blow. Her heart raced faster, adrenaline pumping in her veins like a kind of intoxicating fire.

Cassandra glanced towards the man currently trying to crush the previously pinned girl, and Cassandra faltered, uncertain as to what her next course of action should be. The man she'd been attacked had danced away out of her reach, and the girl being crushed was out of her reach as well. Could she do anything to help either of these situations?

The remaining nameless girl spoke up then, offering the monsters something more than potentially useless Star Catcher coins. Cassandra didn't know how much this girl could expect to entice the man with, but at this point, anything was a valid effort.

Greed, after all, was a universal language.

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Cassandra’s attack snapped Kitty out of her terrified coma. They had all been in danger, threatened by the archer, possibly due to follow the body that was called Charles, but now that was temporarily interrupted because he couldn’t focus on everyone with the axe swinging towards him. The other teenager—the one not being strangled—attempted to reason with the men. She didn’t know what to do.

She wanted to run as far as possible, but what if she never found the others. What if they died here? And where could she hide? There was almost nothing here.

The weakening sounds from the other girl struck her sharply, and she tightened her grip on the machete. This was all so wrong and she was going to make it worse.

“Please!” Kitty called to the diplomat as she ran forward, attempting to aid Shashka. She tried to slash Torvald from behind, attempting to get him to drop the girl he held or loosen his grip.

She was terrified of whatever might happen next.

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DM wrote:

The Highwayman continued to widen the distance between himself and the girl with the axe, his injured arm staying as straight as it could to support his drawn bow. He moved away from the tree, shifty eyes keeping them all within his gaze, including his associate. "Connections everywhere?" he repeated lowly, a dangerous note still in his tone, "Who are y-- Torvald!" he broke off his question as the short girl with the light hair raced forward with one disgusting looking blade held and ready to attack his broad subordinate.

Battle wrote:

Kitty attempts to slash Torvald with her machete in order to make him drop or loosen his grip on Shaska! Surprise attack fails; the distance to run would have given Highwayman enough time to warn Torvald.
Did it work?
--4
It works! Torvald loosens his grip on Shaska as he whirls to face the threat head on! Shaska can regain her breath!

Did it hit?
--5
---Kitty's machete manages to snag into Torvald's back!

How much damage?
--1
--STR 7
--ARM -2
----6 points of damage!

Torvald's shirt rips, and a slice is cut into the leather vest hidden beneath! Blood trickles from the fresh wound made beneath it!

Torvald growls in frustration, stinking breath hot against Shaska's cheek, and he kicks out towards Kitty in an attempt to make her back away!

Torvald attempts to kick Kitty!
Does it hit?
--4
It just hits!

How much damage?
--1
--STR 8
--ARM -1
----8 points of damage!
Kitty is pushed back beyond striking range!

Quote :: DM Note!

Quote :: I may be changing some things up with battle calculations to reflect the difference between hitting with a 4, 5, and 6, with the "just hits" of 4 having a debuff, the 5 being normal, and the 6 having a bonus to the damage taken stats. I'm working on ittttt for now they'll be left alone despite the side eyeing I'm doing XD

"Are you suggesting a truce in exchange for something more worthwhile than your coins?" the highwayman asked as Tovald kicked the young woman away.

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Shashka

Shashka gasped. Rasping, heathing breaths escaped her mouth as she sucked in air. Slowly, her vision righted itself. There was... blood? Was it hers? She was utterly disoriented from being choked half to unconsciousness. She didn't feel pain, but she hadn't much time or ability to take account of herself as it seemed things were still unfolding. Almost immediately, she attempted to wriggle herself free, instinctively pressing her heels against the man who held her. Would she make it? Would he let her go? She hadn't thought about the outcome of her action before taking it, only made a move and hoped beyond hoping that it would work.

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The other girls kept trying to attack them, even though it was obvious they had the upper hand. And a hostage. Honestly. Clearly nobody taught negotiations and diplomacy in Lorham. Frustrated that her efforts were being undermined by the other two, Saphira tried again, knowing she was at least getting somewhere with the man that seemed to be in charge.

"Yes! I have an in with the mayor in Shadeslake and numerous other high ranking officials throughout Esoria! I don't know what it is you actually want but I know these coins are useless to you. Whatever roundabout way you're using them to get your goal, I can most likely offer a shortcut. But only if you don't kill anyone else," she warned.

She figured it was unwise to actually say she was the mayor's daughter, lest they decided to kidnap her for ransom or worse.

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Quote :: "Shadeslake, eh?" He replied, obviously taking a liking to the suggestion. "You've got a deal, then. I won't kill anyone else in exchange for your cooperation. Unless, that is," he shrugged and glanced at Cassandra, "They try something first. Drop your weapons, girls, and this can all be over."

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Kitty didn't realize that she was crying again. She could barely see—everything blurred together with how awful this situation was, highlighted only by clear areas raised into focus by panic and adrenaline. She was glad the man had released his hold on the other girl, but she didn't even think to move clear enough to him from kicking her back. The pale-haired teenager struggled to stay on her feet, the hand that held her machete shaking. She heard the girl with braided hair talking to the man, and he didn't raise his bow to aim at them.

Gray eyes darted between the men and the three girls around her as the tears continued to stream down her face. She stood with the weapon lowered, fingers loosened, in a clearly non-threatening stance, but she couldn't let go. What if he was lying and attacked them again? She didn't know what to do. She knew she couldn't win against them.

Maybe it would have been better if this was another bear.

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"Let her go, too," she nodded her head at Shashka. Then, she dropped her own spear and glanced at the other two girls, indicating that they should do the same. She hoped at least one of them had a spare knife or whatever they could reach quickly just in case this guy was lying - she herself still had her rapier, at least, and her cutting knife - but for now she wanted to see if she could avoid any more bloodshed. While the girls had managed to land hits before, they seemed clumsy and inexperienced, and would likely lose anyway in a straight up battle.

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Quote :: "We will most assuredly release her the moment we are sure we won't be axed or sliced for our efforts," the talker said with a little shrug.

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Seeing Kitty attack the other man sent a storm of emotions striking through her chest. Relief, terror, confusion, pride. All too difficult to pinpoint anything in particular. With so much going on around them, with so much at stake, there was no time to decipher it all.

Instead, Cassandra kept her eyes on the man with the bow, hands still clutching at her axe but uncertain for the first time since approaching this mess. The words from the bear-killer girl seemed to be working, her voice mixing a tale that the man appeared to like.

Of course, he could be bluffing as he called for them to drop their weapons. It would be an easy thing to kill them all with no resistance after that. Cassandra hesitated, noticing the pointed look from the bear-killer. She glanced instead to Kitty, and saw the way tears streamed from her face, a war of emotions clear in the wetness. Her hands were shaking as well, and Cassandra frowned.

This was her fault. If she hadn't attacked, if she had insisted they leave to safety and moved on alone, Kitty and Charles—oh gods, Charles—wouldn't have been mixed up in all of this.

But they were here now, doing their best to get out of this horrific situation in one piece. She had to trust in this man's word, trust in the persuasion of the bear-killer. If they could keep from causing more bloodshed, maybe then the tears wouldn't run so freely from grey-blue eyes.

With a heavy sigh, hands quivering when they had once been so steady, Cassandra set down her axe with a note of finality. If this was how she died, so be it. She just hoped that the others would be spared, somehow.

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She shook her head, trying to show that she wouldn't hurt them. If she could have avoided any of this, she would have. How could he really think she'd attack? She felt like a game was being played here, a hand she couldn't see with scoring she didn't understand. The other Star Catcher offered favors, which he seemed to want, but what if he was lying? The two men didn't appear to actually know any of the girls they attacked—so she didn't understand anything about them. This was too confusing. She felt lightheaded, maybe just from the rush or maybe as a delayed result of the impact of the larger man's kick.

But the other Star Catchers set down their weapons. She heard Cassandra's axe more than she saw the other girl release her grip. With trembling fingers, she let go of hers, her eyes squeezing shut for a moment, but unable to dam the flow of tears.

This was probably the end. Nothing gained. What a fool she had been, to think she could save anything.

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Quote :: "There, now, not so hard was it?" he said calmly, placatingly, "Your coins? Promised favours are nice but take time to prove; toss your coin pouches and you guarantee your safe passage, same deal as before." He pauses, then continued, as though remembering, "Oh, and release that one, Torvald, but watch her for tricks."

Torvald toss-dropped Shaska so that the young woman fell to the ground in a heap and backed up quickly, away from both Shaska and Kitty, dark eyes watching them closely.

"You two toss them to Torvald there and you can cross the bridge, free and clear, and you'll never hear from us again. You teo," he said, indicating Saphira and Cassandra, "Can leave your coins in the pile she started, and then come with me. You," he nodded to Cassandra, "to collect a wheelbarrow to get rid of the body, and you," to Saphira, "to tell me about how you can repay me for sparing their lives. Make it snappy, I dont have all day."

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Cassandra crossed her arms as she listened to the man, a false sense of protection against everything happening. The more he spoke, the less she liked.

At this point, they didn't have much room to negotiate, but still, the words came before she could stop them. "Not hers," she said, gesturing to Kitty. "You're already getting more than your fair share of anything in this. Leave at least one of us a chance to complete our mission." She almost added an insult there, blood hot with anger and frustration—they were monsters, truly—but she cut it off with a snap of teeth.

Heart weighing like a stone in her chest, Cassandra pulled out her own pouch, but hesitated to toss it from her grasp. The reminder of a body waiting cold on the ground solidified her action. This was a crude way of payment for how much damage had been done here—could anything ever make up for it?—but she would pay it if that's what it took to keep anything else from happening.

Glaring at the ground, she tossed it, adding hers to the pile. The sound of it landing both heavy and aching.

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Quote :: His eyes went from Cassandra to Kitty and back, "Or I could kill her now and guarantee her failure. There's no guarantee someone would accept the coin anyway, just drop it and go or dont and stay," he shrugged, obviously meaning to bring the dead boy to mind, "I'll honor her deal if you honor mine."

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She released a breath she didn't know she was holding when they finally released Shashka after the others dropped their weapons.

She moved forward towards the men, all her senses still alert. "I can't tell you how until you tell me what you really want with these coins," she said.

The other girls still hesitated, and Saphira sighed. "Just trust me. I'll deal with this, at least be grateful you'll have your lives. One of your friends already died, and I didn't have to negotiate for all of you."

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