Open Chronicles Highway Ambush

[Lenuta]

Wooden wheels bumped and groaned as it tumbled along the dirt road west of Elbion and towards the Nocterose estate. Crimson eyes watched the ground move beneath them, safe from the cast of the sun in her ebony carriage. Few were the trees that spotted the landscape, the way they traveled carving through tall swaying grasses as the Cairou River grew farther and farther from view.

I sigh passed scarlet-painted lips, view finally turning from the window. She had spent the last few days dealing in trades in Elbion. Meetings with merchants and sailors had filled her days, viewing their minds to see if they were trustworthy or if they would be easily manipulated. She was glad for the responsibility, however, it was mind-numbingly dull. All he dealings had gone well with several contracts now under her belt and routes created to ensure the flow of goods to and from Nocterose lands, as well as a deed to a building. She had done everything she had meant to while in the college city, including leaving with several books from the mage's school to aid her own studies.

Her carriage was escorted by three on horseback, riding at a leisurely pace on the quiet road while one more manned the reigns of her transport. Two more sat in with her, one looking through the documents they had acquired to ensure it was all well organized while the other simply sat with his arms crossed, staring out the window as she had been doing just moments ago. It was a three-day trip without much in between. Lenuta resided herself to reading her new material, settling the tome on the plush skirts of her lap as she opened to the first page.

Sung Chei

 

[Sung Chei]

In the tall grasses beside the road a man crouched. Watching, waiting, listening. He was patient, and he knew what he was dealing with. He slowed his heart by slowing his breathing, therefore less easily detected by those detestable blood-suckers. His target was a vampire lady by the name of Lenuta.

He had already set some traps for them. The carriage was drawn by two horses flanked on either side by one with another bringing up the rear, so he knew how to set the traps to render every horse lame in one fell swoop. He had dug small holes in the road and filled them with water chestnuts before covering the holes in the tall grass, not unusual looking.

Water chestnuts had spiky shells, and were easy to use as caltrops without having to spend money on buying iron ones. In his hands he held several throwing knives dipped in anti-vampire poison given to him by his employer, who happened to be a vampire.

Sung Chei was asked to capture and deliver Lady Lenuta to them as quickly and as unhurt as possible. Lying on the ground beside him was his trusty ji polearm.

As the carriage approached he calmed himself further, and waited. Not all at once but in quick succession the horses each stepped into one or more holes. The water chestnuts pierced their soft inner hooves and rendered them incapable of running.

Then his knives flew, one to the one at the reins, one to the side guard, and one to the rear guard. He saved his next two for the other guard and whomever might be in the carriage with his prey.

 

[Lenuta]

It was supposed to be an easy and boring trip with all of them eager to return home and continue their daily activities. It had not been entirely out of the realm of possibility that they might be attacked, given the many guards that traveled with Lenuta. Yet the traps caught them off guard.

Horses whinnied in pain, the carriage buckling as it came to a sudden halt, the book resting in her lap fumbling before she grasped it more tightly. Confusion wrought her features as cries of pain rang out from her guards, her head leaning towards the window for a better view. Her shoulders were grasped, forcing her down on the bench she sat to assure no flying projectiles would find her vulnerable as her guards cursed aloud.

Only one remained on horseback, no knife seeking him as he swiftly dismounted and took shelter from the assailant behind the carriage. His comrades writhed on the ground, clutching at their own forms as the poison ran through their lifeless veins.

"How many are there?" The one who held Lenuta down asked out the window.
"I didn't see anyone... There must be several of them. They're hiding in the grass." Came the response. Hands fumbled in jackets, pulling out a small sphere. A chain was pulled before it was allowed to soar through the air, towards the direction keen eyes had seen the knives come from and into the long grass.

Black smoke began to spew, swiftly filling the area with a poisoned gas that would render any who inhaled too much unconscious whilst one guard exited the carriage and crouched next to his companion, bow and quiver pulled from beneath the bench on his way, leaving Lenuta alone with but one guard.

The archer awaited for their assailants to show themselves to flee from the smoke before allowing accurate arrows to fly. The other pulled daggers from within the jacket, remaining low to the ground as he moved with inhuman speed towards the smoke, using the cloud as cover and unaffected by its properties.

 

[Sung Chei]

He grinned, he had also been warned about their smoke. He pulled a heavy cloth over his mouth and nose, keeping out the smoke but letting him breathe.

His fourth knife flew as the archer moved, his own lifelong training giving him deadly accuracy. The archer was hit, and he went down. That was when he showed himself, grabbing his ji and standing. Before any could react to his appearance he sprinted into the carriage and stabbed the guard through the heart, then struck the prey herself across the temple hard enough to cause unconsciousness. Then he moved to deal with the last guard.

Getting out he drew his jian sword, a simple looking straight, double edged sword. And he engaged the surprised vampire with practiced speed, taking advantage of everything he had. The last one was quickly relieved of his head.

That was when he turned to take care of Lenuta herself. Whether or not she was unconscious or just stunned, he wasn't sure.

 

[Lenuta]

Their calculations had been wrong. It had not been a group of bandits, but a single mercenary acting on orders from an enemy, and they had been entirely unequipped to deal with someone of his prowess. The remaining vampires were easily dispatched without even a hint of struggle from the assailant as if he had other-worldly strength and agility. Even greater than those blessed with the immortal gifts.

Lenuta had remained low, her adept ears listening intently as her men fell. Vampires were unaffected by regular poisons, and even that which covered Sung Chei's weapons did not kill them but incapacitated them. However, even a vampire could not continue life after their head was removed. Her gaze widened as she saw her attendants crest roll from his neck with only the intent to protect her. Fear and anger roiled within her, moving to the opposite door as she stepped out of the carriage, witnessing the limp bodies that were slumped around it.

She grasped tightly at the pendant around her neck, closing her eyes briefly as she was left to her own defense. Tendrils extended, invisible as they were that of the mind, undetectable and silent. They sought him out, searching until he got close enough for her to grab hold of his thoughts. It was not with delicacy that she broke into his mind, nor was it painless, the peel of her rage-filled psyche demanding conquer over his own, breaking into the deepest haunts of his mind to dredge up the worst of his fears and make them appear real.

 

[Sung Chei]

He shook his head when he felt her magic reach for his mind. What she didn't count on was his mental discipline. It hurt yes, his mind coming under attack by her own, it was excruciating. But she wouldn't find it easy to break it.

He had dropped to his knees and clutched his head in the pain. But then he saw the head of the vampire he had slain. He grabbed it by the hair, and with difficulty, threw it at her in the hopes of distracting her from her assault on his mind.

 

[Lenuta]

Positioned between the carriage and her attacker, as she was not so unwise as to reveal herself out in the open, the head simply flew past her. Her eyes remained closed, focused and concentrating on breaking his will.

He was an anomaly, a being almost without weakness. His body harnessed, his speed unmatched, and even his mind was not left open to her attack. Even vampires did not have as few vulnerabilities as he displayed. Yet he was mortal. This fact drew further anger and repulsion, her digging press against his mind unrelenting.

As much as she wanted to drive him to submit, it could not be helped that Lenuta had still not mastered the ways of the mind. She was young and novice, and such abilities took time to harness even for one as naturally gifted as she, and so the man did not remain hindered by her warring for long, her mental assault breaking when she felt his harsh grip jerk at her wrist to incapacitate her with rope.

 

[Sung Chei]

He had the rope ready when he got to her. He had adjusted to the pain quickly enough. He managed to stand and shuffle towards her. But once her concentration was broken, he could again move as quickly as he had, although with more difficulty.

Her assault had done a small number on him. He hadn't gotten away unscathed. But he had won.

He dragged her into the open and shoved her against the side of the carriage and quickly bound her hands behind her back. And he had a gag for her to keep her teeth, or more accurately her fangs, from being a threat. It was a band of leather with a thick pad for her mouth, not only would it keep her quiet, but it would also prevent any biting.

For this, he grabbed her roughly by the cheeks to force her mouth open, then he quickly placed the pad in her mouth and fastened the gag behind her head.

Now, to bring her to his mode of transportation.

 

[Lenuta]

She could feel the taut fibers wrapping tightly against her skin, even as she struggled to pull free, fangs bared as she snarled at him. He was swift and accurate, tying her off with as much agility as his fighting had previously shown.

Her sharp canines were mere inches from his fingers as he grasped at her delicate cheeks, squeezing the velvety skin to force her mouth open. He had come prepared, fangs piercing the leather harshly as he gagged her and pulled her along.

 

[Sung Chei]

He dragged her with him by the arm, not caring if she stumbled or tripped. He brought her through the field to his own horse, which had some sort of A-frame rack harnessed to it like a carriage.

What it was for quickly became clear when he lashed her hands above her head to the frame. Then he did the same to her ankles at the bottom to prevent major struggling. Then, to complete the task, he threw a cloth cover over her and cinched it down at the bottom so that it looked like a teepee like tent.

While he left her there, he returned to the others, and removed their heads, to bring with him as... mementos.

 

[Lenuta]

He had already proven that even vampiric strength did not hinder him, though that did not stop Lenuta from struggling as he forced her into his cart. Limbs were restricted as he continued his dirty work. It wasn't long before he managed to gather six heads, suffering lifeless faces surrounding the vampiress as terror continued to fill her.

Her screams were continually muffled, wrists rubbing raw as she fought against her restraints. The constant cutting and twisting faltered her healing abilities, leaving her wounds open and weeping.

The dropoff was in a secluded town, uncared for and meager, a quiet operation south of Elbion. Only a few buildings dotted the land, several characters awaiting near a small house, expecting Sung Chei with his charge.

 

[Sung Chei]

The trip would take two days to get there cross-country, and one more of he followed the road. He was going to take the faster route, because he wanted to be done with this vampire business as soon as possible. It would be quite bumpy for his captive passenger due to the fact that the frame was being dragged, but he didn't really care.

He tied the heads of the vampires to the frame around her, to keep her from using her mind magic again. Then he mounted the steed and began the short journey.

He rode until the sun set the next evening, only stopping once for food and water. After the sun had set, he removed the cloth covering her and unlashed the frame from the horse's back. Then he stood the frame up via a pole that was lying parallel to one of the others during the ride. She was left more upright than before.

Then, she would she him set a small bowl in his lap, then without ceremony held his left hand over it as a fist, removed a small knife with his right, and cut along the veins with the knife. Blood spilled from his wrist and into the bowl while his other hand retrieved a clean cloth. After the bowl was full he pressed the cloth to his wrist and bandaged it.

Once that was done he picked up the bowl and approached her. "I will remove the gag so that you can feed, then it's going right back in. If you try anything, you won't be fed again, not by me."

So he removed her gag and held the bowl in front of her face.

 

[Sung Chei]

"Drink."

 

[Lenuta]

It wasn't long before her muffled cries died down. Her eyes remained closed, blocking out the sight of her dead allies' rolling heads next to her. The path had become even more severe, the cart she was detained to jolting along with each bump and dip as he followed no road.

Ebony lashes finally parted when she felt her covering removed and the cart shift upward, raw wrists catching her weight as gravity pulled on her. They had traveled all day and into the night, the moon high above with darkness shrouding them. The sweet smell of his blood tinged the night air, her jaw tightening at the gag instinctively with hunger.

She spat at his face as soon as the leather left her tongue, grimacing at the proffered bowl.
"I would rather die than have something as foul as your blood in my mouth." She sneered at him, her hunger only quelled by her fury.

 

[Sung Chei]

He simply shrugged, "it's your choice."

And so he tossed the blood into the fire, set the bowl down and then returned to the bound vampire. Repeating what he did when he first placed the gag in her mouth, he seized Lenuta by her cheeks to force her mouth open. He replaced the leather pad and fastened it tightly behind her head.

And so he returned to his fire, and began to cook a simple vegetable soup.

 

[Lenuta]

She watched the life liquid go up in flames, jaw tightening at the leather faintly at the sight. Hunger gripped her, stronger for a vampire than simply a growling stomach. It was a yearning they felt in their very bones.

She ignored the man, her gaze lowered to the ground, her defeat meaning she no longer struggled, allowing her wrists to heal.

 

[Sung Chei]

He finished cooking his meal, and once he ate it, laid back to sleep. He didn't sleep long, only four hours, that way he got up before dawn. He turned the tripod upon which his captive was bound, back into the A-frame, which he then re-harnessed it to his horse. He threw the cover over it, cinched it down again, then mounted his horse to continue the short trip, he would reach his destination by nightfall.

When Sung Chei arrived in Creaking Hollow, the small town previously mentioned, he approached the small house on horseback, once in front of it he dismounted. Four figures in hooded cloaks around one wearing a high collared cloak waited for him.

The moon was out, a beautiful waning gibbous moon. So it was safe to remove the cover from his prey. He revealed his charge to his employers, who seemed both shocked and pleased.

"Well done Easterner, you have followed your instructions to the letter. As promised, your reward." The one in the collared cloak said, handing him an envelope, carrying the deeds to a few rich goldmines and plantations.

After checking the contents of the envelope he nodded his thanks. "She's all yours Lord Blackroot."

(Perhaps Lenuta could have either personal or family history with the Blackroot clan, and that be one of the reasons for her abduction?)

As he removed the lady from the frame and roughly rebound her hands behind her. He took her by the arm and handed her over to the hooded ones. But as he moved to mount his horse, Lord Blackroot stopped him.

"Before you go, I have a final gift for you." Before anything else could happen, and faster than even he could react, Lord Blackroot sank his fangs into the large artery in his neck. His blood came, Blackroot's blood went in, and the shift was soon to follow. Pulling away and letting Sung Chei fall to his knees he continued. "An invitation to join the Blackroot clan, accept or decline as you wish, but you now have the gifts of a pure-blooded vampire. Consider yourself lucky, very few enjoy such a gift."

Sung Chris gripped the side of his neck, applying pressure to his artery to prevent the blood from spreading, in vain (No pun intended). He glared up at Blackroot in fury, his eyes already turning a crimson colour. He tried to get to his feet, with difficulty, but he succeeded.

Taking out his deerhorn knives,

He attacked Blackroot. The hooded figures attacked him in turn. His movements were noticeably more sluggish than they were when he attacked her convoy, but regardless he fought viciously, decapitating three of the four vampires, the last holding onto Lenuta. This time, he faced Blackroot. But in his state, he was no match for him.

His arms were caught but they weren't twisted or broken afterwards as he expected, instead Blackroot laughed. "I must say Sung I'm impressed, despite the state of weakness that follows directly after a vampires bite, you managed to kill three of us, and doubtlessly you could kill more given the chance. But I digress, your anger is understandable, disorientation, physical weakness, difficulty thinking, dizziness. All of these follow a vampires bite if you start to turn, later comes an increase in strength, speed, reaction time, thought, and even magic capabilities, surely someone like you can find use of such skills inside or outside of my clan. I am offering you a place in my court, a place of tremendous power, you will have businesses of your own, and you will have a great many comforts. I will give you time to think it over, so for now, all of us will be staying in this little house here, I hope that this will lead to a long and successful partnership."

 

[Lenuta]

Hours ticked by slowly for Lenuta as she hung from her ropes. She had grown silent and reserved, accepting her own captivity while her kidnapper slept. Her head remained low, eyelids clenched shut without sleep to avoid the empty gaze of the heads that swayed around her.

He kept himself from a deep sleep, eager to continue as she was once more concealed by cloth and pulled by his horse. Again she was shifting along, unable to avoid the occasional knock from one of his 'trophies' as the cart jostled. Each time deepened the pit of horror in her stomach until she grew numb.

She was revealed under the cover of night, cinnamon gaze almost as dead as the decapitations around her. Dark brows furrowed faintly as new voices entered her ears, unrecognizable. Blackroot? The name touched at her memory but could not come into focus, blurred and faint. She was given relief from her cart, taken into the frigid hands of the 'Lord.'

Disgust colored her features as her assailant was bitten, sneering at the gift that had been given to one so undeserving. She noted how different the transformation process was, how potent these vampire's bites were that Blackroot did not even have to offer his own blood for Sung Chei to be turned. They were of a different strain.

Even weakened, the Easterner was able to dismantle three more vampires, proving once again his incredible prowess. Lenuta would have never believed it had she not seen it with her own eyes, though he would not dismantle them all.

She felt herself tugged away, forced into the unassuming house. A cellar door waited for her, forced down the creak of steep rotting stairs and shoved to the ground before the hatch was closed, leaving her in darkness. She stay where she fell, defeated and traumatized.

 

[Sung Chei]

Sung had collapsed to his knees, the vampire's blood had reached his heart and the shift had begun. He was now too weak to stand, even he, one with the discipline of the southern monks of his homeland, couldn't stand on his feet due to the temporary weakness.

His weapons lay beside him, their crescent blades no longer in his grasp. Blackroot crouched down in front of him, and gripped his shoulder as if he were a friend.

"Sit still, and stay as calm as you can, then the shift will be smoother and swifter. I'll help you into the house."

With those words spoken, Blackroot pulled Sung Chei's arm around his shoulders and helped him walk or even carried him in and set him down on a rickety straw mattress lying on the floor in the corner of the one room the house had. It was there that the shift began in earnest.

Come the following nightfall, Sung woke up feeling... different. For one thing, his four canine teeth were unbelievably sore and much longer and sharper than before. Secondly he could see much better, and three, he felt... better.

That was when Blackroot came in, pulling along a man, a human to be specific. He was weakly struggling against the iron grip of the vampire lord.

"Ah, you're awake, good. Just in time for your first meal." Blackroot says to him.

Pulling out a small pocketknife he made a thin cut along the whimpering man's artery. It wasn't much, but the smell of blood filled his nostrils, and filled him with a deep, yearning hunger.

His vision went red, he couldn't remember the details of the action, but blood filled his mouth, the metallic taste sliding easily down his throat. After a good few minutes it stopped, he could see clearly again, and in front of him was the man, now bloodless, lifeless and pale.

It was time to leave.

 

[Sung Chei]

(Oh, I might not be online for about a week. I'm going somewhere for a scout summer camp and I don't know if they will have WiFi, so I might not be able to respond.)

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

It was one of his more unusual contracts and wasn't very important, a minor job of ferrying supplies from one place to another with no questions asked. Normally with a job like this he wouldn't be bothered to make a personal appearance.
Him and his driver, along with two guards on horseback and two inside the covered wagon with the supplies made their way through the village of Creaking Hollow. Tzuriel decided it was aptly named because of the old windmill constantly creaking on worn gears in the light evening breeze. And with the time of his arrival being at the fall of night the village definitely seemed hollow.

His face had it's normal dark and intense expression. A look that would intimidate many, especially at the negotiation table. He was dressed in his accustomed black road gear and had two sheathed blades thrust into his belt, a Katana and Wakizashi. He was not an easterner, but the benefits of trade brought him these two finely crafted gifts from the far east.

The cart finally came to a stop at the rear of the house, as was agreed upon with the client. He didn't know what he was hauling, and his professionalism kept him from opening the boxes he was hauling and seeing for himself. But as they sat for a moment behind the small single room house he was suddenly in a very bad mood. There were no lights on and the feeling of something illegal going on was heavy in the air. His private reputation was such that he could be trusted with such questionable jobs as this... But something was off, and in such a familiar way.

He ordered his men to dismount and begin unloading the boxes while he approached the back of the house and knocked lightly on the door.

 

[Sung Chei]

Sung Chei wasn't the one to answer the door, he was helping to carry the crate in which poor Lenuta had been stuffed into. Lord Blackroot answered the knock. Upon seeing his hired merchant he welcomed him in.

Sung saw him carrying his twin wodao (Chinese word for any curved Japanese sword, literally meaning "Japan saber") and immediately began to try assessing his skill with them. He didn't look like he had trained extensively in their use, but clearly had some degree of skill, nothing he couldn't handle in a fight.

The crate that their prisoner was stuffed into was set down beside the door. Sung Chei had retrieved his weapons and was in plain view of the newcomer for him to assess.

 

[Lenuta]

The darkness of the damp cellar was abysmal, but much preferred to the wooden crate the vampiress was forced into. At this she struggled, unwilling and grunting against her restraints until the pair got her into the box. She was cramped and uncomfortable, her breath shallow and fast with anxiety as she felt herself moved, pressing against each wall in turn as she was jostled around.

It wasn't until the moving finally halted that she felt the inkling of a familiar mind. She was starved and tired, unable to rest with the apprehension that refused to release her, leaving her in a constant state of deficiency. It was with great effort that she reached out with her own mind, her touch feeble as she prodded at Tzuriel's mind to leave a singular message.

"Help."

 

[Tzuriel Alanthis]

Besides the boxes in the room there was woefully little to see in the single room house. Besides the noble he saw two others. One of them was an easterner by his look and garb, though the weapons he had on him were strange to him. More of the obscure eastern craft like what he himself carried. Seeing nothing suspicious besides the easterner and the bodyguard he turned to the noble to conclude his business there. Perhaps his information had been faulty.

He was about to speak to the noble when he heard an unmistakable voice echo in his mind... A voice he knew very well, though he had never heard such sadness in that sweet voice as it made its singular plea... "Help."

This caused him to pause for a moment, but it seemed as though he were merely caught in thought. He continued to the noble, "I believe this is everything, if you would check this list and confirm we will take our payment and be on our way."
he handed the noble a clipboard with a merchandise list and took the opportunity to examine the room once more. His eyes passed over a box large enough to hold a person, but he gave absolutely no sign of his noticing and continued to make sure the boxes were stacked well.

He was already suspicious, but now his suspicions were confirmed, and here is why.
Not very long ago at all he had been issued a contract for a trade agreement by a certain House Nocterose. A family he was familiar with after attending their rebirth ceremony for their daughter, Lenuta Nocterose. Tzuriel entered a trade agreement with House Nocterose which brought him back to the estate once more after two weeks travel.
As an added clause to the contract he was to come himself and meet with Lenuta once more. But when he arrived he only met her handmaiden who informed him that she had yet to return. On their journey to investigate they found the wagon and the ashes of the vampire guards, but no sign of Lenuta.

And now he stood inside the house. He had one guard with him and the rest of his guards were positioned outside and aware of the situation. And all he had to do was ensure that box that must hold Lenuta was protected at all costs. The hitch in his plan was this easterner, who must have been the one who kidnapped her. Of all the mortal realms of men he could think of no other kind of warriors who's legends matched, or even rivaled that of vampire kind. Tzuriel may not look like much, but he knew how to use his weapons. All the same, he was not sure if he were equal to an easterner, who upon longer inspection also showed the telltale signs of vampirism.

His guards were ready to rush to his aid, but that wont be in time. He was a dear surrounded and flanked by wolves. Even his preparations may not be enough. He was no vampire hunter and upon reflection he decided he probably should have hired a vampire hunter.
But that weakened and pained voice echoing in his mind strengthened his resolve.

He turned back to the vampire lord to receive the verdict and pay. The trap would be sprung as soon as the deal was closed.

 

[Sung Chei]

The trap they would spring was unknown to all in the room who weren't taking part in it. But Sung didn't entirely trust the merchant, and stayed on his guard, not out of loyalty to Lord Blackroot, but because he needed Lenuta to give him a cure for the curse of vampirism.

He helped carry her outside to the carriage when ordered, his deerhorn knives and serpent bladed jian sword at his back and hip. He stayed on his toes for the trap.