Open Chronicles Welcome to The Hunt

[Zana]

Early Morning - The Academy

"I've asked you all here to help with the training of some of our students," Magnus Olm was not a physically imposing man compared to most but his voice and his reputation commanded more respect than most. All Dreadlords who went through the Academy knew Magnus. With the power to make a person see nothing but their worst fears come to life it was unsurprising he could be traced to every students most painful and tortured moments in the school. Magnus was part of the eclectic group who broke children and reforged them into Dreadlords.

He stood now before the Dreadlords who had graduated with his hands clasped behind his back dressed in a similar garb to everyone else assembled before him: a long green coat that fell to his ankles and came with a hood which he currently had pushed back from his face, riding leggings and a shirt.

"The students are going to be sent on a mission to retrieve something from Falwood; an important artefact of the kings. What you're here to do is make this task impossible," some of the Dreadlords might even remember this challenge from their own time at the Academy. It was a simple mission to complete but whilst the students were attempting to do it, their future peers were going to attempt to kill them with everything they had. Nothing was off limits in this game, the whole purpose was to make it as realistic as possible. There was a high chance that if a student had not been paying attention they could come back from this with broken bones or not come back at all. Vel Anir did not need weakness to fill the ranks of the Dreadlords. If they wanted weak magic users with no backbone they would take in elves.

"There is nothing off limits. When the horn sounds the game is won and some lucky little shit has managed to get back past you all. Enjoy The Hunt."

***
​

Late Morning - Somewhere in Falwood

The sudden thunder of a horses hooves had the group of students looking up in alarm; they had let their guard slip. In a panic they kicked their horses into a wild and headless gallop through the trees. But their follower knew these woods better than they did. Out of the corner of their eye they spotted the shadowy cloaked figure, the horses strides were more confident than their mounts and quickly pulled alongside their crashing blunder through the undergrowth. One of them shouted a warning and attempted a lazy fire spell, but Zana eased back in her saddle and it sailed right past her. Her stride did not slow. Instead she pulled an arrow from the quiver on her back. They were nasty things with barbs on the shaft that would hurt more coming out than when they went in, and they hurt a hell of a lot as they went in. Her horse matched the groups pace now they were level and the hooded figure loosed one, then two, then three arrows in a lazy manner. The first arrow went through the shoulder of the little groups leader. The force sent him sprawling from his saddle and under the hooves of the horse behind him, who reared and through their own rider. The other two arrows buried themselves into the thighs of the other two riders.

With the group incapacitated Zana turned her horse away and drove him out of sight and then let him slow to a trot. With her hood over her face all anyone would be able to see as she rechecked her bow and supplies was a small smile. Zana loved these games. She had loved them even when she was in training - it was, in her opinion, the most useful way to use her gift of foresight.

Like every other Dreadlord in the forest she was dressed in a hooded coat that was done up tight across her chest and waist to stop it flapping in the breeze her horses gallop would cause. Her long hair was braided back into two plaits that looked tight but were necessary in keeping her wild curls off of her face. They were dressed so to attempt to discourage House Politics. Of course there would be politics. It was the perfect opportunity for Dreadlords to scope out upcoming recruits - their skills with magic, weapons and under the pressure of a real mission. Then they would run back to their little puppet masters with their suggestions and the next part of the game would start. But, for this glorious moment it was also truly a chance for Dreadlords to forget their alliances and allegiances and enjoy the simple pleasure of inflicting the same pain on students they had suffered in their position - it created a deep sense of satisfaction.

Cocking her head to the side she listened to the sounds of the forest - there was distant noises of screams of agony as other students were picked off by her fellow Dreadlords but her small section sounded relatively quiet. Which meant there was probably a group of cocky students who needed to taste blood nearby. Nudging her horse forward she guided him to a ridge that overlooked the river that ran through this section. It was the only water point for miles and if a student was running low they were going to be forced to come out here to top up their skins. The best bit was the several meters between the shelter of the trees and the rivers bank - it was a risk, but a risk that many would take. Settling back in the saddle she waited, arrow knocked.

 

[Vittorio]

Vittorio stood among the Dreadlords readied to stop these students in their tracks. While still an apprentice it was arguable whether he should still be or not considering some of his achievements. In truth, Vittorio held no grand feelings about attacking students one way or another. But a whole day in the Falwood? Approved by his superiors? Well he'd be a fool to not take that one. The variety of trees, the smell of multiple flowers amalgamated into one splendorous scent. Anyone would be a fool to miss out on this mission.

Even when he was still in the Academy and did this mission himself, he was virtually unstoppable. He was not the one to retrieve the artifact physically but did aid those who had. He remembered fondly killing a mouthy apprentice that day. It was a good memory.

Now, for him to relive it with the terms flipped was a fun idea. He felt bad to an extent as he knew some of these faces would not return home. They were human children though, so who really cared?

FALWOOD

Vittorio watched as Zana let loose arrows into the first group and absolutely lay waste to their numbers. That was a third level for you. He had been waiting in a tree waiting to pounce atop any who made it further in but Zana was making his day a bit anticlimactic with her actions. He didn't mind. The smells and the chirping of birds were enough to lock him in zen.

But as time passed there came another group. Much closer to him now. Vittorio stood up in the branch he hid and took a step forward, plummeting straight down from the great tree he had been residing in. He fell with no movement of his limbs and landed on a horse riding past him, his back turned to the rider who was now in utter terror from the surprise attack.

"You should have been more wary to nature itself." He said, not turning his head. The Dreadlord student tried to buck Vittorio off to no avail. The eccentric turned his body so his hand would reach the back of the riders head. Once he'd grabbed it his finger bones elongated into a cage around the student's head where he promptly threw him off his horse and procured the mount himself. The student lived, it seemed, but would likely be deemed unworthy.

As he rode, two trees came into view across from each other. The branches on them extended and created a barrier of solid wood from nowhere. Vittorio sharpened his arm bone and cut through it with ease, but as he did so two arrows planted into his horse's head, killing it instantly and sending him toppling.

When he stood up he saw the rest of the riding group; two girls. One who was manipulating the nature around her and the other with her bow drawn.

"Oh?" Vittorio said in surprise. Perhaps there were some contenders today.

 

[Carr Ledrose]

Who had hired Ledhros Caur of the Silver Key mercenaries was a total mystery to Ledhros Caur of the Silver Key mercenaries. Go to a spot on a map, wait to see group A attack group B, take out some of both groups if possible, don't get caught or you'll be disavowed and also killed.

Bread and butter.

Cloaked and lightly armoured, Ledhros slunk through the undergrowth with the nature-grace of his elven mother. He carried a shortbow, a short sword, and a strip of dried horse's heart in case he needed to run. A few other bits and pieces of mimicry too: for example, he chewed a dried eagle's eye and watched through intervening forest as, yes, Group A began attacking Group B. Neither seemed prepared for a standup fight. This was more of a running battle, or a riding one: some had horses, and some horses changed hands.

He set up in a copse and drew the shortbow, sighting in on a confrontation between two mounted women or girls and a man whose horse had gone down. Magic was involved. Given the choice between shooting girls and shooting a man, he loosed his arrow at the man (Vittorio). The arrowhead was daubed in secruyu lizard venom, a powerful paralyzer.

Zana

 

[Zana]

The dreadlord was watching the two girls with growing interest. She had spotted their forms in the treetops and was enjoying the subtle weave of magic as they attempted to spread the tree cover to the river. It was a good idea if it wasn't Zana watching them. With a click of her tongue she turned her horse and began an energetic trot back down to the forest. She had her two arrows ready in her hands, one pressed along the line of her bow and the other actually knocked. She held them with her reigns in a casual manner but if anyone was fooled by it it would be more fool them.

Her horse quietly stepped across the pathetic ripple of a stream that fed into the larger river, taking care to keep her horses step as quiet as possible. For such a reason she directed the mount to step on the moss covered rocks rather than the large slabs. It was riskier but in a game of stealth and surprise, worth it. Zana cocked her head to the side again, listening. She caught the sharp shout of a youngster and then her eyes caught the movement of a horse and rider. Slowly, Zana began to smile.

Spurring the horse on she shadowed the figure until, noticing the coat they were all wearing, she realised it was another Dreadlord. The image sent a sudden ripple of pain spiking through her head and she swore under her breath, trusting her horse to stick on the path she had already set towards the girls. She no longer saw between the ears of her horse but rather the shooting of the figure she had just seen fly past. Those were not the rules of the game, especially not by someone who looked neither like a student or a dreadlord. Even before the vision was clearing she was turning her steed close now with a burst of speed.

Zana's appearance was almost from next to where the girls were causing them to give a sharp shout, at the same moment the stranger let loose an arrow towards Vittorio. She had seen what would come next, paralysis, death, for students would not hold back in this game for their lives either. As her bow was already knocked and her mind had already seen the trajectory it needed to take there was not much focus needed to loose her own arrow. It split the newcomers in two, causing it to crumple to the ground before it made its mark and then the other was knocked and pointing at the chest of Ledhors.

"I would not make the mistake of basing your attacks on the simple assumption the fairer sex is in fact more fair," Zana's tone was monotonous but there was a steel beneath her words. She was unimpressed she had had to intervene for another of her rank. The girls took the distraction to bolt and mentally she filed away their faces to remember to ask for their names: it was the right decision to make here. "You are trespassing on a training session of the Dreadlords, speak your purpose boy."

 

[Vittorio]

Vittorio unwittingly turned exactly towards the arrow that flew towards him. The half a second he thought he was dead another arrow split the projectile in two right before his eyes. Vittorio did not move. He quietly processed how his life almost just ceased in a moment. Then, a minute laugh escaped his lips. Was he grateful to another Dreadlord? Shame.

The eccentric was very surprised that a student made a genuine attempt on his life until he heard Zana's voice from afar. His skull masked face turned towards her, then to where her eyes were looking. Ah, an interloper. That made a great deal more sense. Their opponent was laid up in a couple trees and peering down at Vittorio. A part of him was also grateful that he chose him over the two students. He let a sharp whistle ring to get their attention.

"If you value your life, stranger, I suggest you avoid conflict with my superior there." He said with a voice of stone. "I've known not one soul who met a third level and lived." Another small, innocent laugh.

"Madame." He called. "I'm going to pursue the pair. If this situation worsens call for me." With that, the apprentice bolted through the forest and took chase after the contestants.

 

[Carr Ledrose]

On the one hand, any 'third level' - whateverthefeth that was - who could shoot an arrow out of the air was a significant threat. On the other hand, he'd killed mages before and his mystery client was counting on him to do it again. And on the third hand, Miss Third Level was immensely attractive - tight longcoat, braids, confidence, the works.

But on the fourth hand, she looked about twenty and she'd called him 'boy.'

He drew and loosed again, fast as he could, and that was pretty fast. This arrow didn't have any secruyu venom on it: it was just a piece of wood and steel. He charged in its wake, drawing his short sword as he bulled through the undergrowth. The goal here was to cut her down and move on, mage or no mage.

Zana

 

[Zana]

Zana loosed her own arrow a second after he loosed his, except she wasn't aiming for his arrow this time she was aiming for his knee. After all, she didn't want him to die straight away, no, that would be slow and painful and Zana was going to enjoy every little scream from his lips. The arrow that was speeding towards her stopped when she held up her hand, like a small dog might on the command of its master. Her fingers rotated and the arrow turned too just before she flicked the air and it went soaring back towards the hand that had sent it. The double shot would at least make him divert his original course to save his skin, but it might slow him or stop him if they met his mark.

"You want to play, do you pretty boy?"

The words were a purr. Her hood was still low over her face but he would have been able to see the curl of her lips into a sinful smile. Zana liked playing with her food. She felt the draw on her energy just a tad as the daggers that had been sheathed on her belt raised themselves into the air as she watched him crash towards her, then in a volley all six flew at him, each aiming for a different mark.

Let's see how well you can dance.

As he dealt with the volley she slid her bow into its quiver and drew her own sword.

Ledhros Caur

 

[Vittorio]

The sounds of conflict rang through the woods behind him. He did his best to not look back as he had a duty to accomplish, but there was a nagging at the back of his head that made him wary of this interloper. The shot he'd fired was completely clean. And while he believed in Zana's ability to withstand him it wasn't a guarantee that there was no one out there who could bring down someone of her stature.

He wasn't followed, meaning that he wasn't the man's immediate target. But who was he? Why was he here? Vittorio wanted the answer but angering his superiors scared him even more.

The apprentice fled through the woods as fast as he could. The horses the girls were riding were finally coming into view. He took to the trees once again as he could make much better headway in that manner.

Eventually, he was on their trail again. They showed no signs of knowing he was back. They must have assumed that he'd been taken out by the lucky distraction they were granted. He encroached on the duo from up top, planting himself in an array of trees just above them. Then he pounced.

Aiming for the girl with the nature manipulation he fell in the same manner had to that poor chaps horse. When he was about to land behind her, he was tackled from mid air. The other girl had been aware of him the entire time and said nothing to her partner about it. To trick your enemies...

They tumbled into the dirt and stood up in stance.

"Let'a couple of damsels be on there way, maybe?" The student chided.

"You hardly seem in danger to me."

Vittorio barked back. She drew her sword and the two clashed blades. Vittorio's skeleton versus her steel. Sparks flew into the morning sky from the blades connection. A myriad of firefly like wisps with the hum of swords accompanying them. The ringing could be heard through the whole forest. She had always intended to stave him off while her partners found the artifact. She put trust in herself and in her squad. This was either over confidence or lunacy. Either way it was working.

 

[Carr Ledrose]

Zana's arrow skidded along the armour that shielded the moving target of his knee. That one didn't slow him down, but the next one did - his own arrow spinning to come back at him. A sideways tumble and roll took him clear but sacrificed forward momentum. Instead he kept moving sideways, circling around a tree. One of her levitating blades thunked into the bark tangentially; another tangled in undergrowth. He smashed a third away with his sword as he twisted at the last second, but the other three blades bit into his cloak and light armour to kiss flesh.

He tumbled again, less controlled this time, and smashed through a rank of bushes. When a small animal bolted, his sword lashed out. A touch of hasty mimicry drew on the kill. Patches of russet fur sprouted instantly, and a darting, sprinting energy propelled him over the final distance. His sword lashed out for her chest, a straight thrust.

 

[Zana]

It was an interesting show to watch as he dodged the blades and arrows, though not without a few scratches. Leisurely she slid from her horses back and stood waiting for him as if she had a million better things to do with her time than this. Which she did, in fairness. She was eager to go and pursue the young girls who had left the area and see how they overcame the next challenges. As he sprinted at her with a burst of speed her eyes flicked momentarily to the blood; minicry magic. How... quaint.

Zana leaned back as the thrust came at her so it slid over her chest, losing herself a button to her coat, before side stepping and standing up straight in one fluid movement. She aimed a kick at his ankle at the same time she swung her blade for his neck. The movement of her actions had caused the hood to fall back now so he could see her eyes. Rather than any kind of determination or adrenaline there was only a hint of curiosity and a smattering of irritation.

"You are interfering in a training exercise. I ask again, what are you doing here?" The question would be asked in between blows, unless of course an attack had managed to send him to the ground so she might ask him at sword point.

 

[Vittorio]

More of the combat behind him raged on. He could hear Zana's voice even if it was a bit faint. He tried not to focus on it as he was dealing with this prodigal student but it continued to bother him even more. There had to be something going on there.

"Mistake."

The girls voice knocked him back into sense. As did the kick she delivered to his head while he was distracted with his thoughts. She could tell that? Whoever this student was, she was incredibly formidable even at her age. It did not do a ton of damage but she was already fleeing from the fight to catch up with her partner.

He wanted to pursue her, but knew there would be other Dreadlords laying in wait. And if her friend had gone off alone it was very likely she was already captured. Instead Vittorio took back to the trees. Best the students didn't get involved in this anyways. He ran through the leaves the way he'd came until he could see the two fighting clear as day. He made no sound, but motioned for the birds nearby to watch the man as he did.

If this went awry he would be in striking distance.

 

[Carr Ledrose]

The sprint pivoted into a firm stance at engagement range. Zana's foot ran into the ankle of Ledhros' armored boot, which was a jolt but nothing he couldn't handle. The forte of his sword caught the foible of hers and stopped it short of his neck. She kept attacking, and he gave as good as he got, blade against blade. He wasn't exactly graceful, but here in the Falwood his half-elven heritage gave him additional surefootedness that he certainly needed.

He made no reply, in part because he was too busy trying to pierce her guard or trip her up in the undergrowth, and in part because he'd never been one to waste breath talking during a fight. The burst of mimicry faded, leaving him just a man - one who happened to be shedding little patches of squirrel fur. The fur floated everywhere and stuck to everything.

If either one of them died today, dignity would be even less relevant than normal, and he'd seen some undignified deaths in his time. Dished them out, too.

 

[Zana]

Curiosity was giving away to pure annoyance now, especially as he wasn't answering her questions. Her eyes narrowed a little and her lips thinned. She had to admire him being able to keep up and his footwork was better than most on uneven ground, though his hits were beginning to tire from what she could tell. But, even then, it could be a trick. Whilst he was an unknown she would not underestimate him. Instead, she would test him and pick up the pace.

Her hits grew stronger now and her step quickened, pushing him back towards a thicket of trees. Out the corner of her eye she caught a shadow of a figure, similar to that of the youngster whose life she had saved. It seemed he had come back - to watch perhaps or help? Well wouldn't they be breaking all the cues of unspoken etiquette if they worked together, for she didn't recognise him to be of House Luana. Her next volley of blows were quicker yet and they were not hits that would merely scratch. It almost made a pattern of a Z, her sword sliced from left to right again aiming for the throat, then swiftly diverted from his right shoulder down to his left hip, and then cut along the dangerous line below the belt towards his right one. if he failed to block they would be enough to disarm or to cause him to lose something precious more permanently.

"Final chance, my patience is wearing thin."

 

[Vittorio]

A good part of him wanted to watch as the two duked it out. There wasn't particularly anything graceful to it, but it held its own beauty. It was rugged and honest. A fight that displayed who they were as people and how much they wanted to achieve rather than one that cared about its appearance. A true match of life and death, as it should be.

It troubled young Vittorio, as he wanted to continue to witness Zana in her element, but he also wanted to continue their work today. This man was growing quite irritating. And the fact that he said nothing indicated he was a stray warrior or he was a hired sword. As his illusion faded, he seemed even more conspicuous than before. Vittorio stood up in his branch and hopped two trees closer to them, the skin and flesh folding back on both his arms.

When the skeleton was exposed both of his forearm bones formed into blades, and he dove towards the man, attempting a quick slash from both sides at his head as Vittorio passed him by at heavy speed.

 

[Carr Ledrose]

"Not some cutthroat, girl," Ledhros gritted out. His short sword caught every strike of hers and sacrificed zero ground. He didn't have the spare breath to tell her who he was, the battles he'd survived and even won, the name and banner of the mercenary band he led - but then again, notoriety was the exact opposite of the point today.

There was movement in the trees above and behind him - the man he'd shot at, perhaps. He spun sideways, circling around Zana, and felt the wind of a blade's passage. His peripheral vision caught Vittorio and his strange forearm weapons. A length of reddish-blond hair fluttered to the earth. That had been far too close.

If he gave them space or time, they'd pull magic on him. He kept Vittorio on his left and stayed in close with Zana, probing her defenses brusquely. With his spare hand he crammed a piece of strange dried meat into his mouth. His belt pouch held several, all suited for different purposes. Which one he'd grabbed was anyone's guess.

 

[Zana]

Zana's eyes narrow in anger at his words. She was about to make a retort when Vittorio launched himself from the trees to conduct his own attack. There was no point wasting her strength whilst this new person was engage by another so she pulled the blade that was currently in motion and instead stepped back two paces. A curious gift indeed. There was only a small pause before the man dared to strike at her again and that was when Zana lost her patience.

"Enough," the Dreadlord never shouted but her voice had the weight of it when she spoke. It could probably be heard quite a way out of their general vicinity too. At the same time she broke the parry with her sword and threw her hand up. For anyone magically inclined they would probably feel the weight of the power exploding outwards like a warning ripple before her daggers shot out of the various places they had been lying and with more precision this time aimed to pierce bits of Ledhros clothes and pin him to the tree behind him. This wasn't a test like before, she wanted answers.

"If not a cutthroat then you are implying you are purposefully intruding on our training. Who sent you." Even as she was speaking she was pulling off her gloves now. If he wasn't going to willingly tell her she would see what his future held.

 

[Vittorio]

"You are wasting your breath, Zana."

Vittorio reverted his arm-blades back to normal appendages. He held his hand out and performed the same act with his fingers. The bone of his fingers elongated and launched at the man in an attempt to cage him. He knew men like this. A great deal of them. He may not consider himself a cutthroat, but that's all that he was acting as right now. Answering Zana was not in his plans. He would either win or he would die.

It was time that Vittorio made the latter happen.

"Whoever this man is, he's not going to sit by while you try and question him. His head needs removing from his shoulders, end of story."

 

[Carr Ledrose]

The piece of jerky he'd grabbed was nice and fresh, straight from the heart of a stallion. Ledhros' sword swatted a dagger out of the air; others glanced off his armour as he moved, or bit in. He bashed at the elongated bones that threatened to cage him. The daggers' driving impact helped there, shoving him back toward a tree.

A stallion's vitality filled him, mostly in the leg department. His feet contorted, elongating, as his legs shifted configuration somewhat. Bleeding in half a dozen places, he burst through the entangling effort and stampeded off through the woods. The fight wasn't an option anymore, not two against one. And if these chatty mages wanted to interrogate or kill him, they'd need to catch him first - a half-transformed half-elf in the Falwood.

 

[Zana]

Zana didn't agree with the whole murder first question later. She liked to know who she was dealing with, especially when he might not even be acting alone. However, she stepped back as he let forth his own magic to let him with a shrug of her shoulders. If he wanted to kill the creature then she supposed that was fine, it would be on him and his house if it came back to bite them in the arse later. Who would anyone else believe, a Dreadlord or an apprentice?

She was sheathing her sword and turning her back when Ledhros transformed. Bloody mimicry magic. Swearing under her breath she was whistling for her own horse as she watched him go through the trees, sending one of the arrows lying on the ground after him with the power of a bow. The horse whinnied and shot forward and Zana grabbed the horn of the saddle as he went past, swinging herself up and into the seat with practised ease so she could tear off after the creature.

"Go," was the only word she muttered to her horse, causing it to spurn into a flat out gallop. Zana left her horse to it and drew her deadly bow and arrows again, keeping the flank of the retreating creature just in vision. For a normal bow it would probably not meet its mark but as she loosed she nudged it with her magic to help it fly the extra distance.

If the apprentice needed a lift he had best of been on the back of her saddle then or he would be left behind.

 

[Vittorio]

For what purpose?

For what purpose was there to pursue the man if he had chosen to leave the fight. Yes, Vittorio would have rather seen him dead then escaped. But did it not mean victory? The man planned to flee the scene and the issue could easily be dealt with later. Some times he wondered about his superiors. It didn't matter in the end. Zana seemed to have this handled. She wasn't injured when he came to and Vittorio dreaded the idea of a pursuit, especially when he wasn't ordered to do so.

He was ordered to aid in this test. And the duo would be returning not long if they'd managed to get passed the other Dreadlords. Now, Vittorio did not consider himself in any way shape or form the strongest of his kind. He did know that he was stronger than an apprentice despite his long standing title as one.

There was no doubt in his mind that if they'd outwitted him, they would have outwitted some nameless Dreadlords that had the 'title' of being stronger than him.

 

[Carr Ledrose]

Bleeding but still empowered, Ledhros ran through deep, thick woods, where a galloping horse couldn't follow without a shattered leg. Arrows thunked into trees too close for comfort. The daggers had been bad enough: if an arrow hit him squarely, he was done. But darting through the dense Falwood gave him good cover and opportunities to create ground. He'd walked the area beforehand to get a general sense of its terrain and wildlife paths. Now he put some faith in his sense of his mother's woods and his own preparation, and vanished into the trees.